Chapter 40 Jude
JUDE
“Ithought you were at home today,” Deacon says when I walk into our house, the one we bought together after flipping a couple of investment properties.
“Arden went with her sister to pick up a couple of alpacas that may or may not cause a divorce.”
His hand hovers with the paintbrush for one beat and then another before he places it on top of his paint cup and stares at me.
“What?”
I shrug, shoving my hands in the pockets of my jeans. “They’re bonding.”
“You would pick someone complicated,” he mumbles, shaking his head as he climbs down the ladder.
“I like a challenge.”
“You like that she doesn’t put up with your shit.”
“That too,” I agree. “You’ve done a lot more in here than we talked about,” I deflect, not wanting to get into anything else about the woman that has me ass over teakettle.
Deacon looks around. “Yeah.” He rubs the palm of his hand over the stubble on his jaw. “I got carried away but once I pulled out the island, I realized that a full update would be easier.”
“And?” I ask, because even though my brother and I happen to be good at this kind of stuff, there’s no way a full remodel was necessary.
“And the guy at Vetted Paws turned me down.”
The guy at…
“Tanner?”
“Yeah,” he confirms, his lips curving up on one side. “It was either this or I adopt every damn dog in the shelter so I can keep goin’ back.”
Eyebrows somewhere in my hairline, I try like hell not to gape at him. Deacon has always been very sure of who he is, and while he’s done his fair share of pining over a guy, he’s never reacted quite like this.
“But you like him?”
“I get the impression he doesn’t date much. I need to figure out why without seeming overbearing.”
“I get it,” I tell him, because I do.
It’s why being with Arden is so damn precious. She looks at me like a warrior, fighting the battles so she doesn’t have to, but she’s a savior in her own right.
My savior.
And salvation.
“I could probably ask Montana. He knows all those guys in Clementine Creek better than I do.”
“I’ll let you know. I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet.”
“Well, in that case, I have a couple of hours to kill until I have to help unload farm animals.”
“Now you’re an accomplice after the fact?” he taunts, but I can’t argue with him because he’s right.
“Where she goes, I go, man. It’s wild but it feels like I’m finally living.”
“Happiness looks good on you, brother.”
Nodding, I pick up a new paintbrush. “I can’t wait for you to find yours.”
“I think I found it. I just need him to realize it too.”