Chapter 25

Dan knelt down and was bowled over by their whole-hearted greeting.

“Okay, okay, you’re happy to see me,” he said, laughing and hugging them both. “Now, do you guys need to go out?”

This suggestion was met with more enthusiastic bah-roos. Dan went to the sliding patio door to let them out into the backyard. But when he turned around the dogs were gone. He called and they came running back to him with leashes in their mouths. They dropped them and sat in front of him, tails wagging expectantly.

“Oh, I get it. It’s a walk you want. Well, I guess you deserve it. You were cooped up here all day.”

They sat as he put their leashes on and then went out into the warm summer night. Being late in the season, the chorus of night insects was at its peak. Dan walked along with the dogs under a canopy of twinkling stars. The waning moon was just a sliver in the sky. It had seemed to be a perfect night. But as he walked along, Dan began thinking about the evening, and something began to nag at his mind. He couldn’t put a finger on just what was bothering him.

His phone rang. Dan pulled it from his pocket and answered it. “Hello,” he said.

“Hey, it’s me.” Damion’s deep, mellow voice played in Dan’s ear. “Where are you?”

“Home, walking the dogs.”

Damion sighed. “Good. I just called to make sure you got home okay.”

“That’s really sweet of you. Thank you.”

“No thanks needed. It’s just…well…you’ve become very special in my life.”

They talked until Dan and the dogs had finished their walk. Then Damion said good night, promising to call again the next day.

Later, after the dogs had been fed and let out in the yard for the night, Dan lay in bed. Lady and Lad were curled up on either side of him. He let his mind play over the evening he’d just spent with Damion. He was glad Damion had called because, as exciting and hot as the evening had been, something was causing him to feel uncomfortable. He wasn’t sure why, but when he thought of the change in Damion’s persona during sex, Dan felt uneasy. The sweet, considerate man had become domineering and his actions bordered on rough.

Afterward, Damion had quickly returned to being kind and tender. Who was the real Damion? But Damion’s call, hearing Damion’s soothing voice, and his concern for Dan, restored Dan’s good feelings about the man. A surge of contentment flowed through him. Dan pulled Lady closer, letting himself drift off to sleep. As he did he murmured to the dog, “You know, sweet girl, I really think Damion is the one.”

* * * *

“I thought you might enjoy coming to Taylor to meet the family,” Dan suggested later in the week when he and Damion discussed plans for getting together again on the phone. “Maybe you could spend the night here. You could even bring Brute and Chauncey. I’ve told Lad and Lady all about you and your kids, and they’re excited to meet you.”

“I like that idea. I’d like to meet Lad and Lady. I’m sure Brute and Chaunce would, too, but maybe next week. I’m really excited. I’ve got a surprise for you. If your neighbor is home, could you ask her to take care of your dogs so you can stay in town with me overnight?”

“Yeah, I could do that,” Dan agreed. “What’s the surprise?”

“If I told you—”

“It wouldn’t be a surprise,” Dan finished the cliché.

They both laughed.

“Why don’t we go out for dinner and then we can come back here to my place, okay?”

Dan accepted Damion’s plan and they hung up. Whatever this surprise is, he’s really psyched about it, Dan thought. He couldn’t imagine what it could be.

That Saturday night they had dinner at a Mexican restaurant near Damion’s home. Dan could almost feel Damion’s excitement radiate from across the booth. When they got to Damion’s, Dan noted the dogs were sequestered. He remembered Damion telling him that he kept Brute and Chauncey in the utility room so they wouldn’t get in the way during sex. Dan felt a shudder of excitement.

Looking like a kid on Christmas morning just before the presents were revealed, Damion said, “I can’t wait to show you.”

“I can’t wait to see. I’ve been trying to guess all week,” Dan replied and turned to go to the bedroom.

“No, not tonight,” Damion said, a gleam in his eye. “Come with me.”

Damion took Dan’s hand and led him to a door. “I’m gonna put this blindfold on you.”

He held it up for Dan to look at before putting it on him, making sure Dan couldn’t see.