Page 29 of Where They Belong

“I’ll listen to your theories with an open mind,” Mason finally said and returned his attention to the road and the horses he would bring home today.

Colt tipped his head, and a smile ghosted the corners of his mouth. “That’s all I’m asking.”

The sun hung low over the western horizon when Colt followed Mason back to his house after the long drive and intake day. Aside from the front porch light and a soft light emanating from the kitchen, the house was dark. Mason’s sister Katie had decided to keep Angela company overnight in the medical barn, as the rescues still needed twenty-four-hour monitoring.

“Wait here.” Colt motioned for Mason to sit on the wide front porch with the dogs.

Mason must have been exhausted because he didn’t even raise an eyebrow in complaint. Just pulled up a chair, tipped his hat back, folded his hands over his stomach, and closed his eyes. Diesel and Marley plopped down at his feet.

Colt studied Mason for a few seconds. He catalogued the lines of his profile, the fan of long eyelashes shadowing the delicate skin below his eyes, the shape of his mouth . . . With a shake of his head, he entered the house. He needed to quit getting caught up in Mason and focus on the reason he was here. He did a quick recon of every room in the house, flicking lights on and off as he entered and left.

Although the day had started with tensions high—and for good reason—Mason’s mood had settled by the time they’d reached the holding corrals. His focus had been completely on the mustangs, and Colt saw a side of Mason he’d not yet seen.

When they were younger, Colt was the one who took charge, while Mason had been happy to follow his lead without question. But adult Mason wasn’t afraid to take the reins. He knew exactly what he wanted and suffered no hesitations in making that clear. He’d walked into that center like he owned the place and didn’t back down when the site representative transposed tag numbers and argued with him about a particular horse Mason had already won the bid for.

There were twelve horses at the Cañon City location Mason had won in the online bidding. One of them was the last missing member of a family band he had been reuniting since he’d started the sanctuary. There was also a bonded pair, some seniors, and a couple more with medical issues, as they were the least likely to be adopted.

When the trailers were full and the paperwork was done, Mason had stood quietly with his hands in his pockets as he gazed at the full paddocks of mustangs. The pained expression on his face clawed at Colt’s chest. The strongest urge to make the world better for Mason had overcome him. He never wanted to see that look on Mason’s face again, never wanted him to be anything but happy—and he wanted to be the one to do that.

Colt shook his head. Comforting Mason wasn’t what he was there for.

He headed for the kitchen and contemplated grabbing a couple of beers, but he was on the job, and Mason looked like he was about to pass out. Instead, he poured a couple of glasses of Katie’s homemade strawberry lemonade and joined Mason on the porch.

Mason startled when Colt tapped the side of his hand with the cold glass. Mason’s eyes cleared quickly, and he flashed a half smile that sent a flutter through Colt’s chest.

“Thank you.”

Colt nodded as he sat in the chair beside Mason and then stretched out his legs. He took a long swig of the cool, refreshing drink. Exactly what he needed.

“What a day,” Mason said after a few moments of companionable silence.

Colt stared out at the horizon, listening to the crickets chirping, the gentle rustle of leaves in the trees, and the occasional splash in the small lake near Mason’s house. A spark of bright, neon yellow-green light caught his eye. Then another one.

“What is that?” He pointed toward the lake, where quaking aspen and plains cottonwood lined the banks.

Mason grinned and stood. He leaned inside the front door, and a second later, the porch was thrust into deepening twilight.

“Fireflies,” Mason said with a smile in his voice as he sat back down.

Colt raised his eyebrows. “Fireflies in Colorado? I thought those were a Midwest and East Coast thing.”

Mason shook his head. “Some scientists at Colorado State discovered them a few years ago. They believe expanding wet weather is why they’re finding them scattered along the foothills. Apparently, there are large numbers of them around Fort Collins.”

With the porch light off, Colt could now see dozens upon dozens of the little lightning bugs flashing and sparking about.

“Turns out these ones are actually native to Colorado and are the biggest and brightest of all species,” Mason continued. “They named them Photuris.”

“Light terror,” Colt offered after a short pause, remembering his Latin from college. “They don’t look too terrorizing to me.”

Mason chuckled. “Tell that to the male fireflies. The females eat them after they’ve mated.”

“Ouch.” Colt winced, fighting the urge to cup his balls and protect them. “Never been happier to be gay.”

Mason laughed and turned to Colt. The dim light from the kitchen limned the contours of Mason’s face and glittered like white gold in his eyes. Colt couldn’t see their color in the low light, but he knew the warmth those hazel eyes held. He remembered what it had felt like to be looked at like he was the only thing in this world that mattered. He’d loved how Mason had always made him feel like he could do anything, like he was invincible. He’d been so head over heels in love, once upon a time.

Mason’s laugh faded, and his smile softened, but his eyes remained on Colt, heated and intent. Mesmerized, Colt couldn’t look away. Time paused, as though it, too, was held in the trap of Mason’s gaze.

Was he leaning closer? Was Mason? He hadn’t noticed either of them moving, but somehow, his face was close enough to Mason’s to feel the gentle gust of Mason’s breath on his cheeks.

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