2. Dexter

Chapter 2

Dexter

The smell of hay and horses filled my nostrils as I stepped into the stable. Sunlight streamed through the open barn doors, blinding me with dust motes that danced in the air. Most people would have thought it was gross, but I loved it. Loved it enough to suck in a deep breath.

This place always grounded me when the stress of deliveries and deadlines and porch pirates got to be too much.

"Mr. Dexter! You're here!" A small voice piped up, followed by the patter of sneakers on concrete.

I turned and saw Mia racing toward me with a wide, toothless grin. Her enthusiasm made my heart swell. These kids, with their unbridled enthusiasm and open hearts, were the reason I kept coming back. "Hey there, cowgirl. Ready to groom Buttercup?"

Mia nodded eagerly as her pigtails bounced from side to side. “Ready, Freddy.”

I grabbed a curry comb and led her to Buttercup's stall. “Let’s get to it.” As she climbed onto the step stool, my hand instinctively reached out to steady her. “Do it like I showed you last time.”

Pride swelled in my chest as I watched Mia's small hand form gentle circles over Buttercup's coat. Moments like that were what I lived for, but they were also a precursor to the most inconvenient times of my life. The times when my milk ducts let down and I started to leak.

The drywear shirt I had on would help for a while, but I needed to lighten the mood before I got all sentimental and the floodgates opened up.

I’d been feeling the weight of my loneliness more often since volunteering with the inner-city kids. It made me happy to bring some of the country to their concrete-jungle lives, but hanging out with them a few hours per week wasn’t enough anymore. Someday, I hoped to have a boy of my own. Someone who trusted me to care for him and love him in his most vulnerable moments.

A Little looking for a Daddy.

Until then, I poured my paternal instincts into these moments, cherishing each wide-eyed look of wonder and each tentative pat on a velvety muzzle. "You're doing great, kiddo. You’re a natural."

I glanced at my watch, calculating how much time I had before my next delivery run. The constant juggle of responsibilities was exhausting, but for now, it was my only opportunity for finding joy.

Mia stopped and turned to me. "Mr. Dexter, can we go for a ride after?"

"Let’s see how much time we have after grooming.” I picked up a soft brush and ran it along Buttercup’s flank. “But I think we can take a few laps in the corral."

As Mia chatted away about school and her dreams of becoming a veterinarian, I soaked in the childish conversation. Soon enough, I’d be back to the grind, rushing from address to address in the frantic world of same-day deliveries.

The morning sun shone right in my eyes, reflecting off the blanket of snow surrounding me as I guided my delivery van through the winding streets of Leavenworth. This town was my favorite place to be around the holidays. The storefronts looked like they were straight out of a nursery rhyme, with gingerbread trim and flower boxes decorated with lights and wreaths. All of it a stark contrast to the boring packages stacked in my cargo hold.

I pulled up to the curb outside my favorite brewery and killed the engine. Owning the delivery route was lucrative and just kept getting more and more profitable, but that didn’t make me love it the way my ancestors had loved their work. Three generations of my family had called this town home, but I was the first to make my living without the clip-clop of hooves as a soundtrack.

After adjusting my Santa cap, I hefted a box from the back of the van and headed to the back door. “Hey, Dean. Got a box for you.”

"Hey, Santa! Got my new hops in there?"

"Probably.” I shrugged and held out my tablet. “Sign here, please."

The brewmaster's calloused hands reminded me of my father's. Hard work left its mark, whether shoeing horses or crafting beer. "How's business? I’m sure the snow brings a lot of thirsty tourists."

"Definitely.” He inhaled deeply and leaned against the wall. “We can't keep up with demand most days. You?"

"Same.” I checked the signature and then took a few steps back. “As we get closer to Christmas, I work almost around the clock."

We shared a chuckle, both caught in the relentless pace of modern commerce. At least he had a family to go home to at night. For me, I went home to an empty apartment. After the holidays were over, I needed to plan a trip to the city. A few scenes at one of the clubs there might be enough to scratch my itch. The guys in the Lactin Brotherhood were pretty active and held Little suckle sessions.

That was really what I needed. Someone to cuddle and feed as if they were my baby boy.

I started the engine, ready to continue my route, with the mountains looming in my rearview mirror. Next on my list was my favorite customer. Avery Sullivan. The adorable grandson of Miss Joy, may she rest in peace.

The Jeep was in the driveway in front of the cozy cottage when I pulled up behind it.

Like usual, I hopped out and grabbed the pile of boxes from the back that had Avery’s name on them. Most had plain brown packaging from the distribution center. But then I noticed the telltale purple and white logo I used to see all the time back in the city. Little Dreams Adult Nursery.

My heart skipped a beat as I put two and two together. I knew that store intimately and had spent many late nights perusing their website for products I stocked for scenes.

I shook my head, refocusing on my job. This wasn't about me. It was about Avery Sullivan. Was he Little?

Balancing the stack carefully, I made my way up the front porch steps. Through the window, I could see the young man, Avery, hunched over a table. Colorful containers were spread out, and he seemed lost in concentration.

I rang the doorbell, trying not to stare in at him as I waited, but failing miserably. After a long moment, Avery glanced up. Our eyes met briefly, but he just shook his head and gave an impatient wave of dismissal before turning back to his work.

Okay, I guess he wasn’t in a hurry for his packages.

I stacked them in a pile on his porch and took a picture. None of these required a signature, so I gave him his privacy and went back to work. As much as I tried not to think about it, my curiosity gnawed at me. I climbed into the driver's seat and glanced back at the house one last time before pulling away.

There was more to this Avery kid than met the eye, and I intended to see it all.