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“But only one of them made it home, didn’t it?” Roark said as Logan went back to the mini fridge to retrieve the rest of the cartons.

“Acceptable casualty,” Logan declared as he pulled the rest of them out.

“I am officially declaring this space a no-worry zone,” Roark declared as he bit into one of the mutton and gorgonzola puffs.

“I second that and propose it be a no-work zone too,” Logan added. “No clipboards, no paperwork, no spreadsheets so you can crunch numbers in between fish.”

“Then may I add a stipulation of my own?” Roark countered.

“Of course.”

“No talk of anything involving what you can do to a vehicle to make it go faster or handle better,” Roark said, glancing between his mates when he said it, since Rusty had found a fellow gearhead in Logan.

Working at the garage had always been about being closer to Rusty and the rest of their club brothers. It had never been something he’d particularly loved. He’d jumped at the chance to start spearheading projects and never looked back. That didn’t mean he didn’t remember what it was like to start taking a vehicle apart in his mind, analyzing all the pieces before he headed back to work in the morning.

“Fair,” Rusty said. “I can sprawl here and dream up new instruments to make with the pups. The drum session went over so well with Wren that they asked if there was a way to make a string instrument next.”

“Bet you were on the internet in a flash, looking for an answer for them.”

“Nope. They asked to call their uncle Flame to see if he’d help with that one,” Rusty explained. “He jumped at the chance to do the research and promised to find all the material, too. As soon as he has everything they need, he’ll be out to make them with Wren.”

“They sure wrapped him around their little paws in a hurry, didn’t they?” Roark said.

“Who could resist all that adorableness?”

“True. That would have been the benediction for certain.”

“Instead, he’s turning it into his redemption,” Rusty said. “I couldn’t be happier for him.”

“Emari said Flame has been spending time in the studio at the gallery,” Roark said, “and that Lysander has popped in several times too. He and Emari have gone out for cider and barbecue at Atlas’ place.”

“Lysander took an instant liking to Emari,” Logan admitted. “I warned him about the whole situation with him and Flame, since he was beginning to wonder if maybe Emari could be his mate, with the way they clicked.”

“Emari said the same thing to me,” Roark said.

“All Flame said to me was that he asked Emari if it would bother him any if he came and painted there until he was steady enough to make his way through the snow. Emari told him that he would be disappointed if Flame didn’t,” Rusty explained.

“Sounds like a bit of time is what’s needed in this instance,” Logan said. “If it’s meant to be, the fates will spell it out on their skin, in which case, my phone will go bonkers with all the text messages Lysander sends.

“How much do you wanna bet our phones start going crazy at the exact same time and right when we have our hands full,” Roark said.

“Depends. What’s on the table?” Logan replied.

“Hmmm.”

Roark nibbled on the edge of a puff, giving careful consideration to his mate’s question while pondering his response. “If you’re right, I’ll help you tie Rusty to the bed so we can torment him. If you win, you guys get to use the ropes on me.”

“Deal.”

“Hang on a minute,” Rusty said. “What the hell am I getting out of all this?”

Roark stared at him. So did Logan.

Rusty’s eyes widened seconds later and he started laughing. “Never mind, forget I said anything.”

“Exactly,” Roark said, while Logan started chuckling. “Sheesh, what are you thinking?”

“It’s a bet then,” Logan said. “Either way. I win.”