Free Home For The Holidays (Dirt Track Dogs #6) by P. Jameson

rather be in his bed, holding his mate, instead of on tree-sitting duty.
    A knock on the front door pulled him out of his pouting, and he rose from the couch to see who it was.
    Pulling open the door, a gust of frigid wind whipped inside. It felt like a storm was coming. Perhaps an early ice storm. They happened sometimes in December, but most often after the new year.
    Aaron stood on the porch, hunched into his coat to ward off the wind.
    “Hey,” Blister said, not sure if he wanted to let him inside.
    Annie’s brother had stuck around all month, dropping in from time to time, and seeming to make an effort getting to know the dogs. Blister had even caught him playing with Gracie when he thought no one was looking.
    The man was making strides, but somehow, he still felt dangerous.
    “Hey.” He breathed into his hands. “My sister around? I need to talk to her.”
    Blister stepped aside, letting him in. “She’s asleep. Can I get you something? A drink?” A kick in the ass out the door?
    Aaron’s gaze landed on the pillow and blanket setup on the couch and he smirked. “Trouble in paradise?”
    “Not even remotely.”
    “Riiiight.”
    Blister crossed his arms over his chest and propped his butt up on the arm of the sofa.
    “Things aren’t always as they seem you know.” He let his tone go soft. He didn’t want to wake his mate. She needed all the rest she could get since their young would be here in a matter of days. “You could stand to learn a lesson in that.”
    Aaron tipped his head to the side. “Alright then. Teach me. What’s going on here?” He gestured to Blister’s temporary bed.
    Blister eyed the man. He didn’t like telling people his business. Never had. Opening up to people was like peeling back layers of an onion and shoving it in their face and saying, “Here, take a whiff of my stank.”
    “I’m tree-sitting,” he muttered.
    “Tree-sitting?”
    “Yeah. Making sure the damn thing doesn’t catch on fire.”
    Aaron frowned. “I don’t follow.”
    Blister sighed. Explanations. He was the worst at ‘em. Couldn’t people just use their brains to put the pieces he gave them together on their own? Why this incessant need for details ?
    “As a young, my entire family died in a fire while they slept in the night. I was the only one who made it out. I want to make sure nothing like that happens to my Annie and our baby.”
    Aaron was silent for a long time while Blister focused on the panels of hardwood beneath their feet.
    “So… you’re sleeping on the couch so you’re around in case something happens,” he said finally.
    “Got it.” Blister looked up to see the man eyeing the small fire extinguisher near the couch.
    “Annie know?”
    “She caught on last night. I wasn’t sneaky enough leaving our bed after she fell asleep.”
    Aaron’s blond eyebrow quirked. “What’d she say?”
    Blister’s mouth curved in a half-smile. “Wanted to take the whole tree down so I’d come back to bed.”
    “Sounds like my sister.” He sighed, sinking down on the sofa like the weight of an eternity was on his shoulders.
    “It’s true, isn’t it? That your pack is good? That you care about people. Love your community and family. That you aren’t trying to tear down, but build up.”
    Blister moved to the chair by the fireplace. “Yeah. That’s us I guess. We don’t want to hurt anyone. But we’ll protect our own fiercely. That’s for damn sure.”
    “Your own. That seems to include the people of Cedar Valley. And damn near anyone you come in contact with.” He paused, a smile creeping up his cheeks. “Except for strangers who break into your house in the middle of the night thinking it’s still theirs.”
    “Naw,” Blister said. “I think we pretty much consider you one of us now too. You just had to stop being an asshole.”
    “I don’t think it’s possible to stop completely. I can’t. I have responsibilities—” He ground his jaws together and then seemed to get