Page 32 of Broken Wheels
Josh couldn’t look at him. “Can I ask…. I mean, would it be okay if….” He sighed. “Would it be wrong of me to ask for a hug?”
There was the minutest pause before Dixon spoke. “Why would you think it’s wrong? Who doesn’t enjoy being held, even if it’s just for a few moments?” Josh glanced at his face, and Dixon smiled. “Okay, you might be the one with the brains around here, but even I know a hug releases oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, helping to lower anxiety, stress, and blood pressure. To be quite honest, I think the world would be a better place if we hugged it out instead of fighting all the time.” He lifted an arm. “Come here.”
It was as if an electromagnet had been switched on. Josh found himself being pulled toward Dixon, leaning against him. Dixon completed the circuit by wrapping his other arm around Josh, squeezing him tight, Josh’s head against his shoulder.
Dixon was right. It felt amazing. Josh couldn’t recall the last time he’d had an honest-to-goodness hug. Probably when Grandma had given him one.
Dixon’s breath tickled his ear. “You ever need a hug, you come to me. On second thoughts, if you ever need anything, come see me. Understand? I’ll take care of you.”
A shiver rolled through him at Dixon’s words. Christopher had wanted to own him. His parents had wanted to give him to that ass. Dixon said he’d take care of Josh, and he had no reason to doubt it.
“’Kay,” Josh whispered back, his throat tightening.
Dixon tucked a knuckle under Josh’s chin and lifted slightly. “Hey, look at me.”
Josh was happy where he was, afraid that moving might shatter this amazing feeling. Still, he leaned back and peered into Dixon’s eyes.
Oh my. He couldn’t mistake the compassion he saw there. The warmth. And there was another emotion Josh couldn’t quantify, but the sight unfurled something deep in his belly, unraveling him.
Whatever it was, Josh liked it a lot.
“I’m serious, Doc.” Dixon’s voice was low and firm. “Whatever you need, any day, any time. I’m your guy, okay?”
Josh was too dumbfounded to do anything but nod.
Holy hell, Doc’s in my arms.
Okay, so it was just a hug, but if Dix died right that second, he’d go out a happy man.
Where the hell did that promise come from?
Not that he was too surprised he’d made it. Dix couldn’t think of a single thing he wouldn’t do if Doc asked him. Water your plants? I’m in. Rob a bank? Sure, we can discuss it. Kill your ex? Hell yes! He wanted to stay like this a little longer, but already through the tiny window he could see the ground getting closer. Within the next hour or so, they’d be at Cliff Tanner’s building. For Doc’s sake, Dix hoped they’d find answers, because it was clear—to Dix at least—that Doc was fraying at the edges. Sure, he tried to put on a brave face, but Dix knew better. He’d seen it too many times in the military. All the bluster in the world only lasted so long, and then reality set in and bravado turned to bone-numbing fear. For someone like Doc, they’d skipped the preshow and were already ass-deep in the nitty gritty.
“Buckle up.” Doc straightened in his seat, and Dix felt the loss of that warm body instantaneously. He fastened his seatbelt, then gripped the arms.
The hitch in Doc’s breathing had him turn his head. Doc gave him an incredulous stare. “You don’t like landings, do you?”
Dix snorted. “Do you have any idea how many disaster movies I’ve watched over the years? They can’t invent teleportation fast enough for me.”
Doc covered his hand with his own, smiling.
“What’s so funny?”
He chuckled. “You. You give off these big, bad, bold vibes, and then you go and say something like that.” The plane landed with a bump, and he tightened his hold on Dix’s hand. “I’ve got you.”
Dix wasn’t about to complain.
They descended the steps onto the tarmac, Dix taking the lead.
Doc stopped him with a hand to his arm. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Dix patted his jacket, feeling the reassuring lump of his holster. “I don’t think so.”
“Wasn’t there something you needed to say to me?”
There were a ton of things Dix wished he could say, but didn’t possess the nerve. “Such as?”
Doc grinned. “Don’t forget where we parked.” The peal of laughter that burst from his lips was the best thing Dix had heard in a long time.