Page 5

Les beamed. “Good deal. You know these bulls.”

“I did, and I’ve been keeping an eye on y’all. I needed to come back for my sanity. This is home.”

“For a lot of us.”

“It’s a good spot.” Dalton and Dustin came back into the light, Dalton catching his attention.

Jesus. Look at that hot little hard body. Look at him move. Dalton was… a blond dream. A man now, instead of a kid.

A stud.

One who had been hot for him more than a few years ago.

He grinned. Knowing his luck, Dalton had a boyfriend now. Christ, Dalton had been fifteen back then, and he wasn’t going fishing in a throwback pond.

Hell, who was he kidding? Dalton had to have fucked a dozen guys by now. The thought shouldn’t bother him, but it kinda did. That wasn’t fair, but hey.

He wandered out to the guys, needing to know whether they were happy to see him or just pissed that their world was fixin’ to change.

“I SEEthe way you still look at him.”

“Shut up, Bubba. It don’t matter. It’s just admiring.”

Tank was built like his nickname—square and solid as a rock, muscles from here to there, and eyes so dark they looked like a hawk’s. Fuck, Dalton wanted to get on his knees and worship Tank like some Roman idol.

That would probably be awkward as fuck.

“He’s something. Not my style, but pretty.” Dustin was laughing at him, damn it.

“Boys, get out there and make sure those assholes leave.” Pops was on the phone, to Momma he was sure. He hated being sent on bullshit errands so his folks could talk.

“The bullfighters are out there with Ben.” They could handle watching taillights, for fuck’s sake.

“Uh-huh. The team will have their hands full with Ben alone. Go. Help. Be useful.”

“Now, Pops, you know at least one of us is useful. I can’t be replaced with any fool on a saddle.”

“I will beat you, Bubba,” Dalton said, with no heat. “Seriously.”

Besides, Tank was out there.

Fucking hot Tank Martin, with his broad shoulders and his dark eyes and….

“Unless you’re scared.”

“Fuck off, Bubba.” Time for a noogie.

He grabbed Dustin by the head, digging his knuckles in as his baby brother by three minutes squealed. “Where’s your hat, Bubba?”

“Shut up. It’s in my back pocket. Dork.”

They struggled briefly, but Pops had given them a job to do, so they quit laughing soon enough and trailed out to parking, where they watched to make sure the offender was getting his shit and getting the hell out of Dodge.

Looked good, actually. Only three remaining trucks were firing up, so they would just make sure no one decided to hit a company vehicle on the way out.

“You boys need backup?” Tony and Ben showed with Tank right behind.

Dustin winked at Dalton, and he could hear the softhe can’t remember we’re not fourteen anymoreechoing in his head.