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“What the hell are y’all doing here?” Tank’s voice rose with what Dalton figured was surprise, but he didn’t sound mad.

“We came to hang with you for a few weeks, honey! We missed your gorgeous face!”

Honey?Now it was Dalton’s turn to frown.

“My ugly mug?” Tank snort-laughed. “Let me get dressed. You boys stay right there.”

“Yeah, yeah. We’ll take you to breakfast. There’s an IHOP off 30.”

“You mind if Dalton comes with us?” Tank asked it so casual-like, but the question made his heart pound. Tank wanted him to come.

“Nope. He your new beau, or are you just shacking up?”

“Watch it, Buick.” Now Tank’s bass rumble held a clear warning. “We’re together.”

Buick Davis. Christ, he must have been fuck-addled to not recognize the bull rider. Of course, he’d had on a gimme cap, not the distinctive feathered felt. Still.

Tank’s big show fuck buddy.

Whoa.

Dalton dressed slowly, glancing up when Tank ducked to the back of the trailer with him. “Christ on a pogo stick,” Tank said so only he could hear. “Must be bored if they came looking for me.”

He made himself laugh. “Least they knew where to knock.” He had to wonder who’d sent them over without a word of warning.

“Yep. I might have killed them if they hadn’t.” Tank yanked on clothes. “Want to go to breakfast?”

“Sure, if you want. I mean, they’re here for you….” But he wanted to go.

“I need backup, baby.” Tank stopped in his jeans and socks to peck a kiss on Dalton’s lips.

“I’m your man, then.”

“You are. Wear the blue shirt. I love that one on you.”

Dalton flushed, but he pulled out the blue button-down. If it would keep Tank’s eyes on him and not Buick Davis, then so be it.

It would be what it was.

Chapter Seventeen

TANK STAREDat Buick from across the table at the IHOP. Him and Dalton sat together, Buick on the other side. Matt, Slim, and Tyler had taken an adjoining booth.

Buick just grinned like he was on top of the world. Tank wanted to kick him under the table. Hard.

“So we have three weeks off, and we’ve decided to see what brought you here. We missed you.” Butter wouldn’t melt in Buick’s mouth.

“Uh-huh. I thought you were headed to Colorado for Cattlemen’s Days.”

Buick shook his head. “That’s well after the Fourth, honey.”

“I’ll get y’all in contact with my brother, Dustin. He’ll get you on the roster.” Dalton’s voice was calm, not cool, but not particularly friendly. Neutral maybe.

“Thanks. I love to ride!”

Tank glared. Even if that wasn’t any kind of double entendre, it made him uncomfortable to hear it.

“What? You know it’s true. I can use all the points I can get, and so can the boys. It’ll bring people in.”