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He patted Dalton before moving away. He knew Dalton needed to warm up. Hell, he needed to watch. There was nothing like that ass in the saddle.

Practically made him drool.

“So.” Tony walked over. “Buick is a free agent?”

“Yessir. Free and clear.” Not that Buick needed him for that. Buick was great at being free and easy.

“Cool.” That grin made him laugh.

“Good luck.”

“I won’t need luck, just skill.”

“Oh-ho!” Was it just him, or was everyone hornier than usual?

Maybe it was pheromones. Maybe it was just that he’d forgotten what it was like to be in the open. That was probably a lot of it. Up in the big show a man could still lose his job for being too obvious. Here? You felt safe at worst, welcomed at best.

Tank was gonna get real spoiled, real fast.

“Tank, man, I need your opinion on this bull. I don’t know if I want to buck him in the short-go.” Dustin had a tablet and a frown.

“Sure. Lead the way.” He knew his bulls pretty well, and it made him proud that Dustin would ask.

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” Dustin was all boss, all game face, no bullshit.

Tank moved through the chutes, and the bull in question was three pens back. “We gonna buck him with the radio pack to test him out, or am I just looking at his feet and all?”

“We got time to buck him. Hell, I got a half-dozen cowboys’ll do it for shits and giggles, but I got video first.”

“Well, cool. He looks sound.” Dustin had to have a reason to have reservations, after all.

Time to get to work. Damn, he did love his job.

Chapter Twenty

THEY PULLEDinto the Double D Ranch, the big gate rolling open, leading to the wide tree-lined path up to the houses. Tank drove into the circular drive while Dalton parked the trailer and walked around to plug it in. That way he could clean out the fridge later.

Tank came around to help. “Look at this setup.”

“We had them built. Did lots of the work ourselves.” He knew pride was a sin, but Dalton was damn proud of their spread.

Dustin’s place was two stories, and his was long and low, but they were both faced in Texas granite, and the huge patio, pool, outdoor kitchen joined them in the middle.

“That’s an amazing thing.” Tank sounded so tickled.

“Yeah. Home, home, home.” He grinned at his lover. “Want the tour?”

“Hell yes.” Tank goosed him.

He jumped, and two border collies came rushing up, all tails and teeth and wild barking.

Tank backed off a step to let Dalton calm them.Good man.

“My babies!” He bent down, and Dodger leapt at him, talking to him hysterically while Roger snorted and sniffed and explored him. “Tank, this hooligan I’m holding is Dodger. The little shit is Roger.”

Tank eased down to one knee, holding out a hand when Roger sniffed him out.

“They’re not biters. Loud buttheads, but not biters. Momma must have sent them over.”