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F uck, it was hot. It was humid.

Sticky.

Trent was hungry. He didn’t want to get up off the porch or out of Grampy’s old rocking chair because he’d finally just gotten comfortable in this stupid fucking set-up they had his arm in. He looked like a robot.

Trent had come home from Nashville in April, no problem. Wasn’t getting home that had been the issue. It was how this damn arm kept getting infected, and he kept having to have surgery. He was just tempted to cut the damn thing off.

Thank God he was left-handed, or he wouldn’t even manage to get his own damn jeans off.

As it was, he was spending all his time sitting on the porch watching the grass grow and the hummingbirds at the feeders.

Jesus, was he getting old.

His phone rang, startling the fuck out of him, Rope’s ringtone of “On the Road Again” blaring out. He fumbled it out of his pocket, damn near dropping it before he snatched it up. “What do you want?”

“Coming to pick you up in twenty to bring you to supper.”

“I’m not hungry.” He was starving, but he wasn’t going to say so because he didn’t want to get up, because he hated everything.

And he was hungry.

“I’ll be there in twenty. We got company. Your goddaughter wants to see you anyway.”

He couldn’t help his smile. That little girl, his little Faith, just had him wrapped around her finger, and she knew it, too.

“What if I say no?”

“You won’t. Now get yourself a damn shirt on.” Rope didn’t even wait to see if he answered. He just hung up. Fucker. Now Trent had to think about how to get out of this chair.

Life wasn’t fucking fair.

But what was, right?

By the time Rope showed up, he was dutifully cleaned up and dressed for supper. He’d even shaved for that little baby girl because she needed softer kisses from her god-daddy.

“Hey, Trent. You look great,” Jude said as he made his way up the front porch steps, holding onto the railing like an old man. There was one advantage to having supper here: Rope’s place had refrigerated air, and Rope’s handsome husband didn’t look one bit like he was melting.

He really needed to get a new unit, put it at his house, something bigger. He’d bet Rope knew someone.

“Thanks, man. Where’s my baby?”

He could say that because he could hear Silas out in the pool, splashing and jumping around. He learned fast that it hurt Silas’s feelings to only ask over the baby, and he got it.

He did.

Silas was a good kid, an exceptional one, and he was one hell of a little cowboy in training.

But Faith was his goddaughter.

He’d never had one of those before. Never seen a brand-new baby and been able to hold her right at the hospital like he was family.

And he was family.

Then again, he’d also been at the hospital fixin’ to have surgery, so it wasn’t like it was a long trip out to Austin.

“She’s sleeping. Come on in and sit down. We have company that you need to meet.”

Right. Company. “Rope said it was a friend of yours from the city.”

He’d discovered that they called it ‘the city’ like it was the only one ever. Made him feel like he belonged to say it that way, though.

“Mhm. He’s having some lemonade.” Jude offered him an arm. “Need a hand?”

“Shit, man. I need more than one.” He winked at Jude. “Rope wouldn’t let me dangle the groceries on the end of my brace, you know…”

“So unfair.” Jude chuckled and took him by his good elbow, steadying him a little without being all overprotective about it.

A tall man with neatly combed red hair and a shocking number of freckles on his pale skin stood as they came in.

“Fox, I want you to meet Trent James. He’s an old friend—I’m sorry, a long-time friend of Rope’s,” Jude teased. “Trent, Callum Fox, a good buddy of mine from New York.”

“Hey, there. Welcome to Texas. Pleased.” He waggled his fingers, but didn’t offer to shake. “Are you enjoying yourself so far, man?”

“I’ve been here all of one day, but yeah. The ranch is beautiful. We ate like kings last night. Hot as hell though. You want my chair? It’s got a good back on it.”

“No. No, I’m good.” He wasn’t going to be rude. No way. This was his best bud’s home, and he would never give offense.

“I got you your good chair out on the deck, buddy. I’m fixin’ to grill.” Rope winked at him, and he followed along.

“Come on, Fox. When Rope says grill, it’s not the little Webber you’re thinking about,” Jude said.

“No?”

Jude chuckled. “Just wait.”

They all headed out to the deck, which was under a nice pergola so there was some shade. The shrieks and laughter coming from the pool made him grin.

“Silas has a little girlfriend in the pool, huh?”

There was a soft laugh behind him, and Fox sounded amused. “That’s my daughter, Amelia. Don’t let her hear you say ‘girlfriend’.”

“Amelia. I like that name. That was my granny’s name.” Trent settled right down in the chair that he knew was saved out for him. He couldn’t fight his groan as he settled. “Oh, thanks for moving me into the shade, man.”

Rope grinned, winked at him. “Anytime, old man, anytime at all. I’m doing country ribs, hot dogs, and I got me a couple of burgers. What you want?”

“Did you get potato salad and coleslaw?”

“Yes, sir. Plus beans, Brown ‘N Serves, and Jude made his fancy deviled eggs. There’s strawberry shortcake for dessert later.”

“Listen to that.” Thank God and Greyhound for retirement. “I want ribs, please.”

He loved those country ribs with the burning passion of a thousand fiery suns. They were boneless, they ate like a dream, and Rope knew just how to cook them.

“Mr. Fox, what would you like?”

“I gotta say, the ribs do sound great.” Fox glanced around and chose a seat on his good side, pulling it up so they could talk without him having to crane his neck. “Amelia loves burgers.”

“Beer, guys?” Jude asked, heading for the beer fridge Rope kept on the deck.

“Yeah. I’ll take one.” He was being conservative with the pain pills. A guy never knew when he might need them.

Jude handed him and Fox a beer. He obviously knew Fox well enough to not need an answer.

“I really do love a beer on a hot day,” Fox said.

“What’s not to love?” Trent drank deep, letting the icy cold brew splash down into his empty gut. “What y’all been up to, besides getting in my business?”

Rope and Jude had folks coming to clean his house, change his bandages, feed his critters. It was like he was a kept man.

It was notable that Fox hadn’t even asked him what he’d done to himself yet.

“Summer is pretty loose around here,” Jude said with a snort. “Silas is occupying himself and getting tanned; I’m still working, but it’s slow with clients on vacation. And Rope—” Jude shook his head. “I don’t even know. I woke up one morning, and he’d bought yaks.”

“Yaks?” Fox sounded shocked. “Seriously?”

Trent fluttered his eyelashes. “You do not say? Yaks?”

Rope grinned over at him. “You know what yak butter is going for these days?”

“I hear there’s some restaurants down in Austin who are clamoring for it. You taught the boy how to milk a yak yet?”

Jude leaned toward Fox with a grin, but his eyes were on Rope. “Whenever someone says ‘yak’, Rope reminds us all what yak butter is going for these days. Pay attention. You’ll see it.”

“You really have a yak?” Fox asked again.

“No, they really have a gnu. We have four yaks.”

“Ali, Bebe, Cici, and DeeDee.” Silas waved from the pool. “Hey, Uncle Trent.”

“Hey, kiddo. How goes it?”

“Good! This is Amelia. She’s nice.”

“Hello, Uncle Trent!” Amelia parroted, laughing.

Fox sighed. “Sorry. Let me know if you prefer something more polite.”

“More polite? Hey, Amelia-girl! Nice to meet you!” Being family was the most polite, wasn’t it?

“Well, you know, less…” Fox shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve only been here a day, but somehow it feels like another planet.”

Rope patted Fox’s arm. “Jude said that a lot, but my Silas? Not even once. He’s our cowboy astronaut to the bone.”

Fox nodded. “Amelia slept hard last night so there must be something to all this fresh air.”

“Fresh air, goat poop, chlorine—it’s all magical.” Trent wasn’t even being sarcastic.

“Here’s to goat poop.” Rope held up his beer. Rope understood.

“So,” Fox turned in his seat to look at him. “I have to ask you what happened to your shoulder?”

“I had a hell of a wreck in Nashville, and then the new shoulder got infected. It’s been a summer.”

“A wreck?”

“He’s talking about a bull, Fox. Not a car,” Jude said, obviously speaking Fox’s language better than he did.

“Oh.” Fox winced. “Oh, man. You got thrown?”

“Thrown. Trampled. Hooked.” He rolled his eyes. “Possibly tap danced on. Twice.”

“Jesus. And you’ve had how many surgeries?” Fox leaned back in his chair. “Stop me if I’m asking too many questions, I’m just—I know nothing about bull riding. Well, except what Jude has tried to tell me about how amazing Rope was before he retired.”

“He’s still pretty damn amazing, just not at bull riding, and seven. It’s been great.”

Fox blinked at him. “Seven surgeries? That does sound like fun. Are you done yet?”

“Damn, I hope so. I’m ready to get myself back to work. I’m tired of sitting.” He needed to be able to feed his damn cows.

“I guess you have a bunch of rehab ahead, huh?” Fox sipped his beer, a blue-eyed gaze shifting between him and the pool.

“That’s the rumor. I’m going to have one of those swim spa deals put in, I think. I can exercise in there, relax.” Trent wanted to roll his shoulder, so bad. He also wanted to scratch it, deep down.

“Sounds like a great idea if you’ve got the space, which I assume you do. There’s a lot of elbow room out here. I’m not used to that.”

“Do you live close to where Jude and them did?” He’d never been inside Jude’s old apartment, but they’d all traveled by the last time they were in New York.

“No, actually. I live farther north on the Upper West Side. It’s a little bit of a ride to work for me, but I wanted Amelia to be close to her school.”

“Ah.” That meant absolutely nothing to him, but he was exceptional at smiling and agreeing.

Fox shrugged. “I told you. It’s another planet.”

Amelia and Silas came wandering up. Silas was happily dripping away, and Amelia was wrapped up tight in a striped towel.

“Hey, sweets. Are you done swimming?”

“I’m all pruney.” Amelia held out her hand for her father to investigate.

“You sure are.” Fox gave her hand a squeeze. “Time to dry off? Do you want to go change? If you bring me your brush, I’ll help with your hair.”

“I’m hungry,” Silas announced to everyone.

Jude snorted. “Get your towel and dry off, buddy.”

“Okay, Daddy. Daddy Rope, can you make me a hot dog? I’m starving.” Silas put his hand over his forehead, swaying dramatically. “Wasting away.”

Amelia rolled her eyes. “Nobody ever starved waiting five minutes for a hot dog.”

Silas hit the deck, arms splayed out to the sides. “Dying.”

Amelia bent over him and wrung out her hair, water landing on his stomach.

Silas gasped. “That’s cold!”

Amelia ran, and Silas chased her into the house, laughter following them both.

“Don’t run in the house!” Jude and Fox called after them.

“Oh, Yankee in stereo!” Trent loved it.

Everyone cracked up, especially Fox, who had the most amazing fit of the giggles.

“Oh, now you’ve done it, Trent. That was pretty impressive; you’ve only known him an hour.”

“Shut up,” Fox managed to say through the giggles.

“You need oxygen yet?” Trent asked.

Fox wheezed. “Shut. Up.”

“Ah, the man has a sense of humor. I like that in a neighbor.” Trent was tickled. He loved when he made an impression.

Fox just shook his head and took a couple of deep, deep breaths. He stopped giggling but not smiling. “Damn. It’s been a while; I needed that laugh.”

“Well, I’m tickled shitless I could provide it.” He winked over at the guy. It was cool to feel useful.

“Worth the trip down just for the laugh, huh?” Jude hugged Fox’s shoulders, and Fox looked sheepish.

“Yeah. Yeah, maybe.” Fox sipped his beer again and seemed to sink into his chair a little.

“It works, man. Nothing wrong with letting your friends ease your shit, right?”

Nothing wrong with friends.

That was why he was here, right? To be with friends that had nothing to do with his job—his former job—or New York, or anything.

He wondered though, if he might have taken that advice too far. This wasn’t New York for sure. It wasn’t anything like anywhere he’d ever been. Jude was a good friend, Rope was an outstanding host, but Fox had never felt so completely lost and out of place in his life.

“We all need friends.”

He wasn’t sure what else to say to that without opening a door he didn’t really want to open. He’d managed to keep the conversation off him so far.

“Rope, this deck is amazing. Do you spend all summer out here?” It had the grill and the pool, but also a fridge and a couple of burners like an outdoor kitchen.

“All summer when I’m not working, yes.” Rope grinned over. “I spend a lot of time out in the pasture while Jude watches the boy in the pool and works on his computer.”

Jude rolled his eyes. “Ah, yes, I work on my computer. That’s what my husband thinks I do for a living.”

“He’s not totally wrong.”

“Who asked you?” Jude shot him a playful look.

“Don’t you work on your computer?” Rope honestly seemed confused. “I mean, you have meetings, and you type a lot…”

“Yes, dear.” Jude slid an arm around Rope’s back and kissed Rope’s shoulder. He tried to ignore the little bit of himself that hurt to see that. He was glad that they were happy. He should get over himself.

He was struggling with that. That was why he was here, right?

Trent smiled at him, winked. “They’re still newlyweds, but damn they’re gooey for new dads.”

“Right?” That made him chuckle. He appreciated the wink. “I hear you’re the baby’s godfather?”

Trent’s craggy, tanned face lit up, the greenish-gold eyes dancing. “Miss Faith was born when I was in the hospital. I was one of the first folks to hold her. She’s my godgirl.”

He loved the pride in Trent’s voice. “That’s really neat. She’s beautiful.” She had a set of lungs on her too, but if a baby wasn’t keeping her dads on their toes, she wasn’t doing her job. At least that was how he remembered it.

“Hot dog?” Silas asked, coming out of the house as fast as he’d gone in. He was dressed like a mini version of Rope in jeans and a button-down.

Rope arched one eyebrow.

“I mean, can I have a hot dog, please, sir?”

“Sure you can, buddy. Here goes.”

Amelia came back in a cotton sundress covered in sunflowers and leaned against him for a second. “Hi, Daddy.”

“Hey, sweets.” He circled an arm around her waist and gave her a squeeze. “Did you have a good swim?”

“I love their pool. It’s so nice.”

“I know, right? Are you hungry? I asked Uncle Rope to put a burger on for you.”

“Ooh. Yes, please!” She looked up at Rope with that sweet smile she reserved for when she wanted something. “May I please have a cheeseburger, Uncle Rope?”

“Of course you can, honey. Mayo, mustard, ketchup? We also got lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, and jalapenos.”

“Ketchup and lettuce please. Are jalapenos the hot things?” Amelia was a good eater, but she hadn’t had any exposure to spicy food.

“They are. They have some kick.”

Silas rolled his eyes. “They’re hot , Amelia. H. O. T.”

“Ohh.” Amelia looked very serious. “No thank you, then. Just lettuce. Do you have Sprite?”

Jude pointed. “Silas, can you see if there’s a Sprite in the cooler?”

Silas dug around in the ice-filled cooler. “There are! Can I have one too, Daddy?”

“Just one, but yes.”

He knew Jude preferred Silas not have too much soda. “We don’t go away very often. I might be more indulgent than usual.”

“Eh. It’s summer break, and Silas gets plenty of exercise to wear him out on the ranch.” Jude stretched his legs out, grinning. “The move here was so good for him.”

“Can we eat by the pool?”

“At the table, not on the deck. Okay?”

“Okay!” Silas led Amelia off to a picnic table.

“Amelia likes it so far.” He was happy about that. She needed some fun. Silas was keeping her occupied, so that might give him some time to himself. Time to think.

“She’s a sweetheart. Is she in the same grade as Silas?”

“She’s a year younger, but she and Silas have… some things in common.” Fox wasn’t sure if all of that was casual barbecue conversation. “Do you have kids?”

“No, sir. I’m single as the day is long.”

“Oh, me too,” he answered without thinking. He sipped his beer to cover while he figured out what he was going to say next.

“Yeah? I’m assuming you’re into fellers like the rest of us?”

Fellers . Trent was all Texan and so charming it made Fox smile. “Yep. Totally queer.”

He was just sitting here with a couple of gay cowboys—and Jude, who didn’t seem to have become a cowboy exactly, but fit in just fine anyway.

He knew what Trent was going to ask next, so he answered, if vaguely. “Amelia was born with the help of a surrogate.”

“That’s cool. She’s a beauty.” Trent nodded, and he got another of those smiles, warm and easy. “She seems to be having fun, too. You might need another beer. You look worn to the bone.”

He snorted softly. He really must look rough if a total stranger was pointing it out. “I am… well, to be truthful, we’re here because I needed some time away. I’m exhausted. But I like how you think.”

“Help yourself,” Jude pointed to the little fridge, and Fox hauled his butt out of his chair.

“Anyone else, while I’m up?”

“I’m good.” Jude was never a big drinker.

“I’m a one and done until the pain pills are empty, but thanks.”

How did that man just sit there, baking, with God knew what underneath all those bandages?

“Rope? Or am I drinking number two alone?” Wouldn’t be the first time. He’d been drinking alone for a long while, and some nights, he didn’t stop at two.

“I will so join you. I have light beer. The second one is free.” Rope winked at Trent, and they both cracked up.

He laughed. “I like this philosophy.” Fox pulled out two beers and handed one off to Rope.

One more beer would help. These were good friends, and he was going to relax and be social and normal for crying out loud. “Those ribs smell incredible.”

“I love them—smoked ribs are great, but there’s something special about country ribs.”

Trent sort of bobbed in agreement. “You know it, man.”

“I don’t think I’m that well-versed in ribs. But I’ll take your word for it. I’m just hungry.” Which was something in itself. Fox hadn’t bothered to eat a real meal in ages.

“Of course you are. You’ve been out in the sun and the air. It’s good for you.” Trent sounded so sure.

He smiled at Trent, which felt strangely good. “I think you Texans might be on to something.”

“The whole ranch life thing is a secret of longevity.” Trent shot Rope a wicked glance. “Unless you fall under a bull.”

Rope snorted. “That does tend to throw a wrench into the long-life deal.”

“Or at least a long life without injury.” Fox pointed his beer at Trent’s shoulder. “Can you go back after… all of that?”

“I could, but I’m not going to. I’m old and tired, and I’m going to raise critters and sell yak butter by the road.”

“I hear there’s a fortune to be made in yak butter.” He winked at Trent and sipped his beer. Trent was beat up, and maybe too old to ride, but he obviously wasn’t old. “Seriously though, that sounds like a pretty good idea.”

“I hope so.” Trent winked over. “I just want to take care of my own shit at the ranch.”

“That’s going to take some time, man.” Rope pointed out.

“Everything takes time,” Fox said, sounding more exasperated than he meant to.

“No shit on that, but I’m ready for this nonsense to be done.”

“If you need a hand while I’m here, let me know. I don’t have any plans.” No plans at all. Just hanging out here with the blue sky and the heat and his own stupid thoughts. Although they felt a little less stupid here than they did in New York. Bigger, and yet not. Better and worse. He needed to get his head around it.

“Yeah? You like animals? I don’t have as many as Rope, here, but I got a lot of chickens…”

“I don’t know the first thing about animals, actually. But I am very good at taking directions.”

Jude laughed. “No, you’re not.”

“Okay, fine.” He snorted. “I’m not. But I am so willing to pretend I am.”

“I can help, Uncle Trent! I can show Amelia how to gather eggs and feed.” Silas popped up like a daisy in the spring.

“That’s a great idea,” Rope chimed in.

“Chickens?” Amelia’s face lit up. “Like real chickens?”

“Like about forty hens, three roosters, and twenty chicks.”

“Ooh! Can I, Daddy? Please?” Amelia looked pretty excited about it.

“Of course, why not? As long as it’s okay with Trent—uh, Uncle Trent.” Instant family. That thought made him grin.

“Of course it is. Y’all are always welcome, and I’d love the help. The front door will be open; just come on in.”

That was wild. “I’m from New York. The land of locked everything . I’m not sure I’m capable of just walking in.”

“We’ll knock first,” Silas said, so confident. “In case he’s peeing or naked.”

“Ha!” He laughed so suddenly that he was glad he hadn’t just sipped his beer. “Right. Great. Very good idea.” And that was it, he was off giggling again. That was twice in the span of an hour, which was twice more than he had in a month.

“Silas! You said peeing!” Amelia whispered, and Silas grinned at her.

“So did you.”

Okay. He had to hand it to his therapist. Claire had been right.

This was a good idea.