Page 6

6

“ T rent. Buddy. I got our supper. Sorry I was so late. I hit the grocery store and picked up things for here and a few things from Jude’s.”

Trent blinked, trying to remember where he was. He’d been dreaming about Hawaii, about beaches and pretty men.

“I do like pretty men.” He smiled and sat up.

Fox damn near tripped over his own feet. “You don’t say?”

“Sorry. Sorry, I was dreaming about… dreaming.” He lifted the bottom of his T-shirt and wiped his face from where he had been sweating. “Sorry. Burgers smell good.”

“They really do.” Fox hesitated for a second, then offered him a hand up. “Ready to eat?”

“Totally. I’m so in.” He stood up, his shoulder still being quiet. He was so in. “Was the store okay for you?”

It wasn’t a big HEB or nothing, but it was just fine.

“It was perfect. I didn’t recognize some of the brands, but it got the job done. Your fridge was empty. Like, really empty. I’ll be able to make a couple of meals now.”

“I’ll show you where the big freezer is too. There’s chicken, turkey, cabrito, beef. Whatever you want.” He was curious to know what all Fox had bought, but he needed those onion rings.

“No rush. Right now, I want that cheeseburger. Come on.” Fox led the way to the back porch where there were burgers, onion rings, and Cokes.

And a box of kittens.

Six. He was going to have to set them up somewhere. Maybe the laundry room. He’d worry about it after food.

Fox opened his Coke for him and sat down. “I guess you had a good nap, huh? Sorry I woke you, but I figured this was better hot.”

“No. No, that’s fine. I’m glad.” He was starving, and this was perfect. “Did they give you any ranch?”

“Yes. I thought it was odd but…” Fox handed it over. “You need me to cut that burger or anything?”

Weird? That he was glad or the burger? “What part? And please. I got to manage it one-handed.”

“Ranch. On burgers.” Fox must have been thinking about him because he picked up a knife that was already on the table.

“It’s for the onion rings.” Silly man. Although he could dip his burger.

Fox tilted his head as he cut the burger into something Trent could pick up one-handed. “Still weird. But… I might try it.”

“Did you get something to dip your rings in then?” He didn’t know if he had anything besides ranch… “And you can have as much as you want.”

“Yeah, ketchup. All good.” Fox opened up his own burger. “Oh, man. This looks so good. Eat up. I know you’re hungry.”

He got the half burger up and chowed down. It was a little messy, and he had to struggle some, but it tasted so damn good.

“M-mm. You’re right, this is delicious.” Fox took another bite and closed his eyes. “Mmm.”

Okay, that was awful pretty. He could watch Fox’s lips for hours, he swore. They made his eyes cross some.

Fox chewed for a bit, then chuckled as he put his burger down. “This is going to sound stupid, but I’m not sure I’ve ever slowed down enough to really enjoy a burger.”

“That’s a shame. I do love me a burger, man. Swear to God.” And this was the best one in a month of Sundays.

“Amelia is also a fan of a cheeseburger. You look a little like you could use to eat a few more.” Fox winked at him.

“Ensure. It’s the fucking bane of my existence. Still, it’s easy, and it’s calories, right?” And he didn’t have to ponder on it too hard.

“I suppose.” Fox picked up an onion ring. “It’s not a cheeseburger. Or tacos. Or spaghetti and meatballs.”

“Lasagna. King Ranch casserole. Frito chili pie.” He loved all of the above.

“Oh.” Fox’s eyes went wide. “You’re going to have to teach me about Frito chili pie.”

“You don’t know it? Damn, you have been neglected. I’ll help.”

Frito chili pie—no matter how someone did it—was necessary.

“Excellent. Who doesn’t love Fritos?” Fox chomped on an onion ring. “This is nice. Easy. I mean, Jude is great and really kind to let us stay, but dinner is a whole production over there.”

“Lord yes. There’s my godgirl, plus working around whatever the boy has, and God help him, Rope’s decided to become a damn foodie.” It made no sense, but it was what it was.

“Right? And everyone has to sit together and… use a fork.” Fox looked at him like that was the most ridiculous idea ever, but he couldn’t hold a straight face for long.

“You forgot about the ‘ask about your day’ thing, which given that they work from home most of the time…”

Fox laughed softly. “Silas is the only one who ever says anything interesting.”

“Yes, but that’s almost always about pooping or outer space. What all does your girl like talking about?” He wasn’t sure what all she was into—crayons, for sure.

Fox squinted at him. “I’m not sure.” He got a shrug. “I’ve been a little distracted. She likes music, books, ponies, her hair… girl stuff, I guess.”

“Ah. I like horses and music, but my hair? My glorious mane?” He amused the fuck out of himself.

There was that happy giggle again. “Not that anyone ever gets to see your flowing locks, since you hide them under that hat. I hadn’t even really seen your eyes until Candy snatched it off your head. They have little flecks of gold that reflect in the sunlight.”

Trent’s cheeks heated, and his belly tugged a little, deep inside. No one ever commented on his eyes. “I got those from my momma. She was a beauty pageant queen, believe it or not.”

Fox swallowed before he spoke and picked up his Coke. “Oh yeah?”

“Uh-huh. She did all the little ones, and she was even Miss Rodeo Texas. She’s beautiful, and my daddy adores her.” They were good folks. Solid. They tried to understand him, and he reckoned that he was a little easier than his sister who was a scientist who worked ninety hours a week, didn’t wear makeup, and refused to get married and have babies.

Fox blinked at him for a second and then blinked again like he’d just remembered they were having a conversation. “Oh. Cool. Are they local? You’ll have to show me a picture sometime when we aren’t covered in gooey cheeseburgers.”

“Local-ish. They’re in Wimberley, which is about as far south from Austin as we are north, but they’re in Ruidoso for the summer. They go every year.” And thank God for that. Momma could hover.

“Mountains, I assume? I love the mountains. Xan and I used to go up to Tanglewood every summer. There was a big music festival up there. It was fun.”

“Ruidoso’s real pretty, nice skiing. My folks have a house there.” He liked to go in the shoulder season and just watch the critters.

“Nice.” Fox groaned and leaned back in his chair. “I am so full. That was just what I needed.”

“Hell, yes. I feel like a python that swallowed a rhinoceros.” He patted his belly, so happy.

“That sounds painful.” Fox smiled at him. “I’ll clean up as soon as I can move again.”

“Mmhmm…” He might just stay in this deck chair for the rest of his life.

Fox looked out over the back and sighed. “How long have you had this place?”

“I bought it from Rope before his dad died. This was his, and he expected to get the land from his mom, buy her out, but she wanted it sold.”

“Huh. Families are complicated, right? It’s a great piece of land. So many acres.” Fox shook his head. “I’ve never known anyone who owned so much… earth.”

“No?” That made him a little proud. “Thank you. I love it here. I said, when I bought it, I’m retiring right here.”

“I would too, if I owned anything anywhere near this beautiful.” Fox sighed, but it wasn’t long-suffering, it was strangely hopeful sounding. “Maybe I will.”

“I can see it.” There was a hint of cowboy in Fox. Trent felt it in his balls. It wasn’t big—a sparkle—but it was bright.

Fox started cleaning up. “So how many kittens are you stuck with?”

“Two. Jude took one, but that was enough for him. I told Amelia she could name them.” That seemed to blow her little mind. She’d filled him in on the whole deal after his nap, and they’d made the call.

“That was nice of you. I bet she was excited. We can’t have pets in our building in New York, and she loves animals. Just loves them.”

“She was tickled as hell. It was cute as all get out. She couldn’t decide. She was torn between Peach and Piggie-Pie or Mouse and Monkey.”

“How in the world did she come up with those?” Fox chuckled and gathered up all the trash. There weren’t many leftovers. “You stay here; I’ll be right back.”

Like he was ever going to be able to move.

Ever.

“I’m assuming they were friends from New York?” Trent called, teasing.

“I’m going to have to ask!” A couple of minutes later, Fox was back again, playfully waddling through the back door. “I feel like a moose.”

He made what he hoped was a passable moose noise, assuming that Fox wouldn’t know if he was wrong. He got a stare, and then a hearty laugh in return.

“Wow. That was… wow.” Fox giggled and started to sit and then froze. “Uh. That looks like a big storm, huh?”

He looked over his shoulder, frowning. There was one hell of a gully washer, complete with lightning rumbling from the west.

“Yeah, let’s get the dogs in. The lanterns are in the emergency closet.”

Fox went right to him, offering to help get him out of his chair. “Sounds good. You want me to take that ATV back to the shed?”

“Can you pull it out there under the car park? That’ll work. You ain’t got much time. I’m going to whistle up the dogs.”

“I’m on it.” Fox helped him get to his feet, which he hadn’t asked for but sure made things easier, then hurried off and the first clap of thunder rumbled through.

The dogs came at his whistle, barreling into the house, a mass of teeth and tails, damn near bowling him over.

The heavens opened up, and the rain came down hard enough that the ATV was just a blur from where he was standing. Then Fox appeared, running full-tilt for the house with a big grin on his face.

“Come on! Run, Foxy! Run!” Trent cracked up, slapping his hand on his thigh in applause.

Fox bounded up the steps two at a time and landed two-footed on the front porch, laughing. “Whoo! That’s some weather.” Fox shook his head like a dog might, water flying.

He laughed, his body wanting to firm up, to respond. Probably not appropriate, but he was glad to feel things working…

“God, I’m soaked. At least it’s not cold. Did you hear that thunder?” Fox’s eyes were bright, and somehow, he seemed taller, stronger.

“Yep. Lightning storm’s coming. Wanna watch?” He was totally into it.

Fox lifted his T-shirt and gave it a twist, wringing out the water and showing off tight abs and a dark trail of hair. “Definitely. There’s so much more sky here than at home.”

“Yeah? It’s going to be a show. I can tell.” He leaned against the front porch railing and ogled a little bit.

“If you’re lucky enough to be high up, you can see pretty far in New York, but otherwise, the sky view is limited, you know?” Fox came over and leaned his shoulder against a post. “You okay? You want to sit?”

“I’m good. There—” He grinned. “Look! There it goes!”

The lightning chased itself through the clouds, bright then dark.

“Woo! That’s so cool. I love a summer storm.” Fox ran his hands through his hair, taming it.

“Me too. This is one of my favorite things, ever.” He was a weather fan—it didn’t matter. He loved being outside in this.

“I wonder—my phone’s dry.” Fox pulled his phone out of his pocket and started scrolling. “Amelia’s not great with thunder. But I don’t see a text or anything, so I guess she’s okay.”

“Aww… well, she’s in good hands, and if she’s in the movie theater, she’ll never even know.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.” Fox nodded, putting his phone away. “She’s really loving her time here. She missed Si—whoa!” Fox grinned as the sky put on another show.

He hooted, watching the sheets of rain just soaking the ground.

“So the animals are all okay out in this weather?” Fox stuck his hand out into the rain, letting it bounce off his fingers.

“Yeah, they’re built for it.” And the chicks were in the coop, thank God.

“Are you built for it?” Fox shot him a grin and a wink.

“Weather? I have been in everything minus a… a… what do you call them things where it’s an underwater earthquake and the big waves come?” It wasn’t a typhoon…

“A tsunami?” Fox laughed. “I was teasing, but I haven’t been in one of those either. Or a tornado. No, thank you.”

“I’ve been through a shit-ton of those. Fascinating damn things.” He checked the sky. No green, they were solid there.

Fox raised an eyebrow. “That’s one way to look at it, I guess.”

“Well, it’s true, yeah? They’re truly wild. Better than any bull ride.” And he was into it.

“Possibly even more likely to kill you though.” Fox grunted and toed off his shoes. “Ugh. Okay I need something dry. You mind if I run and change?”

“Not at all. I’m going to sit and enjoy the cooler weather.” He headed across the porch, getting out of the worst of the rain. Then he sat and propped his arm up, leaning back in the big chair, noting that Fox was waiting to make sure he hadn’t gone ass over teakettle.

Lord, that man was pretty enough to ogle.

“Cool.” Fox tugged his wet T-shirt off over his head and hung it over the porch railing. Under the fuzzy chest, Fox was paler than most guys Trent knew, but he was in decent shape for someone who didn’t work with his hands all day. “I’ll be right back.”

The man’s freckled skin was more obvious on his back as he walked away.

“I’ll be right here.” Just filing those images away to use late at night for a moment of happiness. He still had one good hand.