Page 33 of Take a Chance (Blue Creek Ranch #1)

Crew

C ould he be any cuter? The shy smile and hesitant tone coupled with the fierce determination in his eyes just did it for me.

And I understood the connotations. I got the implications behind his seemingly casual words.

He was inviting me to spend time with his kid and that was anything but casual.

It was one thing for Pay to spend time with any one of us.

It was another entirely to do so as “Daddy’s date. ”

“I’d be honored. In fact,” I added, my mind working, “what are you doing tonight?”

Mal blinked. “Uh, we…we don’t have any particular plans.”

“Great! So you and Pay can come to my place then?”

He cocked his head, studying me. “You know, traditionally, whoever does the inviting is the one who handles the details.”

I waved that off. I wanted to rein Shooter in closer so I could touch him, maybe kiss him, but the filly was in the way, so I settled for shooting him a wink. “Maybe. But I have a plan. Will you let me handle it? This time anyway.”

He considered that for a long moment, gaze bouncing all over my face. I stared back, letting him look, hoping he would find whatever he was looking for. The silence stretched between us for at least a minute or two before he gave a single nod.

“All right. Fine. This time.” He pursed his lips. “Why do I get the feeling it’s going to be something over the top and possibly ridiculous?”

I did my best to look affronted. Mal narrowed his gaze and I broke into a chuckle.

Mal sighed. “Crew—”

“I love to hear you say my name, but maybe not like that. Don’t worry. It’s not too over the top.”

“I don’t entirely believe you.”

“Because you are as wise as you are handsome.” I managed to maneuver close enough to grab his hand and brought his knuckles to my lips for a kiss. I couldn’t hold on though, because we both needed both our hands. “Let’s head back.”

Mal agreed and the ride back was peaceful.

I pointed out a few interesting landmarks and shared a few stories, like the time Hawk decided he needed peace and quiet and built a lean-to to live in.

He lasted three days out in the open before he returned to the comfort of the house and his own bed.

The remnants were still there, though the plywood had warped.

Sometimes we found raccoon nests in the wreckage, which is why we didn’t clear it entirely.

We got the yearlings settled into their stalls and then rode to the stock barn to take care of Jaina and Shooter. Mal was done first, since Shooter was really enjoying the curry comb. It was a step I never skipped or rushed, since my boy liked the scratches. He always had.

“Lookit that lip,” I teased my horse, playing with his loose bottom lip for a moment. Shooter snorted and shuffled sideways, putting his shoulder into me. I went back to brushing. “Okay, okay.”

After a few more minutes, I had to cut him off. I did have other things that needed to get done today and a date to get ready for. Shooter wasn’t happy about it, but I knew he’d forgive me. He always did.

When I stepped out of his stall, I caught sight of Mal crouched down near the barn doors.

I took a moment just to admire the stretch of denim over his ass and then moseyed over.

He was petting one of the barn cats, who was sprawled out on its back, belly exposed.

At first I thought it was Delilah, because she was the only one who allowed belly rubs.

But then I noticed the cat was only gray and white, no orange to be seen.

This close, I could see the cat was definitely a boy.

Mal shot me a grin. “You guys have the friendliest barn cats.”

We did, that was true. Except this wasn’t one of ours. I grabbed the two-way off my belt.

“CH to base.”

Mom answered a few seconds later. “What’s up, love?”

I studied the cat for a second and then responded. “Is Bodhi coming home for a visit? Over.”

Mal’s brows crunched together, but he didn’t stop petting the cat.

“I haven’t heard from him today. Why? Over.”

“New cat. Over.”

Mom’s squeal was loud. “Oh that’s so exciting! Let me see if I can contact him. It’s been over a year since he’s been home.”

I had to laugh. “Let me know what you find out. CH out.”

I clipped the two-way back and when I looked at Mal, he was clearly confused. I grinned. “See if he’ll let you pick him up. We’ll need to get him checked out. And neutered.”

The cat had no problem with Mal scooping him up. In fact, he snuggled right in and I heard the loud purring.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on?” Poor Mal. He sounded so confused.

“The cat distribution system highly, maybe even discriminately, favors my brother. We don’t get a lot of strays out here.

Especially after the county introduced a TNR program.

But Bodhi is, as I said, favored. And if a cat shows up, it’s either because Bodhi just arrived or is about to. Never fails.”

“That’s…weird.”

I nodded because it was. But it was something we’d all grown used to.

This time, it was especially strange because Bodhi hadn’t given us a heads up.

Since getting leave was never, or hardly ever anyway, a last-minute thing with the military, we always had plenty of lead time before he made his way west.

“Let’s not worry about Bodhi right now,” I said, mostly for my own benefit.

It was hard not to worry about Bodhi even though he was a drill instructor and had little chance of getting deployed.

“I’ll call Matigan and see if I can run over with the cat.

If he’s got a chip, maybe he just got loose and wandered over here.

If not, we need testing to make sure he’s safe and healthy before interacting with our clowder. ”

Mal shook his head but he was smirking. “Only you would use the proper name for a group of cats.”

I kissed the smirk right off his face. No one was around so I didn’t hold back. But honestly, I probably wouldn’t have anyway. When Mal was panting, eyes a little glazed, I gave him my own smirk.

“See? You’re getting to know me already.” I took the cat from him, and Mal gave the sweet boy a few extra pets. “Get back to work. I’ll see you tonight, right? Is seven good?”

It took Mal a second. “Can we make it six? Payton needs to eat earlier rather than later.”

“Six it is.”

One more kiss and then I pulled out of reach. The way Mal swayed toward me before he caught himself was very satisfying.

Several hours later, the chipless but otherwise seemingly healthy cat was quarantined in my office with a litter box, food, and water.

We were just waiting on the results from his FIV and feline leukemia tests.

Dr. Matigan put him on the schedule to be neutered.

I’d still try to find his owner, check around and see if anyone was missing him, but he’d be happy enough roaming around our barns.

I enlisted Mom’s help so I stopped at the house to pick up the bag of goodies she’d prepared. She waggled her eyebrows at me. When I didn’t react, she grabbed my ear. Not hard, but I didn’t move. She gently tugged me down so that we were eye to eye.

“I like Malachi. I adore Payton. I think you’re a good man who would make an outstanding partner. But if you mess this up….” She pointed at her own eyes, then moved her hand to point at me. I grabbed her hand and pushed it down, but leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

“Don’t worry, Mom. You know I’m not the kind to mess it up.”

Mom wrestled her hand away but then dove in for a tight hug.

I squeezed her back until she was ready to let go.

I always waited. Mom was a hugger; Dad swore it was her love language, and us kids hadn’t always been great about letting her.

Eventually she was done, pulled away, and gave me a playful shove.

“Have fun tonight!” She said in a sing-song voice.

Good Lord. I waved and headed out. I was running short on time now and I had to set up quickly.

The knock on the door had me rushing over. I opened it to find Mal looking nice in a clean pair of jeans and a button-up shirt. Pay didn’t even hesitate to push inside, Mr. Raven dangling from one hand.

“Hi, Crew! Daddy said we’re eating here. And a movie. What movie?”

“Whatever you want, Pay. Come on in.” I stepped back and touched Mal’s hand as he walked in. I wanted to greet him with a kiss but wasn’t sure what Mal was ready for in front of his kid.

“I’m Payton! Also I wanna watch Mulan. Pizza!”

“Payton, slow down please,” Mal chastised gently, but he was trying to cover a smirk.

I had to laugh but I had the good sense to hide it in a cough.

Payton ran into the kitchen and stood on his toes, trying to see the pizza crusts on the counter.

The dough was one of the things I’d collected from Mom, because hers was amazing, and I’d separated it onto three different pans.

That way we could all have exactly what we wanted.

I clapped my hands. “All right. What do you want on your pie, Payton? We have all the toppings to choose from.”

Payton cocked his head. “It’s pizza, Crew. Not pie.”

“Pie is another name for pizza. Please go wash your hands and then we can make them, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy!” Payton dropped Mr. Raven on a chair and ran down the short hall, assuming the bathroom was in the same place as in his cabin. Which it was. As soon as the water turned on, Mal whirled to face me.

“You set up a projector and screen.”

It wasn’t a question. I answered it anyway. “Yes.”

Mal narrowed his gaze. “And personal pizzas. And I see pop, without caffeine.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

Mal stepped right into my space. He didn’t touch me but he was close enough to kiss. I leaned forward, but Mal tilted his head just out of reach. Okay, I could have absolutely reached but he was definitely denying me.

“Are you trying to bribe my kid into liking you?”

I snorted a laugh and grabbed his hips. When I tugged, he came willingly enough. I kissed him quickly, deep, hard, and fast, because I knew we didn’t have much time.