Page 18 of Their Little House Boston (Five Little Roommates #3)

Tripp

After our first date, we’d had several more.

The three of us went to dinner at other, more casual places that each mentioned liking, and one night we went to the movies.

So far, our time together had been “big” time, which I was enjoying very much.

We were not on a schedule, and every opportunity to spend time with Boston and Elliot was one I would not have missed.

But, one night while sitting outside an ice cream shop, the two of them licking cones in a disturbingly sexy way while I sipped a root beer float, a topic came up that we’d so far avoided.

“I think it’s time for us to try dating one on one.”

Boston’s cheeks reddened. “We did sort of do that that one night, Elliot and me.”

“Yes, you did.” The three of us were still at the kissing-good-night stage, and other than that one evening, they had not repeated their intimacy. Even though I had told them I was very glad they had a good time together and never tried to discourage them because I didn’t have the right to.

Which was why I had plans tonight with just Elliot.

The night of the ice cream date, we’d agreed that it was important that each of us have an individual relationship with each of the others.

I’d never imagined myself in a three-way relationship, and I was navigating with care, not wanting to make any mistakes so big that I could not correct them.

And, while I loved spending time with the pair, enjoying their interactions, I had to admit I looked forward to an evening with Elliot.

He had an outspokenness that often had him speaking for both of them, and it should be interesting to converse just with him.

With that in mind, I’d planned an evening conducive to conversation.

Somewhere we could talk without interruption and establish a connection with just the two of us.

I didn’t want to go the private dining room at The Golden Buffalo for this date, since it really was a place where we’d created a memory for the three of us.

After considering and rejecting a number of other ideas, I sent him a text. Do you like horse riding?

The reply came in about two seconds. And it consisted of a long series of hearts. So, yes to horse riding.

My next text was to a friend, another daddy who while a member of Chained, lived far enough away on his ranch to make it in rarely. When he confirmed that we were welcome to come for the afternoon I had in mind, I let Elliot know to be ready the next afternoon. Then I went to work on our picnic.

“Where are we going, Tripp?” he asked when we were in the car, headed out of town. “I haven’t been horse riding since I was a kid. My uncle took me to the stables in the park a couple of times, but we aren’t headed in that direction.”

“No, not the park. We are visiting my friend’s ranch. He invited us to come and ride as long as we like, and I thought we could have a picnic.”

“Horse riding and a picnic?” He grinned over at me, looking as simply happy as I’d ever seen him. “What a perfect date.”

We had about an hour-and-a-half drive, which also fell in with my plan to spend time talking, and being together, but Elliot was so excited about our trip we mostly spoke about horses.

I had more experience than he did, had summered on a ranch a few times as a teen, working, but Elliot’s enthusiasm had me every bit as excited as he was.

I told him about what it was like working on the ranch.

It had been a seminal experience for a city kid, and while I hadn’t chosen to do that work forever, I’d never forget it.

“You’re not only a daddy, you’re a cowboy daddy.”

“Well, mostly I fixed fences, but I do like that image.” I turned off the highway and drove under the Triple L Ranch sign then down a long dirt road. “My friend is going to be away this afternoon, but he told us to go right to the stables and his ranch manager will set us up.”

“Okay.” He didn’t say anything else until we entered the white building with its row of stalls, some empty, others with horses peering over the doors to see who had come to visit them. “Tripp, are horses always this big?”

“No not all.” I paused to stroke a velvet nose. “Come see this sweetie, Elliot.”

He moved up beside me and reached a tentative hand toward the white mark on the mare’s forehead. “What a pretty girl. Is that her name on the door? Star?”

“It sure is.” At the voice from behind us, I turned and saw Griffy the ranch manager approaching. “And she’s the one we have in mind for you. Elliot, right?”

“Yes. She’s tall.” Elliot shook his hand, but his eyes held doubt. “I don’t have a lot of experience.”

“Miss Star is gentle as a lamb. You’ll be safe as houses on her back.”

As we rode out of the barn, Elliot asked me in a quiet voice, “What does safe as houses mean?”

“I know it’s a British expression, and Griffy is from Montana. I think it just means really safe. How are you doing with her?”

“So far, okay,” he said, letting go of the reins with one hand to stroke his horse’s neck. “Thank you for this. It’s a dream come true.”

We rode for about an hour before we reached the meadow I had in mind for our picnic.

I climbed off the gelding I rode and helped Elliot down.

He moved a little stiffly, so we walked around for a few minutes before I spread out the blanket and picnic on the soft grasses and settled in to eat and continue to talk.

It was like catching up with an old friend from a previous life who wanted to know what I’d been doing in this one.

And when the last sandwich was gone, the apples all crunched, we lay back side by side and held hands, gazing up at the sky and watching the big puffy clouds blow by.

And then, Elliot rested his head on my shoulder and fell asleep.

It was a perfect spot for a romantic assignation, but I didn’t want to make love with just one of them for the first time together.

Nothing wrong with their one-time evening or even if they chose to do it again.

It was just what I wanted and needed—both of them at once.

The horses grazed on the lush grass, and I lay quietly while Elliot slept. It was such a sign of trust to sleep around another person, or at least that was how I’d always felt, and I felt so honored.

Finally, the sun was getting low and though I hated to do it, I woke my date. “We need to get back before it’s dark,” I told him, helping him to sit up. “Or I’d let you sleep longer.”

“It’s okay.” He stood and took a couple of steps, groaning. “I think I need to ride more often. I’m all stiff.”

“We can do that for sure,” I told him. “Let’s lead the horses for a few minutes so you loosen up, okay?”

“Okay.”

I packed up and picked up my horse’s reins then we started down.

After ten minutes, we mounted and continued down to the ranch where the manager took the horses and turned them over to hands, refusing to let us do any of the work.

“Boss wants you up at the house for dinner,” he said. “And I’m not to take no for an answer.”

So much for aloneness, but Elliot seemed fine with it. He asked all kinds of questions about ranch life and ate his weight in brisket and apple pie.

Then we drove home, where I walked him to the door for a kiss. The sexual tension vibrated, and we’d get there. When the time was right.