Soon they were off and running, flying across the pasture with Noah talking to him a mile a minute. He didn’t hear but every fourth word, but that was okay.

  The gist was that Noah loved it here.

  He hung on tight, and they finally pulled to a stop next to a pickup truck, which yielded an older man with bowed legs and tanned-leather skin. He wore a cowboy hat and Wranglers, his boots so old they had a hole at the toe.

  “Lee, this is Mason. Mason, Lee. What’s up, man? You been breaking things on me while I was gone?”

  “Well, not me. Your cousin Jeremy.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake. I told y’all not to let him touch anything.”

  “I hear you, boss. What’s wrong is the drain feed from the upper pasture is all cut off. I got no idea what he did, but one of our good auger bits is stuck in there.”

  “Goddamn it! How do we fix it?”

  Lee spit on the ground. “That was why I called you down. We’re gonna have to hire it done, or we’ll end up with a real mess first time it rains. I tried to get it out, but that drain is old, and I’m afraid it’ll collapse.”

  “Let’s do it, then. I’ll take every dollar from Jeremy’s hide. Little shit.”

  “Sorry, Noah. I was tryin’ to keep an eye on him.”

  “Have you checked all the machinery? If he lost an auger, he might have burned out an engine.”

  Mason stared, stunned at this version of Noah. His lover knew how to work the land, clearly, and understood heavy machinery. Which, okay, oil. That had to be a thing.

  He stayed quiet because he had nothing to offer. He wasn’t even totally sure he knew what an auger was.

  His phone vibrated, and he grabbed it. Rick.

  Having fun

  Yeah.

  You answered really fast to be having fun

  There’s a problem with an auger and rain

  A WHAT

  Fuck if I know. Something to do with water

  Oh. We aren’t big on that here. Is it hot?

  There wasn’t an inch of him that wasn’t sweating.

  OMG OMFG

  I figured. Flew through there once where I had to get off on the tarmac. Jeezus

  I’ll bring Jaycee a cowboy hat

  Bring us something too!

  Greedy!

  He would have to ask Noah what sort of quintessentially Texas thing to take to his friends.

  Miss u. Come visit soon. And call me!

  Promise.

  “You ready for the grand tour, Mason?”

  He slipped his phone in his pocket. “I am. Did you decide what to do?”

  “Lee will call Ray Tyler for an estimate. He’s a good guy. Come on, huh? I’ll show you the whole kit and kaboodle.”

  He nodded and followed along, and then they were off again, zooming over little rises. There were cattle and horses, donkeys and barns. It was stunning, completely different from what he was used to but gorgeous nonetheless.

  They visited Sam’s place, and he got to love on Frank before they zoomed back to Noah’s home. They stepped inside, only to be met by a sweet-faced lady with tall hair. “Mr. Noah. Are you dining in tonight? Maria has time to cook if necessary.”

  “Hey, Barb. I think we will, yes. I’m thinking enchiladas, if there’s time.”

  “There is.” Barb smiled at Mason.

  “Oh! Mason, this is Barb. Barb, this is Mason. He’s here for the week.”

  Mason held his hand out to shake and gave her his best smile. “Pleased to meet you.”

  “I’m pleased as punch, sir. If there’s anything I can get you, please let me know.”

  “That’s normally my line.”

  Barb blinked and gave him a slight smile.

  “He’s an event organizer, Barb. He’s always running.”

  “Oh? Oh, you did Miss Sammy’s wedding. We saw the photos. Beautiful job. Are you arranging something here?”

  He looked to Noah, not sure what he was supposed to say.

  “No, hon, he’s just visiting with me.” Noah said it easily, but something in his voice told Mason the answer was very calculated.

  “Of course. If you need anything, y’all know where to find me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Noah took his hand once Barb was out of the room, tugging him toward the bedrooms again. “I bet a shower would be good, huh?”

  “I would be all over that. I’m sure I stink.”

  Noah had said he was out to his parents, but Sammy had been stressing anyone knowing about them sleeping together. He wondered if maybe Noah was a little less out than he liked to pretend. Of course, maybe Mason was just feeling out of place himself and filtering everything through that.

  Oh, look at him, being all psychobabble man. Lord, he needed a cold drink and a bath.

  “Want a Coke? I have a cooler out on the porch.” Noah led the way through to that amazing porch, where sure enough, a vintage Coke cooler sat tucked against a wall Mason hadn’t really seen.

  “That rocks. Do I need a dollar?”

  “Nope. I have the key.” Noah winked. “I make Jeremy pay for them.”

  He leaned forward. “Can I kiss you?”

  Noah raised that one brow he was so good at. “Of course you can, honey. Come here.”

  “I’m a little sweaty.” Still, he came, didn’t he? Yes, he did. He wanted that kiss more than he wanted his next breath.

  Noah slid a hand behind his head, tugging him close and pressing that hot mouth to his. Noah tasted like the mints he popped constantly when he was in the air. Mason thought Noah had learned to be a pilot because he hated to fly and wanted to be in control.

  Mason got it, he guessed. He liked organizing events because that was like juggling, and that was vaguely the same thing.

  Noah kissed him hard on the mouth, proving he wanted closeness, contact. It felt so fine, Noah’s body pressed against his, hand like an iron bar against his back.

  Moaning, Mason tried to scale Noah like Mount Sneffels, his body already on fire.

  “You’re hungry….”

  “Is that bad?”

  Noah’s phone began to ring, and he sighed. “That’s Sammy. Let me answer it.”

  Mason nodded and backed away. Sammy might need something about the baby. Of course she had to come first.

  “Hey, baby girl, whatcha need? Yeah, yeah, that was us. Mason flew down with me. He moved his schedule around.”

  Mason wandered, wondering if he should unpack his bag or if he was going to end up in the guest room.

  “No, Maria is making enchiladas. I can tell Barb to send some over. No, I want to have supper with just Mason.”

  He found the en suite, smiling at the huge, fancy-assed bathroom with a whirlpool tub and a walk-in shower. The tile was immaculate and looked maybe a year old, from the style. He wondered if that was because Noah redid his place every few years, or if this master was a recent add-on.

  He wanted that Coke, so he headed back out, more than willing to put his dollar in if Noah was still on the phone.

  “Hey.” Noah smiled, shaking his head. “Here’s the key. Bet you thought I forgot, huh?”

  “I thought you may still be on the phone, more like.”

  “Sammy wanted to come up for supper. I told her no.” Noah led the way back outside. “I adore her, but she has to have some boundaries.”

  “And she needs to rest, hmm?”

  Noah got them each a Coke. “She does. But more than that, she needs to back off.”

  Mason frowned, sinking down into one of the patio chairs. Maybe they needed to talk about stuff. Noah seemed so agitated about Sammy. “From what, exactly?”

  “Oh, you know. She’s bored. She’s pregnant. She’s wanting to be a part of everything right now. You get it? I don’t have time for babysitting in my life.”

  “No. I guess not.” Mason turned the Coke between his hands. “Maybe now was not the best time for me to come down.”

  “Nonsense. Nonsense, don’t be like this, honey. I just want to pamper you a few days. What do you think of the ranch?”

  “It’s beautiful.” And that wasn’t a lie.

  “Thanks.” Noah sat next to him, reaching for his hand. “I like having you here.”

  “It’s not weird for you?”

  Noah looked right into his eyes. “It’s going to take some getting used to. I’ve never brought anyone home before. I imagine I’ll screw up.”

  “Not ever, huh?” He got up, then moved to sit in Noah’s lap, no matter how hot it was. “I like being your first, Mister.”

  “I like it too. I really do. Don’t give up on me yet, okay?” Noah nuzzled his cheek, then licked his lower lip.

  “I don’t intend to.” He let their lips meet, let the kiss go deep for a long minute before he backed off and took another drink of his cold Coke.

  It was damned hot, and who knew what would happen before he got his shower?

  Things were just a little crazy around here.

  Chapter 19

  N oah hummed, rolling over to touch Mason’s back. He frowned when he found nothing but sheets. Damn. He thought they’d had an exceptional night. He’d even turned off his phone around nine just to get some time alone.

  He heard tip-tapping coming from the porch, then a soft little chuckle. “Who do you belong to?”

  Noah grinned. Talk about up with the sun. Mason liked his porch and patio time in the mornings. He rolled out of bed, then pulled on some pants so he could step outside.

  There was a little purse dog—something fluffy and bouncy—up on his side porch. “What the hell?”

  “Not your secret love puppy, I take it?” Mason teased.

  “Not one bit.” He stared. “She’s a tasty bite for coyotes.”

  “No way. This is not New Mexico. No coyotes.” Mason reached down over the railing to pick her up, almost going ass over teakettle.

  “Oh, we got ’em. That and feral dogs. Big pigs. Basselopes.”

  “If you try to sell me on snipe hunts, I will beat you down, Mister.”

  “I bet Stoney River told you about those.” In fact, he’d bet that’s why Mason sounded so self-righteous.

  “I bet you’d be right.”

  “You can take the boy out of Texas.” He bent to take his good-morning kiss, and damned if that wee dog didn’t growl at him. “Oh, I don’t think so, you little shit.”

  “Hey, now.” Mason was barely holding in that sparkling laughter. “She’s a princess.”

  “A princess? Does Ms. Priss have a collar?”

  “No, but she’s been taken take of, you can tell. Someone will be missing her. Don’t you have, like, dog wrangling staff? Even the Leanin’ N has dog wrangling staff.”

  He was going to beat Mason’s butt.

  “Lee keeps a few border collies for work, and then there’s Frank, and Daddy’s pit, Lily. Not much to wrangle. They all wear collars, though.”

  “You want some water, Miss Priss?” Mason went to take the dog into the house, and Noah shook his head.

  “No, you don’t. No stray dog fleas in my bedroom. Let me call someone to take her into the mud room.”

  “She doesn’t have fleas!” Mason was tickled as a dog with two tails.

  Butthead.

  “How do you know?” Noah ducked inside to grab his phone. “Barb? Hi. We got a stray dog. We need flea wash until we can figure out where she goes. No, Mason will bring her. Oh, and some water and a cookie.”

  The silly thing’s ears went up when he said cookie.

  “Also? Coffee and food. Coffee first.”

  He nodded at Mason’s little laptop. “I’ll put that in, and we can go around on the porch.”

  “Thank you. Is it okay, just having the robe on?”

  “No one is shy. Daddy wanders around when he comes up for the pool in this… well. It’s very Italian.” Noah rolled his eyes. “And awful. Come on.”

  Mason started giggling like a loon. “Are we going to use the pool today? Do you have an Italian pool boy?”

  “No. Brazilian.”

  “Oh, wow. Is he pretty?”

  “She’s stunning. She has a great set of fake boobs, or so I’m told.”

  “Dude. Seriously? You have the opportunity to make the great queer cabana boy fantasy come true and you blow it?” Mason stopped. “Hey, Miss Barb.”

  “Hi. Oh! Oh, no. Poor baby!” Barb looked truly stricken. “That’s Miz Perry’s dog. She passed on last week, and that no-account daughter of hers said she would take her.”

  “That’s awful! Does anyone know her name at all?”

  Lord have mercy, Mason’s here for less than a day and this happened?

  “Priscilla.”

  “See!” Mason crowed. “Priss.”

  “Barb. Clean. Disinfect. Feed. Coffee?”

  “Coffee is on the table. I’ll get Lee to come up and take care of it. Is it staying here until we find it a home?”

  Noah glanced at Mason, who nodded hard. “Yeah. Have him bring up a crate for night too.”

  “Softy,” Barb whispered, and Mason cracked up again.

  “Mason likes her, I reckon.” Noah grabbed a cup and added cream for Mason. “What’s Maria making for breakfast?”

  “Migas. Does that work?”

  “Are they as good as Noah’s french toast?”

  “Mmm. No. But they’re better than Sammy’s biscuits and gravy.”

  “Sammy has time to improve,” Noah said.

  “That little girl has you wrapped around her finger,” Mason teased. “It’s so adorable.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know.”

  “Spoiled is what she is.” Barb snorted. “I’ll go call Lee.”

  A middle-aged Hispanic lady bustled into the kitchen. “Hola, Mr. Noah. Migas?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Mason took his coffee, drank deep. “Oh, that’s good.”

  “Mr. Noah is a snob,” Maria said.

  Noah tugged her apron string. “And you’re mouthy, lady.”

  “You know it.” She winked at Mason, then started bebopping around.

  Mason spoke softly. “I think you just fixed it right.”

  “Thanks, honey.”

  “How do you like your eggs, Mr. Mason?” Maria asked.

  “Over medium.”

  “Good, good.” She hummed while she worked, and soon enough they had migas.

  Noah actually loved her migas. Spicy and creamy, with strips of fried tortilla…. Yum.

  Mason ate with him, not saying much, drinking his coffee.

  He wasn’t sure if Mason was uncomfortable or worried about work or what. Noah hoped like hell his life wasn’t turning Mason right off.

  “You okay, honey?” Because he had to.

  “I am.” Mason looked at him and whispered, “I’m just trying not to make you uncomfortable with all your people.”

  “Oh.” Damn. “Well, could you talk to me anyway? No one is going to bite.”

  “Nobody but this damned beast.” Lee strolled in with Miss Priss, the growling little mutt wrapped in a towel. “Someone else want to take this? I think it’s a vampire.”

  “I’ll take her. She seems to like me.” Mason took her, and she settled right in.

  “Crazy.”

  “Want a plate, Lee?” Maria asked.

  Lee winked at Noah. “Only if it’s paper. I need to head back down to the barn, so I can’t stay.”

  Good man. He knew what was what.

  “I’ll watch the dog. I know you guys are busy.” Mason smiled a little shyly.

  “Thanks, buddy. I appreciate it.” Lee took a Chinet plate full of migas and ran.

  “Coward!” Noah called.

  Lee flipped him off, and he was thankful Mason didn’t see it. Not that Lee didn’t do that once or twice a week. At least.

  Mason chuckled. “So, what are our plans for today?”

  “Hmm. Is there anything you want to see?”

  “I need to get some touristy things for my girl and her dads, but other than that, I’m open.”

  “Well, then, we should spend some quality time in the pool, huh?”

  Mason lit up like a Christmas tree. “That sounds amazing. I love to swim.”

  Bingo. “Then come into my parlor.”

  “Your very wet parlor?” Mason teased.

  “Yep. We have swimsuits. Let’s go get changed.” Noah rose and kissed Maria on the cheek before leading Mason out of the room. They would get changed and swim and splash and maybe have a cookout tonight.

  He sure hoped that silly little dog could swim.

  Chapter 20

  M ason sat at the huge outdoor kitchen and dining area that was apparently shared between the Wrights. Sammy and Doug were there along with Mr. and Mrs. Wright and about ten thousand different family members who either wanted to ask Noah for something, meet Mason, or get free food.

  It was loud and boisterous, everyone running about and playing football in the heat. The beer was running free and loose, and there were kids everywhere.

  Crazy.

  Even when he had been talking to his family, any get-togethers they’d had were low-key. Playing cards and watching movies, maybe.

  Noah was flipping burgers, laughing at something his dad had said, and he was so pretty he made it hard to breathe.

  Frank and Prissy were playing. Well, Prissy was playing. Frank was collapsed on his side, letting her jump over him again and again and again.

  It was a good thing Frank was a good-natured beast. Priss wasn’t, but Mason was so damned in love with her already. Lee had brought up a crate, and from somewhere, Barb had provided a bed for it. Leopard print with pink trim.

  This was so odd. Usually he was in the back of a party, running things, keeping things organized. Not watching it from the front lines.

  Everyone was very kind. They wanted to know all about Colorado, so he had no lack of things to talk about.

  He noticed that with all the kindness, he was never once even face-to-face with Noah, never close enough with his lover to talk. Noah had waded toward him more than once, but it had never happened. It was as if he’d been culled from a herd.

  At some point, Mr. Wright and a couple of other men drew Noah away toward one of the barns, and he was about to follow when Mrs. Wright plopped down beside him with a sigh.

 

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