“I should probably head to bed,” Chase said. “Going to be an early day tomorrow. I’ve got to clock in, remember?”
Mason held out his hand and took Chase’s horseshoes from him.
“We’ll finish the game another time,” Mason said as his finger brushed up against Chase’s, stirring that same powerful desire as he had before.
They gazed into each other’s eyes.
Chase figured Mason felt something, but he wondered if it was as powerful as what moved through his own body, awakening desires that hadn’t been that strong in so long, making him wish they could shake off their past and share another night.
Chase pulled his hand back, though, denying himself of what he craved the way he had when he’d needed to find the strength and courage to do what was right for both of them. And once again, they were in that damned stable.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Chase said before starting for the entrance.
“See ya, Feisty.”
Chase’s face warmed again as he appreciated the nickname the way he had in the kitchen, but a knot twisted in his gut as he had to leave Mason alone in that stable once again.
MASON SUCTIONED A HOSE TO ONE OF THE COW’S TEATS WHILEChase washed off another’s udders at a parallel pen on the opposite side of the parlor. The cattle were lined up in pens on a platform raised several feet off the ground, which gave Mason and Chase easy access to the udders in a way they didn’t used to have when he and Chase worked the parlor as teens—when they were old enough to take on real responsibilities rather than little chores.
As they worked, Mason kept glancing at Chase, happy as hell to see him acting like his old self—and wearing a tank top that he felt suited him better than the clothes he’d worn around the house the past few days. The shirt fit his muscles nicely, showing Mason how much work he’d put into that body, though he knew it had more to do with the efforts Chase was putting in at the gym than manual labor.
Chase’s cow kicked back, which made him jump, his brows sliding up as he was clearly caught off-guard by something that used to be a familiar inconvenience. He laughed at himself, and Mason chuckled along with him.
“I guess you still have to get used to the girls,” Mason joked.
“Right?”
Mason shook his head. “You’re as crazy as you always were.” He suctioned another hose to one of the cow’s teats.
“Why is that?” Chase asked as he poured some sterilizing liquid into the suction cups on his hose.
“After all those years in school, I figured you would have been smart enough to stay away from this.”
“Are you kidding? I almost loved this stuff more than you did. And I’ve been missing it all these years. I’ve had my face buried in financial accounts and legal jargon, so it’s nice to do something different for a change.”
He was right, and Mason knew it. Chase had always enjoyed the work. Even when he was just doing chores for Ma, he took to them like no one else. It wasn’t just because he cared about helping out, but because he loved to complete a task and know that he’d accomplished something.
Seeing him back in his element only reminded Mason of how much he belonged there.
Although, if he really loved the dairy, he wouldn’t have worked so hard to keep from ever having to return to it.
“Thank you just the same,” Mason said.
“You don’t have anything to thank me for.”
“Well, I can thank who I want.”
Mason had so much to thank him for. He had been there so often when the family had to push through hard times. Even down to Ma’s death.
When they finished the morning rounds, they wrapped up their work and headed into the yard. Chase beamed, looking happier than Mason had seen him in a very long time. “What’s gotten into you?”
“That was so nice. I sometimes forget what it’s like to actually do something other than write fucking emails and fact-check stats and figures.”
He took a deep breath, glancing around at the dairy as if he was seeing it for the first time, as though he was truly appreciating what he’d been missing out on all those years.
“I want to see this new milking parlor Pa’s building,” Chase said.
“Okay. I’ll grab the truck and—”
