Rue rose gracefully, going to Lane. “Dad, Popi, this is a surprise. I thought you weren’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow?”
Monty blinked in confusion. Rue hadn’t mentioned that, had he? Had he booked the restaurant for the official introduction?
Like you need that after you were lap dancing on Rue when they arrived.
Go away.
Seriously? Like I can.His otter was cracking up in his head, rolling around laughing. Monty forced himself to remain still while Rue hugged Lane, then Derick.
“We thought we’d come a day early and spend some time on the ranch with you.”
Lane’s words brought a lump to Monty’s throat he couldn’t swallow passed when he didn’t need to look at Rue to know he’d frozen in place. Hadn’t he told them he was staying in town? Monty was back to blinking in confusion as he looked between the three men, working to sort through what he might be missing.
“Popi… I…” Rue shifted his attention to Derick. “Dad…” Rue shook his head, clearly mystified—maybe—by the whole situation.
How often did one get caught mounting their boss and kissing them?
“Stop teasing Rue, my love. He’s already had one shock today.”
Monty couldn’t decide if the shock was their arrival or them catching Monty sitting on his lap in a very unprofessional manner during work hours and joking about it.
Praying for some sort of miracle that allowed Monty to disappear so Rue could have whatever conversation that needed to be had, a tap at the open door had Monty groan in relief before he could stop himself.
Ivo didn’t take his eyes off Derick as he hovered on the threshold of the room.
“Hey Ivo, this is Derick,”—Monty pointed at the man in question—“and Lane Starling. They’re Rue’s parents,” he explained, when Ivo didn’t so much as blink.
Monty, hating the fear Ivo wasn’t able to hide, walked over and slipped an arm around Ivo’s waist without thinking about it.
Ivo leaned into him, saying shyly, “Hi.”
Lane’s bright smile held sadness as he came forward and offered his hand to Ivo. “So lovely to meet you. I don’t suppose you know where they’re hiding the cake, do you? Last time I was visiting, I couldn’t find any. I mean, that’s such a disgrace, no cake in the cupboards. Do I have to make my own?”
Monty could see what Lane was doing, and it reinforced just how amazing this man was. “I made a batch of brownies over the weekend, and I left some in the kitchen.”
A smile appeared as Ivo glanced at Monty. “Are they the ones with cherries in?”
He giggled at the enthusiasm. “Of course. I added some mashed banana too.”
“Really,” Lane questioned, coming to slip an arm through Monty’s, joining the three of them. “Lead on, I must try them.” He glanced at his husband. “I’m sure Rue can entertain you for a while.”
Lane guided them out of the office and down the corridor into the kitchen effortlessly enough. Ivo wore a bemused look. As they entered, Lane’s gaze swept the countertops, a frown appearing.
“Where did you leave them, Monty?”
Monty gave Ivo a quick squeeze of reassurance, then headed over to the cupboard that was used for kitchen implements. From what Monty had noticed, he was the only one who used them because everyone ate at the bunkhouse. Pete and Orion were skilled cooks, and not having to think about what to make daily was great now Kendrick was back at work.
Not thinking about that.It was part of the reason he’d ended up baking while Rue watched a baseball game. He understood Kendrick didn’t have the same kind of nine-to-five job as him and Rue. When in Hazardville, it was somehow different. Living with Kendrick didn’t mean he had to like it when he was out in the evening, so he’d occupied himself in the kitchen. Itwas the first time Kendrick got to benefit, as usually he was the one cooking. Not that Monty hadn’t been baking. He had, just up at the ranch for the omegas. Something that Rue had encouraged. The kitchen here was well stocked, so the cowboys had benefitted from his culinary skills too.
“I hide them in here. You have to if you don’t want the cowboys sneaking in and eating them all.”
“Monty, your brownies are exceptional, so you can’t blame them,” Lane enthused, the warm smile allaying some of Monty’s doubts that Lane might consider Monty wasn’t right for his son. Lane and Monty had always had a great working relationship, but one never knew when it came to family.
Ivo’s giggle was pure magic. “They are. Just yesterday, Zippy and Cranny nearly came to blows over the last brownie from the batch you made last week.”
He said it so innocently, Monty’s head jerked in Ivo’s direction, knowing just how bad the two cowboys were with each other. What startled him was how calm Ivo was over it. “They did?”
He came to where Monty placed the tub on the counter, Lane coming with him. “Yeah… Oakland stepped in and ate the brownie, stopping the argument.”
