“Andy Baxter, you are not too big to be stuck doing the dishes, now. Y’all quit bitchin’ and eat.”
Jason hid his grin in a bite of slaw. He wasn’t the only one Momma could give what for.
“Yes, ma’am.” Bax didn’t talk to his own mother, so it seemed right somehow that Jason’s had taken him on. And she did, too, especially when she thought Bax was being a butthead on TV or something.
They settled right in, eating hearty. He could watch Bax eat for, oh, hours and shit. The man loved his feed, licking the fork and enjoying every bite and all. Then there were Bax’s hands. Lean, tanned dark, and well-shaped, they just fascinated him. They’d been on him so many times while he was in the chute, and he always dreamed of more. He caught himself staring a little, watching those fingers, following the little scars on the back.
Goddamn.
The things he could imagine.
Bax caught him staring finally, dark eyes fastening on his, one eyebrow going up. “You okay, Mini?”
“Yeah. Yeah, only woolgathering, man.”Jesus.
Just thinking about doing obscene things with you.
“Ready to get on the road already, son?”
“I got two more days, Momma.”
“Don’t push us out the door, huh?” Bax said, patting her hand. “We need the time off.”
“Y’all are welcome home whenever. Two more suppers, huh? Y’all want enchiladas and spaghetti?”
“Oh. Spaghetti. Will you make garlic bread and Italian cream cake?” Look at that fool man bounce.
“Sure, son, if you and Junior get up on the roof and check shingles.”
“Momma, you’re evil.” He grinned over, winked.
“Shit, Mini, you know I’ll do shingles and gutters for that meal.” Sometimes it was good to just be home, not be on the road. People figured he and Bax split up to do that, but home was when he enjoyed the man’s company the most.
“Yeah. I want to do some maintenance on the tractor.” Maybe take the cutting horses out.
“And I promised to clean out the old rabbit hutch, yeah?” Bax could work like a dog.
“You’re good boys. Both of you. I bought a bunch of shoot ‘em up movies for y’all to watch in the hotels. Oh, andAndy, honey. You need some new shirts. Cain’t you get your sponsor to understand that yellow takes on stains?”
“I’ve tried, Momma.” Shrugging easily, Bax just nibbled some more. “They like yellow. It’s their logo color.”
“It suits you, at least.” Momma shook her head, giving him another spoonful of slaw. “Finish that, and I won’t have to save any.”
“Yes, Momma.” He nibbled, listening to both of them jabber on about this and that, the sound familiar as hell.Shit.
It was good to be home.
Even if they did have to get on the roof. Luckily they had cake to eat first.
Chapter Four
The crowd was rockin’. Bax loved it when they were into it, cheering and screaming, egging them and the bulls on. It ramped up the energy, made him want to put on a better show. It also made Jason a crazed lunatic. Made the man incredibly determined to cover all his bulls. Bax just loved it.
He stood on the rail, pulling at Jason’s rope, watching Mini fold his gloved fingers over and pound on them, getting the rope good and tight in his riding hand.
It was sexy as Hell.
Bax could see Jason clenching his jaw, over and over, knew he was talking to himself, going over the same thing, again and again. Getting ready. The bull was jumpy as fuck, thinking about climbing up and out of the chute, Bax could tell.
