Coke slid into a parking space, turned to face him, eyes deadly serious. “I done told you. You’re one of my own.”
He reached up and touched that stubbly cheek, loving the feel of Coke’s skin. God knew he’d stared at it long enough.
“Come on. Let’s get your legs inside and into a tub of warm water, hmm?” His heart damn near stopped when Coke leaned into his touch.
“I’m all for it.” And anything else Coke wanted to do.
Even if that ended up being nothing.
Chapter Six
Coke turned the corner, truck bouncing along the drive toward AJ’s rambling old house. Good Lord, it’d been a long couple weeks—what with Dillon being out with his poor legs, Nate’s boy getting pneumonia, and the bulls being mean as shit. He’d was ready for a few weeks off, helping the boys, sleeping in, seeing the kids.
Not wondering whether he’d done the right thing by letting Dillon fall asleep in the hot tub that night while he’d ordered room service. By the time things were settled, Dillon’d needed Doc, and then the man had gone home to Idaho. Boom.
It was prob’ly for the best, really. Dillon’d been out of it, and no one needed to have to explain shit and…
He parked, turned the lights off, and tried to decide whether to wake Missy up or just sleep in the truck or what. Coke didn’t have to ponder on it too long. Before he could even rest his head on the steering wheel, someone was knocking on his window, AJ’s tooth missing, fool face grinning in at him.
“Hey there, son. You got a room for an old man?”Dork.
“I sure do. Come on. The boys are still up, having a beer.”
“Excellent.” He grabbed his duffle out of the back, humping his gear easily. “How’s the family?”
“Okay. Everyone is over the ear thing that went around. Missy’s doing good.” AJ led the way, babbling until they got inside. Then he hushed a little.
Jason was laughing; he could hear it—a full, deep sound that made him grin.
“He wakes that baby and Missy will kill him.” They detoured through Missy’s bright white kitchen and got a beer before heading to the front room.
“Coke.” Missy’s smile was warm, welcoming.
“Hey, old man!” Andy Baxter waved at him from that monstrosity of a couch, man still wearing a face that was about as mean as could be. “How’s it hanging?”
“It’s hanging. Y’all been working hard?”
Jason smiled through that mat of hair on his face. “You know it, Gramps.”
“Hardly workin’ is more like it.” Bax looked better every day. Jason was still damned skinny. Tiny. Like he could just blow away.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He headed over, eased himself down, the worn cushions cradling his ass. “Good to be outta that truck, yessir.”
“I bet. You been on the road a bit.” They all stared expectantly at him, watching and waiting.
“Yep.” He nodded. “Dillon’s in. We got a floor team.”
“Well, there you go.” Bax shook his head. “Even if he does freak me out a little.”
“Just a little?” They all laughed, even Missy, who never traveled with them, got the joke.
“So, we got Dillon and Nate.” Bax bit at his thumbnail. “Mini’s doing pretty good.”
“You been on more bulls?”
Jase shrugged. “A couple. I been driv—riding.”
“Driving the truck, too, huh?” Bax elbowed the man, giving Coke raised eyebrows. “Asshole nearly did her in.”
