Dillon trotted over and patted Beau on the back. The little banty-rooster man was on fire this season, now that Jason Scott was out of the running. No doubt about it.
Beau tipped his hat to the crowd and shook Adam Taggart’s hand as the safety man rode by, grinning at him and Coke and nodding. “Thanks, y’all.”
“Look at you, Cajun!” Coke jogged in place winking at Beau. “This mean you’re buying the beer tonight?”
Beau laughed and nodded, waving at Nate, who tossed over his rope. “You know it,cher. I owe you a couple from last month, yeah?”
“You bet. We’ll all meet at the hotel.” Coke winked at him, at Beau, then slapped Nate on the back. “Come on, Nattie. We’re up. The young’un’s slowing down on us.”
The grin Coke gave Nate was self-deprecating as hell. Fred was covering for Cooper Riley, and the little Australian was almost like a new puppy, trying desperately to get the big dogs to let him in the pack, to play with him.
“Yep. It’s hell so be young and full of energy.” Nate bounced along next to Coke, shaking out his hands and arms, and Dillon couldn’t help but laugh as he made his way back behind the barrel.
God, he loved his job. Even more now that Coke was back from delivering Andy Baxter and Andy Baxter’s busted leg to Texas.
The rest of the rides went easy as pie, Beau taking the round and the event, the crowd milling around and heading down for autographs. Coke and Nate leaned together, forehead to forehead, giving thanks, just like every night. Fred wasn’t in that circle. None of the others were, either.
Dillon always felt a little dirty, watching that and thinking about anything but prayer. Shaking it off, he headed for their locker room, wanting out of his sweaty costume, looking forward to that beer Beau had mentioned.
Coke had mentioned.
Whatever.
The bullfighters came tumbling in—Nate and Fred running and laughing, Coke chasing them, the man soaking wet. “Gonna kick y’all’s butts!”
Nate hooted. “Didn’t know that cooler dealie was full, Hoss, honest.”
“Liar.” Coke pounced, tackling Nate to the ground.
Oh. Oh, good God in Heaven. That was kind of like watching porn, and Dillon turned his back, not joining in like he usually would. He was a little too stiff for that. In certain places.
A noogie later, Nate rolled out from under Coke, leaving the man a little like a turtle on his back. Coke’d been broke so many times there wasn’t much bending to speak of. “Dillon, son, gimme a hand.”
“Sure.” Pasting on the same smile he had for the crowd, Dillon turned and gave Coke his hand, hauling the man to his feet.
“Thanks, son.” Coke patted his arm, eyes warm and shining. “You coming to have a beer with us?”
“I’d love to.” His grin stretched into something real, Coke always making him feel good. “I was just out there thinking how I needed one.”
“Yep, I hear you.” Coke’s shoulders rolled, the outer shirt coming off, then the vest, exposing a scarred, solid chest covered in a mass of curls.
Dillon nodded, but he wasn’t really sure what Coke had even said. He was too busy staring at the little brown nipples. Good God, what on earth was wrong with him tonight? Usually he could be cool if he needed to.
There was this little scar, curling down from Coke’s ribcage down into the tighty-whities.Yum.
“How’s Jason and Andy, mate?” Fred still sounded more like Australia than anyone on tour but Packer. Even Adrian said ‘y’all’ sometimes.
Nate and Coke shared a quick, weird glance, then Coke shrugged. “They’re both in rehab. Messy business, huh?”
Something about the little exchange had Dillon forgetting all about the shirtless thing, making his nose twitch like a hound on a trail. He was Jason Scott’s biggest fan, and the man had been hit damned hard.
“Real messy,” Dillon agreed, giving Coke a look.
Coke’s cheeks went pink, and Nate stepped in between them, puffing up a bit. Oh. Oh, man. Something was up. Something big.
Everyone knew everyone told Coke everything.
Everything.
