The lines beside Coke’s eyes got deeper with a full-on grin. “Well, listen to you, now.”
“What?” He did. Like, with this hugeness. Maybe with every single cell in his body.
“I am having the time of my life, cowboy. Tell me this is just the first holiday we get together.”
“Only the first of a thousand, at least.” He grinned even wider, his face stretching.
“It’s a plan.” The toe of Coke’s boot actually nudged his ankle. Woo. Flirting in public.
“Dillon! My friend. How you?” Albert came bustling out, wiping his hands on his apron.
“Good. Good, this is Coke. He’ll be coming in with me a lot.”
“Fearless Pharris? A real pleasure, sir. I watch the bull riding on the TV. Never see Dillon, you know, but I know you.”
Coke stood, smiled, shook Albert’s hand. “I hear y’all have the best food round these parts.”
“Oh, Dillon is kind.” Albert shook Coke’s hand. “What do you like, Mr. Coke?”
“I was promised patty melts and onion rings and pie.”
“Very good! Dillon’s favorite. For both, yes?” When Dillon nodded, Albert clapped his hands and headed off, bellaring some crazy song in a language Dillon had no ear for.
Coke grinned, settled in with his coffee, and grabbed the sugar jar.
“Sweet tooth.” He teased Coke about that a lot. Coke worked it off, though.
“Yup. Gonna get fat one day.”
Right.
Fat.
No way. Coke worked too damned hard. Dillon figured only him and maybe Joa worked out more, and they didn’t work near as hard in the arena.
Coke drank deep, humming softly. That was about the time that fucking phone rang again.
Dillon gritted his teeth, hoping Coke would look at it and say, “Telemarketer.”
Coke picked his phone up, glanced at the display. “You know how to turn the ringer off, cowboy?” Coke asked.
Must be Ace.
“I do.” He grabbed the phone and silenced the incoming call, then went to turn the ringer off. Yep. Ace. Then he just slipped the phone in his pocket, rejoicing when Coke didn’t so much as blink.
The little gal refilled their coffee and Albert sent out these weird Brazilian cheese breads, which made Coke hoot.
Coke popped two in his mouth, sucking in air after. “We oughta get us some movies and some popcorn at the store, too. Make a night of it.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.” He loved it when Coke was in day-off mode. It wouldn’t last forever. Someday soon he’d find Coke in the garage, tinkering.
Another two cheese breads disappeared. “Yup. You. Me. Darkness. Movie. Blanket. Popcorn. Necking.”
Dillon tried a roll. Huh. Chewy. “Woo-hoo.”
“Yeah.” Coke’s phone vibrated wildly in his pocket.
Dillon ignored it. As much as a man could ignore a vibrating titty.
