A chair scraped hard, and Adam sat down across the way from him, smiling and nodding at everyone. Damn it. He didn’t need the uncomfortable staring. Or the fidgeting or picking at his food.
Sammy grinned at him, winked. “You tasting the food good?”
“Yessir. Mr. Beau’s Grandmère makes the best etoufée in the parish.”
“She does at that,” Coke murmured. “Beau makes the best gumbo.”
The clown started wheezing and hacking, flopping in the deck chair dramatically. Landon stared. Everyone knew Beau made good gumbo, right? What was Dillon going on about?
“I get Boug to stir some for you. He likes.”
“Mr. Beau’s gumbo is legendary,” Landon said. It was true. Flavorful and spicy and light on the okra.
“For giving people fiery poops. Back me up here, Tag.” Dillon glared at Adam.
“I’m out of this one,” Adam said. “Chris and Bri will be here tomorrow, so they can be the judges.”
Landon fought the urge to just shrink in the chair. “Well, sounds like you got the pros coming to help y’all, Mr. Sam. I reckon you don’t need me no more.”
Sam raised a brow, lips twisting. “All three them not worth you, right, Taggie?”
Adam chuckled. “I think you’re right, Bell.”
Landon snorted, but Sam grabbed his hand. “I need for your help.”
“Anything I can do, Mr. Sam. You been good to me.”
Jason Scott and Andy Baxter walked out just then with AJ Gardner, and all the focus shifted to them, thank God.
“How you feeling, son? You gathered your chickens all together yet?” Coke asked Jason, and grinned like a fool, but those eyes seemed serious.
“I’m fine as frog hair, Gramps. The little Cajun saved my bacon.”
“He’s a good ’un,” Beau said, raising a beer bottle at Landon.
“Just helpin’.” He clinked bottles, though, refusing to let Adam make him ashamed, damn it. He was happy he’d been there.
“You did more than help, kid.” Andy smiled at him with real gratitude.
He shrugged, but he couldn’t help but beam, though. It was good to hear someone sing his praises sometimes. He glanced at Adam—he couldn’t help it. Adam stared at him, the expression hard to read, but not…bad. No, it was good, whatever it was.
He sucked his beer back, telling his stupid body to just chill the fuck out. This was no time to get all het up and ready to do the nasty. Adam didn’t want anything but that, right? Too bad Landon did.
He wanted…everything. Long term. Landon wanted Adam to wake up next to him every day.
It was time to go to bed, he thought. Time to just be to himself for a bit. “I’ll see y’all in the morning. Mr. Beau, you holler and I’ll get on that list of things you need me to do.”
“Thanks, Nutbutter.” Beau waved him off, and he was glad to escape all those curious folks.
He headed for his room in the back of the barn. How cool was that? That he had his own place here? Beau and Sam were good friends. Good men. Landon rubbed the back of his neck, put his hat on its nail. One day he was gonna be a good guy, solid. One day. He still had time.
