“We were but the place was packed. Line dancing night. So we decided to come back to town for some poetry and a meal at the Laughing Fork. That was a really nice poem, Hoyt. The touch of his hand. Does that hand belong to the guy with the polka dot tie?”
“Why…I don’t…” Fuck me this kid was always too damned clever. “Could be but its new and he’s skittish as a new colt so don’t get into his face about anything.”
“I won’t. I promise,” Jesse vowed, even crossed his heart as we had back when we were younger. “Would you two like to join us for some pulled pork at the Laughing Fork. Your treat.”
“Oh, I don’t know. He said he had something for us at his place so…” I shrugged my left shoulder gently. Rehab day one yesterday had been fucking rough. Tomorrow I had another round of torture to look forward to.
“That’s cool. Uhm, would you like to possibly invite him to the ranch for Sunday dinner.” Jesse glanced at Lucas who nodded then back at me. “Nothing too fancy. Maybe some pasta, a salad, and a pie if we can get a decent crust rolled out?”
“I’ll ask Aubrey.”
“Ask me what?” He appeared at my side like a dream. I smiled down at him because…well, because seeing him made me happy. “Hello, I’m Aubrey Lancombe, owner of High Noon Reads.” He held out his fine-boned hand to Jesse.
“Uh, this is my brother Jesse and his boyfriend Lucas,” I managed to croak out. They all shook hands.
“How nice to meet you! Hoyt talks about you all the time.” Jesse shot me a look I ignored. “What do you two like to read? Do you also pen poetry, Jesse? Did I overhear an invitation to dinner? I would be delighted! I can bring a salad with no radishes. Radishes give me hives but carrot, celery, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes are fine. My grandmother, Gee-Gee, also had a radish indisposition. It must be hereditary. I also have a mild aversion to lima beans but for a wholly different reason.”
Jesse did his best to reply to all of Aubrey’s questions, comments, and oddball comments about radishes. Lucas grinned at me throughout the encounter. I suspected they both would be teasing me up one side and down the other athome. Which was okay. Honestly, I enjoyed the banter with my brother, and to some extent Lucas, as he became more comfortable with me.
“We’ll see you on Sunday around four then,” Jesse managed to slip in around Aubrey’s chit-chat after about thirty minutes and the final four poets were done. Aubrey thanked everyone and offered his wishes for a lovely night to the folks who had shown up at the front door. “He seems nice.”
“He is, real nice.”
Jesse tapped my shoulder with the side of his fist before they left the bookshop.
Yeah, he was real nice, and now the reading was over he was all mine for the rest of the night. Clean-up had better go quickly because I had hugging and kissing on my mind.
Chapter 11
Aubrey
Iraced into my cottage leaving Hoyt strolling up the walk.
After flicking the lights on I spied Ruggerio sleeping in the corner on his new cat bed. He’d just had his nugget surgery yesterday so he was recuperating inside. He seemed okay with the confinement so far but I was sure that would change once he was back to one hundred percent. I hoped not though. He opened one eye, saw it was me, and then went back to sleep. Obviously he was miffed at me for removing his tallywags. Which was understandable.
Once I saw that he was fine I peeked outside to see Roberto sleeping inside the shed, his big gold form settled on the windowsill. He was more than likely lonely. I’d take care of that tomorrow. At least he was inside for the night.
The door behind me opened. I spun to see Hoyt fill the doorway with those wide shoulders of his. Because Gee-Gee had raised me to be a proper mistress of the household I did the following:
Removed Hoyt’s coat and hung it up.
Removed Hoyt’s journal from his hand and placed it on a side table by the door.
Removed Hoyt’s shirt, belt, and boots.
Then, because I was a hostess with the mostest, I led him to the bedroom.
