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“I invited him. I was helping him in the stables this afternoon,” Fox said, pulling the steaks off and putting them in the aluminum pans. “He mentioned hating casserole night at the diner, so I said he should come eat with us.”
Bull pulled on his brim and turned to hide his amusement. Fox was one slick little shit.
“I sure am thankful for the invite, Fox.” Rid came closer, eyeing the large cuts of meat. “Ms. Beasley makes a mean meatloaf, but her tuna casserole will have you bent over the shitter all night.”
“Yeah, well, let’s hope my marinade recipe doesn’t do the same.” Fox nodded towards the door. “Come on, let’s go inside. I’m colder than a witch’s tit, now.”
“Okay, Fox. I got your sides finished,” Amelia announced when they came through the door. “I can’t believe you were only gonna serve us a protein and no vegetables.”
Fox set the tray down on the island, and everyone laughed when Walker stood and gaped at the meat. “Mandel Tucker, the cow was already dead! What did you do?”
“This is the thanks I get for slaving over a hot grill in the freezing cold?” Fox ignored Bull and his dad, who were still making fun of his cooking, and instead decided to watch Dale’s reaction.
“Evening, Dale. This is a, umm… nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting you to be here too.” Rid took off his cap and tucked a few strands of blond hair behind his ear. Dale stopped from where he’d been hauling a set of plates to the table, and Fox was surprised he didn’t drop them all at Rid’s feet by the way he halted in shock.
Fox groaned as Dale stood there like a starstruck idiot. “Amelia, I hope you don’t mind Ridby joining us.” Fox clapped the young hottie on his shoulder and pulled him away before Dale could speak. He figured he’d let the poor guy get his bearings as he ignored the menacing scowl the foreman gave him when he walked by.
“Of course not.” Amelia beamed. “That’s why I insisted Bull get a large supper table. I love to have company.” She patted Bull’s scruffy cheek, then kissed it softly. “He was never really in the mood, I guess, until now.”
Dale placed the plates around the table, setting the extra one for Rid across from him and beside Amelia. While Rid was shaking Walker’s hand, Fox hurriedly slid the extra plate back beside Dale’s. Fox followed him into the kitchen, or more like he was dragged in there, when Dale went to get the silverware.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Dale said through clenched teeth, doing his best but failing to keep his voice down.
“I’m trying to help you out, desert-dick,” Fox murmured, and Amelia barked a sharp laugh that made the others glance in their direction before Rid went back to telling Walker what class he was enjoying most in his agricultural studies.
“I don’t need help. Besides,” Dale said, cutting his eyes to Rid, “he’s too young. Shit, he’s like almost fifteen years too young.”
Fox popped a piece of warm roll in his mouth and moaned.
“Pay attention, son,” Walker snapped, knocking Bull on his shin with his cane. “Rid was asking you a question.”
Fox chuckled under his breath, took another bite, then moaned even louder, deciding to torture Bull at the same time he annoyed the fuck outta Dale. “The guy’s a mature, consenting adult, Dale. And for some reason he’s lowered his standards enough to like you.”
Dale gritted his teeth. “Are you ever fuckin’ serious?”
Fox took pity when he saw the real indecision in Dale’s expression. “Dude. Who gives a damn about age? You don’t see me caring two fucks that I’m almost ten years older than Bull.”
“You’re over forty.” Dale gaped. “You look… younger.”
Fox hid his grin. “Not to bring up a shitty situation, but weren’t you attracted to mature men at one point?”
“Dale, where are you with my glasses, honey?” Amelia called. “You asked to help, now you’re holding me up.”
“Yeah. Coming,” he answered, as he filled the glasses with cubes of ice. Fox waited while Dale chewed aggressively on the stick in the corner of his mouth as if he was considering going for it. And why wouldn’t he? It had to get lonely out here.
Dale glanced over at Rid, his mossy eyes trailing down his tall frame, then back to the younger man’s face. The foreman cursed under his breath and glowered at Fox. “You better not be trying to make a fool outta me. I swear to god, Fox.”
“I’m not,” Fox hissed. “I may not know a shit ton about ranching, but what I do know is men. Not only their bad intentions… but their good ones.”
“Supper time,” Amelia announced.
“I wanna hear more about that newer irrigation system you mentioned too.” Bull’s voice carried to the kitchen. “And grab yourself whatever you wanna drink with supper, Rid. We got beer, tea, soda, or liquor. Whatever you want.”
