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“Are you sure?” Elliott asked.
Russell shifted over next to him. “You’re just like Mack—strong and tough on the outside, but with a heart of gold.” Russell leaned close enough that only Rafe could hear him. “And I guess that’s why I love you. And maybe once Dad goes to bed, we can go back to your place and I can show you just how much.”
Rafe shivered and felt himself blushing again. Elliott turned away, but Rafe figured he was trying not to laugh. “Russell,” he whispered but couldn’t help smiling. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Come on, boys,” Elliott said. “You young people think you invented sex and passion. I’ll have you know that Russell’s mother and I were quite the couple when we were young.” He snickered as Russell groaned and sat back. Elliott stood. “I’m going to go to bed.” He headed out of the room. “Don’t set fire to the sheets.”
RUSSELL STRETCHEDas Rafe turned out the light across the hall. He turned his head just in time to watch Rafe glide into the room. Damn, he would never tire of looking at this stunning man. Clothes on or off, Rafe was a work of art… and all his.
That was the strangest thing. Russell expected to feel jittery now that he’d opened himself up to Rafe. But he didn’t. His heart raced at the sight of him.
“What are you smiling about?” Rafe asked as he slipped under the covers.
“You,” Russell said. It was freeing to just be able to say what he felt rather than keeping it bottled up inside. Or worse, wondering if showing tenderness was going to backfire on him.
“Your father told us not to set fire to the sheets.” Rafe grinned, tugging Russell close. “It was touch-and-go there for a while.” Rafe kissed him tenderly, but with enough heat to rekindle their spent passion for a few seconds. Then Russell settled next to Rafe and closed his eyes, letting the contentment of afterglow wash over him.
“What’s bothering you?” Rafe asked after Russell shifted for the third time in as many minutes.
“I can’t stop thinking about Mack,” he answered softly. “I know it’s a strange thing to say at a time like this, but I keep wondering about him and Dale. They could have been happy together.”
“Who says they weren’t?” Rafe said. “You met my parents. Maybe being disowned by them is a badge of honor. I’m starting to think I got lucky when they rejected me.” He shifted. “Mom and Dad would never accept me—I know that now. They have no tolerance for anyone who’s not like them. Hell, they cross the street if a Black person approaches. I’ve seen it.” He shook his head. “It’s disgusting. So maybe Uncle Mack being disowned was a blessing of sorts too.” Rafe’s hurt tone told Russell he didn’t really believe that.
“Come on. They cost you a relationship with your uncle, and I can tell that that’s the real loss here. Mack was a great man. And to think what Mendeltom and his wife did all those years….” Russell clenched his fists and then relaxed his hands again. “Are you sure you won’t let me and Dad run him out of town? I’d do it for you and for Mack. The guy deserves it.”
“Maybe he does,” Rafe said. “But that doesn’t mean you should do it. Mendeltom will end up hanging himself, just like my parents did. And it won’t be on our conscience.” He rolled over. “Please. If we sink to his level, then we’ll be just like him. And that is something I don’t want.”
Russell nodded and settled closer, trying to understand. He loved Rafe for his kind heart, but that was only going to take them so far. Kindness was often stomped on.
“At first I hated my parents for what they did to me,” Rafe continued. “But now I think I pity them more than anything. Uncle Mack left me a lot of money, and I could use it to make their lives miserable. But why bother? The same goes for Mendeltom. Why expend energy and resources to make him pay when he’s going slit his own throat eventually anyway?” Rafe held Russell closer. “Besides, we have things that we have to do, like plan for the spring and get our bull venture off the ground. That’s where we should put our energy.”
Rafe sounded so reasonable that Russell relented. He would do whatever Rafe wanted. He only hoped that Mendeltom would play the game the same way.
THE NEXTfew weeks brought no more incidents… and a lot more snow, just in time for the holidays. Dad hadn’t really bothered to celebrate Christmas since Mom passed, but this year he seemed more like his old self. He even had the men cut down a tree. Then he pulled out Russell’s mom’s ornaments and decorated the huge conifer that measured more than twenty feet.
“Don’t you think it’s a little much?” Russell asked. He stood in the great room, looking at the tree. It filled the front windows, and the thousands of twinkling white lights made everything seem okay.
“Your mother wouldn’t think so,” his dad answered quietly.
Russell chuckled. “Nope, Mom would have picked an even bigger tree.” It was good to see his dad in the festive spirit again. It had been too long. “By the way, Rafe is joining us for dinner tomorrow.”
“He’d better. I invited him weeks ago. He already sent over some gifts,” his dad said, pointing to the pile under the tree. Then he turned to Russell with the same expression he’d worn when Russell had been a kid. “No peeking, now, or Santa will skip by the place.”
“Is that why you did all this?” Russell asked him.
His dad nodded. “In part. When I invited him, he told me he hadn’t celebrated Christmas in years. He said he’d spent most of them in hotels or something. So I decided that we all should celebrate this year. Your mother would be happy you’ve found someone, just as I am.” Damn, sometimes his dad was an old softie. “Now, Violet is making us a huge feast for tomorrow, and we have some of the men joining us with their families. I suspect there will be twenty people for dinner, and I’m giving you the job of making sure Violet knows that she isn’t to be eating in the kitchen.”
“Good. And later I’ll add the gifts I have for everyone.” Russell had decided a while ago that all the people who worked on the ranch or for his software company were going to get a bonus. He had the cards already made up. “Then I can help you bring down the gifts you’ve bought. I took a quick look in one of the rooms upstairs—it’s damn near filled to the brim.”
Dad snorted softly, and Russell knew he’d hit that nail on the head. “Then come on and help me. We can bring them all down now.” He headed upstairs, with Russell following.
THE NEXTmorning Russell was up early and was just putting the coffee on when Rafe arrived. He had asked him to stay the night, but Rafe had had to make sure his animals were taken care of. “Is everything good at your place?” he asked.
“Yes. The dogs already opened their gifts, and they’re happy.” They shared a kiss that threatened to grow heated.
“Get your coffee and get in here, you two. These presents aren’t going to open themselves.” Russell’s dad was already dressed and settled on the sofa, ready to go. He was worse than a kid. And Russell loved every minute of it.
Russell grabbed mugs and handed one to Rafe, then carried his and his dad’s coffee in before they all sat down.
