“No problem. I was a little, uh, forceful,” Phil said, snorting a little. He sounded pretty wry.

  “Yeah, Ry explained. I’d apologize, but I’m not sorry that y’all didn’t hook up.”

  “I am, but I can live with it.”

  He had to smile at the humor in Phil’s voice. The guy had a good handle on laughing at himself, Bleu thought.

  “So how did y’all meet? Through work?”

  “Yeah. He needed better management. Someone to handle all his sponsors. I saw his potential.”

  “Good for you. For both of you, really.” Bleu didn’t have to worry about sponsors, at least not in the same way. He had commissions, and half the money came up front.

  He never lacked for clients. In fact, he often turned people down. A project had to sing to him.

  Bleu was beginning to itch to get into the clay anyway. He wanted to start creating faces, to feel the way the clay slid, the throb of the music. All of it.

  “Bleu?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You were somewhere far away, huh?”

  “I must have been. Sorry.”

  Phil just laughed some more. “You know he travels just as much as he used to, right?”

  He wasn’t sure what that meant. Ry had traveled with the ski team, that was it.

  “He does all sorts of engagements now, and has a full schedule. How much time will he have?”

  “For what?” He didn’t follow. He hadn’t asked Ry for anything.

  “For a blind man. I’m not trying to be ugly, Bleu, but you know there’s a lot of moving parts involved in your life.”

  “So what is it like when you’re trying, honey?” He didn’t need this shit. He hadn’t asked Ryan for a commitment, help, not a thing.

  “Oh, I’m a corporate shark. I can be awful.”

  “I try not to be. I’m an artist, so I have a lot of time where I’m in my studio with music for company.”

  “That sounds soothing.” Phil leaned forward, the air shifting around them. “I’m just saying he might not be any better suited to taking care of you than he used to be.”

  “Ah.” Figured that was what Ryan had told Phil about him. “I don’t need taking care of. I’ve done fine for almost a decade.”

  “Right. I know I probably sound like a jealous ex, but really I’m Ryan’s friend.”

  “And partly his business manager. I can see where you’d want to protect your investment.”

  “Ouch. But okay, that could be part of it.”

  “I don’t intend to make him my caregiver, don’t worry. I’m fairly sure he didn’t apply for the job either.” Bleu went for dry, and he felt like he did a fairly good job of it.

  “No, no, I’m sure not. Look, I know it’s none of my business, but that’s never stopped me before. I stick my nose in.”

  “Fair enough.” He wanted Ryan to come back so Phil would shut up and go away. He thought about getting up and leaving, but that felt like retreat, like surrendering.

  He was tired of people assuming he would give up on anything just because he was blind. Including Ryan.

  “Hey! Bleu. Uh, Phil, can I borrow Bleu? I need to chat with him about the party.”

  Bleu took a second to place Ford’s voice, which meant he was pretty rattled.

  “Sure you can. See you, Phil. Floyd, come.”

  Floyd came right to him, nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He grabbed the harness and rose, following Ford to the kitchen.

  He didn’t say anything on the trip, because he knew the piece he’d done was a surprise for Stoney, and he needed Ford to tell him when it was all clear.

  “Okay, we’re safe. I overheard a few words there, and I wanted you to know. Phil and Ryan have been broken up for, like, six months.”

  “Yeah, Ryan told me. I’m guessing Phil regrets it, huh?” He could see that too. He’d regretted leaving Ry for a long time. He knew it had been the right decision, though. He’d been young and scared; Ry had been flying up the ladder of his career and needed his freedom.

  “I think he’s just worried. Stoney tells me he showed up expecting a booty call, but he’s not a bad guy. Socially awkward….” Ford laughed, which invited him to chuckle too.

  “Yeah, I get that.” He guessed. Really, he didn’t. He just wanted to get to know Ryan again.

  “Well, I thought I would help out. I hope I didn’t make things worse.”

  “Why would you? I needed rescuing. That was getting a little awkward.”

  “Yeah, and you were kinda stuck.”

  “Stuck to what?” Geoff bustled in from the back door, a gust of cold air coming with him.

  “The leather couch. It’s cold out there, huh?” See him, see him make small talk.

  “It is. My chest is trying to cave in. Weren’t you with Ryan?”

  “He had to run do a couple things with a sponsor.”

  “Oh. Well, have a sit. Coffee or tea? Coke?”

  “Geoff, I know you’re busy. You don’t have to wait on me.”

  “Stop it. I love having you.”

  “Dr Pepper, please.” There was no arguing with Geoff. None.

  “You got it. Ah, Tiny, those two trays to the Tarlington party.”

  “You got it, Geoff.”

  That was where Ry was, he thought. The Tarlington party.

  “If you see Ryan, can you tell him I’m in the kitchen?” He’d wait for a while. The kitchen was warm and smelled so good.

  “You know it.” Tiny’s rough voice was always so kind. He loved the way it almost echoed in his chest, the low rumble.

  Geoff set his Dr Pepper in front of him. “So what happened? Ford slipped out, so you can tell me.”

  “Oh, Ry’s ex was warning me off. No big. Just weird and uncomfortable, you know?” Especially since Ryan hadn’t seemed terribly concerned about Phil.

  “Did he write you a check? I would totally cash it if he wrote you a check.”

  “No… should I have asked? That would be cool.”

  “Right?” Geoff laughed. “I mean, you wouldn’t do what he wanted. You could just split it with Ryan.”

  “Hell, I’d donate it to Quartz’s college fund for watching the dog.”

  “I like it. Don’t worry on Quartz, though. Ford has him covered.”

  “Oh, I have no doubt. They’re good people.”

  “Yeah.” A chair scraped out, and Geoff sat down. “Oh, that feels good.”

  “You been working your hiney off, buddy?” Like Geoff ever had downtime. Ever. He was like the Energizer Bunny.

  “I have! The party Saturday is the big culmination, though. Then I’m back to making dinner for family and guests and cooking a lot of bacon in the mornings.”

  “What do you have to make for the party? Just tons of nibbles or do you have a plated meal?”

  “Nibbles. They wanted a Mexican feast, so I get to do street tacos and slaw, nachos Texas style, and I’m making these Mexican rice cakes. A churro bar. And Tiny is doing a meat station.”

  “Oh… yum. Yum. Seat me near the nachos.” He missed Texas-style nachos like a sore tooth. The ones up here and in New Mexico were fine, but sometimes a man just wanted a tortilla quarter with meat, beans, and broiled cheese.

  “Totally. Anytime you want Tex-Mex, Stoney has instructed me on how to make it.” Geoff said it fondly.

  “It’s funny how you never get over wanting it. Is it weird to cook meat when you don’t eat it?”

  “Nope. It’s easier now that I have Tiny to taste, but I try hard to live and let live. It helps that Stoney works hard to have responsibly raised meat, and if he kills game, we use every bit of it. He doesn’t allow trophy hunting on the ranch.”

  “That makes sense. You’re a good guy, man. I’m glad to call you friend.”

  “You know, I never thought I’d make so many good friends, but here at the ranch? It’s like magic for me.” Geoff touched his hand. “I love it here.”

  “Me too.” He beamed, or hoped so. Maybe he looked like a scary skeleton.

  “Hey, babe. There you are.” Ryan kissed the top of his head. “Can I sit a minute and hide, Geoff?”

  “Of course. This seems to be the place for finding peace in this house.”

  “It does.” Ryan sat next to him, then took his hand. “Sorry, babe. I got there and everyone wanted something.”

  “I’ve been there. Gallery openings can be like that.” He wasn’t pissed off. A little sad, maybe, because Phil had been so “back off Ryan,” but not mad.

  “You okay?”

  He heard what Ryan was asking, which was “was Phil a shit” or something like that.

  “I’m good. Phil wants me to know that you’re not going to be able to take care of me.” Petty? Maybe, but it was still true.

  “Oh God. Babe, he asked me why we broke up, and I told him how I freaked out. We’re both different now. He’s just not very subtle. Sorry.”

  “No worries. He’s got to protect his investment in you, right?”

  “Argh. Yes. That makes me nuts.” Ryan squeezed his hand. “It smells great, Geoff. Whatever it is.”

  Geoff hooted. “It is finger foods. For you.”

  “For me?” Ryan asked. “Was I hungry?”

  “If Geoff cooks for you, you must be hungry, Ry.”

  “Well, okay. You’ll have to help me, babe. There’s a lot.”

  “Is this for a party, Geoff? I mean, is the family coming?”

  “Stoney and Ford will be in, and Tiny and Tanner and Doogie. Maybe Angie and Hetty.”

  “Ah, so we get to be part of the family.” He liked that bit. He liked believing it.

  “You do. I think it works.”

  “Me too.” That was Stoney, who was yawning as he said the words. “They’re winding down finally. The big parties. The runners will clean up.”

  “I have goodies for them too,” Geoff murmured.

  “Good man. I have to say, those kids are busting their asses. I’m damn pleased.” Stoney plopped down beside him. “Hey, Bleu. Ryan.”

  “Hey, man.” The sound of a plate being pushed came to him as Ryan spoke. “Have a snack.”

  “Oh, poppers! I love these. You tried them yet, Bleu? They taste like home—bacon and everything.”

  “I haven’t. Ryan made up a plate, but I never got one.”

  “I’ll hook you up, then. Ryan? You want one?”

  “Please.”

  “Plates,” Geoff said, plonking something on the table. Plates, he presumed.

  “Sit, Geoff. Time for you to rest.”

  “Rest? What’s that? We never rest around here except in the spring.”

  “Hush. The worst is over, and Tiny is out there pushing the leftovers on guests like a fiend.” That was Ford, plopping down too. The noises were so fascinating.

  “Spring is bad for business?”

  Ford grunted. “Too cold for outdoorsy stuff, too mushy for winter sports. A couple of families come up and do hot tubbing, but that’s it.”

  “Mushy.” Bleu liked that word.

  “Yep. The ground likes to suck your boots off,” Stoney said.

  “Ew!” And also damn cool. How neat was that?

  Ryan snorted, making Bleu grin with the sarcasm in the wordless sound. “Oh, I used to hate March and April on the competition circuit. People still tried to have events, and we all ended up buttpassing and wiping out because the surface was bad.”

  “Buttpassing?” Bleu asked.

  “Falling and sliding on our asses,” Ryan said.

  “Does that hurt?”

  “Sometimes. Depends on the surface. If there’s a lot of ice and rocks mixed in, yeah.”

  “No rocks in your butt, Ry. It’s perfect as is.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Ew.” Geoff was right there, and he thought maybe the man was having a snack.

  “What? It is perfect!”

  “Sorry, Bleu. Stoney’s is perfect,” Ford pointed out.

  “I’ve never felt Stoney’s, but I assume it’s a cowboy butt. I like snowboarder butt.” It seemed like a perfect explanation.

  “Well, I’m not going to let you feel up Stoney’s backside, man. We’ll just have to agree to disagree.”

  “Fair enough.” He started laughing, and Ryan and Stoney joined right on in.

  “You guys suck. I have no perfect asses,” Geoff complained.

  “Have you met Mike? He’s a rep for the snow sports group having the party. Big redhead.” Ryan sounded gleeful. “Sweet guy. Snowshoer. Lives in Telluride.”

  “No.” Geoff’s voice took on a hopeful tone. “I need to go retrieve some trays.”

  “You should introduce them, Ry. If he seems good.”

  “He seems like a great guy. You have to come with me so I don’t get stalled again. Then we can come back for munchies.”

  “Save me a seat, guys?”

  “Always, Bleu.” Stoney sounded like he was damn near asleep in his chair.

  They would be lucky if Stoney wasn’t in bed when they got back.

  “Floyd. Come.” Floyd hopped up. Ryan helped him into his coat, which he thought he’d left in the great room. “Onward, Geoff and Ryan.”

  “Do you feel a little like a reindeer, Geoff?”

  “A touch, yeah. Jingle jingle jingle.”

  “Mush. You’re huskies.”

  They all laughed, but Ryan took the arm not holding Floyd, and they set out into the frigid night to hook Geoff up. That was hysterical.

  “Geoff?” That was Tiny. “Everything okay?”

  “Fine. Going to drop off trays, get an introduction maybe.”

  “Oh-ho! Okay, well, I’ll be back at the kitchen. This crew is eaten out, I think.”

  “Well, I’ll drop these off, just to make sure.”

  “The kids will nosh if nothing else.”

  He thought Tiny meant the runners, who were all older teenagers and college students.

  “Cool. Thanks. Ryan? Is he here?”

  “Uh-huh. Come on. Mike? You got a minute?”

  “I do.”

  Oh, deep voice, husky. Interesting. He’d not gotten to meet the man when he whisked Ryan away.

  “I wanted to introduce my fella, Bleu, and this is Geoff. I told you about him.”

  Bleu held out a hand to shake, and the grip was strong, big, but not brutal.

  “Hi, Bleu.” Mike let go. “Geoff, pleased to meet you.”

  “I…. Hello.”

  Dude. Listen to that. That was real interest. Like whoa.

  “Um, do you have a few minutes to chat? I loved the food.” Mike sounded downright tickled. And also interested.

  “Did you? What was your favorite?”

  Bleu was trying hard not to giggle.

  “The jalapenos. I love spice.” Their voices moved away.

  “Wow, I guess we really were just here to facilitate,” Ryan murmured.

  “That was super cool, man. You’re like the queer guy whisperer.”

  “I totally am. Now, if I can just get Dan to go sleep with Phil, we could have a cabin to ourselves.”

  “Oh, wouldn’t that be nice? I mean, you’re welcome to stay in my room, but it’s not alone.” And Dan didn’t approve of him having a life.

  “I know, and Dan has been weird…. Back to the kitchen for now?”

  “Dan was born weird. Yes, please.”

  “Let’s go. Floyd with us?”

  “He is.”

  They headed off to the kitchen, where the cowboys were all assembled now.

  “Hey! Come sit down, guys.” That voice was less familiar, but he figured out it was Tanner before he embarrassed himself.

  “Hey. Geoff’s having a discussion with one of my sponsors.”

  Bleu let Ryan lead him to a seat, get him settled.

  “Cool!” Tiny chuckled warmly. “Geoff could use some time out of the kitchen.”

  “That was what I was thinking. A nice, happy lumberjack that needs a friend with bennies.”

  Bleu personally thought that Geoff needed something way more intense than a friend with benefits, but what did he know?

  Tanner snorted. “I am the only straight man at the Leanin’ N.”

  “Quartz is very interested in the idea of girls, when he’s not stressing their cooties. One day you’ll be one of two.”

  “I like the ladies.” That came from… Angie? She was a wrangler too, he thought.

  “You better only like one.”

  He didn’t know that voice.

  “Bleu, Ryan, this is Hetty, Angie’s wife and one of our offsite horse breeders. She’s our sleigh horse source.” Stoney was laughing, and that merriment made Bleu smile.

  “Oh, I’d like to take a sleigh ride one day. Ryan told me all about them.”

  “Anytime,” Hetty said. “I’ve got some lazy porkers who need exercise.”

  “You mean you’re breeding sled pigs now?” Ford teased.

  “Sled pigs….” Bacon in a harness. Good Lord.

  “Oink!” That was Doogie, his old smoker voice clear.

  “I’m considering just giving you guys llamas from now on.”

  “Or ostriches!” Angie slapped the table with a bang.

  “Oh God no.” Stoney hooted. “Ostriches are only good for boots.”

  “I’ve touched ostrich eggs before. They don’t feel real. They feel like they’ve been carved.”

  “They so do.” That was Tiny.

  This was so much fun. It reminded him of family get-togethers in Texas. All talk, all bluster and teasing.

  And they didn’t act like he didn’t belong.

  “The yolks are super fragile, I guess,” Stoney added.

  And then Ford asked, “How do you know?”

  “Chopped.”

  “Oh, I like that one!” They explained everything that was happening so you could just listen.

  “Right?” Stoney poked his arm gently. “They’ve got shit on that show I would never put in my mouth.”

  “Coward.” Tiny gently touched his shoulder. “Dr Pepper again, or something warm?”

  “Oh, did my drink go missing?”

  “I drank it,” Tanner said sheepishly.

  “No worries. I’ll take a cup of coffee this time. Ry? You want anything?”

  “Oh, man, I would love a cup of tea. Can we help, Tiny? What can we do?”