God, sometimes he wondered if he came off as a huge redneck. He knew a lot of Mexican guys, a metric fuckton of ex-cons, and cowboys. That was pretty much it.

  “Hey.” Dan nudged his leg under the table. “You with me?”

  “I am. I was having a little jealousy thing, I guess. I mean, not the whole fighting thing, but you’ve seen stuff that I never have, met so many folks.”

  “I’ve had a good run, for sure.” Dan shrugged. “You got married, had kids. You’ve probably seen more craziness than I have in combat. It’s all in how you look at it.”

  “Oh, I wasn’t complaining. Just imagining what all you must have done.”

  “I have to admit, I keep doing that with you too.” Dan’s cheeks pinked right up.

  “Listen to you.” Dan made him goofy as fuck. “I was married and having babies.”

  “I know.” Dan studied him, clearly hesitating. “So, are you bi, man? Like, for real? I mean, I know you said you had a guy before….”

  “Yeah. I mean, I loved my wife. I loved having sex with her. I loved having sex with my boyfriend that I had before Krista.” He wasn’t going to be ashamed, dammit. He loved being in love. He loved sex. He enjoyed having someone to share his life with.

  “That’s rare, yeah? I mean, not as much as people think, but I’ve never met someone who really swung either way.” Thankfully, Dan didn’t seem turned off by the idea.

  “Me either. Krista knew, about Blake—he was my first long-term thing. She wanted to watch. Blake damn near died laughing when she told him.” The memory made him smile. God, he missed the way she was so fucking ballsy, so unflappable and practical and fierce.

  “She sounds like a hoot. Like a neat lady. I’m sorry you lost her.”

  “I am too. She had Caleb, came home, and four hours later she was gone, just laying there on the bed.”

  “Oh, God. I hope…. The kids were okay? They didn’t find her?” Dan had that wide-eyed horror most people did when they heard that story.

  “Maddie did. She had a fever and was home. Kenzie was with Krista’s mom, Jakob and Em were at school. I was in the workshop, and I heard Maddie scream. It wasn’t ugly. She looked like she was sleeping. They tell me it was fast, that she never even knew.”

  “Oh, honey.” Dan was just learning it, right? People reacted that way. Luckily, Weldon had come to terms long ago.

  Okay, a couple years ago. It felt like forever.

  “Yeah. Yeah, she was something special. Think Maddie and Emma smashed together.”

  “So is MacKenzie all you, then?”

  “She is, yeah. And I know she’s my girly girl, but personality-wise? She’s mine to the bone.”

  “What about Jakob? No offense, man, but he’s the only one who doesn’t look just like you. Does he act like you at all?” Dan seemed so engaged, so interested.

  “Not really. He’s a spirit all on his own, especially with the music, but he’s never known another dad, so he’s got to have some of me, huh?” Weldon shrugged and tried to explain. “You know, I was a kid, so was Krista, and we had a baby that was born blind. God knows how many mistakes I made.”

  “Wow.” Dan sat back and looked at him, eyes wide. “That was a lot to take on, young as you were.”

  “Was it? There were a lot of us, young, pregnant, starting off. The biggest thing for my folks was that neither of us were going to head to college. Of course, as soon as Jakob was born, we knew that wasn’t going to be an option for us. We had to adjust to a whole new world.” Krista had been in love from the first second, no matter that his poor baby eyes were fucked-up. It had taken him a few days, to be honest, to not short out at this terrified, dark-haired, blind baby. Once they’d figured out that the only thing that calmed Jakob’s hysterics was his voice, well…. It would take a man of stone not to fall in love with that.

  He did a lot of talking back then. A lot of singing.

  “I know Dix was over the moon when he knew Randi was on the way.”

  “Yeah. I’ve not met a shitload of people that got pregnant on purpose, and he’s the only gay guy that did the whole turkey baster thing.” The idea of the money that had to cost was nuts.

  “Ron was very organized about it.” Dan chuckled. “Couldn’t get more different than Ron with Audie.”

  “No. No, I heard all about that. Poor guy. At least I loved Krista, wanted to have a family with her. Audie never had a partner to help until Dix.”

  “No, I guess not.” Dan munched another handful of chips, and then the queso came. They went after that like starving men. “I like that, you know. That you don’t talk about Dix like he’s incapable and shit.”

  “He’s not. He’s blind, not pointless.”

  “No, I know, but everyone treats him like glass.”

  “I guess, since I have Jakob, I know better, huh?”

  “It still freaks me out a little, man.” Dan sighed. “Dix, I mean.”

  “Sure it does. If one of my friends went blind all of the sudden, it would freak me out, and he’s your brother. I never met Dixon before he was blind.”

  Dan’s shoulders relaxed some. “That’s true. No one ever said that before. Mom and Dad, they have this forced cheer thing. Dalton thinks Dix might hurt himself. Damon is too busy to notice anything, and Randi is the only one who’s utterly normal. Besides Audie, I mean.”

  “Well, Audie didn’t know him before either, and Randi? Shit, that’s her daddy. Daddies are magical things in the eyes of little girls.”

  “Are they?” Dan shook his head. “I have no idea. We got no ladies but Mom.”

  “They are.” Weldon caught a drip of queso on his tongue.

  Dan stared, stopping everything to watch. That focus made him feel on top of the world.

  He refused to pull back either. This was a natural act, licking queso. Weldon cleared his throat, trying for a natural smile.

  “Yummy, huh? Spicy?”

  “Very,” Dan said, staring at his mouth.

  He licked his lips clean and started to tell Dan to be good, stop staring, when the waitress brought them their chimichangas.

  Dan blinked at the plate of fried goodness, accompanied by beans and rice and more queso. Sour cream. Guac.

  “Holy shit. Look at that.”

  “I know. Magic, isn’t it?”

  “It’s like Mexican food heaven.” Dan beamed at him. That expression was worth a lot of trouble.

  “I’m glad I got to show it to you.”

  “Me too.” Dan grabbed his knife and fork, crunching through the shell of the flour tortilla.

  He made sure he got the perfect bite of cheese, fried masa, chile, and chicken. Oh hell yeah. That was what he wanted.

  Mouthwatering.

  Weldon was pretty sure they didn’t speak again until they ordered fried ice cream at the end.

  He only ate a couple bites—he was full as a tick—but Dan’s pleasure in the sweet was worth it. Weldon spent the extra time admiring and sipping his margarita.

  He had to say, he’d accept a dinner offer from that fine son of a bitch any day.

  They even went dutch, for all of Dan’s teasing about him buying.

  “Thanks, man. It was nice to have a meal without any tears or temper tantrums.”

  “Yep. No throwing things or dogs fighting either.” Dan chuckled. “I’m selfish enough to want to keep seeing you.”

  “Yeah. Well, surely a supper every now and again doesn’t break any rules, right?” He didn’t bother to point out that the rules were Dan’s.

  “Nope.” Dan patted his belly. “Uhn.”

  “You look like you’ve swallowed a watermelon,” he teased, but he got it. He felt all swole.

  “Yeah. I’ll have to work it off.” Dan said it without teasing or, he thought, hidden meaning.

  “Yeah? I guess you’re used to working out a lot, huh? Jakob does weight lifting at school, and Maddie’s into volleyball, but they didn’t get that from me.” He just worked hard.

  “I’ve been helping Audie out too. That’s some physical labor.”

  “Cowboying is a hard fucking job. I have enough work with my menagerie.” Especially that fucking ostrich.

  “You have some oddities, for sure.”

  “Yes. It’s… 4-H. Emma is the only one that’s really going to stick with it, I think, but I can’t turn the critters away.”

  “No one wanted to sell, huh?” Dan nodded sagely. “Dalton was that way.”

  “I don’t know if Kenzie will do it, but we’ll see. Right now she’s all glitter and baby dolls.”

  “Do we have to leave? Can’t we just sit here and talk for hours?” Dan sounded so… wistful.

  Weldon shook his head, then nodded. “God, I want to. I need to get back, you know?”

  “I know.” Dan met his gaze, green eyes dancing with wry laughter. “Doesn’t keep me from wanting to kidnap you and make out in my truck.”

  “Yeah. This is not the place to get arrested, though. Williamson County sheriff deputies are… intense.”

  “You mean dickheads?” Dan left the tip, pushing his hand away when he went to split that too. “I got it, honey. I kept you out later than we meant to, huh?”

  “I’m having the best time, man. Seriously.” It didn’t surprise him. He fucking liked Dan.

  “Good.” Dan rose, waiting for him to follow suit. “You ready? We need to get moving, I bet.”

  “I guess so, yeah.” He stood up and they headed out. More than anything he wanted to lean over to Dan, take a long, lazy kiss.

  They got into the truck, Dan sitting there for a long moment before turning to grab him by the upper arm, pulling him half across the console to kiss him silly. Jesus fuck, that burned him to the bone, made him cry out like a needy kid.

  God, Dan’s mouth made Weldon crazy, made him want things he knew better than to hope for. He was hard as a rock in seconds, trying to crawl into Dan’s lap. Dan’s hand landed on his hip, keeping him still, and he couldn’t stop his groan.

  “No steering wheel bruises,” Dan murmured against his mouth.

  “No. God, I want you.” He felt like a goddamn teenager.

  Dan kissed him again, then again, until both of them were panting, desperate for more touch. Then someone turned into the parking lot, bright light slamming into their eyes.

  They jerked apart, his head knocking into the passenger side window hard enough to dislodge his hat. Damn. He settled it back on his head.

  “It’s good, you know? Kissing a guy who knows how to work around a gimme cap.”

  “I am from Texas,” Dan said, laughing. “I keep telling myself all the reasons it’s not fair to you for us to get involved.”

  “Yeah. My babies are….” Weldon shrugged. “Well, honey, they’re my babies. That’s not going to change.”

  Dan took his hand, playing with his fingers. “It’s not just that, honey. I’m a jobless guy living with his brother. I need to figure out what to do.”

  “You know you’ll find something, right? It’s a competitive market, but you can do it.” Weldon squeezed Dan’s fingers. “Buck up and shit. Thinking is a pain in the ass. That’s why your brother-in-law spends all his time in the barn.”

  “Audie is a solid guy.” Dan kissed the back of his hand. “You ready to head back? That way I won’t take you to the Holiday Inn.”

  “Yeah. I need to make sure Maddie did her book report and that Jakob’s not listening to porn again.” He offered Dan a wink. “Talk about desperate.”

  “Wow. Listening to…. That has to suck.” Dan let him go and buckled up. “I’ll have to ask Dix about that. Scar him for life.”

  “No shit on that.” Oh, man. That would be funny. He’d love to be a fly on the wall for that. “You’ll have to tell me what he says.”

  There. That let Dan know he wanted to be friends, if nothing else, right?

  “I will. Am I going to see you again next week when you bring Jakob?”

  “You should, yeah. I’m thinking about a Super Bowl party at the house too. Easy and casual.” He didn’t even have a horse in the race, but he liked munchies and beer.

  “Oh, that sounds good. We had amazing things in the service. The guys all bonded over sports, if nothing else.” Dan pulled out on the main highway. “I make an amazing jalapeno popper dip.”

  “Uhn.”

  Dan shot him a look, swerving the barest bit.

  “What?”

  “That sound. Don’t make that sound while I’m driving, man.”

  Weldon’s cheeks went red hot. Oh, God, this was so not fair. Not, notty not.

  “Also, I’m bringing a double batch, just to watch you eat it.”

  Totally unfair. How could food even sound sexy right now with his belly feeling all huge with Tex-Mex? “Okay. Yes, please,” Weldon said.

  Dan looked like the cat that got the cream, a wicked smile on the man’s face.

  “You’re evil,” Weldon murmured. “Tease.”

  Dan sobered. “I don’t want to upset you, honey, so call me off if I do.”

  “I’m not fragile.” In fact, he figured if he lived through seeing his wife dead in their bed, he could live through a little good-natured teasing.

  “No, no, I guess not.”

  Too damned soon they were back at Dix’s place, Weldon’s truck sitting there waiting for him.

  He sighed. “Thanks for this. It was—” Fucking great. Fabulous. Amazing. Necessary. “—cool.”

  “And then some. Thanks, Weldon. For coming out with me. I loved it.” Dan smiled for him, a flash of white in the dark cab.

  “Yeah.” He dared to lean over, take a chaste, quick kiss. “Night, honey. Have a good one.”

  “You too, Weldon. I’ll see you soon.” Dan watched him climb out of the truck, sitting there in the dark, and Weldon had a quick, happy fantasy about Dan jacking off before he headed inside.

  What? He wasn’t dead. In fact, he was more alive right now than he’d been in a long time.

  Weldon grinned, heading home to his kids, feeling recharged.

  This was… shit. This whole flirting thing? It was fun.

  He had the suspicion that with texts, it would be even better.

  Chapter Nine

  DAN’S PHONE dinged, a text popping up. Just a photo of an ostrich and the words “Feeding time.”

  He chuckled. Weldon was amazing with that phone camera. Ostriches were fucked-up animals.

  He received a dozen weirdassed texts a day. Wood. Bugs. Selfies with one of the kids. Random dishes that Maddie cooked, which oh God, awful looking.

  Dan sent back horses and dogs, Grainger napping, Randi running, her red hair flying in the wind. He drew the line at anything racy, since Weldon had kids, though the temptation was huge.

  He had to admit, dick shots were weird. Seriously. He was incredibly fond of his cock, but in photo form? Eh. Maybe he’d see if Weldon would snap a picture of…. Oh!

  “Dix?”

  “Huh?”

  He checked to make sure they were still kidless, even though the kids were at school. “Do you listen to porn?”

  “What?” Dixon kinda sounded as if he was choking.

  “Porn. Weldon said that he caught Jakob listening to porn. Do you do that?” This was more fun than solitaire, for sure. Way more fun than updating his résumé on professional networking sites.

  That was like watching paint peel.

  Dix tilted his head, and Dan could almost see the evil thoughts running between his ears like raging river water. Dix was about to unload.

  Audie wandered through the kitchen, coffee cup in hand. “Nah, he has pervy gay audio books.”

  “Well, that was way classier than ‘he has me, he doesn’t need porn,’ I guess….” Nobody did dry better than Dixon.

  “Déclassé but true.” Audie winked at Dan. “What I lack in deep experience I make up in enthusiasm.”

  Dan clapped his hands over his ears. “La-la-la. Not listening.”

  “What? You can ask the question but you can’t handle hearing about me and Audie making sweaty monkey love?”

  Audie began to hoot and grunt, doing a relatively good monkey impression. He took a picture for Weldon.

  Weldon sent back an O-face picture that made Dan whoop with laughter.

  “Are you and Weldon sending each other dick pics?” Dixon asked.

  “Well, I did send one of Audie….”

  Audie punched his upper arm, and damn that cowboy packed a wallop.

  “Ow!” He texted Weldon.

  The beatings have begun.

  I’m missing it? No fair!

  Audie was grinning at him knowingly. “So, someone is looking forward to the Super Bowl.”

  “Hrm? Me? I’m craving popper dip for sure.” Dan tried for wide-eyed innocence, but Dix could only hear, not see.

  “Uh-huh. Liar.”

  “I will beat your ass, brother.”

  “Yeah, you don’t have the guts to hit the blind guy. Even baby Dalton knows not to telegraph his intention.”

  “No, but he sure wasn’t afraid to clean your clock,” Audie murmured.

  “Dalton hit you?”

  “In his defense, I hit him just as hard,” Dix said.

  “Did he not even duck?” Dix was blind, for fuck’s sake.

  “You haven’t spent a lot of time with Dalton, have you?” Audie asked.

  “Well, no.” Dan had to admit, Dalton was more like a nephew sometimes. Just… removed.

  “He’s very fair. He can take a hit too.” Audie looked fucking proud. Goofball.

  “You’re so weird.” Dan shook his head. “Still, I can remember Dix being a scrapper.”

  “Who came out of the closet first, you or Dix?”

  “Dix,” Dan said.

  “I did,” Dixon said at the same time.

  “I knew, but I was in the military already.” Dan poked Dixon. “He told me, and I went, well, that’s a relief.”

  “I never dated girls, though. Never had to. I’m a musician, for fuck’s sake.”

  “Yeah. I dated all through high school.” Dan sighed. “I saw Denise Lawley a few weeks ago, Dix. Did I tell you?”

  “Did you? How was she?”

  “Pregnant.” Dan gave Audie the wide eyes. “We dated senior year. Her husband is at Fort Hood.”