To be honest, he hadn’t asked about the cake.

  There was going to be cake, right?

  “I need to go, honey. That cabin there is yours. I’m sure there’s a key for you.” Probably tied with ribbon and lace.

  “I’ll ask the cowboy guy to let me in. He’s cute as hell.”

  “You’re a sick girl.” He kissed her cheek, but he needed to hustle, so he left her, noting the dog run, which he’d missed before. Frank was playing ball with a corgi. Ball. Wow.

  Maybe this was a magical place….

  He shook his head and snorted. Noah didn’t believe in magic, but he could appreciate hard work. God knew they had that in spades around the Leanin’ N.

  Chapter 6

  “N o, Trev, I need that climbing wall. I know you can get one in from Aspen.” The drive down to Grand Junction was a pretty one at least, winding through DeBeque Canyon. Noah had offered to drive, which left Mason free to make calls and lists and try not to lose his mind.

  “Boss. Seriously? A wedding decorated climbing wall?”

  “Be grateful she didn’t ask for the Wailing Wall, and do it!” he snapped, then hung up. He had ordered balloons and a fresh can of helium, along with random “father to be” crap. They were going to have to stop at three different stores for enough cameras and films, Walmart for the clothespins, Enstrom’s for three hundred little boxes of toffee. Fuck.

  “What flavor is the wedding cake?”

  “What?” Mason glanced at Noah. “I—whatever they asked for.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “Trevor dealt with that.”

  “You didn’t taste it?”

  Mason was going to hit him. “Let me check my notes.”

  “I mean, I would guess all of Trevor’s taste is in his mouth….”

  “Did you just say that?” Mason called up his Google Sheets. “Layers of butter cake with strawberry jam and fresh strawberries, and layers of devil’s food with salted caramel icing.”

  “Oh, thank God.” Noah chuckled. “She just mentioned strawberry today, and I panicked a bit.”

  “She’s very important to you. I can tell.” He didn’t have birth family anymore, but he had his godbaby, his friends, even Trev.

  “She is. She’s spoiled as fuck, but she makes up for that by being a good person.” Noah’s smile spoke volumes.

  He smiled back, then bent his head to his lists. He texted Geoff about midnight snacks for tonight, texted Stoney to make sure the bride liked her room—although he typed “bridge” and it took a second to decipher: London Sammy has neither fallen nor complained .

  He sent back: Oh good .

  “How are we doing on all the stuff we need?” Noah asked, which made Mason blink.

  How weird. We. Like they were in this together.

  “There are a bunch of stops, but it’s doable, I think. I hope.”

  “You hope?”

  “It’s doable.” Shut up.

  “Okay. Well, where am I headed first?”

  When he glanced up, they were past Palisade and nearing the first Grand Junction exit.

  “Get off here. We’ll start at this Walmart.”

  “You got it.” Noah took the circular exit off I-70, and they headed in past Clifton to the Walmart on North Avenue.

  He had to wonder when the last time Mr. Noah Wright had dragged his ass to a Walmart was. Hell, he had to wonder why Mr. Wright was on this little trip at all.

  “Why did you come with me?” he asked, because he was stupid and couldn’t control his mouth.

  “Like I said, so I could pay.” He got a wry glance. “And to keep Sammy from continuing to bitch about my personal life. Or lack thereof.”

  “Ah.” Like that made sense. That didn’t make sense. Noah Wright had money, he was a stud and a half, and the man wasn’t the meanest guy Mason had ever met.

  Not quite, anyway.

  “She’s just in love with love right now.”

  “That’s perfect, isn’t it? Happy brides are… well… happy.” He’d dealt with stressed-out grooms, lots of them, and it always landed on the wedding coordinator.

  “True.” Noah chuckled. “Love seems like a lot of work.”

  “Parties are a lot of work. Love just lasts longer.”

  “I guess.” Noah didn’t sound so sure, and that made Mason a bit sad.

  “Trust me. Your girl is out there, waiting for you.”

  A loud laugh burst out of Noah. “You think so? She’d have to be pretty permissive.”

  “Oh.” Oh dear. He did not need to know the kinks of his, to-date, biggest client.

  “Since I only sleep with men.” Noah dropped it like a turd in the punch bowl. Boom.

  “Christ, I thought you were going to confess that you liked goat fucking or something.” He stopped, blinked, then shook his head. Seriously? Did you seriously just do that? Are you trying to commit professional hara-kiri? Seriously?

  “Not since high school.”

  There was a long, long pause, and then they both whooped with laughter, Noah slapping the steering wheel with one hand.

  They parked, laughter fading, then bubbling up again, both of them howling. They were gonna get the cops called on them or something. Lord.

  “They’re going to take us away, Mr. Wright.”

  “You never know. Thanks, Mr. O’Reilly. I needed that.”

  “You’re more than welcome.” Right. Focus. Wedding bibs and bobs. Cameras. Film. Don’t get excited because Mr. Wright is gay. He’s not for you. Rich Texans do not choose little nebbishy Colorado boys for fun.

  “Come on, let’s go get all that film and shit.”

  Right. They were on a mission. “I’m on it. Let’s do a run on film.”

  They headed into the Walmart like two warriors going into battle. As one, which was better than being at odds, he guessed.

  Either that or Noah had never been in a Walmart and was counting on him….

  The idea made him chuckle again, an echo of their laughter.

  “Come on, you. Get with the program.”

  Mason nodded. Right. Right, focus. He was so tired that the fluorescents made little shapes in the aisles. Still, they just had to wade through to layaway. Everything should be held there.

  Thank God for store managers and a credit card with a hefty limit.

  Noah paced him through two Walmarts, a Target, a camera shop that stayed open late for them, and one seriously well-stocked CVS.

  “Ta-da!” Mason wiped fake sweat off his brow when they left the drugstore. “Twenty cameras and enough film for every guest to take two to three pictures.”

  Noah laughed, which he’d been doing all evening, the sound warm and happy. “Go us!”

  “We just have to hit the party store, and then we can head back.” He could grab the balloons and the helium container, and then that would be it, at least until tomorrow.

  “Want to stop and have some food before we go?”

  He almost shook his head, but his stomach snarled, answering for him. Mason nodded instead. “Balloons Plus has had someone stay for us. We just need to pop in.”

  “Point me the right way.”

  Grand Junction rolled up its skirts at dark, so they gathered all the balloons and helium and then headed downtown for a bite to eat—the Rockslide was down there and had fried jalapenos to die for.

  They found a place to park and headed into the crowded, noisy bar and restaurant. There was a hang glider at one end of the big main room and rows of booths all done in dark wood.

  “Smells amazing in here,” Noah said.

  “It does. I stop in here quite a bit when I’m in town.” Grand Junction was the closest good-sized city to them, so he came in to shop once a quarter or so.

  “I like it.” They got settled across from each other, and the server explained all the craft beers the place had on tap. “I’ll try the amber,” Noah murmured.

  “Iced tea for me, please.” He was so tired that a beer would knock him on his ass.

  “You okay with me having a beer?” Noah peered at him over the menu, dark green eyes serious.

  “Of course. I’m not a teetotaler. I just know I don’t need one, not right now.”

  “Cool. One won’t affect my driving, just in case you worry.”

  “No. Of course not. It would affect mine.” He chuckled, feeling his cheeks heat. It was true, though. He was too pooped to pop.

  “You get to sleep after this is over, right?” When he glanced up, the teasing light in Noah’s eyes caught him, grabbing his attention.

  “I’ve got a little event in Aspen midweek next week, and then I have a few days off.” He knew how to work hard, after all.

  “Good deal. My sister can be a challenge. It’s been easy up until now.”

  Lord have mercy, he didn’t want to think about the next few days if it was going to get harder than this. He shook his head mournfully. “This wedding’s going to be the death of me.”

  Noah nodded. “You have no idea. You wait. Momma will be here in the morning.”

  Yeah, there was nothing like the folks coming in. It was always a promise of drama. Maybe he’d get a nap.

  “I look forward to meeting them.”

  “Forces of nature, my folks. I’ll get Stoney to take Daddy fishing.”

  “Is your mom a fisherman?”

  “God, no. She’d rather eat a bug. She’ll go with him if he goes to the lake or the Gulf, but she’ll read and bask.” That horrified face made him cackle.

  “Maybe I should arrange for a spa day for them….” That would get them both out of his hair for the day and let him work.

  “Oh, that would tickle Momma to death.” Noah laughed, clapping his hands. “Daddy might just die. I’ll take the calzone, hon. Can I just get it with pepperoni?”

  “Of course. What would you like, sir?”

  “I’ll have a bacon cheeseburger, please.”

  “Fries?”

  “Sure. Can you still do the Texas toothpicks? It’s not on the menu.”

  She winked. “It’s on the bar menu. I’ll have them right out.”

  “You are made of win.” He leaned back and pondered the pendant lights. Why didn’t they ever work this well at home?

  “You okay?” Noah asked. The touch to the back of his hand made him jump as if a spider had landed on him.

  “I am. This is going to be an amazing event.” He couldn’t fuck this up. This was huge for him.

  “It is. I have to say I’m impressed. By you as well as all the guys—”

  “And gals.”

  “And ladies at the ranch, yeah.”

  “Stoney and Ford run a top-notch organization. You’ll be impressed with the bakery as well. They’re exceptional.” He started clicking down the mental list. “You hired your own photographer, and your preacher is coming, yes?”

  “I texted with them both today. We’re on schedule.”

  “Excellent. The buses are on line for Friday and Saturday. Food is in Geoff’s hands.” They were staying on top of the emergencies. He knew Ford had literally put out a fire in one of the barns today.

  He was considering having a tiny breakdown Sunday afternoon.

  “Geoff has good food hands.” Noah chuckled. “Too bad he’s not my type.”

  “I can tell you this, Geoff will never leave the Leanin’ N. Never.”

  “No? He does seem loyal.” Noah sighed dramatically, which was kind of hilarious.

  “Well, I’m sure he…. Shit, I don’t know what to say, man.” What did you say? Offer to hook them up? Grunt like you understand? What? He was tired and wigged-out and, okay, a little pissed, because goddamn it, why didn’t anyone ever get a hard-on for him?

  “What is there to say?” Noah winked at him. There was a lot of winking going on.

  “Right. Are you going to be able to do something fun tomorrow?”

  “Oh, I imagine I’ll be there to help do whatever you need. Sammy and Doug will toss out a million dumb ideas.”

  “That’s normal.” Dammit.

  “But it will be my job to tell them no for you. This was our one big gesture, you see.”

  Now it made more sense why Noah had come with him. Mason would bet Noah would leverage this with Sammy, pointing out how much time and effort her few additions to the plan had cost them.

  “I don’t envy you.” His job was to say “yes” and “absolutely” and “I’ll make it happen.”

  “You’ve seen what an ass I can be. I can do it.”

  Their toothpicks came, a pile of fried goodness with ranch—and that they could bond over. Oh God, so good.

  “Okay, you get a bonus just for this. Tell me we get these at the wedding.”

  “Yes, sir.” Note to self: Texas toothpicks for the wedding. Geoff could do anything the Rockslide could do. He wondered what Noah would think of honey cheese bread from Beau Jo’s.

  Not that there was a Beau Jo’s in Glenwood any longer, damn it.

  Maybe he’d go to Idaho Springs next weekend. He did love a salad bar in a bathtub. That and the honey cheese bread….

  “You with me?” Noah asked. “I mean, I know I’m not the ideal dinner partner.”

  “I’m sorry? Yes. Yes, of course. Forgive me. Texas toothpicks for the wedding.”

  “No problem.” Noah was staring at him oddly, but he didn’t look mad.

  “I’m sorry. Let me just text that to Trev, and then I’ll be focused, I swear.”

  “You’re tired. It’s fine.”

  “I just want all the details taken care of for you.”

  “I do appreciate it.” Those green eyes.

  He needed to snap out of it. He was too tired. That was the only answer. He was just too tired.

  Noah sat back in his chair and sipped his beer, back to the very picture of impersonality.

  Mason felt very damned confused. What was wrong with him?

  Why did he keep looking so hard?

  Their food came soon enough, and Noah switched to iced tea.

  “This calzone is the size of my head.” Noah picked up the steak knife they’d brought with the big turnover.

  “It’s glorious. I should have gotten one, but burgers are easy.”

  “They are. I don’t indulge like this too much. I’ll be out at midnight running laps.”

  “You and me both. I haven’t hit the gym in two weeks. The guys will think I’m dead.”

  They grinned at each other, another little commonality making it easier to sit and eat and chat.

  “I can tell you’re a gym guy. You’re stacked to the ceiling.”

  “The ceiling’s a ways off for me,” he admitted. He was trying, though. He didn’t have it in him to be all lean and willowy. He bulked up.

  “It works for you. Trust me.” That heat was back, the little flashes of it fascinating.

  Speaking of heat, his cheeks were on fire. Just lit up like fireworks were exploding under his skin. He wasn’t sure what to do, so he just chuckled. “Thanks. You too. I mean, whatever you do. Oh God.”

  Noah’s eyebrow lifted up to his hairline. “Breathe. I promise not to bite.”

  “Shame.”

  A husky laugh was his reply. “You’re way more fun than advertised, honey.”

  “Butthead.” You don’t call your biggest client a butthead, Mason!

  “I kinda am. Used to getting my own way. Loud and Texan.”

  “Indeed. So tell me, why did you pick a tiny outfit like mine instead of one in Dallas?” They had to have a thousand contacts there, people they used.

  “Sammy wanted the ranch up here. I tried to talk her into closer to home, but she had her heart set.”

  “You have to admit it’s lovely, hmm?” Maybe not really made for a party this big, but lovely nonetheless.

  “I love it. The mountains are so pretty.”

  “You should see them in the winter. It’s majestic as anything.”

  “I might have to come back. Stoney tells me there’s a hot tub.” Noah waggled his eyebrows. That should have been cheesy as hell, but it wasn’t.

  “That is the rumor.” Hell, he knew that not only was there a hot tub, but that Stoney and Ford had one that was private.

  He loved the view they had from their little deck. Mason grinned, thinking how cold the Texan would probably find the mountains in the winter. His condo was right in the center of Aspen. Tiny, but you couldn’t beat the location. He could walk everywhere, get coffee almost any time of day, and he knew all the locals, people and dogs.

  “So are you a skier?” Noah asked, and Mason nodded.

  “Sure. I love snowboarding best, but I do some downhill skiing.”

  “Snowboarding looks tough. I learned to ski on vacations to New Mexico when I was a teenager. I broke my ankle one year, and Momma never wanted to go back.”

  “Yeah, extreme sports are dangerous, but so’s everything else. I bet you played some sort of ball in high school.” Texans always did.

  “I did. I was terrible at football, but I did it. I was good at baseball.”

  “Let me guess… third base.”

  “Yeah.” Noah raised one eyebrow, a habit Mason noticed more and more. “How did you know?”

  “You’re too long-legged to be a catcher, and if you’d been a pitcher, you would have said so.” Mostly it was a good guess.

  “Well, that’s better than ‘third base is always the fat guy.’ Which I’ve heard.”

  “Eh, they have to be able to pound it into home.”

  “We also have to be able to catch those line drives. I had one break my jaw in tenth grade. I was wired shut for weeks.”

  Ouch.

  “That sounds awful. Only thing I’ve ever broken is a shoulder blade. You don’t need those to eat.”

  “I bet that made for miserable sleeping, though.” Noah leaned back and patted his belly. “Think I ought to get a box, or would that just offend Geoff?”

  “Get a box. You have a microwave and a fridge in your room.”

  “Right. Good idea.” Noah waved down their server, and they got the bill settled. They both groaned at the idea of dessert.

  They headed out, gasping at the cold rain that splashed down on them. Freak summer storms like this always came before the more settled, daily rains of the so-called monsoon, and they always stung.