Ranch Manny - B.A. Tortuga Page 0,52

a real ranch?”

“It is. Cattle, horses, ostriches, goats, chicken—we have it all.”

“Wow. You sound really invested in this place,” Nate murmured. “Enough to change your whole look when a real career couldn’t manage it.”

“Nate!” Evan glared at his lover. “Don’t be a dick!” Evan turned back to him with a smile. “Are you happy?”

He thought about Brent, the kids, the cowboys. “I am. I’m busy. It’s different every day. I get to be with the kids and teach them. It’s a whole new world.”

“That’s too cool, man.” Evan nodded. “I can tell you totally have a passion for it.”

“But…seriously? A nanny?”

“Yes.” Seriously. He wished Brent was here. “I’m having a ball. It’s important to me.”

“But you’re, like…a housewife.”

Trace sat there, just totally not sure how to respond. His immediate response was “Fuck off! I am not!” But then his next thought was “What the hell is wrong with that?”

“Well, I am a nanny, so I guess so” was what he settled for. “Is that bad, Nate?” Now he put a little challenge in it.

“It’s not what… I mean, it’s not a real… I mean…”

“Nate. Enough. Have a chip. Do you want guacamole, Trace?”

“That sounds great, thanks.” He liked Evan. That was what he’d never been able to do with Nate—rein in his natural suspicion and sarcasm.

He just wasn’t…hell, he loved kids, loved teaching and learning, and…he loved the critters.

And then there was Brent. They were building something special. Trace knew it. He believed it with his whole heart.

“So, what do you do, Evan?”

“Graphic arts. I do mostly ads.”

“He’s super talented. I can’t believe his ambition.” Man, Nate was going to grind that axe to the handle.

“That’s amazing. Seriously.” It was. He had ambition. He wanted to see the kids grow up to live full lives, he wanted to help Curly during his golden years, and he wanted to be happy. Was that so wrong?

“Not everyone wants the same life,” Evan said. “Is— Susannah? That’s it, right? How is she?”

He grabbed his phone and pulled up a picture of his baby. “She’s great. This is her, and then this picture is all of them—Caroline and Susannah are coloring while Jakob is ‘showing’ Daisy how to tie a loop.”

“Aw. They look so happy.”

Nate kinda stared, then grinned a little. “It’s good to see her smiling so much.”

“She and Caro are best friend sisters. Best friends. They’re going to kill each other when they’re teenagers.”

“You expect to be there that long?” Nate looked stunned, like he’d announced he was a serial killer.

“Of course. I don’t intend to go.”

“Oh.” Nate sat back, staring at him again.

“I need to hit the restroom,” Evan murmured, and Trace couldn’t even call him a coward. The new boyfriend didn’t need to be in on this conversation.

As soon as Evan was gone, Trace leaned across the table. “What the hell, man? I thought we were going to have a nice lunch. This is the first time I’ve been out without the kids in forever.”

“What? I mean, you have to admit, if it was me going native on a ranch, you would think I was nuts!” Nate spread his hands. “Are you dating the rancher guy?”

“Dating him? No.” Madly in love? Yes. Fucking? Absolutely. But they were so far outside dating it wasn’t funny.

“Uh-huh.” Nate shook his head. “I—I’m sorry, man. I’m kinda shocked. I’ll stop.”

“I’m happy. Susannah’s happy. That needs to be enough.”

“No, it is. I’d like to meet him sometime.” Nate grinned. “I’ll even behave.”

“That’ll be the day,” Evan said when he came back.

“True that. We’ll have a cookout soon and invite y’all out. Bald Harold makes an amazing brisket.” Brent would love that.

“Fun!” Evan clapped his hands. “I do a mean coleslaw and cornbread.”

“Excellent. Expect an invite soon. I’d love to show off the goats.” And his ability to milk them. Hell, he made his very own goat cheese and goat ricotta.

“Sounds great,” Nate said. “Really. I’m burning with curiosity.”

He rolled his eyes, but the food came, and that was worth the whole second degree.

“Oh God. I swear, you just can’t make it like this at home.” He didn’t have the equipment or the need for the large-sized vats of sauces. “Thanks for the invite.”

“You’re welcome, hon. I’m sorry if I was a dick.” Nate made a face. “I’m glad to hear how good life is. Really.”

“It is. I’m happy. Suzy’s happy. My family is happy.” He guessed he ought to be worried about stepping down, but he was doing well. He was thriving in this space