keep better.”
He wasn’t sure where Trace got his energy, exactly, but he was grateful for it. Looked like the sinus meds were doing the trick too. Trace was way more himself.
He thought his guy had earned a back rub tonight, though, and a little loving. A backrub could just be a backrub too, if Trace was too tired.
They wound down one more game later. Hal got up, clapping Trace on the back. “Night all. I got the kids unless it’s something they need daddies for.”
“Good deal. Y’all rock. Come on, baby. Time for bed.” He took Trace’s hand and walked them back to the bedroom, bold as brass. Jesus. Had he done that? He guessed he had. Trace was looking at him with a kind of wonder, and Brent felt like Superman. “You need a shower, baby?”
“A quick one, yeah. It was a sweaty day.”
“Sounds good.” He could handle that. Then, massage.
“You coming with me?” Oh, thank God. And also, hell yes.
“If you want. I could make sure you didn’t slip.” He waggled his eyebrows, knowing it was cheesy.
“I might need a hand…or two.”
“I have two. Imagine that.” He watched Trace strip down.
“I do, a lot.” Trace winked at him, those pretty tattoos trailing down his body.
“You’re something else, baby.” He wanted to get to know those tattoos again every time he saw them.
“I’m yours, so I’m glad you think so.”
“I do. Let’s get you unsweaty.” Maybe he should have massaged first so they could wash off the oil.
Trace nodded to him and reached out and took his hand. “Works for me.”
They would do what they did. Trace was a generous lover, and they could get busy or not.
It was enough that they were together.
Chapter 19
Something in Brent seemed…different. Happier, even with the bad weather and the puppies and the kids, who were all sniffly with summer colds. Handy, because he had a favor to ask his lover, and he flat-out wasn’t sure how.
Brent was sitting and reading in the big recliner. The kids were playing some sort of game that didn’t require them to supervise, and Hal and Curly were playing blackjack for matches.
Trace went to sit close. “Hey, I have a favor to ask. It’s sort of a big one, but…” Well, it had to be asked.
Brent put the book, a thriller, aside to look at him, giving him that full attention. “Sure, baby. What is it?”
“My parents want to come visit. They haven’t seen Susannah since Christmas, and they both have a nice long weekend for the Fourth, so they could drive down, stay a couple days, and then go back home to Denver.”
“Denver? I thought you came from Dallas.”
“I did. They moved up to Denver so Dad could teach. He’s a professor, believe it or not.” And that hadn’t answered his question.
“So they want to come down for the holiday. Here?” Brent wasn’t frowning or anything. Maybe clarifying?
“Yes. I know it’s a lot to ask, but… Yes.”
“Well, it’s not that much. We’ll have to cleanup, is all.” Brent snorted. “I mean, Hal’s been sleeping in there.”
“Good thing I know how to do that, although they may stay at a hotel. They were saying that if they did, we could bring the kids to swim.” He caught Brent’s gaze. “I want them to meet you.”
“Then you tell them to come on.” Brent nodded, just like that.
“Yeah?” Trace thought his face would cramp, he was grinning so hard.
“Why not? I’d love to meet them, and this is such a good age for Susannah. She needs her grandparents.”
“I think so.” And his folks were over the moon at the idea of another three kids to love. At least he hoped so. His mom was, anyway. His dad could be in his own world. Not remote or anything, just distracted.
“Seriously, make a list of what we need for the guest room, and we’ll go to Walmart.”
“Thank you. So much. They’re going to love y’all. I know it.” It was so fucked-up that he could be himself out here on this ranch and he couldn’t be in the middle of Austin, the land of keeping it weird.
“Well, I hope so.” Brent reached across the arms of the furniture to grab his hand. “I want them to. Do they like animals? God knows, we got puppies.”
“Mom has four yorkies. Four. Dorothy. Scarecrow, Lionel, and Tinny.” Evil little pack of demon dogs.
“Oh shit. Those little guys are evil.” Brent shook his head. “Our guys are pretty lazy. They’ll get more energetic as they