Ranch Manny - B.A. Tortuga Page 0,66
so I can get the girls in the bathroom after their milk.”
“Yes, sir.”
Trace gave Brent a look. “You know you’ve made him as happy as a dog with two tails, right?”
“I know. They need to start getting crate trained, and eventually Rosie and Fairy will move to the girls’ room, since they’ve decided to share.” Brent helped him wash up cups. “Okay, ladies, to the potty and brush teeth and all.”
Susannah was already drooping, and he jollied both girls through the tooth and pee ritual. He got them both in jammies—Elsa for Susannah, Wonder Woman for Caro—and popped them into bed.
“Will you read to us, Dad-O?” Caro asked, yawning so hard her jaw popped. It would take maybe two minutes for them to drop off.
“Of course.” He started with Harold and the Purple Crayon, sitting there at the edge of the bed, two happy little girls just snoozing.
He closed the book minutes later to sneak out, and Jakob met him in the hall, holding up his arms for a hug. “Night, Dad-O.”
“Night, kiddo.” He took that hug, then walked Jakob to his room, where Brent was turning down sheets. They tucked Jakob in.
“The puppies will be fine. You get some sleep, okay?” Brent booped the end of Jakob’s nose.
“Yessir.” Jakob sounded so innocent that Trace knew they would find him on the floor in the morning.
“I’m going to check on Miss Daisy, make sure she’s down for the count. You ready to lock up for the night?” Take me to bed?
“Hell, yes. Let’s go explore that oral thing, huh?” Brent put an arm around him, steering him.
“I do like how you think, cowboy.”
“I thought you might. I mean, what’s not to like?” Brent closed the door but didn’t lock it. The kids were learning to knock.
“True that.” He got himself a double handful of cowboy butt, held on, and squeezed.
“Oh damn.” Brent kissed him, mouth warm and firm on his, tongue pressing against his lips to get him to open up.
He did too, easy as butter to a hot knife. He wanted his cowboy bad.
Brent chuckled, then pulled him to the bed. Looked like he was going to get what he wanted.
He was a lucky man.
Chapter 20
Brent glanced up at the sky, frowning. “Come on, Jakob. Shake a leg, buddy. I want to get this stuff home before that storm breaks.”
The clouds looked awfully greenish.
This fucking summer had been weird as hell—rain, rain, rain, and when it wasn’t pouring, it was fixin’ to.
Now it looked like tornado warnings too.
“The sky is ugly, Daddy Brent.”
“I know it.” They’d needed to get all the shit for the Fourth of July cookout, though. And more puppy pads. The crates were working out great, but Captain Ironman had eaten one of the beds.
“Is Dad-O okay? He’s been a little…super cleany.”
“Super cleany?” What the hell did that mean? “How’s that, kiddo?”
“Like, scrubbing the whole house and spraying stuff and all.”
“Oh. His momma and daddy are coming, kiddo. I think he’s freaking out a little.” Trace had been a little extra scrubby, come to think of it.
“Yeah. He told me. He said they were looking forward to seeing us.”
“That sounds nice, huh?” His kids had a hard row to hoe with grandparents, and he just hoped Trace’s parents were kind.
“Uh-huh. I talked to them on the phone. They asked me all about what I like to read and about the puppies.” Jakob grinned at him, impish as hell. “Caro pooped, and it burned her butt, and she screamed.”
“While you were on the phone or just in general?” He tried not to laugh.
“While I was on the phone!”
“Oops. What the heck has she been eating?” What could burn so bad?
“Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. She ate Bald Harold’s whole bag.”
“Well, you know what I say about the punishment fitting the crime, buddy.” He pulled out, the crack of lightning up ahead making him wince.
Jakob’s eyes went wide. “Daddy, are the girls and the puppies going to be okay?”
“They’ll be fine, buddy. I’m not worried. I just don’t want our stuff to get wet.”
“Oh. We can tarp it, if you want.”
“I think we can make it.” He would never jeopardize Jakob by storm running, but they were heading away from that storm once they turned on the highway.
“Okay, Daddy.” Jakob grinned at him. “Thank you for letting me come.”
“I’m glad you did. I needed the company.” He’d also needed someone to help pick out doughnuts for the whole crew.
His boy beamed at him, eyes lit up. “Anytime, Daddy.”
They fist-bumped, but