Cowboy Logic - B.A. Tortuga Page 0,19

giggling hysterically and trying to hold it together.

“Daddy, are you okay?” Ellie asked immediately.

He nodded, not quite able to get air in to reassure her.

“They’re having a moment, sweet girl. Don’t stress it.” Anderson was looking at them both with a wicked grin.

“Like a giggle fit?”

That set him and Bailey off again, because that was exactly what it was. Blowing off steam. Single parenting could be a zoo.

“Yep. Just like.”

“Okay.” She went back to munching.

“Can I have more, Dad?”

“Sure, kiddo.” Travis was hitting the point where he ate his weight daily, but was no doubt worried that this food was supposed to be for Bailey and all for later too.

“Your dad brought ten times what we’ll need,” Bailey said. “Eat up.”

“Thanks.” Too bad he wasn’t straight. He would go for her in a heartbeat. She was handsome, strong, and one hell of a cowboy.

He’d never do that again.

Dating really wasn’t for him, right? Not with two kids in Cooper. So he needed to stop staring at Anderson.

Because he was staring at Anderson.

Who was looking at him.

He shocked himself by winking. Lord. But that smile was irresistible.

Anderson winked immediately in turn, and he felt his cheeks heat. Shit. Shit. He was so out of his league.

Supper went down easy, all of them going quiet as they filled their bellies.

“Can we see the horses before we leave, Miss Bailey?” That was Travis, not Ellie, which surprised him.

“Yeah. You guys can help feed, if you want.” She grinned at Anderson. “You’ll watch Amanda and the baby, Uncle Logic?”

“I live for the moment.”

“I know it.” Bailey leaned in her chair, patting her belly. “That was good.”

“There’s banana pudding for dessert,” Jericho murmured.

Both Bailey and Anderson moaned.

He grinned. “Yeah. After feeding?”

“Sure. Come on, guys, Darcy. Ellie, are you coming?”

“Yes, please.”

“Take one more corn dog bite before we go.”

“Oh, you stay with Logic and watch the littles.” Bailey kinda nodded at all the paper plates, then the dogs.

“Gotcha.”

They all toodled out, and Anderson rolled his eyes. “She thinks I’m helpless.”

“Well, you don’t usually hang out with kids, right? It’s amazing how fast an eighteen-month-old can do something horrifying.” He would bet Anderson could handle it.

“I usually hang out with gym bunny tech heads who are looking for Mr. Right.”

“Are you Mr. Right Now?” Did he ask that? Holy shit.

“Ha! I’m the guy who has the wine and Kleenex, with an eternal batch of ice cream in the fridge. I’m the Dear Abby for the local community.”

“Ah.” That sounded utterly foreign but kinda nice. “Your sister is good at that too.”

“You’re into her, huh?” Anderson picked up the baby and handed Amanda a wet wipe. “Clean your hands.”

“Yessir.” Amanda cleaned up, then very carefully took her plate to the trash.

“Into Bailey? No, no. We’re just friends.” He didn’t know if it was safe to say more. Maybe it was? Jericho tossed plates, sorted out some meat and sides to take home, then wrapped all the leftovers for the fridge, leaving them high on the counter. No dog surfing here. One of Bailey’s mutts could reach it from standing.

“Oh. Sorry, it seemed like there were sparks between you.” Anderson nuzzled the baby’s neck, bouncing him gently.

“Nah. We’ve been neighbors a while. She was good to me when my wife died. And—” He stopped there. Bailey knew he was gay. He was out with her.

“I’m sorry. That sucks. Has it been long?”

“Uh. Ellie is six? A few years. She killed herself. Well, she overdosed, but the ME thought it was a deliberate dose.” Anderson would hear it, so he might as well say it.

“Shit.”

“Unc—”

“Sorry, Manda.” Anderson rolled his eyes. “Sorry, Jericho. That’s awful. My condolences.”

“Thanks.” It was awful that he didn’t miss Naomi at all. He only—when he did think of her, he felt guilt. “It wasn’t a good deal, but I tried for her and the kids.”

“Your kids are amazing—friendly, smart, open. You should be proud.”

“Thanks. They’re the best thing ever.” He truly meant it.

“Man, your son has a picture of my robot on his wall. That has to be strange.”

Jericho snorted. “Well, it is now. I mean, I had no idea before. You did good, man.”

“Yeah. I did. As soon as I could be me? I did, and it rocked.” Anderson shot him a look, an oddly tentative one. “No one’s whaling up on Travis, right?”

“Huh? Nah. He does rodeo too. And he’s totally into girls. That helps.” He gave Anderson a wry smile.

That laugh was… amazing. It turned Anderson from hot to beautiful. “He won’t have