Cowboy Logic - B.A. Tortuga Page 0,31
against the fridge, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. He’d hated that once. Now he thought it was cute.
“My virtue again?”
“Yep. She’s such a mom. I mean, she had to be with me, and now the kids.”
“Yeah, well, I haven’t needed one of those for ages.”
Anderson’s eyes widened, and he waved one hand in agreement. “And honestly? I’ve given her zero reason to believe I’m a sexual predator.”
“Maybe she read your books.” He waggled his eyebrows to emphasize the joke. If he had a mustache, he would twirl it.
Anderson glared, but the smile was twitching on his face. “Butthead.”
“I am. Get used to it, buddy.” He pulled out the coleslaw too. “Okay. I’ll go check those ribs again.”
“I’ll get the rolls heated up. We brought twenty-seven dozen fucking Hawaiian rolls.”
That might be enough. Maybe. Anderson had no idea how much sweet bread kids could eat. It was crazy at Thanksgiving. He chuckled, but Anderson would learn. They would need more butter out on the table too.
They finally all sat down half an hour later, and by then, Jericho thought he might well explode with need. Anderson was a flirt. A practiced one who knew how to rev his engine with words.
What was even worse, the man had no problems touching. Casual touches that liked to light him up. His arm, his elbow—his fucking elbow was a hot spot? really?—his wrist, his hip, all of them got stroked and brushed up against.
He hoped he didn’t look like an overheated dog, panting and wide-eyed. Maybe not, but he felt like it. He was buzzed and happy, and a little bit outside himself.
Travis kept squinting at him, so he knew he was being obvious some. Jericho didn’t care as much as he should.
“What do you think of the mustard seeds, Sister? Aren’t they amazing? I’m going to start putting them on everything. Sandwiches, salads… I might try them in beans.” Anderson licked a mustard seed off his finger.
He stared. Bailey stared at him. Lord, he was going to implode.
“I like them,” Bailey finally said. “The onions too.”
“Thank you. Your brother wanted to try them.” Jericho shared a grin with Anderson.
She arched an eyebrow just like her brother could. “He likes to try new things.”
“I do! Spice of life.”
“I like the seeds too, Dad.” Travis grinned. “I didn’t think I did, but they go good with the ribs.”
“I like rolls!” Amanda announced, then stuffed half of one into her mouth.
“Me too!” Dougie snarfed a roll, and then little Mason cried for one, fingers reaching, opening and closing.
Anderson watched them all with a bemused smile, and Jericho shared a grin with Bailey. “That’s why we got so many rolls.”
“Okay then. Good to know.” Anderson laughed, full-out, sharing in the joke. “Next time, bring them all.”
“The potato salad is so good, Mr. Koko,” Darcy told him. “Like Granny’s.”
“That’s a high honor,” Anderson agreed.
“Thank you. Your Uncle Logic helped me get it right.”
Bailey looked at Anderson. “Celery seed.”
Anderson nodded. “Celery seed.”
“I’ll remember from now on.” Jericho was in on the secret, which was such a family thing, and it warmed him.
“I didn’t know celery had seeds,” Ellie said.
“It’s a plant, silly. Of course it has seeds,” Travis teased.
“Don’t be mean.” Ellie’s eyes went big, her lower lip pooching out. She was so worried when he teased her.
“I wasn’t!” Travis sighed. “I was just joshing.”
“Sisters can be very sensitive,” Darcy invoked as only a nine-year-old big sister could.
“No kidding.” Dougie rolled his eyes, then sank back when all the ladies glared at him, even wee Amanda.
“Careful, man. You’re outnumbered at home.” Jericho had to try and smooth things out. “Mason won’t be sympathetic for years.”
“I know!”
That got a laugh, because Doug’s expression was so pained. “Can I trade Ellie for me sometimes?”
“If it’s okay with your mom and Ellie, sure.”
“Okay. Ellie can stay with Darcy and Manda-Panda.”
“Yay!” Ellie waved her arms, a roll going flying.
“Watch it! And you can trade, but not on school nights,” Jericho warned.
“Okay! Tonight isn’t a school night!”
He glanced at Bailey, who nodded. “Travis, you okay with that?”
“Sure. I don’t care. I’m going to play video games. I did all my homework and my chores. He can hang with me.”
“Good man.” Travis would love to show off his game systems.
Travis beamed at him, the praise making him all but glow. Sweet boy. He was getting so grown.
“Works for me.”
“You want to stay over, Mr. Logic? We have room.”
Bailey cleared her throat, but Anderson said, “I’ll for sure stay and make sure Doug decides to be