“So, you and my grandson?”
He’s not sure whether to be pleased or worried that he’s getting the shovel talk from a woman who’s got to be eighty years old if she’s a day. In all actuality, she’s one person he doesn’t mind hearing one from. “Yes, ma’am.”
“How’d you two meet?”
“My roommate Kara is the receptionist and a vet tech at the clinic. So Cole and I have met a time or two these past couple of years.”
“And what do you do?”
“I’m the Ten Rigs librarian.”
“Well, I’ll be.” She smiles. “Haven’t been to the library in quite some time. Might have to stop in one of these days.”
“I’d love to see you. What do you like to read?”
“A good political thriller is always welcome.”
“Oh, goodness, I agree. Well, I’ll make sure we have the latest titles in.”
After a long, shrewd appraisal, she says, “Thank you.”
He’s pretty sure she’s thanking him for more than making sure there’s a worthwhile book awaiting her at the library. He’s sure of it when she speaks again.
“Cole seems very taken with you.”
For some reason, her words make him squirm. More than anything Doug could lob at him. But what can he say? “It’s all very new, but I like him too.” And he does. Tucker’s tempted to spew the spiel, but if anyone’s going to suss out the truth, he knows, suddenly, like he knows his own name, that it would be Evie and not Connie. The less said the better.
“He follows you with his gaze, you know. When you leave his side.”
Tucker blinks in surprise and his gaze darts around, finally spotting Cole, who is currently chatting with Pammy and Scott.
No. He didn’t know. “Oh…”
“That’s a surprise to you?”
Tucker ducks his head and looks at Evie. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Why?”
“Because…” Because this whole weekend is a farce. Because Cole, for all his talk of having fun this weekend in a boyfriendy way, still hasn’t taken the initiative as far as showing affection is concerned.
It’s not that Tucker isn’t having a good time, because he is. Everyone except Doug has been friendly to Tucker and more than pleased for Cole. The weather has been gorgeous: hot and sunny, mild humidity, and a slight breeze. The food is plentiful and delicious. It’s everything Tucker expected from the weekend really.
“Because…it’s new. I know Cole’s been hurt in the past, and this is all just fun and games right now. I mean…” And fuck…because this is just supposed to be for the weekend. Tucker’s got plans in motion. He scrubs a hand down his face. “He’s just supposed to be having fun and not…”
A deep chuckle rumbles from Evie. “Love sneaks up on you sometimes. It only took a month for me to fall in love with my Thomas. He was so shy and quiet.”
“Oh, Cole’s not in love with me.” He can’t be. Tucker shakes his head, heart beating a mile a minute. Cole cannot be falling in love with him, because it hasn’t even been a day. And because he put in for a position as a Youth Services librarian in the Midland County Public Library system and submitted an application to a rental agency.
“Maybe, maybe not. But he likes you an awful lot. I haven’t seen him this carefree in a long time. You’re good for him, young man.”
So not a shovel talk. Fuck. He hadn’t expected everyone to be so invested in seeing Cole so happy. Which is stupid because the reason Tucker volunteered to be here in the first place is because Cole’s family kept trying to set him up.
“I hope things work out between you.”
“Um, thank you…that would be something.” But it can’t be anything, because Tucker’s pretty sure he’s going to get the librarian job. He’s going to leave Ten Rigs and never look back. Because that was his plan.
Tucker gazes around at the extended Hansard family. They’d welcomed him with open arms, and Cole has been nothing but accepting and supportive of Tucker’s obviously gay persona—or should Tucker say blind to it? Nothing seems to faze Cole about Tucker’s speech or his clothing or his mannerisms. There’d been no flinching, no eye-rolling, no doubtful expressions. Cole has accepted Tucker for exactly what he is, and that means more to Tucker than he could possibly say, but how long would it be before Cole got tired of Tucker’s fabulousness? How long before he wanted to date a guy less camp and more straight to appearances?
They always do. Tucker accepted long ago that happily ever after isn’t in the cards for him. Light-hearted, short-term flings he can do. They’re over before anyone gets hurt.
One of Cole’s many cousins sits down and starts talking to Evie. Tucker kisses Evie’s hand. “I’m gonna go find Cole.”
Her smile is wide and knowing.
Tucker has no idea what to think. He promised Cole a boyfriend for the weekend, and a boyfriend he’s going to get. But what if Cole really falls for Tucker? Then what? Tucker’s loved his time here in Ten Rigs, but he’s ready to move to greener pastures. A job with better benefits and a city with a larger pool of queer men to choose from.
Tucker surveys the clumps of people again, scattered across the grounds of the pavilion. Cole’s parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. And his grandmother, the matriarch, presiding over the family and being doted on like the beloved figure she is.
People laughing and talking, sharing memories and making new ones. Enjoying each other’s company. Having fun.
His heart clenches. God, what he wouldn’t give for a family like this. For his own family to have loved him enough that he wouldn’t have been thrown into the street. Or that he could go back to visit. He blinks back some prickling in his eyes. He hadn’t realized how much he missed his family until just now. He’ll have to have a good cry later, over Bunny Tracks ice cream with Kara. Right now, he has to be a fun-loving boyfriend.
After a quick visit to the little boys room to throw water on his face, he plasters himself to Cole, because what else can he do? The rest of the day passes in a haze of food, games, and chatter. Tucker is drawn into conversations with Cole’s various family members who recognize him from the library. It’s nice to know people this weekend when he hadn’t expected to, although he doesn’t know why he didn’t think he would. Of course, there are quite a few people from out of town that he doesn’t know, but they greet him with sunny smiles and hearty handshakes, and he’s grateful on Cole’s behalf more than his own. This is Cole’s family after all, and he shouldn’t have to deal with homophobes in the bosom of his own family.
The sun creeps toward the horizon and the crowd thins slightly—the older family members, like Cole’s granny and even his parents, go home. The elder Thompsons head out with Misty in tow. They offer to take Patty as well, so Thommy can stick around and not miss out on the fun.
Once good-byes are said and cars are pulling out of the lot, Pammy takes control of the music; she hooks up her phone to the sound system and the dance tunes begin. The younger crowd is first to push the picnic tables aside and start dancing. The slightly older couples eventually join in as well.
Tucker squeezes Cole’s hand. “You wanna dance?”
Surprise flits across Cole’s face. “I… No?”
“Is that an answer or a question?”
Cole looks back at the group of people moving to the music. Tucker scans the crowd too.
Pammy and Rafe are bouncing around. Doug and Selena are in the group, surprisingly. Several of Cole’s cousins and their spouses shift and sway, arms raised, hips gyrating. The teen-aged twins are shuffling around and giggling on the edge of the patio.
On the other side of the impromptu dance floor, Nathan watches another gay couple Tucker doesn’t know sway back and forth with a look Tucker can’t quite decipher. Interesting… It’s not distaste and it’s not even disapproval. When Nathan licks his lips, Tucker knows what it is. It’s longing. And hello— Tucker’s now ninety-nine percent sure that young Nathan is not
straight.
Tucker glances at Cole only to find he, too, is watching the same pair who are forehead to forehead, eyes locked, grinning at each other.
“Who are they?” Tucker asks. Ten Rigs must be the gayest little town in Texas because Tucker has seen more gay men in the last couple of days than he has in years.
“Oh, uh, that’s Chase and Kyle…Chase is a second or third cousin or something. They’re from Marva’s branch of the Hansards. It’s new, I think, their relationship.”
And, yeah, Tucker can tell. He and Cole can’t fake that kind of feeling for one another since their relationship, such as it is, is new—and fake. They might have had those kinds of feelings for one another if this was real. But it’s not. Even so, they can still have fun.
Since Tucker hasn’t pushed Cole’s boundaries much today, dancing seems like a good place to start.
“C’mon.” Tucker slides his hand into Cole’s and tugs him into the fray.
Cole resists. “I don’t dance. I mean, I can two-step, but this…I don’t know how.”
“First of all, sugar, no one’s paying much attention to anyone else. Second of all, even if they were, most of these people are too drunk to care.” Tucker tugs at Cole again and, this time, he follows. They slide in next to Pammy.
Her eyes light up and she throws Tucker a thumbs up.
After Evie’s revelation, Tucker has caught Cole’s eyes on him a time or two this afternoon. Whether it’s because Cole’s really checking him out or just wondering about his whereabouts, Tucker has no idea, but now seems like a good time to encourage more carnal thoughts. He rolls his hips and groin forward. Cole’s eyes round a bit and his gaze slides from Tucker’s midsection to his eyes. Tucker keeps moving and settles his hands on Cole’s hips and forces him into movement.
“And third of all, all you’ve got to do is move to the beat.”
Despite the nerves he’s obviously harboring, Cole nods. He finds the rhythm easily and relaxes in increments. The determined expression finally gives way to a smile. Moving into Cole’s space, Tucker places Cole’s hands on his hips and then drapes his own arms over Cole’s shoulders. They sway, legs brushing occasionally. Tucker inches closer and their bodies come into contact more often than not in what could be considered “danger” zones: upper thighs mostly, but occasionally the plackets of their respective shorts.
The startled expression that crosses Cole’s face makes Tucker’s heart soar but his stomach drop. Cole doesn’t flinch or pull away, but his shoulders are tight and his grip on Tucker’s hips becomes far too tight for anything other than disquiet. Tucker adds space between them again. He sure as hell doesn’t want to freak Cole out or shut him down.
“Let’s trade,” says Pammy loudly, grinning all the while. She steps in front of Cole and pushes Tucker toward Rafe.
Rafe, bless his heart, takes it all in stride, never losing his rhythm or batting an eyelash at dancing with a gay man. He just rolls his eyes, grins wide, and keeps moving to the beat.
* * *
Pammy shimmies up to Cole and takes his hands. With hips swaying hard from side to side, she shuffles into his personal space, grinning like a loon. “Hey, cuz.”
“Pammy.” He mirrors her moves, not knowing what else to do.
The song ends almost immediately and the next one begins, some fast-paced country/pop tune.
Pammy yells “two step” and everyone obediently shuffles into a large circle and grabs a partner. Pammy gloms onto him and Cole steps them into motion within the ring of dancers. The two step he can do.
Tucker and Rafe have removed themselves from the makeshift dance floor, but seem to be talking. Tucker’s been great all day. Everyone seems to like him, so that’s good. Of course, he’s smart and well spoken. He’s handsome and charming. Hot. Cole’s not as unaffected as he’d like to be.
“Listen, honey,” Pammy says, following Cole’s lead easily. She steps out, twirls under his hand, and steps back into his embrace. “I thought you were supposed to be having some fun with Tucker.”
His eyebrows arch. “I am having fun. Tucker’s been great. He’s fun and funny—”
“That’s not what I mean, Cole. He touches you, he kisses on you—acts like the boyfriend he’s pretending to be—but when he does, you always seem surprised or startled by the act.”
He looks around, but no one’s paying them any attention. They’re one of maybe twenty couples, and the music is loud enough.
Pammy arches one eyebrow at him and his shoulders slump. He knows exactly what she’s talking about. Every time Tucker touches him, it’s like an electric shock goes through his body. Cole wants; he wants badly, but he can’t start something that he isn’t willing to finish. He and Tucker agreed on the weekend, that’s all. Tucker’s surely got higher aspirations than a small town veterinarian who prefers a good book to a good beat, who likes blue jeans and quiet nights at home as opposed to shimmery fabrics and nightclubs. Cole just wants to get through the weekend without losing his mind.
“I just…I’m not used to it.” It’s a lame excuse and they both know it, but she doesn’t challenge him.
Chatter and laughter float on the evening breeze around them.
Pammy whirls out of his arms and then back in as they step and shuffle around the circle. “If I’m noticing, then others might be too,” she says. “If you want to pull this off, you’re going to have to reciprocate. At least a little bit.”
Chapter Nine
Cole slides into wakefulness with a furnace pressed against his backside. Tucker’s snuggled up to him again, which is nice, if he’s being honest. The feel of skin against skin is comforting and the presence of a body in his bed is, for lack of a better term, also, well, nice. He’s missed having someone in his life and, yes, in his bed. He can admit it now. Tucker’s presence has awakened feelings he’d long since buried.
The grief he’d suffered through after Michael’s death had been overwhelming to say the least. He’d sought counseling at school and then immersed himself in his coursework as a way of not dealing with it. It wasn’t the healthiest way of handling the emotions that threatened to erupt on a daily basis, but he had to get through school. Dropping out or failing wasn’t an option.
All he’d ever wanted to be was a large animal vet since his mother married Thom and they’d moved onto the ranch when he was ten years old. The horses, the cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats. He fell in love. He’d spent as much time as he could with the animals.
Much as they loved one another, Michael would have haunted Cole if he’d have allowed Michael’s death to interfere with his education. Cole had done what he had to. Time had passed. He’d finished his sophomore year, his junior year, and had graduated with honors. Now, here he is faking a relationship with a man he might never have given a second glance to otherwise.
A man who is dredging up thoughts and feelings that scare the hell out of him. He’s suffered through great love and loss too many times to want to endure that kind of pain again.
After yesterday, after being the recipient of Tucker’s attention, Cole feels like his skin is too tight, like it’s itchy. He wants to scratch and scratch and scratch. If he scratches too hard for too long, he’ll end up bleeding and scabby.
Pammy’s words come back to him. How Tucker’s acting like a boyfriend and Cole’s not. How Tucker’s doing this for Cole’s benefit. Cole’s a little freaked, though. It’s not that Tucker’s attention is unwelcome, but it’s a lot. If Cole starts something, he’s afraid of not being able to stop. They have to be able to stop. Tucker has his life and Cole has his, and they’re supposed to go their separate ways after the weekend.
The breath on the back of his neck hitches and a murmured “mornin’” reaches his ears, followed by an apology as Tucker rolls away.
The loss is, surprisingly, unwelcome. Michael wasn’t much of a cuddler, and Cole didn’t think he was either, but lying here in Tucker’s embrace for a few more minutes would have been a welcome occurrence.
Tucker’s in the bathroom and the moment is lost. It’s a bad idea anyway, so he lets it go with a sigh and gets up.
Pammy’s right, though. Cole has to play his role better. Today, he’s got to make an effort.
His cell phone chimes from the nightstand. Gentry Winchester’s name and number appear on the screen. Looks like he’s making a stop on the way to the reunion.
* * *
Cole and Tucker climb from Cole’s truck. When he gets close enough, Cole links pinkies with Tucker. Surprised pleasure flits across Tucker’s face as he looks from their hooked fingers to Cole’s face.
“Pammy said I wasn’t holding up my end of the bargain. Thank you for carrying me yesterday.”
“You’re very welcome, sugar.” With a quick twist of Tucker’s wrist, they’re holding hands. The zip of electricity up his arm makes Cole suck in a startled breath. All this awakening prurience has him twisted up in knots. He’d drawn the line at masturbating in the shower.
“You okay?” Tucker asks with a gentle squeeze.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m fine.” Cole is in so much trouble. He likes Tucker, but he doesn’t want to like Tucker.
“If you don’t want to do this, we can have a fight, we can do whatever.”
“I appreciate that, but it’s fine, really.” Cole doesn’t want to have a fight. Yesterday was nice. More than nice. Having someone around who paid that kind of attention to him, checked on him, loved on him a little. He never thought he’d want to have that again, but now he’s not so sure. Not that he can have it with Tucker, because their arrangement is for the weekend only. Tucker’s probably got plans that don’t include a stick-in-the-mud country vet, no matter how hunky he thinks Cole is.
“Okay,” says Tucker, squeezing his hand again.
The scent of eggs, bacon, sausage, cream gravy, pancakes, and more assaults Cole’s senses when he and Tucker enter the pavilion.
Most of the family has already arrived and is either plating up or seated, waiting for everyone else. Granny is at the head of the table. Mom and Thom sit to her left, Evie’s sister, Grace, sits on her right, with Jed, as Grace’s son, next to her and Helen next to him. There’s no semblance of order after that. Looks like it’s first come, first seated.
Only for the Weekend Page 5
