Page 65 of Road to a Cowboy

Cal’s grunt was more of a laugh, and the kiss was more of a clacking of teeth. In Austin’s enthusiasm, he lost all finesse, but Cal didn’t seem to mind as he gave another laugh and pulled him in closer.

It was a good thing, as awareness of his surroundings returned, that Austin had researched the LGBTQ laws in Norway. Had he not learned that it was one of Europe’s most LGBTQ-friendly countries, he would’ve thought twice about kissing his guy in public.

Truthfully, he felt safer kissing Cal here than he did in certain parts of his own home state.

Austin had so many questions, but he couldn’t release Cal’s mouth long enough to ask them.

It wasn’t until a friendly wolf whistle broke through his shock-infused brain that he stepped back with a quiet chuckle. He followed the sound of the whistle to the table he’d been looking at earlier and found all four friends toasting him and Cal with their drinks.

Austin snorted a laugh. Cal followed his gaze and gave them a jaunty salute.

Turning back to Cal, Austin said, “How...?”

Cal kissed the tip of his nose, sending Austin’s stomach fluttering. “I know you have other words in your vocabulary.”

“Oh, fuck you.” Austin shoved him gently, then tugged him down to sit next to him at the table. “Seriously... how are you here? I thought you couldn’t get the time off.”

“Turns out I could,” Cal said. He rested his forearms on the table, and Austin held one of his hands in both of his, unable to let him go. “Las and I are in a holding pattern on his project until the material arrives next week to build his cells, and as I’ve been reminded, there are plenty of competent staff on the ranch to take over my responsibilities for a week.” His lips twitched. “Las and Whitney practically pushed me onto the plane.”

“What about your mom? Isn’t she still recovering from her injuries?”

Cal’s smile fell off his face. “I prepped a week’s worth of meals for her so she wouldn’t have to stand on her feet for long periods of time, and I did some housework before I left. Didn’t have time for the yard work, but the ranch’s landscaper has a son who’s looking to make a few extra bucks lawn mowing and weed pulling this summer, so I hired him to look after things this week.”

“Your mom must’ve loved that,” Austin said, squeezing his hand.

Cal grimaced. “About as much as you’d expect.”

Austin could only imagine the stink Barbara would’ve put up when she’d learned that not only had Cal hired someone to take care of her yard, but that he was also traveling out of the country and wouldn’t be at her beck and call.

“I’m sorry she gave you a hard time.” Austin squished Cal’s cheeks between his palms and planted a bruising kiss on his lips. “But I’m so goddamn glad you’re here. Want to get out of here and?—”

“Here you go.” His server placed a piping hot pizza loaded with cheese, meat, and veggies onto the table, and Austin’s grumbling stomach warred with his desire to take Cal to his cottage and devour him.

Cal made the decision for him with a little groan. “Damn, that looks good.”

“Can I get you anything to drink?” the server asked.

“Whatever he’s having,” Cal replied, tipping his head at Austin. Once she’d left to fill his beer order, Cal broke into the pizza without hesitation, pulling out a slice first for Austin, then for himself. “So? How was your weekend with Ben?”

“Good,” Austin said around his mouthful of what was possibly the best pizza he’d ever had outside of Italy. Hats off to Hedda’s parents for the recommendation. “Really good. He’s seemed a little down lately, but... I think he’s actually okay. He gets along with his roommates, he’s got a good group of friends, and he likes his jobs. The second job gives him a little wiggle room, so he’s not quite as strapped for cash as he was.”

“Yet you slipped a few hundred pounds in his pocket anyway, didn’t you?”

“For emergencies,” Austin grumbled, shrugging one shoulder in defensiveness. “I can trust him to use it for things he actually needs and not on video games or something.”

Cal brushed a thumb over Austin’s wrist, and goosebumps erupted along his arm. “No stealing him away to bring him back home, then?”

“Nah. Not yet anyway. Now, please tell me exactly what Las and Whitney said to get you to come here, because I’m still not convinced I’m not hallucinating your presence.”

Chuckling, Cal did so, and they chatted through their meal, feet tangled under the table.

God, Cal was here. In Nor-freaking-way. It was like seeing a manatee in Wyoming or a giraffe on an iceberg. An animal out of its natural habitat. He looked good, though, if tired from the flight. Even better? He looked happy. Like he was excited to be here and hadn’t just caved to pressure out of some sense of duty. He was talking about taking a boat tour on the fjord when Austin decided he’d had quite enough of sitting here being polite. He waved to their server to get her attention.

“I hope you brought provisions,” Austin muttered to Cal as the server approached. “Because I’m ravishing you as soon as we get back.”

Cal choked on his beer.

Austin swallowed a smug grin, and when the server neared, said, “Can we box the rest up and get the bill?”

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