Page 20 of Rust and Stardust

Jack beamed with pride at the mention of Beau's accomplishments. “That's right. My boy's got a gift when it comes to barbecue. It's in his blood, you know.”

As Jack regaled me with tales of past competitions and family recipes, I couldn't help but steal glances down the hallway, hoping to catch a glimpse of Beau. My mind kept replaying our kiss, the feel of his strong arms around me, the taste of his lips. But then Iremembered the fear in his eyes, the shame that had clouded his face. His family didn’t seem like the type to let him skip supper, but he was taking so long. Maybe he’d pretend to be sick just to get away from me. I’d used that excuse plenty of times myself on bad dates. It worked like a charm.

Finally, Beau reappeared, his hair damp from washing up. He hesitated in the doorway, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before he quickly looked away. He took a seat at the far end of the table, as far from me as possible.

Mabel bustled over, setting down a steaming platter of fried chicken in the center of the table. The aroma was mouthwatering, and despite the tension in the air, my stomach growled audibly.

“Hope y'all are hungry,” Mabel said cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to the awkwardness between Beau and me. “I've made all of Beau's favorites.”

As she brought over more dishes - mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade biscuits - I couldn't help but notice how Beau kept his eyes fixed on his plate, barely acknowledging anyone's presence. The easy camaraderie I'd witnessed earlier between him and his family was gone, replaced by a palpable unease. It was only when the other older thin man walked in and struck up a conversation with Jack that the silence faded away. I learned quickly that the thin man was Frank, Mabel’s husband, and the ranch hand Jack had spoken of earlier.

All throughout the meal I fielded questions about my job, where I was from, and what New York City was like. But each time I got a chance, I looked up at Beau, hoping he would give me even the slightest hint that he didn’t hate me for kissing him. As the meal progressed though, I found myself growing increasingly uncomfortable. The food was delicious, but the tension radiating from Beau made it hard to fully enjoy. I caught him stealing glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking, his blue eyes a storm of conflicting emotions.

“So, Lucas,” Mabel said, breaking the silence that had fallen overthe table once more. “How long are you plannin' on stayin' in Sagebrush?”

I swallowed hard, acutely aware of Beau's gaze suddenly fixed on me. “Well, I'm not entirely sure. I suppose it depends on how things go with the festival research. At least for the fair. Then I’ll need to get back to work in the city.”

Jack's eyes lit up. “You know, if you're gonna be around for the fair, you ought to let Beau show you around the place. He knows all the other competitors and where you can find the best food. It might be just what your company is looking for!”

Beau's head snapped up, his eyes wide with panic. “Pa, I don't think-”

“Nonsense!” Jack waved him off. “You're not competing until the last day, anyway. Might as well make yourself useful.”

I could see the conflict playing out on Beau's face. He opened his mouth to protest again, but Mabel cut in.

“That's a wonderful idea, Jack,” she said, beaming. “Beau knows this fair like the back of his hand. He'd be the perfect guide.”

Beau's shoulders slumped in defeat. He glanced at me, a mixture of resignation and something else - maybe a flicker of hope? - in his eyes.

“I... I suppose I could show you around,” he mumbled, his voice barely audible.

My heart raced at the prospect of spending more time with Beau. “That's really not necessary,” I said quickly, trying to diffuse the situation. “I'm sure I can find my way around on my own.”

Mabel chimed in, her voice warm but leaving no room for argument. “Now, Lucas, we can't have you wanderin' around lost at the fair. Beau will be happy to show you around, won't you, honey?”

Beau's jaw clenched, “Yeah. Of course.”

“Well, that’s all settled then!” Mabel smiled. “The fair starts tomorrow night and it’s a Turner tradition to have dinner there on opening night.” She patted my arm before placing another frieddrumstick on my plate. “If you stop by here around six, we’ll all drive in together and Beau can show you around.”

Mabel’s gaze darted over to Jack, both of them smiling at one another knowingly.

“That… sounds great,” I replied, still staring at Beau who looked like he wanted to either strangle or fuck me. Maybe both. “I can’t wait.”

Chapter 9

Beau

Lucas sat next to me as my rusty old truck shuddered down the road. Pa, Mabel, and Frank were in the much nicer truck ahead of us. There was plenty of space in the new truck for all five of us, but for some reason Mabel insisted we drive separate. She claimed she needed the extra space, though what for, I had no idea. All I knew was that I didn’t trust myself to be alone with Lucas. After our unexpected kiss the day before, it was all I could do to keep myself under control. I’d spent half the night awake with a boner that refused to go away. Only after I jerked off to the thought of him for the second time did I get any sleep. And now that he was right next to me, it was back. How the hell was I going to get through the fair like this?

I kept telling myself I couldn’t have him. That no one would ever accept a gay cowboy and a city slicker, especially not when they expected me to get back with Amber May. Our ranch was already too small to compete with the bigger operations in Texas. One bad rumor about me might be the final nail in the coffin and then four generations of hard work would go flying out the window. I couldn’t risk that no matter how beautiful Lucas’s green eyes were or howgood his ass looked in those tight black jeans. I risked another glance in his direction. Fuck he was beautiful.

Lucas caught me staring and flashed that devilish grin of his. “See something you like, cowboy?” he teased, his voice low and husky.

I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. “Just... admiring the scenery,” I managed to croak out.

He chuckled, the sound sending shivers down my spine. “Is that what we're calling it now?” His hand brushed against my thigh, and I nearly swerved off the road.

“Lucas,” I warned, my voice strained. “We can't...”

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