Page 23 of Peacocks

Well, when he put it like that…

“At the Steak n’ Bait,” Hunter continued, “they serve a famous dish of tater tots all done up with toppings. It’s to die for. But back in the day, before they got their auto-shredder, it took a while for them to make ‘em. It became a tradition that you’d only order tots when you were with someone you didn’t mind spending all that time with.” He grinned. “Folks started saying stuff like, ‘Now,that’sa guy I wouldn’t mind waitin’ on tots with.’”

Charlie nodded. “It kinda took on a life of its own, like most things in the Thicket do, and became a symbol of love and commitment. It means you’re on an important date… or you’re proposing marriage.”

“Tater tots?” I asked, just to be sure. “Are a symbol of love and commitment?”

He nodded slowly. “You can’t explain small-town traditions, Lane. You just have to live them.”

“I… see.”

“Jaybird Proud is an integral part of this town,” Hunter pointed out. “He’s lived here his whole life, and he speaks in the language of the Thicket. If you want to confess heartfelt feelings in a way he’ll really understand… do it with tots and twinin’.”

After finishing our conversation and another cup of coffee, I headed home.

On the short drive to the house, I was so full of affection for Jay, so happy with my decision to confess my feelings to him, I decided to do both.

I’d make reservations for lunch at the Steak n’ Bait,andI’d make him his very own Entwinin’ wreath to give to him at the festival.

If Licking Thicket was part of who Jay was—and I could see that plain as day—then I would make sure Jay knew I saw that part of him and loved it too.

When I parked and got out of my car, I took a deep breath of bracing winter air and let it out. This was the right decision, and I didn’t want to fuck it up. I would take my time about it and get it right… and figure out how the hell one twined a wreath in the first place.

In the meantime, I would spend as much time enjoying Jay as he’d let me.

Granted, our work schedules were busy. I was working extra hours since springtime’s babies had already begun arriving onthe local farms, and Jay was working tons washing winter-crusted cars and preparing for the Entwinin’ festival.

But we’d find time. Starting right now.

Jay’s truck was in the drive which meant he was around here somewhere. Since Kasey Musgraves was crooning in the garage, I decided to check his workroom first.

No luck.

“Jay?” I called.

“Back here!” His voice came from the storage closet in the back where he’d meticulously organized shelves with open bins on them, holding all kinds of various sizes and lengths of wisteria vines.

I found him in the closet with his shirt off, and my brain immediately turned to squishy, half-baked dough. “Ngh.”

He turned and grinned, one slightly crooked tooth pressing his lip out in a sexy way that drew my attention and made me want him even more. “Hey, sexy,” he said.

“Diggin’ the no-shirt look,” I managed to grunt.

His eyes heated. “Diggin’ that look in your eyes.”

I moved closer until my body pressed his against the shelves. Thank God they were sturdy. My hands immediately went to his rounded pecs and squeezed. “Let me suck you off.”

“Letyou?” he asked with a teasing glint in his eye. “That’s an interesting choice of words, Dr. Desmond. Why should I let you have your wicked way with my person?”

I moved my hands down to unfasten his jeans. There was no way on earth his answer would be no, and we both knew it.

“Let’s see,” I began as I shoved his jeans and underwear down. “I’m very dedicated. Talented, some might say. I’m also eager to please.”

I moved in and began pressing kisses down his chest, tasting a combination of salt and sawdust that was uniquely Jay.

“I’m well-versed in anatomy,” I continued, dragging my tongue down his Adonis belt and into the thatch of hair above the root of his hard cock. “I’m… I’m…” His heavy balls and warm cock drew my attention, and I leaned in to rub my face against them.

“Distractable?” he teased, tangling his fingers in my hair.

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