Page 16 of Big Daddy Bull Riders

The man who was wearing a haughty, disdainful sneer as he sized up the crowd.

Hugo Sparks.

CHAPTEREIGHT

“That’s the guy, huh?” Jackson asked quietly, once the café had returned to normal.

Folks were eating and chatting again, but Mina could see that Hugo still looked almost angry as he sat at a booth by himself. In fact, the expression he wore looked more like one he’d have if he’d stepped in dog poop rather than being about to eat.

“That’s him, alright,” she confirmed. “I wonder why he looks so grumpy.”

“Probably figures he’s too good for a little town like ours,” Slater guessed. “But maybe I’m judging him. And you know what the Good Book says about judging.”

Jackson finished a bite of chicken-fried steak and gravy and then said, “Actually, I don’t know.”

Slater looked to be thinking it over for a minute. He finally laughed a little and said, “Huh. Guess I don’t know, either. But I’d place a bet it says we shouldn’t do it.”

Mina laughed, and they both smiled at her.

“That might be the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard,” Slater said.

“Ain’t that the truth, brother,” Jackson replied.

“Oh. Are you two siblings?” Mina asked.

“Nah. Just been best friends for so long that it feels like we are, I guess. Closer than that actually,” Jackson said.

Mina wondered just what that meant.

It wasn’t any of her business, so she didn’t press. Even though the reporter in her—and the Little looking for a Daddy orDaddies—truly wanted to know.

“How did you two meet?” she asked instead.

“Rodeo,” Slater said. “Down in Durant. This was years ago.”

“Fifteen,” Jackson added.

“Yeah. Fifteen. Been together since,” Slater said.

“Y’all live together?”

“Yep. Out on some property not too far out of town,” Jackson said. “Feels good to settle down and have a place to call our own. Before that, I reckon we weren’t anything but saddle tramps.”

“That’s right,” Slater said with a chuckle. “But we always got by.”

“We’re building the kind of life we want,” Jackson said. “The only thing missing, really, is a Little of our own. But one day, we’ll have a cute little thing running around the house. And we’ll spoil her rotten.”

Mina felt a sense of longing start in her core before spreading out. She pictured herself with the two men, her cheeks probably glowing red now as her imagination ran wild.

“She’ll have to be a special Little girl, though,” Jackson continued.

“Why’s that?” Mina asked.

“Well, because me and Slater share and share alike. If you know what I mean.”

Mina hurriedly brought the glass of tea to her lips, hoping to hide just how much she was blushing.

Mmm. Being with them both? Yes, please.

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