Page 63 of Rainbow Rodeo

“Then don’t be a butthead.” Dalton toasted Dustin with his beer.

Tank bit back a grin. They were both buttheads.

“Yeah, yeah. Y’all should try the river rafting down here. So much fun.” Dustin pulled over a cooler and sat on it.

“Yeah? I like it up near Idaho Springs.” Tank had been rafting all over. Maybe not as much as Dustin.

“Yeah? Cool. I’ll try that next. This whole rafting thing is fucking amazing.” Dustin was about burned to a crisp, but all wide smiles. “Almost as good as being on a bronc.”

“Adrenaline junkie,” Dalton said fondly.

“We only come in adrenaline junkie in rodeo,” Dustin agreed.

“True that, and at least I get to ride all the time, right, Bubba?”

“Right. I get stuck with a clipboard.” Dustin winked, though, so he probably wasn’t upset.

“I can let a couple three bulls slip through my rope….”

“Don’t you dare,” Tank warned. “My ass would be grass.”

“I got your ass, Tank. Don’t you worry.”

“You do.” He was proud of Dustin for not jumping on that like low-hanging fruit. But he knew Dalton meant it, in and out of the arena.

“Listen to the two of you. You have any more trouble with—”

Dalton’s foot shot out and kicked Dustin’s ankle.

“Ow!” Dustin blinked at Dalton. “What the hell?”

“No trouble, Bubba. Just coincidence.”

“Uh-huh.” Dustin didn’t sound convinced. Tank wasn’t either. He needed to poke Dalton about this Rocket feller. He didn’t like secrets. Those caused accidents.

Tank glanced at Dalton, but his lover just shook his head.Okay, later.

“You got some aloe shit, Bubba? You’re about beet colored.”

“I do. I grabbed some on the way into town.” Dustin grinned, shaking his head. “Doesn’t matter how much sunscreen I wear.”

“How did you manage to tan up, then, babe?”

Dalton shrugged. “I burned and burned and burned.”

“And burned and burned.” Dustin rolled his eyes. “He’s the one that went into the hospital from it when he wouldn’t come in from the pool ever. Skin cancer waiting to happen.”

Tank snorted. “No cowboy’s going out over skin cancer.”

“No shit. I just grew a tan in defense. Bubba is a few burns behind.”

“Just a few.” Dustin grimaced. “Tank looks like he was born tanned.”

“I used to be pale as milk when I was a kid,” Tank said. “I just age like leather.”

“Mm-hmm.” Dalton’s eyelids went heavy.

“Oh Lord. I need some nachos.” Dustin rolled his eyes and rose, headed back toward where Deb was doing food.

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