Page 19 of Rainbow Rodeo

“You heard me. You look at him like he’s lickable.”

He was gonna go up in flames, but he wasn’t one to lie, and he knew which way both the twins swung. “He is. I turned him down, you know. He was too damn young, but now….” Tank shrugged.

“Just be good to each other, huh? Dee’s a good guy.”

“I’ll do my best, Dustin. I really will.” Had he just announced an intention to move on Dalton?

“Fair enough. Now, come on. This gate is horked.”

“Is it bent to hell?” The arena had some cheap construction. He couldn’t even bitch. It was a tiny county fairground, but every performance was packed.

“Yeah, and I need it working. Can you tug it up?”

“Hold up.” He hoisted the gate, then slid the jack Dustin had brought over to hold it. Smart man. “That hinge is missing a pin.”

“That’s an easy fix.” Dustin rumbled through his toolbox, whistling tunelessly.

Tank leaned, just grinning. Dustin did nothing for him, sexually. Nothing at all. Nada.

How did that work? Weren’t they the same, like DNA deep?

He guessed it might be a little bit about being wanted, but it was also how sexual Dalton was. The man did everything with an edge of danger.

Dustin was solid as a rock, while Dalton lit him up like pure fire.

Tank shook his head. Sometimes life was a strange and wonderful thing.

“Okay, I found something that’ll work. Hold steady for me, and I’ll….” A clank and a whack and then Dustin stood. “Let her go and see if that did it.”

He stepped up to work the jack free, and hallelujah, it held. “Good deal.”

“Excellent. Thanks for the hand. I appreciate it.” Dustin shook with him, smiled. “Y’all have a good event.”

“We’ll try. Thanks for getting Greg checked out. He’s breathing a lot easier.”

“It’s my job.”

“It is.” He dared to clap Dustin on the back, feeling damn optimistic.

Soon. Soon, they would be on the road, but first, the short-go.

Time to play.

Chapter Eight

JESUS FUCKINGChrist.

Dalton swore by all he held holy that every fucking time he turned around Tank was right there, looking at him, staring at him like he was a tasty snack.

This was the man who’d let him down, then left for the big show. Why the hell was he suddenly back and all over Dalton? Tank had moved on. Right?

Right. Everyone knew about Buick, didn’t they? The head bullfighter was a stud and a half and…. Right.

And Dalton had moved on. Hell, him and Rocket had just broke up at Christmas, and they’d been tight enough to spend Thanksgiving Day together.

He shook his head. Maybe it was wishful thinking. Maybe Tank had always been this intense and that was why he’d fallen for the man.

That was it. Dalton was a fool, but he could be a fool who kept his self-respect.

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