Page 63 of His Fresh Start Cowboy
Hugo grinned. “I might lower my rate if you just wear an apron, too.”
“How would either of us get any work done if that happened?”
Boots scuffled on the porch a moment before Wayne walked in through the wide-open door. Hugo and Brand weren’t standing all that close, but Hugo still took a single step to the side, putting more space between them. “Damn, son,” Wayne said. “You work fast.”
“I had motivation,” Hugo replied. “Rose offered to help but this felt like something I needed to do by myself. For myself.”
“Good man. I expect you’ll be joining us for supper tonight.”
“I’d appreciate the meal. A woodstove is great for winter, but not so much in the summer heat.”
“We’ll have to get you a microwave or a hot plate. Not that Rose minds cooking for multiple folks, after raising five kids. You’re always welcome at the house for meals, Hugo.”
“Thank you. After supper I’ll move my stuff here.”
“Sure, sure. See you...” He looked at the wristwatch he always wore. “In about thirty minutes.”
“See you then.”
Brand watched his father go and continued to stare at the open door for several seconds later, an odd twist to his lips.
“What?” Hugo asked.
“Nothing. Dad’s just worried and trying hard not to show it.”
“Worried about what? What happened last night?”
“Nah, about Rem.” Brand shrugged, then slid his hands deep into his tight jeans pockets. “He always worries when me or Rem are out on overnights. He told me a story once about when he was in his early twenties, his older brother did a few days out in the fields with the herd. Came back bit by a snake he didn’t think was poisonous, but it was. Ended up losing his hand.”
“Fuck.” For some reason it’d never occurred to him that Wayne had siblings. “Is his brother still around the area? I’ve never met him.”
“No, he died when I was really small, maybe four. I only vaguely remember the funeral. Dad’s protective of his family, blood, or otherwise. He’ll worry until Rem’s home.”
“You have a great dad, Brand. I envy you.”
“Thanks.” His brown eyes flickered. “I just hope that doesn’t change if he finds out we’re, uh, together?”
Ifhe finds out, not when.
Hugo didn’t want to dwell on that. He was exhausted and sore from cleaning half the day, and his stomach rumbled to be fed. “We’re whatever we want to be. Don’t particularly see the need for labels right now.” Not when there was still a small chance Brand could change his mind about telling his father and call the whole thing off. Hugo didn’t want to believe he’d do that, but it wasn’t completely impossible.
“How about after supper,” Brand said, “we go out to the Roost for some beers? My treat.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“We’ve been out together before.”
“No, I meant because of the coins. Elmer. The arrest.”
“I think it’s the perfect idea, because it shows folks you aren’t hiding away. You aren’t ashamed because you did nothing wrong. But if you’re uncomfortable, I get it.”
“I’m not.” Well, maybe a tiny bit but he’d never admit that to Brand. “Okay, fine. Let’s go get some beer.”
Please don’t let this be an epic mistake. Please.
Chapter Nineteen
Four hours later, while Brand held a towel of ice against his split lip, he was starting to think that having a few beers at the Roost had been a bad idea on his part.
