Page 58 of The Cowboy's Bullfighter
He didn’t have any problem with that. In fact, he’d already arranged Ricky’s big present. It was coming Christmas Day—or really Christmas Eve to the clearing in front of the big garage. “I got him an engine lifter.”
Brooks eyes went wide, “No shit?”
“No shit, I found one used. It’s in good shape, you know. And I figured Ricky could use it. He’s got a way with mechanical stuff; he might as well start doing this thing. There’s always going to be a cowboy with a truck that needs fixing.”
“Or a tractor. Or a riding lawn mower or a backhoe.”
“Exactly.”
Brooks glanced at him, the expression kind of serious. “I really want to—I don’t know how to—” He stopped, took a deep breath. “What I mean is, I’m not poor. Like, I’mnotpoor, I got money, and I want to be able to invest in this thing that we’re doing.”
He tilted his head. “Do you mean life?”
“Yeah.” Brooks swallowed hard. “Yes, I mean life. I would like to invest, please.”
Coop didn’t know what that meant really, like in a practical sense. He’d paid for the house. He paid his debts, he had taxes and stuff, and they were fixing the house up. “Absolutely. Um, I know you’ve been working on the barns…”
“Yeah, and I’m going to start bringing in horses. I mean, I know we have two, but there’s fixin’ to be more. I want to start training.”
That was handy given he had already bought livestock for Brooks that were supposed to be delivered on the twenty-third. Ho ho ho.
“But I’m talking about things like buying stuff for the kids, helping with the media room. I’d like to buy the chairs. I want to. I mean, I’m staying, right? I mean. You and me are…it’s nice, but I really want to have a family here.”
Oh. Ouch. Coop didn’t know what to think about that. He didn’t think anybody wanted to think of their lovemaking asnice. It wasn’t like they were sharing a room or nothing. Brooks came in to visit from his little set of rooms that used to be Benji’s around twice a week. They shared a hand job, maybe a nice blow. Brooks always spent the night in bed with him.
He guessed it was pleasant for Brooks. Apparently, this wasn’t some big great love affair, and he was going to stop thinking about it as if that was what it was. This was a business arrangement. Sort of. Except not.
He wasn’t sure what anyone would call what they had were.
Up until right about just this minute, he’d been thinking they were in a deepening relationship. Even a love affair.
He was kind of an idiot.
“Well, you’ve got a family here, that’s absolutely for sure. Instant family-R-us.” And Benji was due to start working out with the bullfighters the third of January. He’d be gone on the road then from late January, early February until October,only coming home when he could. So it was going to be a trial by fire.
The waitress came over. “Hey, guys. You ready to put your drink order in?” He nodded. He wasn’t sure that he wanted anything anymore. He’d been so excited, and now he sort of felt tired. “I’d like a cup of coffee please, ma’am.”
Brooks gave him a weird look. “You’re not going to get yourself a beer, mate?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m driving, and I’m kind of tired, so I don’t think that a beer will help. But you go ahead and have one. You can have one for you and for me if you want.”
“Oh.” Brooks looked at him steadily, maybe trying to read his mood. “Then I’ll just have iced tea.”
“You got it.” The server smiled at them, a dimple popping up in her cheek, and she headed off.
“You okay?” Brooks asked.
“Sure. I’m just worn down a little, and I didn’t even know it. I’ll be fine.”
“All right.”
That did sort of kill the good feeling in his belly, though, and Coop hated that they were back to weird and awkward, and that it was his own damn fault.
He would just have to be more careful from now on.
Chapter Fifteen
Brooks came in from feeding the horses, because it was too damn cold out there to work on the barns right now. In fact, he had a feeling he might not feel his fingers again until May.
