Page 98 of The Cowboy's Bullfighter
Because obviously him and Brooks couldn’t manage. Jesus. “Well, that’s why he’s in the same class as Mason, Momma.”
“Right, because that’s not a damn nightmare. Can you imagine if any of you kids had been in the same class? Lord help me. You’d have killed each other. You’d have killed me.”
Coop set to chuckling. “Don’t make me laugh, Momma, it hurts.”
“You better come in and sit down. Take a load off and eat your damn muffin.”
He chatted a few more minutes with his mom, nibbled on his sweet, then went to see where everyone was, over the top of Momma’s objections. Maybe they were all out at the?—
“Okay, Lucy, toss the rope at Johnny.” He heard that loudand clear, not too far out by the back of the house. So Coop went to look out the kitchen door.
He leaned hard, peering out to see what the heck they were doing out there.
They had a roll of large twine and were marking off space for something at the end of the deck. Two somethings, Coop thought.
What the heck were they measuring?
“Okay, now, Johnny, walk to the end of the deck.”
Johnny did, and it was like a human chess game, but with Brooks marking things with spray paint.
He stepped out on the back deck. “What are y’all doing?” Coop asked.
“Marking off a hot tub and an aboveground pool,” Lucy said, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
“I looked at all the schematics to make sure I wasn’t messing with water or septic,” Brooks told him. “We need a hot tub, but the kids wouldn’t help unless I promised them a pool.”
“Ah.” He chuckled. Kids did love a pool. “Well, I’m just glad there are muffins.” He held up the one he’d been munching on, the streusel on top making him moan.
Brooks stared at him, those dark eyes eating him up. Now, that was nice, wasn’t it? He sure did like that stare, even if he wasn’t up for acrobatics yet. Maybe a nice, sedate trot around the ring in a month or so…
Coop grinned at Brooks, then winked. “Well, y’all knock yourselves out. I’m going to sit my old butt down.”
“We’re almost done!” Mason called.
He reckoned Brooks had been trying to let him sleep in, so he nodded. He wasn’t opposed to a hot tub or a pool. The hot tub could get built out on the deck, and be one of them real simple things. Then maybe a swim spa for the kids. No need to have a huge aboveground dealie.
“Morning, Uncle Coop.” Ricky came out of the mother-in-law suite, hair wet, sticking up all over. “Are those for everyone?”
“The muffins? Yep. You just leave me one more. And leave a few for Brooks. You know how he does.”
“Yeah.” Ricky made a face. “I guess I’ll learn that, right? Not to eat until the kid does?”
“I reckon so.” He studied Ricky. “You talk to Brooks yet? I mean, about your situation?”
Ricky shrugged, his shoulders moving uneasily. “Sort of. I told him I want to marry her.”
“Well, good. By the way, my momma wants to take Bella out today.”
“Yeah, she said.” Ricky laughed. “Bella’s not working today, so that’s cool. She’s barfing her lungs out. No pressure.”
“Well, not for Bella.” He stared at Ricky over the top of his glasses.
“Ouch.” Ricky went to grab some coffee. “I’ll drink this before I take breakfast to?—”
“Son, no food in the bedrooms. Even the ones down here.” He and Brooks even did their late-night cold pizza in the kitchen.
“Right. I just don’t want her to have to smell coffee.” Ricky glanced at him. “I’m not an asshole, Coop. I swear to God.”
