Page 12 of Announcing Love
Bandit laughed at his dumb joke. They had seen each other yesterday after Bandit’s Phoenix game. Tip didn’t usually go out of town for games since he was the hometown announcer, but they had needed a fill-in, and Tip was pretty good at faking being impartial. “Artem says you two are going to Arizona to look at some land.”
Tip nodded. “There’s a ranch for sale that I’m interested in. I’d like to see the riding trails for myself and gauge if it would make a good investment for a vacation spot. It took some begging to get Artem to agree to go with me, though. He’s afraid missing a few days from work will have him struggling to make his car payment.”
Confusion filled Bandit’s light blue eyes. “The SUV isn’t paid off?”
Sacha appeared just in time to catch the tail end of their conversation. “What SUV? Artem’s?”
Tip nodded.
Sacha looked horrified. “Well, shit. I’m a horrible big brother. He shouldn’t still be paying for that with nothing but his part-time job. I’ve been so busy with the new business; I forgot all about it.”
Bandit nodded along. “I’ll call the accountant.”
Relief poured through Tip. He hadn’t blatantly meddled, but he had known Bandit would take care of Artem. But they also needed to change the subject before Artem turned up and caught Tip talking about his business. “Speaking of your new venture, how is the cake thing going? I saw one of your creations at an event about a month ago. It was amazing. Artistic talent runs deep in this family.”
“Of course they’re talented. They’re my grandsons,” Baba called from the living room, obviously possessing the hearing of a bat. Bandit and Sacha turned, leaving Tip a clear view of Baba on the couch and Artem coming down the stairs with his bag. Baba was obviously emboldened by the attention. “You should see my sketches. I used to have the most beautiful of men pose nude for me. Sometimes, I paid them in sexual favors.”
Bandit looked confused. “I thought you were already married by sixteen.”
Baba placed her hand over her chest dramatically. “Ah, yes. My handsome Borys. He was there too.”
An unexpected bark of laughter burst from Bandit.
Sacha looked as if he wished the floor would swallow him.
Artem froze at the bottom of the steps and covered his eyes. “Oh, dear god. Please don’t, Baba.”
Her wicked smile let Tip know Artem’s horror only emboldened her. “Please. There’s nothing wrong with a little fun. I have no idea how I ended up with such prudish grandsons. Borys and I had so much fun. These boys,gah!” She threw her hands up. “Well, Sacha not so much. You can hear him throughout the house when Bandit takes him to bed. But Artem, wow. I get that he’s saving himself or whatever, but a hoe phase is a good thing. I was a hoe for many years.”
Tip was dying.
Artem headed for the door. “On that note.” He walked out without looking back.
“Good god. She just said she had a hoe phase.” Sacha muttered the words under his breath while Tip fought for his life not to laugh.
“Well, I guess we should go if we’re going to catch our flight.”
“Yes. Go get my grandson. I have no doubt you’ll be the one who finally wears him down. You look like you can—”
“It was really good to see you,” Sacha yelled over whatever Baba said. He shoved Tip toward the door. “Have a great time and tell Artem I love him.” Tip was on the stoop with the door closed firmly behind him before he knew what had happened.
Artem stood at the bottom of the steps with his hands on his hips and staring up at the sky as if praying for God to take him now. Tip got it, but he also didn’t think Artem realized how lucky he was to have someone so fun in his life. No one in his family laughed about anything. They just mooched.
He made his way down the stairs and wrapped his arms around Artem. Tip pulled him back against his chest. “Don’t look so horrified. I think she’s great.”
“I’m not a prude.”
Tip wanted to laugh, but Artem sounded genuinely defeated. He had nothing to worry about. “No one as passionate as you are could be.”
“I haven’t been allowed to have a life.”
“I know.” He kissed Artem’s neck. “When you kiss me, I can taste your lust.” While lost in the moment, Tip’s hand automaticallyfound Artem’s throat and held him in place. He couldn’t wait to control him. His lips skimmed the shell of Artem’s ear. “The sounds you make when I kiss you tell me everything I need to know.”
He felt more than heard Artem take a shaky breath.
Tip took a step back. “We have a flight to catch. I’m excited for you to see this place.”
Artem turned. A flush across the bridge of his nose and cheeks made his blue eyes pop. He was breathtaking. “Yeah. We should go.”
