by Andrew Grey
“She’s pissed.”
“Yeah, but she should be mad at herself.” Brodie shook his head. “That girl is one troubled kid in the making.”
Ky shrugged. “It’s the father I want to strangle. He’s imparting his poor judgment and his likely beer-soaked opinions on his daughter. Now she’s lost her job, and her father will probably blame her, when he’s really the one at fault.” He hated that Renae had gotten fired, but she deserved it. What she’d done was mean in every sense of the word.
“She still made a really stupid decision,” Brodie agreed as he finished his salad and buttered one of the rolls. “These are warm.” He took a bite. “It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten in a place like this. Mom did a lot of the cooking. There were some things she made that were really good, and others….” He smiled. “Once my mother wanted to make a pineapple upside-down cake, but she didn’t have any pineapple, so she decided to use canned peaches instead.” He made a yuk face. “It was awful gloop, and Mom honestly didn’t understand why it didn’t work out.”
“Oh God.”
“Yeah. Mom knew how to cook what she made and that was about it. Lots of rice or macaroni that she could mix with hamburger and a few other things. It was basic and we all got fed. But we never had the money for a place like this. I remember going out with my grandparents once before they passed, and they took me to McDonalds. It was something special then.”
“How do these look?” Ruth asked as she set their plates down in front of each of them.
“Yummy,” Brodie said. “And thank you for everything.” He smiled, and Ruth did the same in return.
She stepped back a little. “I’m not going to let anyone act like that in my place. It doesn’t matter if they work for me or eat here. She was out of line, and that’s the end of it. Besides, that crap she was spouting… it’s just too much.” Ruth leaned closer. “My older sister dated her father after high school, and he wanted to get married. It looks like she really dodged a bullet with that one there.” She left the table and hurried back to work.
“Oh God, this is good,” Brodie said, his pleasure noises going right to Ky’s gut. He ate, but ended up looking into Brodie’s eyes between bites, a little jealous of Brodie’s fork and the way he licked it sometimes. Who would have thought eating mashed potatoes could be sexy? But damn it to hell if Brodie sitting there eating the damned things didn’t get Ky’s engine running, especially with the way he made sure that fork was clean before he took another bite. “I wonder what they season this beef with.”
Ky growled as Brodie took yet another morsel. “Are you trying to drive me crazy on purpose?” he whispered, so the people at the other tables couldn’t hear.
“What?” Brodie asked, innocently. “I’m just eating my dinner. Which is really good, by the way.”
Ky groaned softly. “I can tell. It’s like you’re making love to it.” God, it was too sexy for words, and Ky was about to forget himself and take Brodie right on the table in the restaurant. That would go over really well with the other people from the town, though he suspected Ruth would get a kick out of the floor show. At least until she kicked him out on his ass.
“I’m just eating. Maybe it’s you who has the problem. Do you get your kicks from mashed potatoes? Or maybe it’s the steak.” Brodie leaned over the table, his eyes wide, lips parted just enough that the tip of his pink tongue made an appearance when he licked his lips. “Maybe you have a thing for food. Is that what it is? A food kink?” His blue eyes sparkled from across the table, and all it would have taken was for Ky to lean over to take a kiss. He could slip his hand around the back of Brodie’s graceful neck, draw him closer, and kiss those lips until they were red and swollen.
“Gosh, the two of you really are so cute,” Ruth said, and Ky sat back hard enough he nearly toppled his chair. “I didn’t mean to startle you boys. I was just checking on the food.” She wore a mischievous smile. “I’d cool it if I were you. The natives are starting to get restless.” She grinned. Ky figured it was a good thing that she had a sense of humor.
“It’s all him,” Brodie said gently.
“Me…?” Ky said. “You’re the one doing evil things with the potatoes.” He crossed his arms over his chest, mock glaring at Brodie before shaking his head as he laughed.
“I take it there’s nothing wrong with the food,” Ruth interjected.
“The food is wonderful,” Brodie told her. “It’s him. He won’t let a guy eat in peace. Who knew.”
Ruth rolled her eyes. “Okay. Why don’t you two finish eating and then take whatever freak you got going home where it’s safe and not in full view of half the town.” She motioned slightly, and Ky was aware that the conversation in the dining room had died to nearly nothing.
“Oh my God,” Ky whispered, feeling his own cheeks heat. He fixed his glare on her because he was damned sure as hell not going to back down. They hadn’t done anything wrong other than a little teasy flirting. Hell, he hadn’t even touched Brodie, no matter how much he might have wanted to.
“We’re sorry,” Brodie said, clearly embarrassed as he returned to his dinner with none of the playfulness or joy that had been present just a few moments earlier.
“What for?” Ky asked, first smiling at Brodie and then turning to Ruth, ready to challenge her.
“Sweetheart—” Ruth leaned close. “—I think the two of you together are as hot as… well… Texas in July. But Mr. and Mrs. Jensen are probably about ready to swallow their false teeth. So, you two have a great meal—which is on me, by the way—and then get yourselves on home and do something about the heat, because a girl can only take so much.” She fanned herself, then headed back toward the kitchen.
“See what you did,” Ky teased.
“Me?” Brodie retorted sarcastically. “You were the one doing the flirting. I was just eating my dinner.” He lowered his gaze. “Go on and finish eating, you big tease.”
“I do not tease,” Ky growled, and Brodie did a shiver thing before giving him a “you do so” look. He took another bite of his steak, and Ky lowered his gaze to his plate. He needed to finish eating his dinner so they could go back to the ranch, put Emily to bed, and he could ravage Brodie for the rest of the night. He’d show him how to tease, and it had nothing to do with eating your mashed potatoes like they were ice cream.
“Anything you say,” Brodie said, and Ky growled under his breath once again. “Did I ever tell you that I like it when you get all huffy? Your eyes darken and your breathing gets shallower. You look like you’re about to go all alpha at any second.”
“Oh really. And you like that idea?”
Brodie finished his steak. “You know, I guess I like the idea of having someone to take care of me and someone I can take care of in return. Someone who loves Emily and will help me raise her and be a partner in all the tough stuff to come. I know that’s a lot to ask of anyone.” He set down his fork. “I know it sounds like I’m expecting Tarzan to swoop in and carry me away, but maybe I just want someone who’s strong enough to support me without trying to steamroll over me.”
Ky tapped his chest and did a soft version of the Tarzan yell. Brodie snorted and shook his head. “What?”
“I can’t believe you just did that,” Brodie said, but it was pretty clear from his smile that Brodie liked it anyway.
Ky finished his meal before it got cold and sat back in his chair. The others in the restaurant had lost interest in them, and the conversation levels had returned to normal.
“Can I interest either of you in dessert?” Ruth asked.
Ky was starting to wonder if she stood in back just waiting for the moments when she could pop up. He also wondered when she had studied the art of moving without making sound, because he never seemed to hear her coming. “I’m full.”
“Me too. Thank you. The food was great,” Brodie said.
“I’m glad you liked it. Can I get you anything more to drink?” Ruth asked, and they both shook their heads. “Then
you both have a good night, and for goodness’ sake….” She leaned close. “Stop eye-fucking each other and go home. You’re unnerving the straight people.” She grinned and left the table.
“Sometimes I wonder about her,” Ky said as he put his napkin on the table and got to his feet. Brodie did the same, and they left the restaurant, heading to the truck.
“I hear you got my daughter fired?”
Jesus Christ. Couldn’t anyone leave him the hell alone? Ky turned as a huge man slammed his truck door and headed over across the lot. All Ky wanted was to go home.
“Your daughter decided to serve us garbage,” Brodie said. “And the owner fired her for it. Now, I suggest you turn around and get back in your truck.” He waved his hand in front of his face. “Ky, call the police. This man is drunk off his butt, and he’s been driving.”
The big man paled. “No, I haven’t.”
“I just saw you get out of the driver’s side door of that truck. You obviously don’t live here, and you’re definitely drunk off your ass. So it only stands to reason. We’ll just call the police, and you can tell them your story.”
He swayed on his feet, and Ky was starting to wonder how he’d made it here at all without killing himself or someone else.
“People like you deserve what they get. Murdering folks and getting the courts to go along with you. I can’t get away with shit, and you….”
Brodie shook his head. “Let’s just go. We’ll call the police, and they can deal with him.”
“Little shit,” the big guy said, lunging forward, taking a swing at Brodie, who ducked. The big man continued in motion, his legs buckling, and he went down on the parking surface without getting up.
Ky handed Brodie his phone so he could call the police and then checked that the drunk idiot was okay. “Tell them to get an ambulance too. He’s bleeding and may have hurt himself.” He turned as other customers exited the restaurant.
“Is he all right?” a young woman, about his age, asked as she approached.
“I don’t know. He’s very drunk, and I think he hit his head,” Ky explained.
“The police and an ambulance are on their way,” Brodie reported.
There went their chance to just go back to the ranch, put Emily to bed, and have some quiet time.
“He’s going to be okay,” one of the EMTs said a half hour later as they got ready to close the ambulance door. “We can’t tell you much more, but Mr. Jarvis should be fine.”
“Thanks,” Ky said, then called his aunt to let her know that they were on their way home.
“Okay,” she said. “Emily refuses to go to bed and is determined to see the two of you before she goes to sleep.”
“Tell her we have her new bed and we’ll put it together as soon as we get home.” Ky climbed into the truck, and they headed out of town and toward the ranch. “What the heck is it today?”
Brodie yawned. “I’m not sure, though I’m glad the big dumbass is going to be all right.”
Ky nodded. “You got some fancy moves.”
Brodie snickered. “All I did was duck. I think my fanciest move was making sure he didn’t fall on me. He was so drunk, he could barely stand.” He sighed. “I sure hope he isn’t like that all the time.”
Ky shrugged and pulled to a stop before continuing through an intersection. “From what I got from Ruth, I’d say that was common occurrence. It’s a shame.” He continued driving, going slowly in case there were animals crossing the road. He turned into the drive and pulled to a stop next to a pair of sedans. “Let me unload the truck, and you go on in to see what’s going on.” Ky climbed out and handed the bag of bedding and childproofing stuff to Brodie. He hefted the box with the bed and started inside.
“You have no right,” Brodie was saying as he came inside.
“What’s going on?” Ky demanded.
“We’re from child services,” one of the women said.
Ky leaned the box against the wall. “Let me guess. You got a call from Jacob Tyler.” He glared at both the man and the woman.
“We can’t….”
Ky strode forward. “All I got to do is call my lawyer and we can get all the records. So save us the hiding routine. Was it Jacob who called you?” He kept his cool. “And did he tell you that Emily is with her brother? And that when Brodie went to him for help, they not only tried to separate the two of them, but actually kept Brodie and Emily apart?” He watched as each of them lowered their gaze.
“Un Ky,” Emily called as soon as Aunt Rita set her down, and Ky scooped her up.
“We were told that she wasn’t being fed properly and that she was left alone.” They shared looks with each other. “The caller was very insistent.”
“I’m sorry you wasted your time, but Emily is well fed and happy. We just got a toddler bed for her, as well as stuff to childproof the house. You can also see that she isn’t mistreated and is well cared for.” Jacob was going to pay for this.
The two social workers looked at each other once again. “Do you mind if we look around?” the woman asked before stepping forward and handing Ky her card. He put Emily down, and she immediately settled with the dogs around her like a phalanx of guards. He glanced at the card. “Darlene Houseworth,” it read.
“Come with me, Darlene,” he said gently, and motioned to the hallway. “This is the room we’re setting up for Emily.” It was completely empty. Ky had cleared it out after his mother passed and hadn’t had the heart to use it for anything. He knew she’d love having a little girl use it. “The house has enough space, and as you can see, she’s happy and healthy.”
Darlene consulted some paperwork. “I have to ask. I see in your background that you were accused of murder.” She swallowed, and Ky shook his head.
“By the same man who called you. The case didn’t hold water and was dismissed by the judge. There was no evidence because I didn’t kill anyone. Jacob has virulently maintained that I did and has tried to make my life miserable, all because I had the audacity to love his son.” He opened the door to the other rooms to let her see that the house was clean and well maintained.
“Sounds to me like he doth protest too much,” Darlene said.
Ky knew that, for her, it was a throwaway remark, but it rang in his ears like a bell, and once it began, it wouldn’t stop.
Ky showed her the kitchen and the rest of the house on autopilot.
“What’s out there?” she asked, peering through the window.
“That’s the mother-in-law suite that my parents added on years ago. Ben works for me, and part of his pay is the apartment. It has a separate entrance.”
Darlene narrowed her gaze. “Ben Whitaker?” she asked, then smiled. “I went to school with him. He was always so quiet. As I remember he stutters some and always had trouble whenever we had to give oral presentations.”
Ky nodded. “He’s a good man. He says that when she’s older and we can get her a pony, he’s going to teach Emily to ride.”
Darlene checked around and peered into the refrigerator before returning to the living room, where Emily played on the floor with the dogs, tails going a mile a minute and Emily giggling as they tried to lick her.
Brodie looked as pale as Ky had ever seen him as he lifted Emily into his arms. Aunt Rita had her church-lady persona firmly in place and seemed about ready to go off on a tear of biblical proportions at any moment.
“I’m giving the sheets a quick wash and I need to get her ready for bed as soon as they’re dry, and Ky needs to assemble the bed so she can go to sleep.” The annoyance in Brodie’s voice rang through loud and clear. Also, by the way he held Emily, Brodie made it damned clear that no one was taking her.
“I can help you with that,” the other social worker, who had introduced himself as Spencer, offered. “I’ve put that same bed together more than once.” He lifted the box, and Brodie handed Emily to Aunt Rita before leading him down the hall.
“I’ll see if Ky can bring in the mattress.” He hurrie
d back, and Ky promised he’d do it in a few minutes.
“Is there anything else you’d like to see?” Ky asked Darlene, and she shook her head.
“I’d say we’ve seen more than enough. I will admit that after the call we received, I was expecting to walk into a mess. Heck, even the dogs here are happy.”
“They’re Emily’s posse. They watch over her all the time. Misty will lay at the foot of her bed. Prince and King will lay on the floor all night and raise a ruckus if anything happens. Those dogs took to her as soon as she came through the door. Even the horses love her.”
Darlene closed her notebook. “Do you mind if I sit down? It’s been a long day, and I don’t want to rush Spencer if he can help.” She took a seat. “So many times, we see kids that are neglected and in the worst possible situations. It’s clear that Emily is loved, cared about, and well cared for.”
“I need to get that mattress,” Ky said, and left Darlene with Aunt Rita rocking Emily to keep her calm. Ky got the mattress and carried it inside and down to the room. The tiny bed sat in the middle of an otherwise empty room, looking small, but Ky figured that in the morning, he could look for some other things to help furnish it. For now, it was Emily’s room, and she had a proper bed. Ky placed the mattress on the frame.
“That’s sweet,” Aunt Rita said as she carried Emily in. Brodie got Emily’s things from the other room, and Ky and Spencer left so they could get Emily ready for bed.
Ky saw Darlene and Spencer to the door. “Thank you for helping with that,” he told Spencer as he shook his hand.
“It’s no problem.” He turned and left.
Darlene shook his hand as well. “Our report will reflect that we believe the call we received was malicious and that we believe the caller was either mistaken or had insincere intent. But you do understand that we can’t just ignore calls when we receive them.”
“Of course,” Ky said, then wished them both a good night before closing the door. God, he was glad that was over. A visit from child services was not the way he had expected this evening to end.