LOOK AT that sky.
Shane stretched out on the lawn chair, staring up into the wide, bright sky. His tan was going to be perfect by the time he went home.
Just perfect.
The wind was blowing, and he was lazing, and….
“Galen, do you think I ought to go back to bartending when we get home?”
“Huh?” Len flipped over and propped up on his elbows. “What, honey?”
“Bartending. Maybe during the busy season, just for cash for us?”
Len tilted his head. “If you want, darlin’. You don’t have to, but I know you. You’ll have to be busy.”
“Yeah, but I… I could work the bait shop.” He’d like that. Hell, he’d really been working on the place, repairing, cleaning, setting up.
“Yeah?” That got him a happy grin, Galen nodding easily. “That would rock. Hell, you’ve put a lot of time in down there.”
“I have. I had thoughts for it, depending on what you wanted to do.” A couple cold cases for sodas and sandwiches. Maybe boat rentals.
“Like what?” Now Galen actually looked engaged, ready to listen to him. Him. Not like in that corporate raider way either.
“I think some snacks. Drinks. An ice machine. We could even rent out boats for the tourists….”
“Yeah?” The fact that Len didn’t agree with him right off actually gave him hope that he was on the right track. That meant Len was actually thinking about it, not humoring him.
“Well, I just think we could make it somewhere both locals and tourists could come. I know lots of folks who aren’t near as much into fishing as they are playing outside in the sun.”
“God knows, you know the area better than I do. You got the connections.” Len propped his chin on one fist. “It could work. You got enough saved for the minimal investment it would take, and you’d get to keep any profit.”
“Well, what about you?” He didn’t mind putting in for it, but the house, the shop—they belonged to Len.
“What about me? I think it’s a great idea, darlin’. God knows I was letting it go to ruin.” One dark eyebrow went up. “It’s as much yours as it is mine.”
“Is it? I mean, then we ought to talk about it as our profit, huh?” Right?
“Okay.” He could see Galen turning that over. “I’ll be pretty much a silent partner, though, huh? We’ll work out a percentage if you want.”
“Galen.” He arched an eyebrow. “You give me a budget, I’ll run the shop. I’m smart enough to do that.”
“Works for me.” Grinning, Galen blew him a kiss before flopping back down and flipping like a cheese omelet. “Oh, that sun is good.”
“Uh-huh. Like magic. You didn’t get enough rest while you were playing corporate raider.”
“I didn’t get enough of anything but hotels. Well, and gyms. I worked out. A lot.”
Yeah, he could still see it in Len’s muscles. Heavy, pretty muscles. “It’s a good look for you.” He turned over to get sun on his back. “What are you going to do when we get home?”
“Well….” Len’s chair creaked, and soon enough warm hands were rubbing oil into his back. “I’m not good at being retired-retired. But I’m not gonna do something that requires me to travel. Or be on the phone all the time. My lawyer thinks I should try online stock trading. Something I can do two or three hours a day and then turn off.”
That sounded boring as hell.
Galen would probably love it.
“Two or three hours a day is a good schedule. Leaves hours to play and cook and goof off with me.”
“There you go.” That one little move Len did with his thumbs made him melt. “My accountant, my lawyer… they all keep reminding me I’m retired. That I need to pace myself. I figure I’ll get you to remind me more often.”
“Mmm-hmm. I could cuff you to the bed when you get all busy.” He’d be more convincing if he wasn’t all moany.
Len pinched his ass. “No. That’s my job.”
Oh. Right. Len had that thing about being tied down. Still, the man could tease him about it now, instead of getting all funky. “Less pinching, more rubbing.”
“Got it, darlin’.” Happy laughter made him ease back into a puddle. That and the renewed rubbing, which felt fucking amazing.
“Mmm. You’ve got good hands, Len.” If the puppers were here, they’d be bouncing and barking and shit.
“You have good skin.” Fingers digging into his shoulders, Len bent and kissed his neck. “You okay?”
“I am. Missing the dogs some, but I’m happy. You?”
“God, yes.” Licking a little, Len chuckled against his skin. “This has been a blast. So glad we took off. You think the dogs are okay with Momma?”
“Sure they are. Momma loves them.” Loved all of them. Hell, she was so tickled that they were on vacation it was a little weird. She even drove all the way to get the dogs when their sitter flaked.
“You’re right. She calls them the grandkids.” Len sounded completely baffled by that.
“Well…. Khan’s got your eyes….”
“Bitch.” That got him a little slap, not even enough to sting, just enough to feel.
“Oooh. Baby, baby!” They both started laughing, the lawn chairs creaking.
Len finally stopped rubbing and just leaned on him, chin on his shoulder. “I could go for some pie. Maybe some tea.”
“Sounds good, Len.” He turned his head, kissed Galen’s jaw, just happy as a pig in shit. “Sounds real good.”
“Yeah. We still have some ice cream, huh?” They rocked a little, humming.
“We do. We’ll have to get some groceries tomorrow, but we’re good.”
Galen felt so fine, hot and heavy above him.
“Cool. Of course, moving kinda sucks. I like it right here.” A kiss landed on his neck, making him smile.
“Good thing we’re on vacation, huh? We can just stay a bit.” He got a hold of Len’s hand, twined their fingers together and squeezed.
“We can.” That rough hand curled around his, Len playing with his thumb. “We can just be.”
“Thank God.”
Another kiss, this one on his cheek, and Len was getting up, hauling him up too. “We have that Irish cream.”
“You want coffee or on the rocks?” He leaned into Len’s side as they wandered in.
“I think in coffee.” The cabin was far enough up in the mountains that coffee wasn’t out of the question; it would be nice.
“Good deal. You cut the pie; I’ll get things started.”
They got pie and ice cream and coffee with booze, and it was quiet and easy and right, like it used to be. Only better. They’d fought for this.
Hell, together, they’d earned it.