“F ord! Glad you could make it.” Matt Gregson stood, waving Ford over to the table at the restaurant, a sweet little Italian place with family-style service. The twins were there, still amazing and beautiful, and there were some new faces Ford didn’t recognize from high school.
This was some sort of business leads club, where they all sat around and networked. Ford thought that was a great way to get the new concept of the ranch out there, to make some allies.
“Me too.” Ford shook hands all around. He introduced himself to two guys who worked in advertising, one in Aspen and one in Basalt. Nice.
“I owe you one for the coffee,” Matt said. “What would you like to drink?”
“I think I’d like a glass of red, Chianti if it’s available.”
“Oh, the hard-core wine. Come on, let’s go up to the bar. They’ll bring out a fixed series of appetizers for us, but we deal with our own drinks.”
“Sure.” He followed Matt to the bar. “How’s Sharon?” He hoped he got her name right. Ford felt totally distracted. All he could think about was Stoney.
“Pregnant.” Matt winked and Ford had to grin.
“Better you than me, Matt.”
“Yes, well.” Matt shot him this smartassed look that was all waggling eyebrows and twinkling eyes. “Some of us are having to reproduce for all you boys.”
“Go you and your amazing het loins.” He had to smile when Matt hooted, drawing stares.
“Ford? Ford Nixel? When did you get back in town?”
He glanced over and raised his eyebrows. “Andy? Hey, man, how are you?” Wow. Andy looked sleek as an otter, his expensive coat and designer boots all perfectly matching.
“I’m fabulous! Been busy keeping my clients happy. Are you back in Aspen for a while?”
“Just stopping in for supper.” He didn’t know why he was being so cagey. Andy was an ex, one with whom Ford had spent two years trying to work it out, and he just didn’t want to share too much of what was going on. Andy hadn’t been interested in living half-time in Santa Fe, and he hadn’t been interested in listening to Andy fuss about him being gone all the time.
“Oh, well, I have a client.” Andy wiggled his fingers at an older gent who sat at the bar. “You look amazing. All tanned and healthy.”
“Thanks.” He’d been helping Stoney while they hunted a maintenance man. He found he liked working alongside Stoney as an equal partner. “You look stellar as always.”
“You’re too kind and absolutely right.” Little fuck. He did make Ford laugh. “Anyway, if you stay a few days, call me. We’ll have lunch.”
“Will do. Bye, Andy.”
“See you, lovely!”
“So, was he like…?” Matt trailed off.
“We were. Five years ago or so.” Ford winked. Andy was like Stoney’s polar opposite, and Ford thought that was why he’d gone out with the guy. Slept with him. Never really lived with him.
Never loved him.
Ford couldn’t say that about Stoney.
“He’s kinda fussy, Ford.” Matt clapped him on the back, damned near knocking him over. “Damn, it’s good to get out of the house.”
“You’re a spoiled brat, man. You’ll have to come up and see the ranch.”
“I’d love that! Can I bring the kids?”
“God, yes. We have tons of shit for them to do.” And if they didn’t now, they would by the time Matt came up.
At least he hoped so.
Stoney would invent something. The man was magical with Quartz.
Matt handed him his wine and clinked their glasses together. “The twins still finish each other’s sentences.”
“Uh-huh.” It was still weirdly hot. He grinned, the scent of garlic and tomato making him think of Geoff’s pizza. What a homebody he was becoming.
Still, Stoney’s gray eyes and warm smile and tight little butt were waiting at the ranch. Maybe he couldn’t touch, but he could look. Dream.