“JESUS Christmas, why did I let you talk me into this whole wedding nonsense?” Stoney was sitting at the kitchen table with Geoff, about as aggravated as could be, tying a hundred thousand little packets of birdseed together with white and emerald-green ribbons.
“Me?” His husband, Ford, raised an eyebrow at him, then reached to pour himself a cup of coffee. “Event space. That was my schtick. I blame Mason for all the weddings.”
“We have ten this summer, honey. Ten!”
Geoff began to cackle. “Poor abused cowboy, having to deal with… what? Seventeen grooms and three brides?”
Ford grinned. “He’s such a drama llama, huh?”
“It’s all the birdseed,” Geoff murmured, looking a little dazed.
Poor guy was the ranch cook, and he’d made dozens of canapés in the last two days. If anyone had the right to be tired of weddings, it was Geoff.
Still, Stoney wasn’t dumb enough to refuse help. He had rough old fingers made for roping calves and leading horses, not tying fancy ribbons that were slippery and tee-tiny.
“Want me to send help?” Ford asked, coming to rub Stoney’s neck. “Quartz has little fingers.”
His head fell forward, and his lips parted as he groaned deep. Oh fuck, that felt so good. So damn good.
“Damn, babe, you’re tight as a drum.” Ford dug in deep, loosening his muscles.
Geoff cleared his throat. “Why don’t you two escape into the bedroom and I’ll find Quartz?”
“Really?” Man, he could use an hour of not this. One of the groomsmen was coming in tonight….
“Really. Come on, lover.” Ford’s words pleased him, down to the bones.
Stoney dropped his last tied bag of birdseed like a hot rock. “Oh well, then. I’m with you.”
Ford chuckled softly, taking him by the hand and tugging him up. That look on Ford’s face was dear, familiar, and had him grinning right back.
“You ready for this one?” Stoney asked. “Mason says it’s a big one.”
“All weddings are big. It’s a big day. You remember ours?”
Stoney shot Ford a look. “You’re not serious.”
“Only a little.” Ford winked at him to show he was teasing, Stoney thought. Sometimes Ford still stumbled over play a little. Like a show dog who never learned what a tennis ball was.
Stoney lifted his face for a kiss, humming deep in his chest as Ford leaned down. This Ford never forgot how to do now. Not ever. Whenever Stoney needed him, the man was right there, giving him what he needed.
“Mmm… take me to the bedroom, please? Love on me?”
“Hell, yes. The guests can wait a bit….” Ford looped an arm around him, drawing him back to their sanctuary. “I’ll love you into goo before I go schmooze.”
“Good man.” Goo sounded better than it should.
“I really am. I’m willing to meet with the bride for you.”
“Damn. My hero. She comes in tomorrow.” Stoney had it all planned out with Mason, the wedding planner. They always let someone else come see the venue before the bride, just in case. Fewer meltdowns.
“Her groom and his brother are already in Glenwood, enjoying the springs.”
“Oh, cool.” He thought? Stoney wasn’t sure he had a handle on all the family members. Only the plan.
“Mm-hmm. Come on, you don’t need to worry about this. You need to think about me.”
“I do? I do.” He wanted Ford. He really did.
“You do. We have an hour.” Ford’s grin was pure-D wicked.
“That’s enough to really get naughty.”
“That’s the point.”
The sound of the door locking made him smile. “Yessir.”