WHEN Ford made the turnoff for the ranch, he hit the brakes, surprised as hell to see several burly guys bundled up like Eskimos, waving him into a cordoned-off parking area.
He pulled up, cracking his window. “I live up there, guys. I got chains.”
“Hold up, sir.” One of the guys tugged out a radio. “Any sleighs on the road, Joe? We have a motorized vehicle.”
He blinked. Sleighs? What the hell?
“Okay, sir. You’re all clear. Have a safe drive up.”
“Thanks.”
About a quarter mile from the house, he started seeing the lights, twinkling like a million bright stars. He could smell pinyon smoke as soon as he stepped out of his truck, and Ford heard bells jingling. Bells.
Angie and Hetty were standing holding thermoses with the sleighs and horses under the lean-to. They waved at him as he walked around toward the main house.
“Ford! You made it!” Angie called. “Stoney will be so tickled. He’s been cowboying all night in his good boots, and you know he’s frozen solid.”
“Where is he? Over at the party or here at the house?” He needed to drop off his briefcase in the office, but he hoped to God Stoney wasn’t hiding in the house.
“He’s in the party. He rode each group of folks up. Then he settled in to show off his good buckle.”
Hetty cackled, the sound merry as hell. “He asked us to stick around to carry people down after.”
“You two are troopers. I owe you.” He trudged through the snow, glad to see that mats had been laid out all over the courtyard between house and office.
He slipped into the main foyer, the door to his office closed and locked. He could hear Geoff talking, he thought, and he knew he heard Quartz laughing.
He’d peek in on them before he went to the party. Ease into things. Ford dropped his briefcase off in his office and locked up again. He went to his room and changed—pulling on jeans and boots and a jacket over a dress shirt. Okay, he needed some brisket and a water or a coffee.
He hadn’t been able to wait until Monday, especially since his clients had agreed on a settlement. There was no way he could spend the weekend in Santa Fe with the papers he’d drawn up waiting in his briefcase.
Ford’s hands shook when he let himself into the kitchen, the long drive and the nerves getting to him.
“Uncle Ford! You made it!” Quartz flew toward him, eyes lit up. “I helped so much that Daddy paid me forty dollars! Can you believe it? Forty whole dollars!”
“Wow.” He grabbed Quartz in a hug. “You must be such a hard worker.”
“I am. I’m just like my daddy.”
Geoff grinned at him over Quartz’s head. “Quartz! I need you to sprinkle chocolate chips on the parfaits. Three chocolate chips each, please. Hey, boss. You’re home. We missed you.”
“Did you?” Ford’s heart ached a little, hearing that. “I’m sorry. Glad I made it. Can I have a nibble or two? I didn’t stop to eat.”
“You can have whatever you’d like. The brisket was a huge hit, by the by. Everyone loved it. Andy is going to eat his hat.”
He wasn’t sure exactly what Geoff meant, but he grinned and nodded anyway. It didn’t really matter.
This would be Andy’s last job at the Leaning N, he was sure.
“You have to try the pole-intra,” Quartz said. “And the pickle-y onions.”
“Okay.” Ford stood there until Geoff guided him to a stool, then fixed him a plate.
“You look like poo, boss.”
“Long drive.” Long few days. It was going to be a long drive back tomorrow too. He might not survive it.
“Tomorrow you’ll have to come see all the things I’ve built, Uncle Ford. I made you a cherry picker.”
“Oh, neat. I went up in one of those once, when I was in college.” Ford didn’t explain that he’d been drunk at the time and trying to impress a guy. Or that that guy had been Quartz’s dad.
“Yeah? I would like that.”
A steady stream of waiters came in and out, taking plates and dropping empties off.
Geoff began sending desserts not long after that, parfaits and tarts and skier cookies with icing. Adorable. Ford was kinda amazed how smoothly the work went.
“Boss? Are you not going to go to your own party?” Geoff looked at him, those knowing eyes too old and too sad for someone who should be having such a good night.
“Yeah. Sorry, I was pondering a nap right here.” Ford put on a smile. “Wish me luck.”
“Best of luck. We love you.”
“We love you lots. Don’t forget to kiss Daddy hello!” Quartz laughed at himself, obviously tickled to death.
“I’ll see you later, kiddo.” He headed down to the main cabin, his feet freezing by the time he got where all the people were.
The crowd was sparkling and laughing, the music low enough to not interfere, but loud enough to hear. The cabin looked gorgeous, the lights and shimmer casual and classy at the same time.
He smiled as he looked around, desperate to find Stoney.
There. Stoney stood in the midst of a group of men, laughing, eyelines crinkled right up. He wore a shearling jacket over his good shirt and jeans, those ostrich boots dark with snow and mud.
He recognized the head of the Gay Ski Week committee, the brand-new organizer of Pride, and more than one of the men he’d met casually through his law practice in Aspen. They were looking at Stoney like he was a gay archetype come to life, as if Stoney was a fucking hero in a romance novel.
“He’s amazing.” Andy’s voice shocked the hell out of him, coming from out of nowhere. “I’m serious. He just… came to life.”
“I thought he was a classless jerk.” Andy had said just that during their last phone call. Ford had to agree that Stoney looked amazing, making his heart squeeze in his chest.
“Well, he is a Texan….”
Ford snorted. “The place looks great, Andy. Really.”
“Mmm. That was me. Getting everything else done, including getting your guests here? That was him. Totally hot.” Andy grinned at him, one dimple showing. “Be careful, lovely. Tim Marrow wants to tie him up and keep him in a closet, and I’m fairly sure Mark and Dawson are considering stealing him and sharing him.”
Oh hell no.
Ford blinked. Huh. With a visceral reaction like that, Ford had a hard time thinking giving up on Stoney was the way to go.
“I think I’d have to strike them down. A mighty smiting.”
“I’d pay to see that. I’m going to check the bar. I’ll be back.”
“Sure.” Ford waited for Andy to walk away, then studied Stoney again. Beautiful man, and clearly in his element. God, his world just kept spinning.
Ford walked closer, like he was drawn in by Stoney’s smile.
“…idea. He’s amazing, and I’m so lucky that he’s my partner.” Stoney’s voice was warm, the drawl sensual and addictive.
“So, you two are…?” Tim Marrow’s voice was partially shocked, mostly disappointed.
“Now, Mr. Marrow, it’s naughty to kiss and tell. Y’all know that we’re all family here, and we’re so excited to have folks come and stay with us.”
Ford blinked, then chuckled. This was why he’d fallen for Stoney years ago. That damned unassuming, wonderful charm. “Where have you been?” Ford murmured, amazed.
Like Stoney heard him, his lover turned, eyes landing on him. Ford expected coldness, rage, that emptiness where Stoney proved that, if nothing else, his idiot parents picked an appropriate name.
What he got was a surprised, pleased smile. “Ford! You made it!”
“Hey.” He walked over to Stoney’s side, the motion natural as breathing, and touched Stoney’s hip, a brief press of his fingers. “Thought I’d surprise you.”
He gave the men surrounding Stoney a rueful smile. “Wasn’t sure I’d make it, and I didn’t want to get hopes up.”
“Well, you did. That’s the important thing. Do all y’all know the brains behind the operation? This is my partner, Ford Nixel.”
Ford shook hands all around, nodding at people he knew, getting names to go with other faces.
“I think Stoney here might be the brains, Ford,” Tim said. “He got us all up here, and I can’t imagine anything more charming than a sleigh ride.”
“He’s brilliant.” He fastened Tim with a smile that wasn’t all shark, honestly. “And taken. I’m so glad you all enjoyed the sleigh rides.”
Stoney’s chuckle was soft, low. “We’ll be implementing them for the winter. An evening trip up to see the lights and to have a little magic hot chocolate and cookies from our chef.”
They would, would they?
“We might have to try to steal your chef, boys,” said a tall man with a sharp, attractive face. “He could really give the food and wine scene a go.”
“You’re welcome to try,” Stoney said. “Geoff’s not big on fame and fortune, though.”
“He’s a nut,” Ford said fondly.
“He’s our nut, and I reckon I’ll keep him.”
“Possessive man,” Dawson teased. “Keeping Ford and the cook?”
Stoney jerked his chin toward the main door. “Doc is available.”
They all turned to look at the grizzled, fifty-something cowboy, who was doing some sort of bizarre jig with one of the skiers from Austria or Germany or some such.
Everyone began to laugh, and Ford was so fucking proud of his Stoney that he could barely stand it.
Stoney winked at him, the expression in those gray eyes just for him, laser hot for a moment before someone else demanded their attention.
God, he felt like the world had pulled the rug out from under him again. He’d been so convinced on the drive up that he was doing the right thing, that it was time to walk away, and now….
Now it felt like Stoney wasn’t just going to let him go.
As if Stoney was finally willing to fight for him, to reach out and grab what they could have, all he needed to do was meet the man halfway.
“I’m going to make sure that the folks that came from Denver are comfortable, Ford.” Stoney touched his elbow. “Do you need a drink while I’m at the bar?”
“I would love something stiff.” When everyone cracked up, Ford flushed, chuckling along. “Now that I’m not driving, I mean.”
“It’s good to be home.” Stoney left him with the gaggle of men, who immediately began to joke and tease about how lucky he was, how he’d stolen the cowboy away from them and they hadn’t even known Stoney was here.
“Hey, why would I share him if I didn’t have to?” Ford protested, drawing more laughter. “Oh, I need to go say hey to Aaron Harris from the BLM. Have you guys tried the desserts and coffee?”
“Is there chocolate?” one man asked and another snorted.
“You’re going to have to put in an extra day at the gym, Harry.”
“Maybe two. It’ll be worth it.”
Ford steered them toward the parfaits before circulating some. Aaron from the BLM, Jeanne Fox from the chamber….
Before he knew it, Stoney was wrapping people in warm blankets and leading the procession down the mountain, chatting away from horseback.
Miranda came up in her glittery party dress. “The boss wanted me to let you know that there are a few people that shouldn’t be driving and we are putting them in cabins and Tanner can drive them to their cars in the morning. Geoff wanted to make sure he could feed the servers and bar staff before they headed home.”
“Absolutely. Can you make sure he has something more warm and filling than these nibbles for the wranglers and Stoney? Where’s Quartz? Do I need to check on him?” Ford felt as though it was his turn to get busy and contribute.
“Last time I saw him, he was washing dishes for Geoff.”
“Good man. Do you need me to glad hand anyone else, or have you got this?”
Mira was stunning tonight and looked to be on her game, totally put together as she nodded and smiled.
“Do we have contact information?”
“We do, as well as a lovely review coming in The Post, and we’re trending on Twitter.” Her voice dropped. “That movie star, Austin Neill? He was here with his husband, showing off baby pictures. OMG.”
“Fucking A.” He glanced around automatically for Quartz. “I owe him a quarter. Remind me.”
“Will do. I’m going to make sure those cabins are set up. I’ll see you in a few.”
“Cool.” Ford checked to see if he needed to schmooze, but the crowd was pretty much gone, a few stragglers meeting with Mira to get settled in cabins. So he headed back to the house, grabbing a tray of dirty glasses so he wasn’t empty-handed.
The kitchen was raucous—waitstaff and kitchen staff and cowboys drinking and eating. Quartz was back in the corner, watching with wide eyes. Yeah, someone had had enough for one day.
“Good spread, Geoff,” Ford said, shaking hands and thanking staff. “Hey, kiddo. I owe you a quarter.” He held out his hand to Quartz.
Quartz took it and let him lead them into the quiet of Stoney’s rooms.
“You okay? You did so well, huh?” Ford took a long moment to hug Quartz, that little body surprisingly strong when Quartz hugged back.
“Yeah? I helped?” Quartz leaned into him. “I’m so glad you’re home. We missed you bad.”
“I missed you too. I was worried I wouldn’t get here in time.” He’d been worried about a lot of stupid shit. Ford thought his New Year’s resolutions all needed to start with “I will quit worrying about—”
“But you did.”
The simple words echoed inside him, more than a little bit.
“I so did. You want to get a bath? I bet you got all sweaty in the kitchen.”
“Can I wait for Daddy? I can play a game if you need to work.”
“Sure. Did you get some supper?”
“Geoff made spasketti.”
“Lucky man.”
“Yes. I’ll wait for Daddy to come. You can go have a kitchen party, if you want. Uh…. Geoff says Daddy needs warmer dress boots if he’s gonna cowboy in them.”
“Got it. We’ll count his toes later and make sure he has them all.” He winked at Quartz’s giggle, then headed back to the kitchen.
Doogie, who was covered in flour and frosting, waved at him. “Good to see you, son. Want me to go sit with Quartz?”
“Would you? He’s video gaming.”
“We’re buds. Besides, I owe him a butt kicking on Mario Kart.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you all a bonus.” He smiled, then jumped when Geoff poked him with a fork.
“Pasta?”
“God, yes.” He took the spaghetti eagerly. “Andy still about?”
“I assume so, yes. He’s probably changing up in the new loft.”
“I’ll text him. I owe him the rest of his payment.” Ford grinned when Geoff rolled his eyes. He headed for his office so he could write a check.
He texted Andy and pulled out the checkbook from the locked drawer in his office. He could smell spray starch and Old Spice, and he knew Stoney had been in here. Maybe missing him.
He hoped that was it as opposed to Stoney wanting to tear the place down with his bare hands. Ford chuckled, sitting down and damned near breaking his tailbone on his briefcase.
It popped open, and the paperwork sat there, right on top. All it needed was their signatures and Miranda to notarize them, and he could walk away, go back to his perfect life in Santa Fe.
Except that wasn’t his life anymore, was it? He’d sat in those hearings, worrying about Quartz not having a teacher and Stoney not having Ty, and missed his lover. He’d stayed in a hotel rather than go to his lonely, empty condo….
Ford grabbed the papers and headed for the great room, where a cheerful fire crackled away in the hearth, connecting the two sides of the house.
“Hey, Ford. Happy with the results?” Andy was back in his work uniform—skinny jeans and a turtleneck.
“I am. You did great, really.” He knew there’d been a bit of weirdness with Andy being an ex, but the end result had worked out well.
“I did. I hope you keep me in mind for the rest of the remodel. I think I have your aesthetic down.”
“I’ll see what Sam says.”
Andy rolled his eyes. “He’ll say I’m a prissy queen, but I get results. What’s all this?” Andy waved a hand at the papers Ford held.
It was a monumental mistake that he almost made, again. This time, though, he thought he wouldn’t walk away and leave Stoney to his own life.
“I was going to sign the ranch over to Stoney.” He grinned, remembering how Andy had always taken his freak-outs with a grain of salt. “I was being a panicky idiot.”
“Love can do that to the best of us, or so they say.”
“That’s the damned truth. I figured it out in the nick of time.” Ford tossed the papers into the fire, managing to hold on to Andy’s check. “That one’s for you.”
“Well, I would have taken your half of the ranch, but this isn’t a bad thing.”
He smacked Andy on the ass. “Bitch.”
“Yeah. We come in handy.”
“You do. Thanks for everything, Andy, and I’m sorry if I’ve been an ass.” He knew he’d hurt Andy’s feelings more than once in this whole process.
“Working with exes is a bitch.” Andy raised his voice. “Working with classless Texans sucks harder.”
“Fuck you, Andy-o. Take your pansy-ass to cabin five, would you? I made sure to stop the toilet up just for you.”
“Wow, you’re a champ.” Andy patted Stoney’s arm on the way out of the room. “Great job tonight. For real.”
“We do our best. Get you a plate of food and a drink from the kitchen, man. You earned it.” Stoney looked across the room at him, snow still gathered on the plastic cover of his Stetson.
Ford waited for Andy to leave, to be out of earshot, and each tick of the clock was agonizing. “Hey.”
“Hey, stranger. Welcome home.”
“Thank you. I’m glad I made it. You were amazing.” Ford just stood there, too utterly aware of the papers curling into charred embers in the fire.
“I…. Thank you. I tried to do you proud.”
“You did.” He held out a hand, needing Stoney to meet him halfway one more time. Ford took two steps forward, and Stoney did the rest, reeling him in. “I’m sorry I was a jerk, baby.”
“You were, and we’re gonna have to talk on it some, but that’s what happens. People get out of whack and they have to get back together. I hate that back together means so many days in Santa Fe, but it is what it is.”
“I freaked out.” Ford leaned against Stoney, soaking up the hug he received. “I do that. Ty called me on it too. Told me to shit or get off the pot.”
“You got a life there. I got a life here. I ain’t never going to be classy, Ford. Or book smart.”
“Stop it.” This was Stoney’s Achilles heel, just like second-guessing was Ford’s. “You’re capable and rock solid and mine.” He kissed Stoney’s jaw. “Quartz is waiting on you, and you need to change boots.”
“Yeah. My dress boots are going to need some hard-core love.” Stoney shot him a look. “My boots ain’t the only thing that needs love, you know.”
“I know. I plan to make that all better.” Relief washed over Ford. They had to talk, had to hash out some of the issues, and he knew it. He’d rather spend tonight making love to his cowboy.
“Good.” Stoney took his hand, squeezed it. “I’m gonna need you around some. This whole deal we started, it’s fixin’ to get big.”
“I’m ready to commit.” He brought Stoney’s hand to his mouth, kissing those cold, rough fingers. “I’ll call Patricia tomorrow to see if she’s ready to interview some junior partners who can work the Santa Fe office.” The more he said things like that, the more Ford knew in his soul he was doing the right thing.
“Tomorrow is the weekend, and we have plans that involve our bed, hanging out with a certain little boy, and possibly pizza.” Stoney sounded very sure. “Call on Monday.”
“Mmm. Pizza.” Ford jumped when Stoney pinched him. “Ow! Quartz, save me.”
“You’re on your own, Uncle Ford. I’m on Daddy’s payroll today.”
“Traitor.”
Quartz crowed. “Eat dust, Doogie.”
“Well, I been beat again, fellers.” Doogie climbed off the couch. “Got me a date with the hot tub. Night, you bunch.”
“See you tomorrow, friend. Night.” Stoney shook Doogie’s hand and looked at Quartz. “Bath, child. You smell like food.”
“I was washing dishes for Geoff.”
“He told me. He’s having himself a couple of glasses of wine and supervising cleanup. You’re off work.”
Ford leaned down, nuzzled Stoney’s ear. “You know how hot it is, to watch you just take care of everything?”
Stoney shrugged, but the cheek under his lips heated. “I’m a cowboy. It’s what I do.”
“Well, I like what you do, baby. A lot.” He couldn’t wait to show Stoney how much. Soon.
As soon as he inventoried all of his Texan’s toes and made sure they were all accounted for.