COWBOYS AND Angels was closed to the public again. The private function was in full swing, and Bradley, Juan, and Eddie served drinks as fast as they could to people who kept arriving. Most of the regulars were there, including old Buck, who complained it was past his bedtime. But he wasn’t about to leave. He sat in his usual seat with his favorite beer and gave a gummy grin to anyone who sat down to talk to him.
Technically it was Dan’s night off. But as he now lived above the bar, he didn’t spend much time away. He and SmokeyJo had moved in nearly a year earlier, and once the gray cat established her territory and ground rules to Gideon and Ariel, they lived in mostly peaceful harmony.
Once again Dan was the focus of the event, but this time he didn’t care. He’d finally received his degree in business and economics. It was his graduation party, and he’d earned every second of his celebration.
Buzzing with happiness and more beer than he usually drank, Dan leaned against Gideon as they talked to Cris, Marty, and Lena. As usual Gideon had one arm wrapped around him, his hand resting over Dan’s heart and a bottle of beer in the other. It was a possessive he’s-mine attitude that made Dan roll his eyes because Gideon still growled a little if Cris got too close. Dan was where he wanted to be, in the arms of the man he loved. It still made him light-headed just thinking about it.
They’d endured endless ribbing for wearing matching dark-green dress shirts and dark-gray slacks. Dan ran a hand over his newly styled hair. He refused to grow it very long, but now Gideon had his hair to hold on to. They’d both visited Baz for a haircut and a shave. Yes, and a mani-pedi with Aunty Vera too. Dan had finally gotten over his fear of grooming.
He had a chance to unwind after weeks of intense study. He was going to relax with his husband and not think about stats and profit margins at all.
His husband. That was still shiny and new. Like today new, which was the reason for the matching clothes. It was also their wedding reception. Gideon had offered him a big affair, but Dan looked at him in horror. City Hall and a party at Cowboys and Angels was all he needed. Dan looked at the platinum ring on his finger and felt the unaccustomed weight. It seemed significant. He was a married man.
“Happy?” Gideon murmured in his ear. His ring was currently over Dan’s heart, just where it should be.
Dan tilted his head. “I’ve never been happier.”
“What’s next for you two now that Dan’s finished his degree and you’ve tied the knot?” Lena asked.
Marty chuckled. “A house in the burbs and babies?”
Dan choked on his beer, but Gideon just laughed. “We’ll leave that to you two.”
“As long their uncles, Dan and Gideon and Cris look after them,” Lena said.
Daniel Christopher Kennedy had made an early appearance five months after the wedding and had his honorary uncles and grandparents wrapped around his tiny finger. Lena’s parents were babysitting tonight. Little Dan was the glue that brought the families together. They were all besotted by their first grandchild. For his part Dan loved his godson and was more than happy to take care of him if Marty and Lena wanted a date. He was also just as happy to give him back to his doting parents. Babies were not on his things-to-do list, and Gideon didn’t feel the need to start another family.
“What are you going to do now that you’ve finished your degree?” Cris asked. He’d become a regular at the bar, and Dan—so far without success—was trying to persuade him to come work at Cowboys and Angels.
“I’m not sure,” Dan said. “I had plans to start my own bar eventually. I guess my life has changed. We can make new plans together.” He smiled at Gideon, who kissed him briefly.
“Talking of plans, now is the time.” Gideon squeezed Dan for a moment and waved at Bradley.
Dan shot him a suspicious look. “What are you scheming?”
Gideon grinned at him. “That’s my boy. Always suspicious.”
“He knows you well,” Marty said.
Ignoring them all Gideon stepped away from Dan and rapped his knuckles on the bar to call for silence.
“You promised there would be no speeches tonight.” Dan had extracted that promise on pain of no sex for a week.
“This isn’t a speech. Kind of.” Gideon took a large manila envelope from Bradley. “Quiet!”
They all turned to look at Gideon, and Dan’s heart sank. Gideon was up to something. He was sure of it.
“My husband says I’m not allowed to make a speech—”
“Never stopped you before.”
There was a ripple of laughter as someone heckled from the back. Gideon flipped them off in their general direction.
“I want to thank you all for being here tonight to celebrate Dan’s graduation and our wedding day.” Gideon took a deep breath, and Dan saw the sheen of tears in his eyes. “Dan, I know you said no presents, but this is for you. For completing your degree. For joining the Tyler family. For making me a very happy man.” He handed Dan the envelope.
Dan stared at it. “What is it?”
“Open it and find out.”
Dan slid open the flap and pulled out the official document. A lump formed in his throat, and he swallowed hard. He looked at Gideon and then caught Ariel and Bradley grinning like lunatics from behind the bar, obviously in on the secret.
“You’ve given me Cowboys and Angels?” Dan could barely speak around the lump in his throat. “Your bar?”
“Your bar,” Gideon corrected. “She’s all yours now, darlin’.”
Dan’s hands shook. “I don’t know what to say.”
“The beer’s on us?” Buck suggested from the corner.
“Just for tonight,” Gideon said.
“So much for it being my bar?” But Dan laughed at Gideon to let him know he wasn’t bothered.
Cheering erupted, and there was a surge for the bar. Dan took the opportunity to haul Gideon into a hug. Then he was mobbed by people wanting to congratulate him on their wedding, his degree, but mainly for becoming owner of Cowboys and Angels. His customers knew their priorities.
When he finally got a breathing space, Ariel handed him a new bottle. “Drink up, Pops.”
“Pops?”
“Well, you’re my stepfather now.”
“No,” he said flatly.
She gazed at him, her eyes wide and innocent. “Papa Dan?”
“Not if you want to live.”
“Is that a way to talk to your new daughter?”
“Welcome to the family,” Gideon drawled as he draped his arm around Dan again.
Dan glowered at both of them. “I’m having second thoughts.”
“Too late. You’re a Tyler now,” Ariel trilled.
Daniel Tyler. Gideon had been willing to double-barrel their names, but Dan was more than happy to leave Collins behind. He’d told his sister about his marriage. She was pleased for him but didn’t want to fly back for the wedding. He still hadn’t told his mother. The last thing he wanted was her at his celebration. He would take Gideon to meet her in a couple of months… or years.
IT WAS hours later before Dan and Gideon were alone in the bar, nursing coffees and going over the paperwork. Dan was still overwhelmed by the enormity of Gideon’s present. He traced his name on the papers with one fingertip.
“Why would you give me the bar?”
Gideon smiled tenderly at him. “I can’t think of anyone better to take care of my baby. You walking in the front door was the best thing that ever happened to us.”
“But Cowboys and Angels was yours and Sarah’s. Why didn’t you give it to Ariel?”
“Because she doesn’t love Cowboys and Angels like you do. Ariel has her own plans, and I’ll support her with those, once she decides what they are. But I know you wanted your own bar, and I never wanted you to give up your dreams just because you married me. You’ve worked too hard for them, Dan. If you’re worried, I talked to Ariel, and she thinks it’s a great idea.”
Dan laced his fingers with Gideon’s. “It’s too much. I have nothing to offer you.”
“You’re so wrong, my darlin’.” Gideon tugged Dan off his stool and between Gideon’s legs. “I don’t need things. I’m wealthy enough not to need anything more. You don’t care what I own because you love me for me. You didn’t even blink when you found out I had money. Do you know how rare that is?”
That was true. He’d been more concerned about Parker losing his job—he did, but not due to Gideon, and that was another story.
Dan had never cared much for possessions. He loved Gideon, his cat, Ariel, and his friends. He had everything he had ever wanted, his happily ever after. “Life with you is never going to be boring, is it?”
Gideon burst out laughing. “Not if I can help it. Now come and kiss me.”
“With pleasure.” Dan wrapped his arms around Gideon’s neck and kissed him eagerly.
In the background he could hear insistent meowing. Dan smiled against Gideon’s mouth. She could wait a while longer while he loved his husband.