Love Means No Shame - Andrew Grey Read Online Free PDF Page B

big, which meant he was probably bluffing, and Geoff called him.
“Three nines.” The tall, wiry man laid down his cards, grinning like a cat.
    Geoff smiled and showed his cards. “Full house.” Lumpy groaned and threw in his cards while Geoff raked in the pot. “Joey seems like a real good kid,” Geoff commented, and the conversation around the table stopped. “What?” He hadn’t expected the simple comment to have such an effect.
    Len leaned forward, voice low and serious. “His daddy died a year ago, and his mom’s doing her best, but it ain’t easy for her. 29
Andrew Grey
    Joey’d been hanging around the barn for a while, and he finally asked how much riding lessons cost. I told him if he’d help around the barn, I’d give him lessons for free. You should have seen his face—lit up like a Christmas tree. That look alone was worth a year of lessons.” Somehow Geoff didn’t doubt it. “Why, what are you thinking?” Len somehow could tell an idea was percolating, but Geoff shook his head, not ready to talk about it yet.
    Geoff patted Len on the shoulder. “You old softie,” he accused as he went to the refrigerator. “Anybody need anything?” The conversation around the table returned to normal.

    “I’ll take a beer.” Geoff got two and handed one to Len before sitting back down.

    Fred picked up the cards and started shuffling as antes were thrown in. “I hear your Aunt Janelle’s mad enough to spit nails at you.” Pete was dating Geoff's cousin Jill. They were pretty serious, and whatever Janelle felt, Vicki and her kids were gonna hear about it.

    Len muttered something—sounded like “old witch”—but Geoff took it in stride. “She tried to steal something from the house when she was visiting after dad died. I caught her and made her put it back, so of course she’s mad.” Conniving woman.
    Fred piped in, “You know that woman’s the most vindictive creature ever put on this Earth.” The cards were dealt and the hand began. “Don’t really care. She can go be vindictive someplace else.
    She’s not gonna steal from me and get away with it. Hell, she’s lucky I didn’t let her leave and then call the police.” Geoff decided it was time to change the subject, “So Pete, how are you Jilly getting along?” Bets were thrown into the pot while they talked.
    Pete immediately turned red. The youngest of the group, apart from Geoff, he’d had a crush on Jill since high school. Two years 30 Love Means … NO SHAME
    earlier, he’d finally worked up the nerve to ask her on a date. They’d been inseparable since. “We’re doing good.” Fred supplied the details. “Pete’s gonna ask her to marry him as soon as he can afford the ring.” Pete still looked embarrassed,. “I’m almost there.” Geoff smiled at Pete. “Good for you. She’s a nice girl who deserves someone who’ll be good to her.” His cousin was nice, not particularly bright, but down-to-earth, very sweet, and nurturing.
    There was no doubt they’d take good care of each other and make good parents.
“What does it feel like to be the Boss-man?” Lumpy could usually be counted on to be a pain in the ass.
Geoff thought quickly about how to answer. “Don’t know yet; we’ll see what it feels like when I sign your paycheck.” A chorus of “Ooooos” came from around the table, and then everyone laughed.
    He’d known these guys for some time; none of them were strangers, but he could see and feel that things had changed slightly. They used to pick on him and tease him. Now, other than Fred, that was largely absent. Geoff knew why and knew it was inevitable; he just wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
    Geoff folded and threw in his cards, watching the remainder of the hand as the comfortable conversation and easy ribbing the guys gave one another continued around the table. Rumors and gossip were shared.
    “Lumpy, did you hear that old man Jones claims he saw a bear on his property?” Len asked.
Lumpy