you, and the moment you broke up with that other dickhead, the whole Twittersphere or whatever it’s called was buzzing with the news.”
“Yeah, and you took the plunge,” Chase pointed out. “That proves my point. Sometimes you’ve got to stick it out to get anywhere.”
Devin’s features softened. “Yeah. Like you stuck it out when we danced.” His fingers inched across the table toward Chase’s hand, but didn’t dare touch. Devin knew that Chase strove to maintain somewhat of a middle-of-the-road image in the business community.
But conversation was so lively in the new booming restaurant, no one could hear them talk. “Yeah. You were the hottest fucking cowboy I’d ever laid eyes on. I nearly came in my pants grinding against you.”
Chase loved the sexy, dreamy look in Devin’s eyes. But they quickly clouded over. “Hottest fucking gay cowboy in your life. Remember, Chase. You’ve only fucked a few women, way back in the early part of the century. You call yourself bi, but to my mind, you’re basically gay.”
“So what?” Chase stuck out his lower lip petulantly. “Even more of a reason why I should want to share you with another woman. Way less chance of me falling in love with her and leaving you.”
Chase knew that was Devin’s biggest fear. His first-class, buff, luscious, tattooed boyfriend was afraid Chase would leave him. The more this seemed to be true, the more Devin protested it. “Like that’d happen,” Devin bluffed. “I just don’t see any reason to drag a poor unsuspecting female into our perfectly loving relationship. We don’t need a woman, is what I’m saying. We’ve got everything worked out perfectly. We balance each other out. Adding a woman would ruin the fine balance.”
“I can give you one good reason,” Chase said mischievously. “I’d love to see you get sucked off by someone else, but another guy would drive me wild with jealousy. A woman is safer.”
“True that. I’d get off just watching you come in a woman’s mouth.”
Chase pointed. “You said ‘woman.’”
Devin was beautiful when he blushed. “Did I? Anyway, I thought you were closing your store early tomorrow night. That downtown merchants association gala, remember?”
“Oh, yeah.” Chase always bid on a few items he didn’t really need because the money went to a good cause. This year the association was installing new energy-efficient lampposts along Jack London Street. Devin had agreed to come to show support. He wasn’t a merchant, but he was a local businessman, and he always gave away a four-day working ranch vacation at his Hardscrabble Ranch. “Anyway. Who’s to say I won’t need some hardware before changing for the gala? I’ll bring my suit to work tomorrow so I don’t have to go home to change.”
“Hardware, my ass,” Devin said. “I’m telling you, Chase. I don’t need or want Kate Winslet or any other woman. You’re all I need. Besides, we can’t just shop for a woman. Who knows what she wants? It isn’t just up to us. Now drink your damned beer. Why’d you order a Bud, anyway?”
Chapter Four
Devin knew he could teach Lacey Dvorak the joys of sex.
He had exaggerated the truth slightly when he had told Chase that he saw no reason to drag an unsuspecting woman into their relationship. He actually saw plenty of reasons to corral poor Lacey into participating in a naughty ménage with them. But one overwhelming reason not to overrode everything.
He couldn’t risk losing Chase’s devotion.
Devin crossed his arms across his chest and leaned on a pillar next to a life-size cutout of some hair-band member. He was in the silent auction section of the Lion’s Club, watching Lacey Dvorak write down a bid on the sheet placed in front of Devin’s offering. His donation was a stay at his Hardscrabble Ranch fifteen miles out of Hell’s Delight. Devin was amused that Lacey was interested in staying at his ranch, making cornbread, lassoing calves, and