Two Dude Ranchers for Dawn [Cowboy City 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Read Free Page A

hadbeencrazyabouther.WhenshelearnedBenwassingle,Marytookhimunderherwingand,fora while, he was part of a family, something he’d never had. Her loss hit him almost as hard as it did Garrett.
    AtouchonhisarmbroughtBenbacktothepresent.HeturnedtofindGarrettstaringathim,his eyeswary.“Yousureyou’renotmad?You’vebeenawfulquiet.”
    Benrolledontohisbackandstaredupattheceiling.“Justthinking.”
    “Aboutwhat?”
    HelookedatGarrett,watchingforhisreaction.“Mary.”
    ThepainshowedonGarrett’sfacebeforehecouldhideitbyturningaway.“Don’tbringherinto this.”
    “I’mnot.Iwasjustthinkingofhowhappyyoutwowere.”Garrettmovedtogetoffthebed,but Bengrabbedhisarm,forcinghimtostayput.“Whyareyougettingallfiredupaboutmymentioning her?”
    “BecauseIknowwherethisisleading.You’retalkingaboutMarybecauseyou’vegotitintoyour headthatIneedawomantomakemehappy.”
    “Canyoublameme?Let’sfaceit,Garrett.We’rebothbisexual,butI’veonlyeverfalleninlove with men. Before me, you’d only ever been with a woman.” Ben sat up and swiveled around to face him.“Iknowyouloveme.I’dneverdoubtthat,butmaybethatmeansIknowyoubetterthanyouknow yourself.There’sareasonyouweredrawntothatwomanearlier.”
    “Yeah,sheneededhelp.”Garrettswunghislegsoffthebedandstoodup,makingitclearhewas donetalking.“I’mgonnagrabashower.Wegottabeatthewelcomepartyinanhour.”
    Ben watched him walk away, frustrated by how stubborn he was being. His refusal to open up didn’tdoanythingexceptconvinceBenthathissuspicionswereprobablyright.ButGarretthadalways beenmuleheaded.Itwaspartofthereasontheygottogether.
    GarretthadguessedatBen’ssexualityonenightinNewMexico,afterthey’dbeenoutforafew beers.HeaskedwhyBenneverbroughtagirlfriendoverwhenhecametovisithimandMaryathome.
    Benrememberedhowthequestionhadcaughthimoffguard.Heknewthesubjectmightcomeupone day, but he’d put it off, scared that he’d lose the respect of someone who’d become more than just a friend.Bentoldhimhewasbisexual,watchingGarrett’sfacecarefullyforcluesastowhatwasgoing through his head. In the end, Garrett had simply shrugged and gone right back to complaining about howtheArizonaCardinalsweredoingintheplayoffs.Henevermentioneditagain,butBenfiguredhe musthavetoldMary,becauseshesuddenlystoppedaskinghimwhenhewasgonnabringhisgirlfriend todinner.
    Garrettcamebackintotheroom,stillwetfromhisshower.Usually,Benwouldmakethemostof achancetolaybackandwatchhimgetdressed,greedytodrinkinthesightofhisbig,hardbodybefore hecovereditup,buttoday,thetensiononGarrett’sfacedistractedhim.
    Hegottohisfeetandcrossedtheroom,takingthetoweloutofGarrett’shandsandhelpingdry himoff.“Youokay?”
    “Yeah,I’mgood.”
    “I’msorryImentionedMary.Iwasn’ttryingtobeaheartlessjerk.Imissheralmostasmuchas youdo.”
    Garrett’shandclosedaroundBen’s.“Iknowyoudo.Besides,that’snotwhatgotmeallfiredup.
    It’sthefactyou’veneverreallybelievedthatIdon’tneedanybodyelsebutyou.”
    “Hell,Ibelieveyou.Lookateverythingyougaveupsowecouldbetogether.Youfoughthardfor me,Garrett,andI’llneverforgetthat.”
    BenkissedGarrettandwentthroughtothebathroom,decidingheshouldletthesubjectdropfor now. He turned on the water and jumped in the shower, groaning with pleasure as the hot needles massagedhisskinwhilehethoughtbackoverwhathe’djustsaidtoGarrett.
    Itwastrue,themanhadgivenupeverythingforhim.Hisfamily.Hishome.AssoonasGarrett hadrealizedpeopleweren’tgonnagetbehindtheideaofhimandBenbeingtogether,he’dtalkedBen intopackingupandmovingawaywithhim.Benhadn’tcalledanywherehomesincehe’dleftthefoster caresystemasakid,sothemovewaseasyforhim,butGarretthadsufferedlosses,bothemotionaland financial. His parents didn’t want anything else to do with him and he sold the house for less than marketvaluesohecouldleavestraightaway.JustundersixmonthsafterMary’sdeath,Garrettturned hisbackonhispastandmovedtoCowboyCitytomakeafuturewithBen.Andnow,alltheyhadwas eachother.Butwasitenough?
    Ben thought about the night they became more than just friends.