Frog by Mary Calmes (read along books TXT) 📗

harder, with Tristan being surprisingly bendable, able to hide in weird places, and Micah being devious. I had a good time, and after lunch, I was sitting out on the covered deck watching the rain when Mr. Benning came and joined me. He brought me a beer, which was nice of him, and took a seat beside me.

“You called me Mr. Benning all morning.”

I turned and looked at him. “Yessir.”

“It’s not needed. Call me Owen.”

“Yessir.”

“Listen, I expect to see you for Christmas, Weber. Don’t leave before that, all right?”

“I’ll try Mr.… Owen.”

He nodded. “Good. We would all really like to see more of you.”

What was I supposed to say to that?

His hand lifted and reached for my shoulder, and I smiled when he squeezed it. I could tell he had something more to say.

He gave a soft cough. “So you know, I have never, ever seen my son this happy. All his life he has been serious and driven, and I could not be more proud of his achievements or more pleased with the man he’s become. All my kids—Brett, Cyrus and Carolyn—I’m very blessed; but Cyrus, he never allowed himself to have fun, to simply do something without it having a purpose.”

I just listened.

“When he told me he was gay, he sat me down and explained it like he was the parent and I was the child. I mean, I’ve never worried about him or his choices because I’ve made some foolish ones, but he never has. He never leaps without looking, he always considers every outcome, and he’s always careful and thoughtful and smart. I have never seen him do anything spur of the moment; he’s much too practical. I honestly had no idea he could laugh like he did earlier. Even when he was a kid he didn’t laugh like that, with pure joy. He was just too serious. And I love him, I do, but as far as understanding him, that’s a whole other story.”

I understood what he was saying, but the man I knew and the man he was talking about were two totally different people.

“The men I’ve met, the men he’s brought here or introduced his mother and I to, were all very logical choices. They were much like Ross, Brett’s friend who left early this morning. They had great jobs, exceptional investment portfolios—his words not mine—and when they were here, they had their laptops out on the table first thing in the morning to get some work done. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I respect dedication and drive, but not one of them made my son laugh so hard that he cried. Not one did he have to sit next to, and not one did he kiss in front of us.”

My heart was suddenly in my throat.

“I don’t know much about you, Weber, but I have to tell you, I like what I see. And I certainly don’t want my stoic son back.” He chuckled suddenly. “I like the man who laughed at my jokes yesterday and who sat and told me about some new procedure he used in the OR and the one who’s going to bring me the beer he likes next time just so I can try it. I really like the stranger in my kitchen, and I could get used to having him around. This is selfish of me to say and I know that, but please, Weber, stick around, will you?”

“I would, sir, but I’m a ranch hand, as you know.” I smiled at him. “Not a big call for that in San Francisco.”

He sighed deeply. “Tell me. Do you care for him the same way as he so obviously cares for you?”

I nodded. “That ain’t never been our problem.”

“Dad!”

He turned as Cy came striding out onto the deck.

“Your beloved Pack is playing.” He chuckled. “Get in there, old man.”

“You see that,” Owen said under his breath to me as he leaned close before standing up. “I had no idea he even knew Green Bay was my team.”

Owen smiled at his son as they passed each other, and Cy said he would be right back in.

I waited and was rewarded with his hand on my knee and his shining eyes as he looked down at me.

“What?”

“You look really comfortable in my parents’ home.”

“It’s like a damn hunting lodge. What’s not to like?”

“Can I have that kiss now?”

“Oh hell no,” I growled at him. “You didn’t want it earlier.”

“You were disgusting earlier, but now you’re all clean and you smell good and you’re warm.”

I grunted at him as he bent down toward me, and I lifted for his mouth.

The kiss was chaste and sweet until he gently bit my lip and pressed for entrance. I made a noise in the back of my throat as his tongue slid over mine, and I took hold of his jacket. As I pulled him down into my lap, his hands flattened on my chest, and he shifted around until he was across my thighs.

“You should go in,” I told him, breaking the kiss before it flared and consumed us.

“I’d much rather stay here and kiss you.”

“Weber!” Pip squealed from the door before he ran and launched himself at us.

The kids wanted attention, and only mine would do. Since the weather had cleared enough to walk, I took three dogs and five kids for a stroll around the neighborhood. When we got back, it was time to leave since we had a long drive back to the city. Carolyn and Cy both had to work the following morning.

I was not surprised that Vanessa and Victoria loved on me hard, kissing and hugging me and putting their little heads down on my shoulder when they said their good-byes. Little girls with great big hearts just melted me.

I was surprised, however, that Angie and Rachel both hugged me tight as well. Owen clasped my hand and held on to my shoulder, and even Brett gave me the guy clench.

“Don’t be a stranger” was the