Chapter 2

“You’ve booked all of this?” Barry asked, sounding pleased.

As well he should. Rory wished he had someone who would do things like that for him.

Jimmy scratched his stomach. “Nah, we figured we could just turn up and—”

“Not on Valentine’s Day,” Barry told him. “Everywhere decent will be booked up.”

“And there’s that snow and ice storm coming in tomorrow,” Liam reminded them.

“Shit,” Jake said.

“So?” Jimmy added. “I’ll keep you warm and safe if we get stuck in a snow drift on the road.”

“Me, too,” Jake chipped in.

Rory closed his eyes and sighed silently. If only he had someone to cuddle up with and…

“No way am I going to get arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior by the snow patrol,” Barry told them, setting down his silverware and looking at them each in turn.

Rory wondered if the snow patrol had arresting powers, but of course he didn’t venture that opinion. He never did, unless asked a direct question.

“Pass the fries will ya, little dude?” Zane asked him.

Rory did, trying not to stare too long at Zane’s huge hands that were connected to strong, thick arms, hidden under a black flannel shirt.

As they ate, Jimmy and Jake continued to try and persuade Barry they should go out the next evening, Barry remaining resolute they stay home. Rory knew who would win the argument. Even though it was two against one, Barry would prevail.

“Besides, I still have more work to do on squashing those bugs in the game, not to mention building the framework for that new Pony Express game.” Barry shook his head. “Not enough hours in the day recently.”

“If you plan on making more games, you should hire on an assistant,” Liam said.

Barry nodded. “Maybe in the future.”

“Really? Could we afford that?” Jake asked, sounding surprised.

“Like I said, maybe in the future. You don’t like the idea?”

Jake shrugged.

“You want me barefoot and pregnant and chained to the stove twenty-four seven?”

Inwardly, Rory shrank. Apart from the light tone, this was beginning to sound like the sort of arguments his parents used to have.

Jimmy laughed. “Can we? Get you pregnant I mean.”

“We could try,” Jake said, putting an arm around the back of Barry’s chair. “Sure, babe, if you think you could make the games thing pay, then, yeah, hire someone.”

“So long as she’s butt-ugly and can’t cook,” Jimmy said.

Everyone laughed, including Rory, whose laughter was due more to relief than amusement.

“Well, it’s something to think about if things continue to grow,” Barry said. “But for right now, I’m happy doing what I’m doing. Which means I’ll go into town in the morning and visit the store for supplies for the Valentine’s meal. Any requests?”

“A red heart-shaped cake,” Jake prompted.

“I could do that.” Barry turned to Jimmy and patted his cheek. “With blue frosting.”

Rory didn’t understand the whole blue and red thing Jimmy and Jake had going on. Jimmy always wore a blue shirt and Jake always had on a red one. These choices were carried through on the intertwined J’s on the wooden sign at the ranch’s entrance. The colors even extended to their characters in the ranch game.

“Besides, staying here tomorrow means we’re closer to a bed, and with no neighbors…” Barry waggled his eyebrows.

Liam groaned. “Don’t you three ever think of anything but fucking?”

“I like butt fucking,” Jimmy said, giving Liam the finger. “’Specially Barry’s.”

“Too much information,” Wayne protested.

Barry changed the subject by saying, “And, if Rory doesn’t mind, I’ll prepare you guys’ meal and deliver it to the bunkhouse kitchen so you won’t miss out.”

Rory nodded his agreement.

“Which reminds me,” Barry continued, “it’s your birthday next week, Rory. What do you want me to make?”

Rory shrugged. He didn’t want any fuss.

“You must have some ideas. Come on, give me something to work with here.”

When it was one of their birthdays, Barry would make a special effort to cook their favorite foods. But Rory didn’t really have any favorites. Okay, when he was real little his mom would bake him a birthday cake and they’d have it with ice cream, but that all stopped when she was murdered and…

“You’re twenty-one,” Barry reminded him. “We’re going to celebrate it. At least tell me what kind of cake you want.”

“Chocolate,” Jimmy chipped in.

Barry slapped him. “It’s Rory’s choice.”

“Why chocolate?” Liam asked. Then he answered his own question. “’Cause it’s brown.” He groaned.

It had been decided, mostly because of his last name, that Rory’s character in the ranch game should wear a brown shirt. Jimmy and Jake seemed to think Rory should be as passionate in real life about his chosencolor as they were about theirs. In truth, Rory’s favorite color had become black, the color Zane had picked for his game character. Much to Jimmy’s and Jake’s delight, the man often wore black in real life.