PLAYING CARDS OR SWAPPING RECIPES?

happens when I'm with you," she said, tugging his mouth down to hers. "But it's crazy."

"*Good* crazy," he countered, before kissing her for a very long time.

"CAN'T BELIEVE you are here tonight kid," Shorty drawled, lifting a bottle of beer to his mouth.

Bobby pulled up a chair and sat down. "And I can't believe you are playing poker with a dog on your lap."

"He's okay," Shorty declared, giving the Shih Tzu a pat on the head. "He likes to be with people."

"It looks silly," Bobby insisted. "At least Gus just hangs out beside my chair. On the floor."

"You have no cause to take your bad mood out on the little guy," Shorty declared, but he stopped petting Pookie and picked up his cards. "Sure you are not in, Andrew?"

"Not tonight." He'd only stopped by the bunkhouse to give Pookie to Shorty for the evening, since he was taking Rose out to dinner. He was surprised to see Bobby sitting in on the game. "What are you doing here, kid?"

"Francisca Handel's practicing with her baking." He looked at his cards and swore. "She's inventing a new dessert."

"She is?"

"Yep. Something with chocolate and whipped cream."

Roy looked up and glared. "Are we playing poker or swapping recipes?"

Bobby grinned. "Hey, I'm about to win all your money, old man. You in a hurry to lose?"

"Aw, like I believe you," Roy drawled. He flipped a chip into the pile. "I will take.....two cards," he declared, and dusty dealt them.

"Francisca Handel said she'd bring us some of her new dessert later on." Bobby looked around the table. "If you want."

"Sure," Shorty said. "Then she can take this damn dog home with her."

Andrew hid a grin. The old man was growing attached to the little dog. And Andrew was sure that the attachment went both ways. Rose didn't know it, but her little Shih Tzu liked Texans as much as she and her niece did.

*****

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