Chapter 7
How many sheep did a guy need to count to get his brain to stop and allow him to get some shut eye?
Kitt never had a problem sleeping. He hadn’t ever struggled.
He fell into bed every night, closed his eyes and sleep came.
But, in the last three nights, he’d only logged a handful of hours.
The problem stemmed from the fact most of his thoughts stayed fully focused on Austin which apparently translated to a stout case of insomnia.
After three full days of seeing Austin every single day, it wasn’t even so much a sexual thing anymore. Okay, completely not true, and Kitt rolled his eyes at the thought. It totally was a sexual thing, but that’s not what kept him up night after night.
Tonight, his mind stayed focused on how hard Austin Grainger worked.
It was hard work, and they kept a grueling, backbreaking pace.
They let nothing get in their way. Kitt, Mike, and Micah had worked like this together for years.
They had it all down to a routine and knew each other well, but still Austin managed to fit in working side by side with them without a problem.
He instinctively fell in sync with their team.
Kitt knew the guy’s muscles had to ache.
No way could Austin be used to putting in that much physical labor, but he didn’t complain.
Nor did he stop, and he never showed any sign of fatigue.
Instead, Austin worked hard. On that first day, he’d been pretty rusty, but picked it all back up quickly.
He’d even jumped on a stallion, handling him like a pro.
Kitt finally let himself admit Austin looked hot as hell as he rode that horse.
Austin hadn’t ever starred in a Western.
In Kitt’s mind, he’d missed his calling.
Austin looked like a natural on a horse. Rugged, manly, strong…
After the day’s work was done, Austin sat on Kitt’s stepmom’s back porch like he truly was one of the guys. He acted like it was the most natural thing in the world for a three-time Academy Award winner to eat homemade spaghetti at his neighbor’s house.
The only repeat Kitt ensured didn’t happen was getting stuck together with Austin in his stepmom’s kitchen.
Kitt’s body had hardened to a painful degree when Austin slipped in behind him at the sink.
It was a natural move, normal, and one he himself had done a hundred times.
Just sliding your plate in the sink to help the washer out, but his body freaked.
His heart plunged, his breathing turned into a pant and he had to get away.
And then, Austin turned into a normal decent guy, apologizing and even complimenting him in the process.
What person in this world was on Austin’s level in life, yet kind enough to make sure the two of them were on good standing after the brawl over the fence? All those kind words about respect made Kitt blush like a little girl.
Kitt hadn’t been able to get out of that kitchen fast enough.
He tried to stay the cool guy, feigning easygoing and unaffected, but when his stepmother opened that door, he’d wanted to holler ‘Hallelujah!’ and kiss her right on the lips in appreciation for giving him an out.
After that incident, Kitt made absolute certain he wouldn’t ever be left alone with Austin again.
If there was even the slightest hint of that happening, Kitt bailed on whatever task he worked and assigned it to another.
It wasn’t easy. No matter how much distance he put between them, the connection they shared sizzled, at least for Kitt.
He needed to stay away from the Grainger farm.
Mike would just have to understand. Damn!
Mike complicated the whole deal. He’d been so pumped when he landed that job.
Kitt had promised Mike he’d help in whatever he needed, and he knew Mike wanted the Grainger farm to get involved in the investment group Kitt started to fund his new ponies about to birth.
Breeding quality racehorses was too exciting an opportunity not to pass on to the few of them interested.
Kitt didn’t see how he could let Austin Grainger in.
He’d have to figure something out for Mike.
Figure out a way to explain it to him, get him to understand.
But what could he really say? Nothing would make sense and the investment group needed the capital to keep breeding their horses.
“Damn it,” Kitt muttered in frustration, and finally rose from bed.
It was way too early to get up, only three in the morning.
But, he got up anyway and started on his day.
He wasn’t scheduled to go back over to the Grainger farm until later and that was to check a couple of head of cattle for some possible respiratory issues.
If anything else came up, he’d send Jose, his foreman, over in his place.
Kitt desperately needed distance. To help him find perspective, he decided to take Sean up on his offer.
Even thinking it caused his heart to drop, but his head knew it was the right decision.
Kitt had to use his head. He needed time to get comfortable with Austin living next door.
Surely, something regular and faithful would help Kitt get past this unhealthy consumption.
For God’s sake, Austin was a straight man engaged to be married!
Jealousy spiked in Kitt at the thought even though he knew the possessiveness searing through him had no place in his life.
So yeah, Sean as his boyfriend, sex twice a week…
it wasn’t the hell he’d thought just two days ago.
It’s what he needed to get his mind back focused right, but he’d have conditions.
Sean would have to stop with the ‘I love yous’. That was the deal breaker. Maybe.
Besides, being away from here once a week could help get Austin out of his system.
And, the other night, Sean offered to invest in his breeding program as a silent partner.
He needed the money. If the hay baling didn’t pan out like Kitt hoped, the extra cash would help and buyers weren’t jumping in to buy his hay as easily as he thought they might.
Maybe Sean had a point. Now that they were a couple, weren’t they supposed to do things like sharing with one another?
The bigger question though, why did the weight of thinking they were a couple settle so heavily on his shoulders?
=?=
Sweat trickled down the side of Austin’s face as he loaded the last heifer in the chute.
Tugging his T-shirt up and over his head, he wiped the wet cotton over his dust-streaked face.
Austin, Mike, and a few of his security guards were the only ones on the job today, and they’d done it.
Job complete. All the animals were tagged, vaccinated, fed, sectioned off, and quarantined.
He didn’t know what anyone else thought, but he considered this a job well fucking done.
“Good job, boss man.” Mike came to stand on the other side of the stall. He took off his work gloves and anchored an arm on the rail.
“Fuck I’m tired.” Austin slapped the heifer out of the rack. She took off, not needing to be urged twice.
“Yeah, it’s a hard day’s work out here,” Mike said. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry now that they’d finally got everything done. Austin longed for a shower and some food, but he mimicked Mike’s stance and leaned on the rail. If the guy wanted to talk a minute, he guessed he could do likewise.
“Thanks for arranging the meals. I’ll do better next time.”
“Nah, it’s my job to arrange all that. As we grow, I’ll start lookin’ for a regular cook, but until then, the place in town caters the meals. Mrs. Kelly likes to do it, too. I gave her some money,” Mike explained.
“Good. Is it still called the Horseshoe Café?” Austin asked.
“Yeah, they did this meal for us today,” Mike said.
“Everybody still go there on Friday night for supper?” Austin asked, searching for conversation now. He wasn’t completely sure why Mike still stood there, so he straightened, working his aching muscles out.
“Yeah, but it’s got a pool hall and dance joint added on to it. The Baptist church doesn’t like it at all, but it gives everyone a place to gather and somethin’ for the church folk to talk about,” Mike said, grinning.
If Mike planned to continue the conversation, it would have to be while heading out the door. Austin was done for the day. “Maybe someday I’ll check that out.”
“You need to. The local girls will go crazy.” Mike followed him out.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. I’m digging this quiet thing. Your buddies didn’t treat me any different,” Austin said, pushing open the barn door. The bright sun hit him, and he squinted under its glare.
“Nah, they’re salt of the earth kind of people.
Work too hard to get lost in the glitz. Listen, I’ve got plans in town tonight.
Your hands are gonna be on the watch for the cattle, but it should all be fine.
We’ll stay like this for a few days, make sure the herd’s healthy, give the State time to come out if they want. ”
“You handle that part,” Austin said, and again stretched his body out. “Have fun tonight. I’m going in.”
“Will do. Good job, again,” Mike said.
“You too. Thanks, Mike.” Austin tossed the words kind of over his shoulder, not fully looking back.
He feared that if he didn’t concentrate on moving each sore leg in front of the other, he might not make it all the way to his house.
How embarrassing would it be to collapse in the middle of the yard in front of Mike and have to have him carry him inside?