Author's Note: Hey guys! And Good morning. Today is already looking up. The swelling in my cheeks have gone down and I am on a rapid road to recovery. Yay! Now, if I can manage to eat something other than Jell-O today, I'm going to start doing a little jig. I am so very glad that you guys keep staying with my stories. And I hope you enjoy today's updates as well. You guys are truly something. And a congrats to KiTeH for doing well on her Oral Examinations. Yay! That excited me. And anyone who does well always deserves a shout out. And Well wishes to SmileOn who is now sharing my tooth pain woes. Yeah, having teeth cut out bites--literally (lol). You guys are fantastic. Oh, and Tommy4Eva, how's that sunburn coming? I love that you guys share those things with me. Right now, for example, I am sitting here in front of my computer with a heat pack on my cheek while cursing the cinnamon roll that has been taunting me all morning. Lots of smiles and hugs to you all. Please R&R. Angel422
"Jude?" Tommy whispered as he turned to face me fully. I just shrugged nonchalantly—trying my damndest to keep from reaching up and slapping him. I suddenly needed one of those drinks he was always talking about.
"Hope you weren't expecting Halle Berry or some equally stunning woman." I stated flatly—watching as a million different expressions flitted across his face before he finally seemed to find his voice.
"Jesus!" He exclaimed as he ran a hand haphazardly through his hair. He was just as stunned as I was about the whole thing, but I could tell it made some sort of sick sense even to him. I ran a hand down along the front of my shirt.
"Not the last time I checked, but we could always take me out on a lake somewhere and see if I can walk on water." I replied with a small smile as he shook his head at my inane comment. Hey, at least the idea amused me. The sudden silence between us made me uncomfortable, and I took an even step backward until my back met up with Mason's chest.
"There's a flight back to Canada that leaves in twenty minutes. Say the word and we can be on it." I said in a low tone—nodding to Mason when Tommy didn't say anything. Mason nodded back and we both turned to head back towards the terminal determinedly only to have Tommy grab me suddenly by the arm. He sighed as I looked back at him over my shoulder.
"No, I want you to stay. Just because I now suddenly know the person behind the handle doesn't change the invitation." Tommy remarked as I looked over at him silently.
"Doesn't it?" I asked almost in a whisper as he sighed again. I could tell he was just as tormented by the idea as I was—maybe more so. We had shared a lot through those back and forth messages—had basically bared our souls. It wasn't easy confronting that fact. I pushed his hand off of my arm.
"I'm making it easy on you, Quincy. I'm giving you the option of letting me just walk away." I stated simply before shrugging at his bland expression. He seemed determined to make this complicated. He finally motioned for us to follow him.
"Come on, Harrison. You may wish you had boarded that plane by the time this week is over. Hell, I'm probably going to wish I had boarded it with you. And welcome to Montana, Mason. I don't think you're going to find it too hard blending in." Tommy remarked wryly as I raised a brow at his tone. Something told me this was going to be an interesting trip. I walked between the two men silently—grabbing my luggage from the baggage claim area before following Tommy out to the truck he was driving. Tommy in a truck? I tapped the hood of the vehicle insistently
"This is kind of sexy, Quincy. Tell me you can rope a calf, and I might even swoon at your feet." I stated on a small laugh as Tommy just threw me an amused look. He opened the passenger side door—leaning over to whisper in my ear as he helped me in.
"You know what they say about cowboys, Harrison. We ride 'em hard, we ride 'em fast, and we try our damndest to hold on for longer than eight seconds. Trust me when I say I've been able to hold on long enough to make the cow beg for mercy." Tommy insinuated as I tried not to gasp at his remark. He was doing it to rile me—to put distance between us, but I just gritted my teeth and smiled. He had another thing coming if he thought that sexual innuendos would scare me off. He was the scared one—the one running away from the obvious. There may be a seven year age difference between us, but that didn't make me inexperienced—forgetting the fact that I am inexperienced but shhh, he didn't have to know that.
"I don't guess you've been milking the right cow then." I stated simply as he crawled into the driver's seat. I saw his lips quirk at the comment and I knew then that he realized I was up to playing whatever game he had in store for me.