Cowboys Love Forever

Chapter 1: Just Another DayThe alarm went off, but rather than get out of bed, Cody and Jace kissed passionately. Rusty, their Irish setter, barked toward the bed from his corner in the loft bedroom. “We’re getting up, boy,” Jace said to Rusty. “Do we have to?” Cody said, then kissed Jace. “Yes, unfortunately,” Jace said, and kissed the side of Cody’s neck. “I have a riding class to get ready for and you’ll be…” “Working on the decorative wood panels at Meili’s restaurant,” Cody said, as he got out of bed. “Bailey’s design is not only clever but also easy to achieve.” “That’s good,” Jace said. He got out of bed, walked to a nude Cody, and hugged him tightly. “I love you so much.” “I love you too, my cowboy hunk,” Cody said, then kissed Jace. They were making out again and Rusty walked their way and barked. “Someone’s ready to go out,” Jace said. “I’ll take him.” After putting on some shorts, Cody walked Rusty. It was a beautiful day outside, so they took their time going along the edge of the lake in front of their A-frame home. Once the Irish setter had done his business, they headed back inside. “Mmm,” Cody said, “something smells good.” He let Rusty off his leash and the two walked into the kitchen where Jace was cooking. Cody hugged Jace from behind and Rusty walked to his water bowl. As Rusty lapped up water, Cody kissed the back of Jace’s neck. “Scrambled eggs and bacon,” Cody said, “yum. You’re spoiling me.” “You were made to be spoiled,” Jace said. “Has Meili finally decided on a name for her fancy restaurant?” “She was trying to decide between The Opium Den or just plain Opium. By the end of the day yesterday, Opium won out.” “That works,” Jace said. “You guys are making good progress on the place too.” “Yeah,” Cody said. “The guys’ upstairs apartment is also coming along really well. How’s the ice cream parlor? I haven’t had a chance to swing by and look at the place.” “It’s looking good. The Munroes are hard workers with great skills, so they’re making fast work of it. And before you ask, Gage and Deena are loving the riding class and have made some new friends already.” “That’s good to hear. After having lost both their parents, I’m glad Macon and Elvira’s niece and nephew are having fun. Have their chicks been moved into the coop yet?” “Not yet. They’re still too little. I think of Macon and Elvira like a brother and sister, so Gage and Deena might as well be our niece and nephew too. The kids have been crazy about you since the day you saved them from the delinquents at the bus stop. I’d ask how you’re doing today, but I can see for myself you’re as fantastic as ever.” Cody chuckled, then grabbed some plates for the food. He watched as Jace moved the eggs then the bacon from the pans to the plates. “Pops is still in my mind and heart, and he always will be,” Cody said, “but having you in my life helps me deal with things better.” “You’ve been a real champ as far as I’m concerned,” Jace said, as he handed Cody a plate. “And your pops—Nicky—is in all our hearts—we don’t forget our cowboy brothers when they’re gone.” “Tomorrow’s the big day, isn’t it?” Cody said, then got a fork and began eating “Yes. Macon and Elvira’s mom will finally arrive to stay.” “I bet her grandkids will be glad to see her,” Cody said. “Elvira says that’s all Deena’s been talking about for the last two days. Erica Ryder was at your parents’ wedding. Did you ever meet her when you were a boy?” “I don’t think so…not that I remember.” “She’s a pretty memorable lady, but you were—and still are—young.” “Like I keep telling you—thirty is not that much younger than fifty.” “Yeah, it is,” Jace said, then ran his hand down Cody’s chest. “But I don’t care—you’re still mine.” “I sure am. We’d better hurry up or we’ll both be late to work.” “Cracking the whip, are we?” “Maybe,” Cody said and smiled. They finished eating then went upstairs to dress for work. On their way back down, they heard someone outside honking their horn. “That’s Bailey,” Cody said. “He’s picking me up today so that we can talk.” “Making plans behind me and Macon’s backs, huh?” Jace said, then patted Cody on the back and smiled. “How about a kiss before you go?” “Do you deserve one?” “Of course I do,” Jace said. Cody gave Jace a kiss, petted Rusty’s head, then headed out. “Good morning,” Bailey said from the golf cart as Cody got in the passenger seat. “Good morning,” Cody said once Bailey was driving and they were on their way. We have something big to talk about, Bailey.” “So you said on the phone,” Bailey said. “You also told me not to worry. However, I’ve been anxious to hear what you have to say.” “I had what I think is a brilliant idea and it involves you, Macon, me, and Jace. You remember how I told you that Jace put scheduling our weddings back in my lap?” “Yes, I remember.” “Well, I’ve come up with the perfect date. And it’s so obvious that I feel dumb for not thinking of it sooner. Jace and Macon have the same birthday, and I think that would be the perfect date for our double wedding.” “Oh, that really is clever,” Bailey said, then chuckled. “It’s genius—and they’ll never forget our anniversaries.” “True.” “Cody, have you met Erica Ryder, my future mother-in-law?” “Jace asked me the same thing. And I just can’t remember meeting Erica.” “Did your parents have any black friends?” “Yeah,” Cody said. “And I’ve tried to think back and remember names and people, but I can’t quite picture their faces. Friends of any color or ethnicity didn’t last long around my mom. She sort of alienated them all over time.” “That’s sad.” “It just was what it was,” Cody said. “What’re you worried about anyway? Elvira loves you, so do the kids. Besides, you’ve spoken to Mrs. Erica on the phone and you said you two got along.” “We did, but I’m still nervous about meeting her.” “You and her will be fine,” Cody said. When they got to the work site—Meili’s restaurant—Luna was there putting shiny red varnish on the finished decorative panels that Cody, Bailey, Meili’s son, and his husband had worked on. “Hello, hello,” Cody said. “Where are Meili and the boys?” “Getting supplies,” Luna said. Her long blonde hair with gray streaks was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore short overalls and work boots. “They started on the next set of wood panels, but left them for you to finish.” “We’d better start working before you get ahead of us,” Cody said. “The electrician will be by later today to finish his end of things,” Luna said. “They’re almost done with the kitchen as well, so we need to step it up on this end. Bailey, did you manage to source the stones for the back garden?” “Yes. And at a good price too.” “Great,” Cody said, “I’ve been anxious to start work on the back patio.” “You’ve done a lot in the short time you’ve been working on this space,” Luna said. “The ice cream parlor will soon be ready to open and even though this is a much bigger space, we’re not far behind them.” “We’ve had a good team,” Bailey said. “And it certainly helps that we only had to focus on this one space. Jilly has her own team working on the theater renovations, and it was decided to leave the old workers’ housing reno to the students when they get here. Things are a bit delayed there, though.” “Speaking of work,” Cody said, then went to his work station. “Someone’s very anxious to meet you, Bailey,” Luna said, “and you as well, Cody. Elvira talked to her mom on the phone last night. Tomorrow will definitely be a fun day.” * * * * That evening when they were in bed, Cody told Jace his plan regarding the date of their wedding. “I love that idea, buddy. You’re as smart as you are handsome and sexy.” He kissed Cody, then hugged him. “You still hold me like you want us to be glued together for life.” “That’s exactly right,” Jace said. Cody chuckled. “Bailey is very nervous about meeting Mrs. Erica tomorrow.” “And you’re not?” Jace said. “Erica has been sort of a surrogate mom to me, so you’ll be under the microscope too.” Cody laughed. “I’d better behave when I meet her, huh?” “Just be your normal loveable self,” Jace said. “She’s bound to find you as adorable as I do—well, maybe not in quite the same way.” He chuckled, then tickled Cody’s stomach, making him laugh. “To tomorrow,” Cody said, when he stopped laughing. “May we all survive the grand inquisitor,” Jace said.