Stable Hill Page 12

  “Whoa. Yes, sir.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I’m hanging curtains. You want to take all the frilly stuff off the bed?”

  Jeff nodded. “You got it.”

  He grabbed the lace valence and folded it, then added it to Oscar’s box. The three of them worked quietly for a few minutes, many hands making the task go by quickly.

  “I’ll have to ask Rose to wash all that stuff for me. I’ll ruin it. Especially those lace curtains.”

  Jeffrey pulled a valance back out of the box to look at it. “You might even want to do these by hand. They’re really fragile.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Oscar went quiet again for a second and then added, “Russ, you should find something of Dad’s to take with you.”

  Russ froze, looking over his shoulder at Oscar. To take with him? Was there something he didn’t know? “I couldn’t do that. Your girls—”

  “I want you to. I wouldn’t have said it otherwise. My girls might want a few things from Mom, but Dad’s stuff? I doubt there will be much.”

  He knew exactly what he wanted, but…. “Well, I… I don’t know.”

  Oscar moved closer, smiling. “No?”

  He laughed, shaking his head. Of course Oscar would know. “I can’t ask.”

  “Fine. Russ, would you like to have Dad’s porch rocker? You’re in it all the time. He’d want you to have it.”

  He leaned in and kissed Oscar. “Yes, please.”

  “Would you like a couple of his pipes too?”

  Oh. Wouldn’t that be something? “Are you serious?”

  “Sure. Just pick out a couple that you like. None of them are valuable except to us.”

  He smiled wide. Being included felt good. It warmed him up inside. “I really appreciate it.”

  “I know.” Oscar bent to kiss him but didn’t quite get there.

  “Isn’t this where I came in?” Jeffrey laughed, interrupting them. “I can go have a beer and come back later…?”

  “Hey, it’s not every day you inherit the world’s most comfortable porch rocker.”

  “If I give you something, will you kiss me too?”

  He slid over to Jeff. “I’ll kiss you for free.” He did, and tangled tongues with Jeff, letting Jeff turn it naughty, as usual.

  Oscar snorted and went back to packing. “I’ll start taking odds on whether we make it to dinner tonight, shall I?”

  Oscar had a point; their track record hadn’t been that good.

  “They’re just kisses, Oscar the Grouch.” Jeff pulled Russ a little closer, looking over his head at Oscar. “We can wait.”

  “Curtains,” Russ reminded Jeff, and he was set free.

  “I’m taller. You want me to do that?”

  He looked at Jeff. “You know how to hang curtains?”

  “I’m a Realtor. I can hang curtains, make beds, fold napkins, do the little toilet paper fold-over thing….”

  Oscar whistled. “You’re hired.”

  He laughed and switched places with Jeff.

  “So we’ve established that my parents were adorable, and Russ’s parents were… conservative. What about yours, Jeffrey?”

  “My parents?”

  “Yeah.”

  “They’re old snowbirds. They live in Boca.”

  “Whoa. Nice.”

  Jeff nodded. “Yeah. I found them the place a few years ago. They love it.”

  “Wow. Shipped them off to Florida, huh?” Oscar laughed.

  “Pretty much.” Jeff winked. “My lifestyle is a little too… busy for them to really understand.”

  He looked at Jeffrey curiously. “By busy, you mean work?”

  “You know that’s not what I meant.”

  Oscar snorted. “Busy being a bad boy.”

  “Well, it’s slightly less busy these days.”

  “Only slightly?” Russ shook his head.

  “The two of you are keeping me plenty occupied. And trying to sell this farm, of course.”

  “Anything new to report?” Oscar asked, and Russ held his breath on the answer.

  “No, unfortunately. But I’m not desperate yet. I would like more of a pipeline of people to come see it, but… it’ll happen.”

  Russ wasn’t in a rush. He didn’t stand to gain anything, and he was very worried he was going to lose his job.

  “What’s the feedback?”

  He watched Jeff’s shoulders droop a little, and he looked over at Oscar, but Oscar was putting something in the box and his back was turned.

  Uh-oh.

  He gave Jeff a look, and Jeff straightened up quickly.

  “People love the property, the acreage. They’re are happy with the stables, and most see the potential in that unfinished indoor. Someone today told me they thought it was really well-maintained.”

  Oscar folded one arm over the other across that broad chest and looked at Jeff. “But they’re not interested.”

  “Not enough.”

  “Why not? Didn’t you say most people—”

  “It’s the house, Oscar.” Jeff shrugged.

  Russ knew how poorly Oscar was going to take that. Jeff sounded like he knew it too.

  “What’s the matter with the house?”

  Jeff sighed. “You know, we can have this conversation another time, Oscar. Maybe at my office?”

  “My father built this house. It’s in great shape. What’s the matter with it?”

  Russ finished folding the bedding and then moved over to hang the curtains that Jeff had stalled on. Nobody needed his input here. Seemed safer to stay out of it.

  “Some people… most people are looking for something more modern.”

  “This is a classic farmhouse.” Oscar sounded pretty huffy.

  “Yes, it is, Oscar. But that’s not what everyone wants. People are looking for a bigger kitchen, more bathrooms, open floor plans, bigger bedrooms—”

  “Well, why did you take it on if you didn’t think that you could sell it?”

  Jeff blinked. “I didn’t say I couldn’t sell it.”

  “Then what are you complaining about?”

  “I’m not complain….” Jeff took a step toward Oscar but stopped abruptly, took a deep breath, and sighed. Russ could see his lover was trying hard. “Look, Oscar, I know all of this—the boxes and everything—is stressful for you.”

  “I’m fine.” But Oscar’s tone was pretty short.

  Okay, Russ decided that was his cue. “Hey.”

  Oscar sighed. “I’m fine, Russ.” But when he forced his arms around Oscar’s waist, Oscar pulled him close. They stayed there for a minute, quietly holding each other, and then Jeff joined them, reaching out to run fingers through Oscar’s hair.

  “I will find a buyer for the farm, Oscar. Give me some more time.”

  Oscar took Jeff’s hand and kissed the palm. “I know, I’m sorry. I guess you’re right. This is maybe harder than I expected it to be.”

  “It’s not just a house to you.”

  “It’s not,” Oscar agreed. “I’m actually pretty grateful to have you both here right now.”

  Russ smiled. Oscar had had a lot of loss around him, and then to be losing the house too…. It was probably a relief to have something gained instead. “You ready to get this room done? Then we can all start dinner.”

  “I have one more curtain. Russ, the new comforter is in the hall.”

  “On it.” He leaned up and kissed Oscar quickly. “You don’t have to pretend this is easy, okay? We’re here.”

  Oscar nodded and let him go. “Yeah, okay. I’ll try to remember that. And I’m sorry, Jeff.”

  “You weren’t really upset with me.”

  “No. No, I wasn’t. I’m not.”

  “I know.” Jeff gave Oscar a bro-hug and went after the last set of lace curtains.

  When the room was finished, it looked nothing like it had. The comforter had flowers all over it, the curtains a solid, dark red—Jeff called it cranberry, of course—the dresser and nightstand wer
e bare, and the tiny closet was empty. Russ waited while Oscar took one last look around the room and turned the light out, and then they followed Jeff down the stairs, each of them with a box in their arms.

  “Just leave them by the door. I’ll put them in my car later.”

  Jeff put his box down. “Dinner?”

  “Woo! I’ll start the grill.” He set his box with Jeff’s, grinning, and headed for the back porch. Somebody swatted him on the ass as he went by.

  Jeff followed him. “I’ll make the burgers.”

  “I’ll, uh… get the beer?” Oscar offered.

  “Man, don’t work too hard, Oscar!”

  “Aw, leave him alone, Russ. He has to take care of that pretty pink manicure.”

  Oscar snorted. “It’s sexy and you know it.”

  They were all laughing as Russ headed through the kitchen and out the back door. No one laughed harder than Oscar.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “WHAT IS this?”

  “Minions!”

  Sophie rolled her eyes. “It’s not called Minions, Zoe. It’s called Despicable Me.”

  “Who’s the minion? That guy?” Jeffrey looked totally confused. Oscar couldn’t tell if it was an act or not.

  “No, Mr. Stokes! Minions are the yellow guys.”

  “Oh.” Jeff still looked confused. “Can they please call me Jeffrey?”

  “Oh, fine. Whatever you prefer.”

  “Oz! Sit still!” Riley tapped his hand, and he turned back toward her.

  “Sorry, baby. Better?”

  “Yes. Can I do black?”

  He blinked. “Black?”

  “Oh, sweetheart. Black like Brian’s nails, of course.” Rose gave him a knowing wink.

  “Brian has… oh. Brian has black nail polish, of course.” When did that happen? How did he not notice at dinner?

  “Brian says boys wear black.”

  “Well, then I guess I better have black.”

  “Mm. Black sounds ho—hard. Hard to do.” Jeffrey looked at him wide-eyed, and Oscar chuckled.

  Riley disagreed. “Black isn’t any harder than pink, you know.”

  “Well, you are certainly the expert. I liked the pink your dad’s been wearing.”

  “That’s one of Oz’s favorites.”

  Sophie snickered, knees curled under her in the overstuffed chair and eyes in her book.

  “Soph,” he admonished.

  She glanced up at him and grinned. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “What are you reading, Sophie?”

  She showed Jeffrey the dog-eared cover of her beloved The Black Stallion.

  “She’s read it a million times.” Zoe snorted.

  “Not a million. Seventeen.”

  He blinked. “You’ve read that book seventeen times?”

  Sophie gave him a look. “Yeah? So what?”

  “Oh. No. No, I’m glad you like it.” He hadn’t meant his tone to be so… shocked. Get her over here to ride, he remembered Russ telling him. She’s got a way with the horses.

  He should have been paying closer attention. All this time she could have—well. It was getting late now. But maybe she could ride somewhere else. Russ was definitely on to something.

  Hm. Russ.

  “Jeffrey, you seem like you do well for yourself in that real estate business.”

  “Oh, uh.” Jeffrey glanced at him, but he shook his head and grinned. Nothing good came of suggesting that Rose change the subject. “I do all right, I guess.”

  “That’s a nice suit.” She tilted her head.

  “Okay, a little better than all right.”

  Rose nodded. “That’s what I thought.”

  “Rose, you’re a piece of work.”

  “Just trying to get to know your Jeffrey, Oscar.”

  “My….” He looked at Rose sharply, but she smiled at him.

  Jeffrey laughed. “Oh, Oscar. I think maybe—” Jeffrey’s phone rang, interrupting, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “Oh, hey. It’s Russ.”

  Oscar raised an eyebrow at him meaningfully. “Probably about the paint, right?”

  Jeffrey looked at him oddly but seemed to get it. “Oh, yeah. That or the contractors. Excuse me.”

  Oscar watched Jeffrey head for the kitchen. He had no idea how to explain his relationship status to Rose when he wasn’t sure he entirely understood it himself. That’s the reason Russ wasn’t here tonight. Right or wrong—and, if he were honest with himself, it was starting to feel wrong—Rose already knew Jeffrey was at least a love interest.

  He looked back at Riley, who was finishing up with his black nails. “Girls, I think it’s bedtime.”

  Rose nodded, setting her knitting aside. “Riley, Zoe. Come on up and I’ll tuck you in. Sophie, love. You too.”

  “What about Emily?”

  He looked around. “Where is Emily?”

  “She and Brian went out after dinner.” Rose looked completely passive, and he had no idea how to read that expression.

  “Oh. Well, it’s not curfew yet.”

  “Come on, girls, up you go. Kiss your father good night.”

  He was mobbed by girls and hugged and kissed, and he gave it all right back, careful not to smudge his new manicure. “Love you, Zoe, Riley, Soph. Good night, sleep tight. Good night, Rose.”

  “Is your friend staying the night?”

  “No. No, definitely not. The girls….”

  “They’ll be happy if you’re happy.”

  “I love you, Rose. Good night.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek and sent her on her way too.

  Okay. Emily was still out, so he wasn’t going upstairs yet. He headed for the kitchen to check on Jeffrey.

  “Did you get hungry?”

  “Yeah. Tomorrow is good.” Jeffrey turned dark eyes on him, brow furrowed. Something was wrong, but he couldn’t quite read the look. “Yes. I’ll talk to Oscar. Saturday sounds great. Good night, Russ. Sleep well.”

  Jeffrey didn’t take his eyes off Oscar as he hung up the phone.

  “What did—”

  “Why didn’t you warn me that Russ didn’t know I was here?”

  “Oh.” He sighed. “I thought we could talk about that. I didn’t know he was going to call.”

  “He’s our boyfriend, Oscar. He can call anytime he wants.”

  “God, that sounds weird. ‘Our boyfriend.’”

  “It’s not weird. It’s reality. You better get your head around this, Oscar.”

  “I’m sorry. I know.” Jesus. Talk about making bad even worse. “I know. I didn’t mean anything by that.”

  “So now we’ve both lied to him.”

  “You didn’t tell him?”

  “I told him I stopped by to drop off some paperwork.”

  “Shit. I’m sorry, Jeffrey. I didn’t mean to put you in that position or… or to make a thing out of this. I wasn’t…. I don’t know how to handle things with Rose. She does so much for me, and when she asked to see you, it didn’t occur to me to say no, and then after I invited you….” He closed his mouth to stop the awful flow of words. He was digging a deeper hole now.

  Jeffrey shook his head. “Well.”

  “What was I going to say to him? ‘Sorry, Jeffrey is okay to visit but you’re not’?”

  Jeffrey… stared, gaping at him.

  Damn. Oscar returned the look. “What?”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Jeff—”

  “You could have invited him.”

  “But… Rose.”

  “You can’t be in a relationship with both of us if it’s all good except when it’s embarrassing or inconvenient.”

  “What? I’m not embarrassed by either of you!”

  “No? Oscar, you should have invited him or not invited me.”

  Oscar crossed his arms. He and Jeffrey were destined to work everything out by arguing, weren’t they? It was the same with Emmett. Everything had to be fair. Balanced. So fucking left-brained and anal-retentive, and God, he loved Emm
ett, but it made him crazy.

  Jeffrey isn’t Emmett.

  Jeffrey was not Emmett.

  Fuck.

  “I’ve got the kids too, and this is still so new. I’ve got more than myself to worry about. It’s very complicated. I didn’t think about it as slighting Russ, but you’re right, I did.”

  He felt terrible. He hadn’t intended to do this to Russ. His lover deserved better; he knew that. He sighed, trying to breathe through whatever was happening, and looked down at his feet. “This is… hard. You, Russ, the farm, Emily looking at colleges, and this boyfriend thing. I feel like I have so many balls in the air all the time, and it’s… emotional and….” He glanced up at Jeffrey sharply. “Maybe I shouldn’t do this. I can’t seem to do it right.”

  Jeffrey was suddenly at his side, one arm going around his shoulders. “Hey. Okay, I hear you.”

  “I feel like I’m going to keep getting this wrong. I don’t want to get it wrong. I’m trying, but….” But he didn’t have a blueprint for this one.

  “Maybe there isn’t a wrong, yet. We haven’t laid down any rules. Maybe we can get by on good intentions for tonight.”

  “The road to hell.”

  “Oh, come on. I know you weren’t trying to hurt Russ, but he’s probably going to be hurt anyway. If it were me, I’d be annoyed but I’d understand. Russ is more….”

  “I know.”

  “We’ll talk to him. He’ll get it once we talk.”

  “But he’ll be upset first.” And what was he going to say? Sorry I purposefully didn’t invite you? Jesus, he was an asshole.

  “Well, you… we… might have to pay the piper.”

  Oscar nodded, and a silence fell on the kitchen for a bit while he tried to decide what he should say. What he should do. He understood his feelings for both of these men. It was the same strong emotion but felt so different, each of them something he needed, something he wanted. He’d changed, grown since he lost Emmett, both in his desires and his needs. Enough that this new relationship made him realize they wouldn’t be easily met by Emmett anymore, not this completely. Was that okay? Was it really possibly to be in love with more than one man? Right at this moment, he didn’t know for sure, but he was genuinely open to the idea.

  He just didn’t know if he had what it took to do right by each of them. He didn’t know if he had the energy, or the time. And he didn’t like feeling as if he was failing them.