Clouds and Rain

Hunter and Grant, or they‟ll think we left the building through the back door!”
    “If that nurse sees us come out of this room together, she‟ll think we had full-blown sex in here,” Gable replied matter-of-factly, tucking himself back into his jeans after cleaning himself up with a tissue.
    “Would that be a problem?” Flynn asked cockily.
    “No,” Gable laughed. “Now let‟s go and get some food.” 202

    Clouds and Rain

    Chapter 27

    TO SAY the dinner started out a little tense was the understatement of the century. Hunter had picked out a typical mom-and-pop family diner with sturdy wooden furniture, red-and-white checked tablecloths, and steaks that barely fit on the already oversized plates. The tables were close together and most people had brought their broods with them, so there were kids running around all the time.
    Flynn eyed them with some unease, since he wasn‟t really used to kids, and he found himself exchanging meaningful glances with Gable.
    There was no need for them to talk. Flynn could read Gable like a book.
    “You sure you want to actually father any children you sire?” Flynn asked silently, with eyebrows raised as a small boy raced past them, wielding his fork as a weapon while chasing his taller sister.
    “No way, José,” was clearly behind Gable‟s smile and shaking head as they settled around the table. Flynn tried to keep as much distance between Gable and Grant as he could, but since they had a round table, this meant that at first Grant was sitting right opposite Gable, and the tension rose the moment they realized they were going to be staring at each other all through dinner.
    “Let‟s switch,” Flynn suggested to Gable. “More space for your foot,” he explained as casually as possible. Luckily, Gable understood and immediately got up. It did put Grant next to Gable but it made it easier for Gable to ignore Grant as he now sat opposite Hunter and next to Flynn.
    It wasn‟t until they were scrutinizing the menu that Flynn realized that Grant and even Hunter were quite comfortable with the rampant children. One overworked and tired-looking mother shouted “Jackson!” across the restaurant as a mischievous-looking boy of about seven 203

    Zahra Owens

    darted past their table. Hunter was quick to catch him in his sturdy arm, halting his progress. He picked him up and deposited him in front of Grant, who had put down his menu.
    “You Jackson?” Grant asked with a broad smile that matched the little boy‟s mischievousness.
    The kid nodded.
    Grant mussed his hair. “Don‟t you think you should listen to your mother when she calls for you?”
    “She‟s always shouting at me, sir,” the kid answered.
    “Maybe because you don‟t listen?” Hunter replied, exchanging a knowing look with Grant.
    “Go on, go to her and tell her you‟re sorry for running away.
    Maybe if you‟re nice she‟ll let you come pony-riding at Blue River Ranch?”
    “I‟m big enough for a horse!” Jackson exclaimed.
    “We have mighty big horses over at our ranch, you know,” Hunter added to Grant‟s invitation.
    “Thank, guys,” the mother said as she reached them. “But don‟t put ideas into his head. He‟s horse-crazy enough as it is.” Hunter got up and shook the woman‟s hand. “Well, my partner here is right. We have pony-riding every Saturday morning and we show kids his age what it takes to take care of a horse. In other words, they learn how to muck out stalls as well as ride. And we take good care of them. You can come along if you like.” She eyed him up and down and briefly looked at the rest of the table‟s occupants, but her gaze was more of wonder than suspicion.
    Hunter retrieved something from his pocket. “Here‟s our card.
    My baby sister is a gem with kids and she‟s the riding coach. Why don‟t you give her a call?”
    “Can we, Mom?” Jackson asked impatiently.
    “We‟ll see, Jack,” his mother answered. “Thanks again. He‟s a handful,” she said, turning back to Hunter.
    Flynn watched the interaction and then looked at Gable. He was happy to see his lover look less tense, but he was more surprised at 204

    Clouds and Rain

    seeing Grant so loose and casual. He‟d never expected Grant to be such a natural with kids.
    “So you have pony rides at your ranch?” Gable asked after the waitress took their orders.
    Hunter nodded. “Bernie‟s teaching the kids to ride, and she figured she could make a little extra money teaching