5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Mickey was downstairs making up a bedroom for Jon Wells. The man was still as fucking gorgeous as Mick remembered from the hearing in Richmond. If he wasn't mistaken, the lawyer gave him the eye when they reintroduced themselves. Maybe the two of them might engage in a little suck and fuck? It was something to consider.

Mickey heard footsteps descending the stairs, so he walked out of the room to see the pretty blonde attorney looking around the finished lower level. She appeared to be the kind of woman straight men went for, and she knew it, based on the look on her face.

Mick, however, was far from straight. He noticed her gaze falling on the old Pac Man video game in the corner of the room. She laughed as she approached it and dropped her bag on the floor, searching for a way to turn it on.

In his opinion, it was extremely cool how Matt and Tim had finished out the basement. There was a ninety-inch HD LED 3D—and every other D— smart TV mounted on the white, shiplap-covered wall, along with surround sound and a video game console at one end of the room. Also, in the large family/entertainment room was a pool table and the arcade-style Pac Man video game Matt had bought Tim for Christmas.

It was definitely a man cave, and since the only women who ever visited the house were Jeri or Katie, they hadn't bothered to get a woman's perspective on the build out. Mickey was happy to see even a woman could appreciate the many wonders of the room and its toys.

Tim had taught Mickey the joys of World of Warcraft and Call of Duty , and the two of them played when they had time. Matt had no desire to learn to play video games, so when he and Ryan went out for their father/son time, Tim and Mickey would head to the new playroom and kill a few hours. Tim had taught him a lot about things Mickey had only heard about on television, and he'd be grateful to his best friend till the day he died.

"So, which room is mine." Ronni caught sight of Mickey standing in the small hallway.

Mickey smiled. "Actually, ma'am, Matt suggested you take Ryan's room because it's got an adjoinin' bathroom. Mr. Wells and I can share the john down here. I changed out the sheets upstairs, and Ryan's excited to sleep on the couch down here. Anything I can help ya with?"

Mickey wasn't sure what to do about the woman and her unwanted attention. Women weren't his area of expertise. Jon Wells… Well now, that was another story.

The blonde was a beauty, to be sure, and if women were what pressed his buttons, Mickey would have been all over Ronni Turnberry, regardless of how old she turned out to be. Aside from being gorgeous, she seemed to have a great personality, which was another thing that pressed Mickey's buttons. Unfortunately for her, being a card-carrying, gay man as he was, he'd quickly clue her in that anything between the two of them was a no-go.

Ronni smiled before she picked up her bag and looked into his eyes. "I guess I'll be fine upstairs. How well do you know Matt Collins?" She stepped closer to Mickey before taking a seat on the sectional sofa in the basement and crossing her legs.

"Whaddya mean?" Mickey balled up the dirty sheets before sitting in a chair nearby.

"I mean is he going to take advantage of Timothy?" She seemed really interested in his answer, so he took a minute before he stuck his size twelve boot into his mouth and said something he couldn't take back.

"You're talkin' 'bout Tim's money, ain't ya ma'am? Well, I don't expect Matt's gonna take anything from Tim, any more than Tim would take from Matt. They love each other more than any two people I've ever met in my life, and I suspect in their minds and hearts, they'll share everything they have equally." Mickey felt confident in his judgment of the situation.

The woman with her mesmerizing gray eyes sat there facing him, and he could see she was strong and independent. She was cut from the same cloth as Miss Katie, and he respected it because they were the type of women who looked out for people —especially people who were either too young or too na?ve to look out for themselves. "How sure are you about that? Tim's my client…"

Mickey interrupted her. "Let me clue you into somethin' I've come to learn since I started workin' with these folks. Matt and Tim? All they want is to take care of their boy and make a good life for him. They don't give a shit about anything else—not money, not prejudices because of their orientation, and certainly not about takin' advantage of each other or anybody else. They love each other so much they'd gladly give everything they have to the other if it was what he wanted."

Ronni's face didn't give away her thoughts on Mickey's assessment, so he continued.

"If you go into this situation with that knowledge, and if you can convince Mr. Wells of the same thing, you'll both keep your clients and likely make some money while you make 'em all very happy. Good luck, Miss Ronni." Mickey gathered the sheets to take upstairs to the laundry.

"If you'll excuse me, ma'am, I have some other chores to do, and I need to put a roast in the oven." He then headed up the stairs.

Mickey loved living at the ranch because it was amazing to hang out with Matt, Tim, and Ryan. They were becoming the brothers he wished he'd grown up with, and he'd defend them at every turn. Nobody had the right to get in the middle of their happy life, least of all lawyers.

Mickey was in the kitchen chopping vegetables to put in the bottom of the roasting pan before he put the brisket into the oven. He had the carrots, onions, and celery lining the pan, so he retrieved the hunk of meat from the plastic bag he'd used for a marinade that morning. Once it was settled, he added some beef broth and half a bottle of red wine.

He was sprinkling on salt and pepper when the back door slammed. He turned to see Jon Wells stagger inside with a look on his face Mickey recognized far too well.

Mickey took the handsome man's arm and led him to the bathroom outside the office. He placed him on top of the closed commode in the powder room before he pulled a small paper cup from the dispenser, filling it with water. "Let me guess? Castrating?"

The lawyer nodded weakly. "Oh, God, I may never think about my balls the same way." Jon's voice was quiet as he placed his hand over his crotch in a protective manner.

Mickey held the urge to laugh because he felt sorry for the guy. It wasn't everyone's cup of tea, turning bull calves into steers.

The first time he'd seen it done to those cute little baby calves, Mickey went behind the barn and puked up a damn nice breakfast Miss Katie had made. He'd adjusted to it over time.

"It's pretty awful at first glance, but it would be worse if Matt had bulls fightin' each other over cows in season—I mean, ready to breed. With an operation this big, you gotta time the breedin' season. He sells a lotta bull calves, but sometimes he keeps a few select ones because he knows rodeo stock when he sees it. He keeps some of the steers for beef cattle, as well."

Mickey noticed Jon still looked green. He wanted to laugh, but he wouldn't embarrass the man. Jon didn't deserve his judgment.

"Tim believes in Matt's judgment and supports his decisions, contributin' in his own way for the benefit of the ranch. From an objective observer's standpoint, their connection is a damn incredible thing. It's like they can read each other's minds sometimes. Most of us could only hope to have that kind of love and support." Mickey stood at the bathroom sink, ready to refill the paper cup for Jon.

After Jon swallowed the last of the water, wiped his hand across his brow, and looked up at Mickely. "I watched Tim and Matt, and I get they're in love, I really do, but what does Tim bring to the table, really? I've had a big uptick in representing gays and lesbians who are filing for divorce. I'd hate for Matt to be the next one in a far too long line."

Mickey chuckled, unable to believe how out of touch the lawyer appeared to be with things at the Circle C. "You're jokin' right? You're just fuckin' with me."

The handsome lawyer with the light-brown skin took another sip of water as he watched Mickey. "I'm being serious. What does Tim have that makes Matt—I know right now they're in love and all that happy shit, but if they broke up, who'd walk out with the better situation?"

In Mickey's opinion, it was easy. "If they broke up? Neither one of 'em would walk away a whole man. They love each other the way you should love the person who fits you perfectly."

Jon Wells rose from his seat on the lid of the commode. "I think I'm fine, now. Thanks."

The gorgeous man was in Mickey's personal space. It was damn tempting to go ahead and kiss him, but Mickey merely stepped aside. "You want some tea? I have some in the kitchen that's calming to the stomach. I wouldn't mind a cup myself."

Jon nodded, tossing the paper cup into the trash can. "That'd be nice. I'd like to help with the meal if I could. I've learned to be of some use in the kitchen over time."

The two of them went to the kitchen, and Mickey couldn't help teasing the lawyer. "Now, we're not havin' escargot or anything of the sort, so don't get your hopes up. It's a beef roast with vegetables, mashed potatoes, and if I can get some help, some cheese biscuits. I might make some brownies, but that's up to Ryan. He picks dessert around here."

When Jon laughed, Mickey's heart pounded in his chest. "You gotta love a kid who runs the house. I used to do that shit with my folks. I'm an only as well. I used to tell the cook what we were gonna… Uh." The lawyer abruptly stopped talking.

Mickey smiled. "Now, don't be embarrassed. It wasn't hard to figure out you came from money. I really don't mind the work I do ‘round here, Jon. I have a family here to take care of, and it doesn't matter what they call me. I'm makin' a contribution. That's all that really matters to any of us, ain't it?" Mickey didn't think he'd ever meant anything more in his life.

"Mick, that was incredible. You set the bar too high for me." Tim teased Mickey as they cleaned up the dishes, stowing the very sparse leftovers for a snack over the weekend.

Everyone had eaten their fill, and the conversations had been lively. Mickey could tell Jon and Ronni were preparing to square off over Matt and Tim's portfolio. They hadn't even tried to hide the competition between them.

"Thanks, Tim. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Matt and Tim were great at keeping shit to themselves. Mickey knew the lawyers were in the dark about all the changes that had taken place since the two of them decided to share their lives and moved in together.

Hell, Mickey himself didn't really know everything going on behind the scenes, and he lived there, though he respected their privacy. He didn't meddle, but they weren't guarded when they spoke at the dinner table. He had a good idea his employers and friends weren't exactly hurting for money.

Mickey had watched Ronni Turnberry baiting Jon Wells all night because she was going in for the kill to land all the legal work for Matt, Tim, and the ranch, stealing it from under Jon's nose before the handsome lawyer knew what had happened to him.

Mickey was intrigued by the sexy stud of a lawyer, who had been with Matt from the beginning when Ryan was first taken by his mother and had been instrumental in bringing the boy home. Mickey was rooting for him—especially with those enticing, sage-green eyes—trying not to think about how much he wanted his cock.

It was hard to take sex out of the equation because Jon Wells had bedroom eyes. Mickey had a hard time resisting Jon's bedroom eyes until he remembered Matt's rule: No one-nighters at the ranch. It was like a bucket of ice-cold water drenched him square in the crotch.

"That was delicious, Mickey. I can understand why Matt and Tim are so happy to have you here to take care of them. I certainly wouldn't mind having someone like you around my house making dinner and doing my laundry." Ronni hopped up from the table and began helping Tim and Ryan clear the dishes.

"Actually, Miss Ronni, why don't you, Mr. Wells, Matt, and Tim go to the study to talk. Ryan and I are gonna clean up the dishes and then watch a movie. I'll bring in some coffee, along with the brownies we're gonna make," Mickey suggested.

Ryan spun on him and held up his empty hand. "High five for brownies." It brought a laugh from those at the table.

"Oh, that sounds lovely." Ronni walked up the stairs to the room she'd been given for the weekend.

Mickey picked up dishes as he moved around the table, and when he reached for Jon's plate, he leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "Watch your nuts, counselor. That lady's plannin' to do to you what Matt did to those calves today, only it's your client she's after."

Mickey walked away, continuing to clear the table as Ryan stood on the little ladder in the kitchen, rinsing plates for the dishwasher. Since Mickey had moved in, Matt and Tim had worked out a new chore chart for Ryan so he could earn more allowance, and it had worked in spades.

Ryan was into fundraising for kids who didn't have the resources he had thanks to his parents' successes, and he was planning to have a carnival at the ranch over the summer for a local food and clothing bank, so he was seeking money to cover his costs.

The boy had a lot of his friends at school promising to help, and Mickey, for one, was over-the-moon proud of the boy. His parents instilled in him the best values in the world, most importantly, compassion for his fellow humankind.

After they had the dishwasher loaded, Ryan went to the counter and took a seat, watching Mickey washing the pots and pans. "Miss Ronni's pretty, ain't she?"

Mickey hoped it wasn't going to end up in a discussion he damn well wasn't ready to have with the boy regarding sexuality or his lack of attraction to the blonde attorney. "She really is pretty, and she's very smart. I think she's a pretty good lawyer," Mickey offered as a diversion.

"Why do they need lawyers? Is there somethin' wrong?"

Mickey turned to see Ryan near tears, likely remembering the last time lawyers were so heavily involved in his life. Mickey quickly dried his hands and walked over to the boy. He hugged him, patting his back as he remembered the shit the boy had been through at the hands of his mother and grandmother. He was determined to let his young friend know it was nothing nearly as serious as that disaster from the previous Christmas.

"It's not like that at all, Little Man. Just because they're talkin' to lawyers doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I think this time, it's a good thing. When they get done, I'll get your dads to come talk to you downstairs, okay?" Mickey hugged the boy again. For the first time in his life, he was envious of his best friend. Having a child to look up to you and love you was the most amazing feeling in the world.

"You sure?" Ryan didn't seem convinced.

"Positive. Now, let's make some brownies to snack on while we watch a movie. Get us a good recipe."

Ryan went to the computer in the kitchen and typed in brownies , laughing when the screen filled with options. They scrolled through them and found their favorite cook, a lady who lived on a large ranch in Oklahoma, and they went to work.

Ryan assisted with gathering the ingredients, and as they worked through the recipe, Mickey and he discussed measures, which was something Mickey didn't know too well outside of reading a recipe. "Someday, I'm gonna go back to school and learn this stuff so I'm as smart as you." He tickled Ryan's neck as he said it so he could hear the boy's giggle.

They set the timer for the oven and then prepared a tray to take coffee to the study for the lawyers, Tim, and Matt. Their fancy, one-cup-at-a-time coffee maker was a pain in the ass when Mick was trying to fill the carafe, but by the time the brownies were done they had a full pot. Mickey prepared the cream and sugar while Ryan arranged the tray. They cut the brownies and placed them on a plate before they proceeded down the hallway.

Ryan knocked on the door and when it sprang open, he gave Tim a big grin. "We brought dessert and then me and Mick are gonna go watch a movie. Come say goodnight before you go to bed."

They made a quick detour back to the kitchen and grabbed themselves two cartons of chocolate milk and two brownies. Mickey swung the boy up on his back and carried him downstairs to the family game room. He put Ryan down on the sectional before he placed their snacks on the coffee table, then walked to the racks of cartoon DVDs next to the large television. They had satellite out at the ranch, but Ryan had his go-to movies that Tim and Matt bought him as gifts. The kid loved watching movies.

"Now then, how 'bout we watch Cars? You like Mater, right?"

Ryan nodded, so Mickey slid the movie into the DVD player and returned to sit down next to the boy, hoping he had reassured Ryan that there was no reason to worry about his dads.

"Thanks, Mick," Ryan told him as the two of them snuggled up on the couch to watch the movie Mickey was sure he'd seen at least a dozen times since he'd moved into the ranch house. He prayed the boy became interested in some other movie because he was pretty sure if he ever met someone, the guy wouldn't be impressed with Mickey's ability to recite all the lines in the character voices.

Living at the Circle C was great in every way—except for his love life, which wasn't looking up anytime soon.