“Event?” His honey. Well, crap. Maybe he’d overstepped yesterday giving Troy his card.
“He was a rodeo cowboy. Him and Arnie both were.” Carter rolled his eyes. “Talk about leather fantasies. Those two were stunning together.”
“Wow. I bet. I knew a guy that did rodeo once, but I don’t know much about it honestly. So what does Arnie do?” He tossed his towel and his helmet into the front seat.
“He was a bull rider. He died in Dallas a long time ago.”
He stared at Carter. “Shit. I’m sorry.” He sure put his foot in that one.
“Oh, it was twenty plus years ago, but thank you. It damn near destroyed Troy, but he survived it.” Carter’s lips quirked. “He remade himself.”
Saul tried to put himself in that position for a minute and just couldn’t, it seemed so sad. And he had no idea what remaking yourself meant. He was even more curious about Troy now, but he didn’t want to ask for more details from Carter.
He was convinced that he was meant to hear the rest of the story from Troy himself.
“Man, I’m going to eat a stack of pancakes as big as my head.” Carter started the engine. “You mind if I call Geoff to join us?”
He pulled on his seatbelt and lowered his window. “Not at all, I’d love to meet him. How did you two hook up? You don’t look like a tattoo guy.”
“I have some, but not many. We met in L.A.” Carter looked at him squarely. “At a fairly kinky lifestyle convention.” Oh. Damn, had he run over the right guy on that mountain or what? Carter watched him, and he could tell the man was trying to gauge his reaction, like this was a test.
“No way, really? I knew those existed, but I’ve never been to one. I’d like to one day though.” That should clue Carter in a little. Saul hauled his bag from the floorboard and opened it up to pull out a clean T-shirt. “So… have you guys found other lifestyle people? Is there a scene in Boulder?” He unzipped his jersey and peeled it off to change.
“Everything’s in Denver, really, but there are some good clubs in the city.” Carter grinned, and Saul saw the way the man’s shoulders relaxed. Carter plugged his phone in and hit speaker. “We have a group of ten or so that have parties, that sort of thing. I bet they have meetings at the university, though.”
Sweet. His new goal was to get an invitation to one of Carter’s parties. “I never found a real one. Doesn’t mean it’s not there, I guess. I was a late bloomer, I wasn’t really playing in school.”
He pulled on his T-shirt and slipped back under the seat belt.
“Yeah, I sort of had a wild ride until I found the diner. Then it was love at first sight. Story of my life.”
Saul didn’t have a story of his life yet. But he was really happy with this chapter. He stayed quiet as the phone started to ring.
“Hey, baby. You all done?” Carter’s lover’s voice was smooth and soft, and Saul could hear the affection.
“I am. Made it the whole way without either crashing or burning. You up and dressed?”
“The kid is learning! I am both. Need me?”
Carter chuckled softly. “Always. Come down for brunch? I promised Saul food.”
“I would love that. I’m looking forward to meeting the man that tried to kill you.”
“Ha.” He grinned. “I saw Carter ride. It will take more than me to do him in.”
Geoff gasped melodramatically, the tone sarcastic. “Oh my goodness. Are we on speaker phone?”
That just made him laugh harder.
“Would I do that, sugarbutt? Diner. Fifteen. Love you.” Then Carter hung up with a grin.
“He’s funny.” Saul stretched and his stomach growled. “Oh, I can taste the French toast already.”
“He’s a hoot. I’m craving the green chile benedict, something with a little sting.”
At this hour on a Sunday, it took them no time at all to make it downtown. He loved Carter’s truck and was a little jealous of it. He didn’t have wheels of his own, he biked everywhere or took the bus if he had to. He’d managed to get around just fine that way since his college years at CU.
“You’re welcome to leave your bike up in the bed of the truck. I’ll park back near the kitchen.” Carter pulled up to the kitchen door, one of the cooks out there smoking.
“Thanks, I’ll take you up on that.” He jumped out of the truck and stretched, legs feeling stiff. “We pushed pretty hard, so I’m tightening up some.”
“I got some Blue Emu salve in the backseat, if you want.” Carter squinted at the guy. “Are you supposed to be smoking out here?”
“It’s the smoking area, Carter. That’s where you smoke.”
“Man has a point.”
“If I can con Troy into quitting, I can con anyone.” Carter’s eyes narrowed. “I just have to find what Charlie’s soft spot is.”
“Nothing soft about me, boss. Can’t say the same about your man though.” Charlie grinned and breathed out a long stream of smoke.
“Be good, Charles. My money’s on Geoff, every time.” There was a calm seriousness that made Saul’s eyebrow arch. Impressive.
Also impressive was the way Charlie’s eyes dropped to the blacktop. “Sorry, Carter. I was just playing. He’s inside talking to Troy.”
“No worries, kiddo.” He clapped the guy on the back on the way by. “Busy day?”
“Swamped. It just let up about ten-fifteen minutes ago.” Charlie nodded to him as he walked by.
Saul looked Charlie over as he passed. They were probably about the same age and he wouldn’t say that was in “kiddo” range. He gave the guy a wink and they exchanged a soft laugh, then he followed Carter inside.
“Good morning, baby.” The man who kept his distance and gave Carter a chaste kiss on the cheek had to be Geoff. “Ew. You’re all sweaty.”
Geoff was totally not the look he expected. Tattoo artists were supposed to wear metalhead T-shirts and be pierced and inked everywhere. This guy was…dapper. Clean-cut, coiffed, little button up shirt and khakis. Huh.
“I’d say it was totally my fault but that sounds so dirty.” He gave Geoff a smile and offered a hand. “Saul Reynolds. Nice to meet you.”
“Geoff Lee. You seem so young for attempted murder. Carter, you didn’t tell me he was fifteen!”
“I didn’t? I’m sure I told you a six-year-old hit me…”
Geoff laughed. “Maybe you did. Early senility and all. Troy, have you got a happy meal for junior?”
He rolled his eyes. This got old after a while, but he supposed having a baby face now meant he’d look young forever. “I’ll let you all know when I need my diaper changed. Troy, man. Come to my rescue here?”
Troy glanced over at him, the smile pure wicked evil. “Now, look here. That is not my kink. In fact, you might have to go to Denver for that. French toast, right?”
Geoff practically squealed. “Troy! I’m so proud!”
“Yes, please.” He laughed and crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall, playing at pouting. “Damn. This is a tough crowd.”