They all looked up as he approached. “Well, look at you, here early on a workday. This is a pleasant surprise,” his mama said.
“We were slow. I figured I’d come and see what kind of trouble these two were causing.” He winked at Holden, who was covered in sawdust and sexy as hell. Roe bit back a groan. As if his mom could read his mind, she cocked a brow at him.
“Your mama was just letting them know they’re expected at dinner this Sunday,” his dad said.
Roe’s gaze caught Holden’s because he knew the man was uncomfortable with that kind of thing.
He wished Holden would see how many people loved him or how many people could if only he’d let them. Roe’s family might make him crazy sometimes, and they might not always get him, but if he told them Holden was his, they’d accept him. Holden would have a whole family waiting for him, outside of his sister and nephew who thought the sun rose and set with Holden Barnett.
Damned if Roe didn’t feel as if it did too.
“It’ll be so fun!” Sean replied. “Can we go, Uncle Holden? Wyatt will be home too, right, Roe?”
“He sure will,” Roe replied. It was always a long week without his son, and he missed him something fierce.
“Yeah, yeah. We can go.” Holden ruffled Sean’s hair.
“Yes!” Sean was damn near giddy.
They chatted for a little while before he discovered that Holden and Sean were done for the day.
They said their goodbyes to his parents, Roe helped them clean up, and then they met back at the house just as Marilee was getting home from work. It was nice, having them around all the time. Roe liked a full house. The only thing missing was Wyatt and Lindsey.
He let Zeus out, and Sean went to play video games. Marilee was in the bathroom, so Roe and Holden were alone in the kitchen.
“You, um…got any plans for tonight?” Holden surprised him by asking.
“Yeah, tons. So many plans, I don’t know what to do with them all.”
“Ha-ha,” Holden replied. “You want some company in your room? Or maybe we can go somewhere…sneak out on the property to have a little fun or something?”
Roe grinned. “You trying to get me alone, darlin’?”
“Nah, don’t really like you that much,” Holden teased just as Marilee came into the kitchen.
“You two should go out. Sean and I will be fine.”
“You heard that?” Holden asked her. “What do you have, supersonic hearing?”
“She’s a mom,” Roe answered at the same time that Marilee said, “I’m a mom.”
The three of them laughed.
“Seriously, though,” she said. “You guys might have some people fooled, but not me. Go out. Have fun. You deserve it. I’m sure we can make up some excuse.”
Roe wanted to spend some time with Holden, but he didn’t want to pressure Holden or put him in a situation where he was nervous about his family.
Holden turned to him, looking unsure. “You wanna?” Then turned to Marilee and added, “Also, we have no idea what you’re talking about. There’s nothing going on.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I wanna,” Roe replied.
Holden wrapped an arm around Marilee’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “Keep the doors locked, Zeus by your side, and call me if you need anything.”
“I will, but I think the two of you are overreacting. What good would Adam get out of coming here?”
They took separate showers. Roe wanted to take Holden on a real date. Wanted to have that—dating, and courting, and Christ, he sounded old.
He needed to talk to Lindsey.
They needed to talk to Wyatt.
But until he knew what Holden wanted, how could he do that?
They made the excuse of running errands, then were on their way.
“Where we going?” Holden asked.
“Chelsea. There’s a sports bar and grill over there. Can maybe grab some food and hang out. That sound good?”
Holden nodded. “You taking me on a date, Monroe Covington?”
It was ridiculous, but he felt like he was blushing. “Yeah, I think so. That okay with you?”
“It is,” Holden replied.
Thank God for that.
They talked about random shit on the drive over. It wasn’t long until Roe pulled up at the restaurant. It was a newer establishment, and by newer he meant five or so years, decorated all in dark wood, and with peanut shells on the floor.
They went inside, and the hostess greeted them and asked, “Do you want to sit at the bar or a booth?”
Roe looked at Holden, who said, “Booth.”
She led them over, and as they went, Roe noticed Deacon at a table by himself. He looked…sad, with a round curl to his shoulders and his eyes tilted down.
As if Deacon sensed him, he looked up, plastering a smile on his face that Roe could tell was all for show.
The hostess signaled one table away, and Roe told her thanks before they approached Deacon. “Hey, man. How’s it going?” Roe asked.