Kitt knew the guy’s muscles had to ache. No way could Austin be used to putting in this much physical labor, but he never complained. Nor did he stop, and he never showed any sign of fatigue. Instead, Austin worked hard. On that first day, he’d been pretty rusty, but picked it all back up quickly. He’d even jumped on a stallion, handling him like a pro. Kitt finally let himself admit Austin looked hot as hell as he rode that horse. Austin had never done a Western in any of the movies he starred in. In Kitt’s mind, he’d missed his calling. Austin looked like a natural up on a horse. Rugged, manly, strong…
After the day’s work was done, Austin sat on his stepmom’s back porch like he truly was one of the guys. He acted like it was the most natural thing in the world to have a three time Academy Award winner eating homemade spaghetti at his parent’s house.
The only repeat Kitt ensured didn’t happen was getting stuck together with Austin in his stepmom’s kitchen. Kitt’s body had hardened to painful degrees when Austin slipped in behind him at the sink. It was a natural move, normal, and one he himself had done a hundred times. Just sliding your plate in the sink to help the washer out, but his body freaked. His heart plunged, his breathing turned into a pant and he had to get away. And then, Austin turned into a normal decent guy, apologizing and even complimenting him in the process.
What person in this world was on Austin’s level in life, yet kind enough to make sure the two of them were on good standing after the brawl over the fence? All those kind words about respect made Kitt blush like a little girl.
Kitt hadn’t been able to get out of that kitchen fast enough. He tried to stay the cool guy, feigning easy going and unaffected, but when his stepmother opened that door, he’d wanted to holler ‘Hallelujah!’ and kiss her right on the lips in appreciation for giving him an out. After that incident, Kitt made absolute certain he was never left alone with Austin again. If there was even the slightest hint of that happening, Kitt bailed on whatever task he worked and assigned it to another.
It wasn’t easy. No matter how much distance he put between them, the connection between them sizzled, at least for Kitt. He needed to stay away from the Grainger farm. Mike would just have to understand. Damn! Mike complicated the whole deal. He’d been so pumped when he landed that job. Kitt had promised Mike he’d help in whatever he needed, and he knew Mike wanted the Grainger farm to get involved in the investment group Kitt started to fund his new ponies about to birth. Breeding quality race horses was too exciting an opportunity not to pass on to the few of them interested. Kitt didn’t see how he could let Austin Grainger in. He’d have to figure something out for Mike. Figure out a way to explain it to him, get him to understand. But what could he really say? Nothing would make sense and the investment group needed the capital to keep breeding their horses.
“Damn it,” Kitt muttered in frustration and finally rose from bed. It was way too early to get up, only three in the morning. But, he got up anyway and started on his day. He wasn’t scheduled to go back over to the Grainger farm until later and that was to check a couple of head of cattle for some possible respiratory issues. If anything else came up, he’d send Jose, his foreman over in his place. Kitt desperately needed distance. To help him find perspective, he decided to take Sean up on his offer. Even thinking it caused his heart to drop, but his head knew it was the right decision. Kitt had to use his head. He needed time to get comfortable with Austin living next door. Surely, something regular and faithful would help Kitt get past this unhealthy consumption.
For God’s sake, Austin was a straight man engaged to be married! Jealousy spiked up in Kitt at the thought even though he knew possessiveness had no place searing through him. So yeah, Sean as his boyfriend, sex twice a week…it wasn’t the hell he’d thought just two days ago. It’s what he needed to get his mind back focused right, but he’d have conditions. Sean would have to stop with the ‘I love yous’. That was the deal breaker. Maybe.
Besides, being away from here once a week could help get Austin out of his system. And, the other night, Sean offered to invest in his breeding program as a silent partner. He needed the money. If the hay baling didn’t pan out like Kitt hoped, the extra cash would help and buyers weren’t jumping in to buy his hay as easily as he thought they might. Maybe, Sean had a point. Now that they were a couple, weren’t they supposed to do things like share with one another? The bigger question though, why did the weight of thinking they were a couple settle so heavily on his shoulders?
~~~~~~
Sweat trickled down the side of Austin’s face as he loaded the last heifer in the chute. Tugging his t-shirt up and over his head, he wiped the wet cotton over his dust streaked face. Austin, Mike and a few of his security guards were the only ones on the job today, and they’d done it. Job complete. All the animals were tagged, vaccinated, fed, sectioned off and quarantined. He didn’t know what anyone else thought, but he considered this a job well fucking done.
“Good job, boss man.” Mike came to stand on the other side of the stall. He took off his work gloves and anchored an arm on the rail.
“Fuck I’m tired.” Austin slapped the heifer out of the rack. She took off, not needing to be urged twice.