Forever Changed (4 page)

They were a comfort he hadn’t known he needed. He let himself relax into Abi’s strong arms.

Eric let him go and moved toward the door.

“How the fuck did you get dressed so fast?” Tommy laughed.

“The horses are getting ready to foal. You learn to hustle.” Eric winked and left the room.

Tommy was still only in his jeans, hadn’t even buttoned them, and there was Abi, just about dressed too. She was soothing a hand down her curls. She kissed his cheek and left the room. He finished dressing and sat back down. The room smelled of sex. Like Abi and Eric. What was he doing? He needed to get out of the house. Go back to what was familiar to him. Not be here at the ranch he should have grown up in, meeting the man who’d helped bring him into the world—especially now that his mother was dead. And why hadn’t she told him that she had been in contact with Dan? Shouldn’t he have known? Didn’t Dan want to meet him?

That could’ve been what had happened. Maybe his mom had been trying to fix something that should’ve been left alone. He didn’t want to go out there, but he was putting off something and it wasn’t like him.

He’d face his father like he’d faced everything in his life. Head on. He rose from the bed and squared his shoulders, as if he was going into a battle that could end in disaster.

Tommy followed the soft murmur of voices. He entered the kitchen and got to look at Dan before anyone knew he was there. His father was built much like he was. Tall and strong, even with the gray hair. He had a cowboy hat in one hand and his other slid through his hair—something Tommy had done for as long as he could remember when he was nervous. He caught himself before he did the same thing. He swallowed the lump in his throat. This was harder than he had thought it would be. God. He wanted to hate the man standing in that kitchen, but Dan looked…sad. Had Abi told him about Tommy’s mom?

He didn’t think she would have, but he really didn’t know her yet. Did he want to know her? He could just pass on the message and hightail it out of there. But he wouldn’t. That wasn’t how he was built. If he could help it, he didn’t run away from relationships.

Whoa. We just met.

It was true, but he wouldn’t run from something that could be. That was his father’s job.

He cleared his throat to let them know he was there. Dan looked startled, but the expression was fleeting.

“Sir.” Tommy nodded.

“Thomas.”

They stood and stared at each other. It was only seconds, but Tommy would’ve sworn it was longer. Dan had the same brown eyes. It was like seeing what he’d look like in a few years’ time. It was eerie.

“I came here with a message.”

“She’s gone, isn’t she?”

Tommy could only nod.

“Did she make you come here?”

“She wanted me to tell you she said goodbye.”

Dan crumbled before his eyes. “She wouldn’t let me come to her.”

Tommy moved fast and helped Dan to the table.

“I didn’t know you were talking. She never said anything to me.”

“We agreed to wait. I knew you’d hate me and I wanted time— Hell, boy, I was stalling. Didn’t want to see how much you hated me for what happened.”

“Why didn’t you come sooner?” He had to know why his dad had abandoned them. Had money really been all that important? It didn’t look like it if Dan’s actions were anything to go by. He was just as broken up as Tommy. The hate he’d built up for years was slowly disappearing and Tommy didn’t know how he felt about it.

“Your ma is—was—sorry, was a pistol and stubborn as hell. I was young and stupid. It took her a long time to forgive me and she didn’t want to bring you into it yet because she didn’t trust me. At least, I didn’t think… But you’re here now… I… Excuse me.” Dan shot up and left the room.

Tommy put his head into his hands. He was surprised to feel Abi rubbing circles on his back. He looked up to see she had tears in her eyes.

“He talked about your mom all the time. I know you have reason to hate him. Heck, I knew he had a son. My mom worked here when Dorothy and Danny were together. She told me how it was a great love, but Danny’s parents wouldn’t allow it. It was so sad and now there is nothing he can do to get that back.”

“Yeah, well, he should have taken a stand before I was born.”

“He wanted to, but he couldn’t. Don’t you see? He wouldn’t have been able to support the both of you if he’d left with your mom. He only knew ranching and this place wasn’t his yet. He let you go because he knew his parents would offer money. He told your mom to take it and run.”

“How do you know so much about this?”

“I listen. Danny likes to talk when he’s had a few.”

Abi hugged him tight. Tommy closed his eyes and didn’t want to move. Ever.

Chapter Eight

Eric walked back into the house. Phil had everything under control and now that the other hands were back, it gave him a bit of time. There was no way he could leave Tom and Abi alone right now. He wanted to be there to support them.

He figured it had to be rough for Tom to meet his dad under such horrible circumstances. Everyone on the ranch knew Dan had a son, but none of them had really expected to meet him. Now here he was and Eric didn’t want him to leave.

Tom sat at the table with Abi beside him. Dan was nowhere to be seen.

“Hey.”

They both looked up. Tom’s eyes were bright with unshed tears and Abi’s face had streaks from where she’d been crying. It must not have gone well.

“Hey, yourself. How are the horses?”

“Good. The others have it under control. I’ll go back out later to relieve Phil.”

Tom was getting control of himself and Eric hoped that it wasn’t to put up a wall. Not when they didn’t have much time. Tom had talked to Dan. He could leave now.

“How…um… Where’s Dan?” He twisted his hands. He had no idea why he was so nervous.

“He went to his room, I suspect. He took it hard.” Abi gestured toward the back of the house.

“How did you take it, Tom? You good?” Eric walked closer and put his hand on Tom’s shoulder, hoping it showed him a bit of support.

“I want to hate him.” Tom cleared his throat. “But I can’t.” He rubbed a hand down his face.

“It’s okay not to hate him.” Abi kissed the side of Tom’s head.

“I know that in my head, but in my heart? He abandoned us. He had this home and my mom and I—we struggled. I would listen to her cry. Sometimes she would say his name. How do you give that up?” Tom looked defeated.

“You get to know your father.” Eric squeezed Tom’s shoulder.

He knew it was easier said than done. Eric had never been in a situation like this. He didn’t know his real family. A few foster homes had been good growing up and he knew how to let stuff slide off his back. It was easier that way and hate took up too much time.

Tom sighed. Eric felt so bad and wished there was something he could do.

“Look, man, I know it’s easy for me to say that, but it’s true.” Eric really did want to help and he wanted Tom to stay as long as he possibly could.

“It is. Fuck. I should go get a room in town and—”

“No!” Abi and Eric shouted at the same time.

Tom jumped.

“Sorry.” Abi laughed.

“You need to stay here. Did you change your flight?” Eric sat down at the table next to Tom.

“Yes, I leave tomorrow afternoon.” Tom looked between Abi and Eric.

“Spend your time here. Talk to Dan. Spend the night with us.” Eric was doing his best not to beg, but if that was what it took, he would. Not just for him, but for Abi too. There was too much he still wanted to do with this man.

“And come back,” Abi whispered. She was on the same page as Eric.

“I want to stay. We all have some unfinished business, but I don’t know if I can be in this house right now.”

“Don’t worry about that. I have a small place here on the ranch. The foreman’s house. We’ll go there.”

“Yes, we can spend the night at Eric’s. Stay.” Abi was all but sitting in Tom’s lap. Eric would have laughed, but he didn’t want to break the moment.

“Okay,” Tom agreed.

Eric released the breath he’d been holding. He knew it could go either way. He needed to get to know Tom better so he could gauge what he’d do.

“Good. Why don’t you let Eric show you his place and I’ll clean up the kitchen? Come back for dinner then we’ll spend the night over there.” Abi stood.

“No.”

Abi looked stricken. “No?”

“Sorry! Sorry. I meant, I’ll help you clean up.” Tom laughed.

“I’ll help too. We can get it cleaned up and help with any supper prep you need.”

“How about you both help clean up then you can show Tommy the horses.”

“We can do that.” Eric nodded.

He was proud of the ranch, almost as though it was his own. Dan ran a good place. It got a little hectic when it turned into dude ranch season and all the greenhorns were around spooking the horses, but in the winter it was always so pretty and calm and he was happy to call the place home. The first one he’d had. Ever. It was his and he wasn’t going anywhere. Abi was here, after all. She’d been here her whole life and he had no idea what that would have been like. Who could he have been if he’d had family?

Eric tended not to dwell on his past too much. His present and future were enough to keep him warm at night.

They finished cleaning up in no time. It was easier with three people doing the work. Abi shooed them out of the house. Eric took Tom’s hand and led him toward the barn. He could show off his horses and check on them at the same time. Phil was a great guy and good at his job, but Eric tended to be protective over Cally. She was his baby.

“This okay?” Tom pulled at his hand.

“Yep. No one here cares. I told Dan when I first got here that I was bi. I didn’t want it to interfere if I happened to start dating a guy.”

“What about the whole three people thing?” Tom cocked his eyebrow.

“Well, that has never come up.” Eric felt his face heat.

Tom chuckled. “How are you going to explain the three of us leaving after dinner?”

“We won’t. We’re all adults, it’s no one’s business but ours.”

“Okay then. Show me the horses.”

Chapter Nine

Tommy was impressed with the parts of the land he’d been shown. He could tell that Eric was good with the horses. His confidence was sexy as hell and the way he took charge of the place was hot. He was already hard again and he still needed to get through dinner.

Dinner. He was worried about that. He’d have to sit at a table with his father. The good thing was that he wouldn’t be alone. Not only would Eric and Abi be there, but Phil would be there as well as the five other hands that were working.

It seemed like it was like a family affair. It was still hard to think of what could have been. He needed to get it out of his head. It was the past. It fucking sucked, but it was over. His mom was dead and that still choked him up. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever get over it, but she’d wanted him to meet his father. Now he knew why. She’d been preparing Dan for her death and giving Tommy someone to hang onto.

She probably hadn’t intended for him to find two sexy people he’d have a hard-on for. Maybe this was her way of looking down on him and giving him hope for something.

He was moving way too fast, he knew it. He also knew that no matter what happened he was coming back. He had to. There was a spark between the three of them that he wanted to explore beyond the fantastic sex. And it wasn’t as if he had anywhere else he needed to be. Or, hell, even wanted to be. He could move into town. See if they had any openings at the police department. Or was it the sheriff’s department? He’d have to figure it out, but there was time to do that once he got back to base and started the ball rolling. He could make some calls. He had some money saved so there would be time to figure things out.

“What did you think?”

They had reached the house and Abi broke into his thoughts. He should have been paying more attention, but his mind had wandered and looking at Eric’s ass in the jeans he was wearing wasn’t helping either.

“It’s a great place.”

“It is.” Abi smiled at him.

It brightened her whole face. He liked to see her smiling, almost as much as he liked watching when she came apart in his arms.

“Dinner is almost ready if you want to wash up. You guys have been gone for a while.”

“Yeah, we took my bags to Eric’s place.” Tommy winked.

It had been a good few minutes, too. Eric could really kiss, but they hadn’t had time for much more than that and Tommy wanted Abi with them.

They put the bags down in the bedroom. There were pictures all over the place, but he didn’t have time to look at them. Eric pulled him close and pressed their lips together. Tommy moaned and grasped Eric’s ass, squeezing it tight.

It was so nice to be held after all the crap he’d been through. The support was unspoken. He only wished that Abi was there with them. It felt slightly off kilter without her, but Eric tasted so damn good.

The kiss seemed never ending, but it was time to back off.

“I want you naked,” Eric whispered against his lips.

“Mmmm. I want that too, but not yet. Not without—”

“Abi,” Eric finished for him.

Tommy hugged Eric tight and nuzzled into his neck, licking and nibbling. Eric rocked his body into Tommy’s and Tommy could feel that thick erection through the jeans.

He inhaled the scent of outside and sunshine that seemed to cling to Eric. He could easily become addicted to it.

“It’s too new. I want nothing more than for you to throw me onto your bed and us to go at it like bunnies, but right now— I need you both.”

Eric grabbed his face and jerked him forward for a hard kiss before releasing him.

“You’re right. Dinner. Then there will be nothing but the three of us writhing on that bed.”

He patted Eric’s ass and the two of them left the little house. He had to adjust himself before they headed out. Eric gave him a quick wink and opened the door.