Whiskey to Wine Read online

Then he heard Floyd licking and licking. Ah, a Kong.

  “You spoil him.” He had to laugh; here, he was family.

  “I know, but he’s a good boy. Did I ever tell you about the basset who came for a wedding?”

  “Bassets… long ears?”

  “Lots of drool. Short legs.” Geoff handed him a cup of coffee, lifting his hand to feel it.

  “Oh, thank you. No, tell me everything.”

  “Oh my God. He was the cutest old thing….” Geoff told him about this amazing redneck wedding and how many of the guests hooked up.

  He had coffee, a cinnamony sweet, good friends, music. It was magic.

  The crunch of gravel outside told him someone new had arrived. Ford made a huh kind of noise. “Is someone else scheduled to come in?”

  “We have people straggling in for Ski Week all week long, Ford.”

  “But I thought I had set it up so only Bleu arrived this afternoon.” The air moved when Ford rose. “Be right back.”

  “He worries.” Stoney sat close. “Have you been busy?”

  “I have. Good busy, though. I love my job.” Sculpting made him happy, balls to bones.

  “I bet. It’s so tactile.” Stoney had opened up a lot for him once they started riding horses together.

  “I think you would like it, man. I think you’d enjoy it.”

  “Yeah? I’ve got a lot to do, honey.” Stoney was so… Texan.

  “You don’t have a couple hours to play? You and Ford could do it together.”

  “We’ll try it, then. I mean, not until after ski weekend.”

  “Sure. You’re going to be busy.”

  “You’ll be leaving with me on Sunday, Bleu, don’t forget.” Right. Dan had to be… somewhere.

  “Maybe another time, then.”

  “Totally.” Stoney touched the back of his hand.

  The door opened, a cold wave of air coming in. “Oh God, what smells so good in here?”

  Bleu tilted his head. He knew that voice. He knew it, bone-deep.

  Ryan.

  Ryan “I Fucked Up Your Life And Left You Heartbroken” Shields.

  Goddamn.

  Chapter Two

  RYAN stepped into the kitchen of the Leaning N, and the smell of cinnamon rolls hit him in the face. “Oh God, what smells so good in here? Hey, Geoff. Stoney….”

  There was a long, long moment of silence. “Hey, Bleu.”

  Bleu Bridey. Right there in the flesh. Long, dark blond hair, broad shoulders, cheekbones sharp enough to cut diamonds. Damn.

  He’d never thought he would see that man again.

  “Hey. This is Dan, and the dog is Floyd.”

  “Hi, uh, Dan.” He shook the stocky Native American guy’s hand.

  “Pleased to meet you.”

  Bleu sat there, still and quiet, head tilted. Bleu had always been able to pull inside himself and make Ryan feel… alone.

  “How’s everyone?” he asked, his country polite upbringing kicking in.

  “Good. Good. Coffee?” Stoney grinned at him, the man offering him a cup before he answered. Texans and their coffee.

  “God, please. It was a drive.” He’d come down from Steamboat after doing a bit of an exhibition.

  “Yeah, the roads are something else. You staying for the week, huh?”

  “I am.” He was staring at Bleu. He knew he was staring, but he couldn’t help it. God, the man was still… ethereal and beautiful, and those hands had…. Damn.

  Those sculptor’s hands had given him hours of pleasure.

  “So is Phil not coming up?” Ford asked him.

  “Huh? Oh, uh, he’ll be up Wednesday. Flying into Aspen.” Phil was still a business contact, but no longer a personal one.

  “Good deal. We’re planning one hell of a party. I can’t wait.” Ford was looking from him to Bleu, gaze sharp.

  “Cool. Geoff, that smells good.”

  “Cinnamon rolls. You want one?”

  “I do.” He didn’t want to sit there with ever-so-silent Bleu, though. “You mind if I take it to the great room? I need to plug in my phone.”

  “Of course not.”

  “Dan, we should go to our cabin, huh?” Bleu stood, reaching for the German shepherd at his side. “Let Stoney and Ford get back to work.”

  “Oh. Sure.” Dan sure didn’t have a poker face. “See you guys later.”

  “I’ll take y’all down to your cabin. Make sure all is well.” Stoney stood and offered him a grin. “I’ll leave you with Ford and Geoff.”

  “Sure. Thanks.” He breathed deep, inhaling the coffee.

  As soon as the door closed, Ford said, “Is there a story there?”

  “Huh?” Ryan widened his eyes, trying for innocent.

  “Oh, you can’t fool us! We’re bored and dying for gossip.” Geoff placed a plate of sticky gooey goodness in front of him.

  Ryan contemplated running, but he really needed to tell someone. “Bleu and I were a thing. Like a big-time thing.”

  “No shit?” Ford plopped down. “Geoff, get the Baileys.”

  “On it, boss.”

  Ryan chuckled. “Oh, good idea.”

  “Man, I’m a fan of booze for stories.”

  “I bet you are. Freaks.” He winked at Geoff, who didn’t partake of the alcohol but sat with a cup of rooibos tea.

  “Tell,” Geoff said.

  “We met in college, believe it or not. Freshman year. Lived together in the dorms, then in an apartment.” They’d been wild for each other, for fun and parties and sex in every way possible. They’d been like whiskey, burning all the way down.

  Geoff propped his elbows on the table. “What happened?”

  “We were gasoline and matches, I guess. We graduated and started having to look for jobs.” He hadn’t been ready for it, the complications of living with a blind man. At college they’d been surrounded with friends, with a companion assistant for Bleu.

  In the real life, Bleu’d been scared, Ryan had been frustrated, and they’d ended up tearing each other to shreds.

  “So it ended badly,” Geoff said.

  “Hoo yeah.”

  “He seems like a decent guy, and I know you are….” Ford sounded so confused.

  “We were young and kinda idiots. You don’t have to take sides.” Ryan snorted. “You might have to run interference.”

  “I can do that. Bleu spends most of his time here trying to learn something new. He’s actually a shockingly good rider.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me.” He sort of kept tabs, a little. He knew Bleu had gotten engaged to a high-dollar type. Hell, maybe they were married already. “He was always pretty gifted physically.”

  When Geoff and Ford both stared at him wordlessly, he flushed, his cheeks hot as fire. “Stop it.”

  “I didn’t say a word,” Ford said, but it was Geoff who had the wildly gyrating eyebrows.

  “Is it true? Are his other senses more tuned in?”

  “Uh. Yes.” And he could totally say that not in relation to sex. In relation to sex? Jesus. Bleu was the best he’d ever, ever had.

  Still.

  “That’s so neat.” Geoff got the conversation back on the rails. “I’ll have to be careful not to mutter around him.”

  “Yeah, although he used to be good about pretending not to overhear things.” Bleu had really had him fooled. He’d been trying to figure out how to move out without hurting Bleu’s feelings, how to break it off without leaving Bleu in the lurch, and he’d come home to an empty house, a note outlining all the things Bleu had overheard.

  God, he’d felt like shit, and he’d missed the man. As he’d gotten older, though, he’d gotten mad. Bleu had known and hadn’t been invested enough to fight for them.

  Then he’d… well, he’d found the life he’d wanted. X Games, ski instructor, sponsorships, and then he started designing snowboards, skis. He didn’t have the time to worry about a man who needed as much assistance as Bleu did, no matter how amazing the sex had been.

&nb
sp; Ryan refused to feel guilty. Guilt and regret were overrated.

  Bleu was fine—an artist, married to a classy gallery owner, wealthy and respected. Bleu hadn’t needed him.

  All these years later, Ryan wasn’t sure he’d ever stopped needing Bleu.

  Shit.

  “Hey, Ryan? It’s okay, huh? Seriously. Old flames are just that. Old.” Geoff squeezed his wrist.

  “Right. I just need to get through ski weekend, anyway, huh? Lots of stress.” This was a busy time of year for him.

  “Yes, Mr. Celebrity. We’re so glad you’re here.”

  “I am too.” He would be, anyway.

  “Good. I gave you a cabin where you could ski out. It’s private, and there’s plenty of room for Phil when he gets here.”

  “Oh, he didn’t mention?” Shit. Phil was supposed to say they needed separate lodging.

  “Mention?” Ford looked to Geoff, then grabbed his phone. “Mention what?”

  “We’re not… not for almost six months.” Shit.

  “Oh, Jesus. I—let me grab Stoney and see what I need to do.”

  “Thanks.” He gave Ford an apologetic look. The Leaning N wasn’t exactly a huge resort kind of thing.

  “I… we may have to put him in a hotel in Aspen. Maybe in a room here in the main house….”

  “No. No, I know how busy you are. Can you get us an extra bed? Or a fold-out? I can sleep anywhere.” He would share with Phil, just not sleep with him. They weren’t together that way.

  “There’s two beds in your cabin—that’s not an issue.”

  “Then we can totally share. Don’t worry about it.” He shared hotels on the road all the time. What could it hurt?

  “Are you sure? Because Stoney’s sending me to our office manager, Miranda, in a panic.”

  “No, I’m sure. Don’t rearrange everyone for this.” He and Phil weren’t enemies; they just weren’t… compatible.

  They were business associates, and friendly, but well…. Could a man be friends with an ex?

  He wasn’t sure. Hell, he wasn’t sure he and Phil had ever been friends.

  When Ford gave him a panicky look, he just smiled. “Hey. At least I’m not having to room with Bleu.”

  “Yeah, Bleu’s cabin is full.”

  “Well, there you go.” Yeah, he’d assumed so. Why wouldn’t Bleu be taken? The man was talented and good in bed. So what if he was a fuck?

  Ryan ate his cinnamon roll because now he needed to reward himself.

  “So, tell me you’re looking forward to this week, at least?”

  “Huh? Oh, totally. I make a third of my sales all year in this week.”

  “No shit?” Ford actually looked shocked. “I mean, it’s a fabulous week for us, but….”

  “Yep. I mean, snowboards and equipment are investments. I sell a lot to the tour, but to the general public? Christmas and ski week.”

  “That’s great. We’ve got the cross-country skis for guests, but I keep trying to convince Stoney to try downhill. So far, no go.”

  “He might like snowboarding. The center of balance is better.” He loved his sport.

  “But I want to teach him.”

  Ah. Ryan got that. “I can teach you in secret, maybe after ski week.”

  “Oh.” Ford lit up. “I would love that.”

  “Rock on.” Ford was damn good to him. This would be something he could do that was special.

  “We’ll make a plan.” Ford winked.

  Geoff rolled his eyes. “Just don’t be so sneaky that Stoney gets all freaked-out. You know how he can be. He has anxiety issues.”

  Ford chuckled. “I overthink; he overworries.”

  “Right.” Geoff nodded firmly.

  “I’ll be sure to make it look unsuspicious.” He winked over. “You can help me with marketing, O Marketing Wonder.”

  “I can so do that.” Ford grinned. “Or, you know, look at legal things.”

  “Absolutely. Trademarks. Copyrights. Fun stuff.”

  “See?” Ford waggled his eyebrows. “I got all these skills.”

  “Totally. All that college edu-ma-cation.”

  “Right, what did you major in? Snow?”

  Ryan snorted. “I majored in party. Seriously, though, I majored in recreation and outdoor education.”

  “I can see it, you partying. You have the best laugh.”

  God, Geoff was a sweetheart.

  “Thanks, man.” He smiled at Geoff, because the guy was all about joy.

  “Anytime. Seriously. Are you coming up for supper, or do you have plans in town?”

  “I would like to, but I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.” Maybe he would go to Aspen.

  “Dan and Bleu don’t eat in the dining room. We’ll take them their plates.”

  “Oh. I can see that.” Bleu would find a noisy dining room full of ski people chaotic. Dan, huh. Same guy was in the society pages, so they must have gotten married.

  “Yeah, right? He’ll eat in here with me sometimes, but only if it’s just family.”

  “Right. Well, then count on me for supper.” He was both disappointed and relieved.

  “Good deal. Any requests?”

  “Oh, you know I love anything you put out, Geoff.” Pizza. Chicken wings. Crispy tofu with coconut rice.

  “I do. I’m thinking stew with cornbread.”

  “Oh, I would love that.”

  “Then that’s what it’ll be.” Geoff kissed his cheek. “Another cinnamon roll?”

  “Oh God. I shouldn’t.” It wasn’t like he was on tour anymore, and he would get time on the slopes this week, so…. “Yes.”

  “Ford?”

  “God, Stoney’s going to tease me mercilessly about my potbelly.”

  “Do eeeet,” Ryan joshed.

  “I’ll do an extra hour on the treadmill in the morning….” Ford nodded. “Bring it on.”

  They all laughed, and Geoff moved to dish up more ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls.

  God, this was why this place was famous—the generosity of the people.

  The rest would work itself out.

  Chapter Three

  “WHO was that?” Dan asked, pouncing as soon as Bleu walked out of the master bedroom.

  “Who was who?”

  “Don’t. You have no poker face. You looked… wounded.”

  He didn’t even understand what poker face meant, not really. “I’m fine. We were in college together, that’s all.”

  “And what did you do together while in college?” Dan moved closer, the air smelling like Acqua di Gió.

  Made love for hours. “We were on Team Party. There was lots of beer involved.”

  “And nookie?” The incongruity of Dan saying “nookie” slayed him.

  “Yeah. There was some of that too.”

  But Ryan had lost his mind, the summer after graduation, calling his folks and his sister constantly, stressing out about the “complications” of living with a blind man without the benefit of a full-time assistant, worrying about how he was supposed to take care of Bleu.

  Take care of him. Like he was helpless or stupid or incapable of functioning. He’d been blind his whole life. He could manage just fine. If the man had just talked to him about it, instead of everyone else, they might have been able to work it out, but Ryan had withdrawn more and more, and Bleu hadn’t been able to figure out what to do.

  So he’d left.

  He’d hired a car to take him to Santa Fe, contacted the Commission for the Blind, and he hit the ground running.

  Well, hit the ground limping, but he’d managed.

  Ryan had gone on to be hugely successful in his chosen sport, so Bleu guessed maybe it had worked out best for both of them.

  Bleu didn’t need a lover who thought he was a burden, no matter how hot they’d burned. Or not hot. God knew he and Dan had been placid, but Dan was also worried about him eating in public or trying to do anything physical.

  Dan was best as a good friend and a hell of a gallery own
er.

  “Huh, you never looked like that about me, Bleu.”

  “You’re making a lot of assumptions.”

  “I guess I am. Is it going to make you too weird? Being here at the same time as him?”

  “It’s not like I ever have to see him, honey.” He amused the fuck out of himself.

  “Oh, right.” Dan always sounded so self-conscious when he made blind jokes.

  “I… I’m going to go read, I guess.” He wanted to go out, talk to people, explore, but… yeah. Later. Maybe when Dan left to do business. He didn’t want to stress out his ex. Either one.

  “Do you want me to order our food, then?”

  “Why don’t you go to the dining room without me?” He could call Stoney and go have supper with him and Quartz and Geoff while Ford was playing host.

  “You don’t mind?” Oh, Dan was eager, probably wanting to suss out Ryan.

  “Not at all. I’m going to rest. Have fun, Dan.”

  “Thanks, honey.” Dan bent to kiss his cheek before hustling off.

  He waited for the door to close before dialing Stoney’s number. While it rang, he fed Floyd, the big pup’s tail banging against the counter in the little kitchenette.

  “Hey, Bleu. Are you ready to order supper?”

  “Uh… I was wondering if, well, can I share a meal with y’all? I mean, if you have an extra seat….” God, this was embarrassing, but he wanted to be able to relax and not be all alone.

  “Oh! In the family dining room? You know it. Dan is….”

  “He’s eating in the main room. I just… I wanted to impose, which sucks for y’all, but obviously not enough I didn’t do it.”

  “No imposition at all, honey. You need someone to come get you? Doogie or Tanner will, either one. Quartz is finishing up some homework.”

  “I can do it, I think.”

  “Okay, but if I don’t see you in ten minutes, I’m coming to get you. Fair?”

  “Fair.” He loved that about Stoney, that he just believed Bleu and Floyd were a fine team.

  “Remember, you’re in the first cabin. The main house is ahead and—”

  “To the left. I remember.”

  “Cool. Holler if you need us.” Stoney hung up, and Bleu knew he needed to make sure Floyd did his thing too.

  He got his coat on, his boots, and once Floyd was back in from his potty break, harnessed up his best friend. “Okay, let’s go.”