Rainbow Hill Read Online Free Page B

“Hope you liked dinner last night because it’s your turn at the stove tonight.”
    “Hope you like a can of baked beans,” Frank responded through a grumble. “’Cause that’s all you’re getting.”
    “I love baked beans.” Ethan feigned excitement. “When I was in England last year, I had them served over two pieces of toast. I was pleasantly surprised how appetizing it actually tasted.”
    “Well, don’t expect anything that fancy out of me.” Frank raised his gaze at Ethan. “I’ll open the can, place it in a pot, and put it on the stove. The rest, you’re on your own.”
    “Ethan,” Quinn smirked, crossing his arms over his chest, “you’ll have to excuse my dad. He’s usually not this unpleasant.”
    “Yes, I am.”
    “Yes, he is,” Tucker seconded. “Always was a nasty old pain in the ass.”
    A low chuckle emanated from Frank. “You were too, but you just happened to hide it better. That’s how you hooked Judith. That woman was so pretty, I don’t know how she looked at your ugly mug every day of her life. She must’ve had poor vision. There’s no other excuse.”
    Tucker relaxed against his chair. “And Connie? She wasn’t exactly what you’d call homely. That handsome man standing over there has to take after someone, and it certainly isn’t you.” Tucker let out a snort. “Where do you think he got those looks? From you?”
    “If I wasn’t so damn hung over, I’d reach across this table and shake you until that ugly thing you call a face fell off.”
    “Well, there’s always tomorrow.” Tucker’s smile slid slowly across his lips.
    Ethan looked at Quinn. “Is this normal behavior, or should I be worried?”
    “Normal,” Quinn assured. “If that’s what you can call it. I sometimes wonder where the hell we came from.”
    “Your mothers,” Frank and Tucker answered in unison.
    An unexpected bout of laughter escaped from Quinn, Ethan laughing along. Catching his breath, Quinn said, “On second thought, Ethan, if you intend on staying sane, you might want to take that fancy ride back to the city. There’s no telling what will happen to you if you don’t.”
    “It’s obvious that I’m insane because I want to stay and make this plan work.” Ethan shrugged his shoulders. “My business can run itself, and I can do a lot from here if need be, assuming, that is, we have Wi-Fi?”
    “First thing I did when I moved in,” Quinn said. “Can’t live without it.”
    “Good. Neither can I,” Ethan said in a tone of growing confidence, his eyes firmly planted on Quinn. “And who knows, this might be the inspiration I need. My creative juices have dried up lately, and this could be the project that gets them flowing again.”
    Quinn returned Ethan’s gaze, full of intent, his own juices beginning to flow. He shifted to a more favorable position, his growing erection snaking down the left leg of his jeans.
    With a gust of breath, Frank stood, pushing the chair out from under him with the backs of his legs. “All this talk about juices flowing is making me uncomfortable. I say it’s time to wrangle that mess of a backfield. You coming, Tucker”
    “You don’t want anything to eat?” Quinn asked.
    “Suddenly, I’ve lost my appetite.”
    Tucker stood and reached for his John Deere cap on the kitchen counter. Placing it on his head, he stopped in front of Ethan. “I’m glad you’re staying, son, but let’s keep that sort of language to ourselves, okay. I don’t like you getting excited. You’ll break out in hives.”
    “I stopped getting those in elementary school,” Ethan said. “Plus I take a daily antihistamine.”
    Tucker placed his hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “That’s good to know, and let’s keep it that way. Don’t let your prescription run out.”
    As the two elderly farmers walked away, chatting amicably, Quinn stared at their retreating figures. “Do you think that’ll be us in thirty years?” he asked Ethan.
    Now, standing shoulder to