“So,” I finally ventured, desperate to break the silence. “Have you had any luck with the realtors? About selling the ranch?”
Cash shrugged, not looking up from his plate. “Goin’ out there today. Got a potential buyer lined up. Not that it’s any of your business.”
I watched Cash’s face as he mentioned the potential buyer, searching for any sign of emotion. There was none. Just that same hard mask he always wore.
“That’s good news, isn’t it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral despite the strange tightness in my chest. “If you sell quickly, you can leave sooner.”
“That’s the plan,” he said, shoving another forkful of eggs into his mouth. “Get my money and get the hell out. Start fresh somewhere nobody knows me.”
The thought of him leaving so soon shouldn’t have bothered me. After all, that had been his intention from the beginning. And after last night’s complication, it was probably for the best. Yet I couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach.
“Where will you go?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Cash’s eyes flicked up to meet mine, surprise evident in them. “Why do you care?”
I shrugged, trying to appear casual. “Just making conversation.”
“Haven’t decided yet,” he said after a moment. “Maybe Colorado. Or California. Somewhere with no memories.”
“Sounds nice,” I lied, pushing my half-eaten toast around my plate.
Cash studied me, his green eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s with the sad puppy look, Pastor? You gonna miss me?”
“No,” I said too quickly, then sighed. “I mean, I barely know you.”
“Didn’t stop you from lettin’ me fuck you senseless last night,” he said, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
Heat flooded my face. “That’s because I know you’ll make good on your word,” I shot back.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” I said, sliding out of the booth and slapping a twenty down on the table. “That you’re clearly gonna leave without every giving this place a chance.” I leaned down, looking him hard in the eye. “And I’m tired of feeling sorry for a grumpy asshole like you.”
Cash just stared at me, clearly dumbstruck. I had a feeling nobody had ever talked to him like that before. And in my experience, some people needed a little tough love to make them see how stupid they were being sometimes.
“Good luck with your buyer,” I grumbled and headed toward the exit.
There. Maybethatwould get through to him.
Chapter 13
Cash
Istood there, leaning against my truck amongst the rubble of my father’s house. Sweat was beading on my brow despite the cool breeze and my cowboy hat. For the first half hour I was there I’d been digging through rubble, unearthing the lockbox I’d found on my last visit. Then I’d spent the better part of ten minutes trying to open the goddamn thing with no luck. So now it was in the bed of my truck, and I was more frustrated and sweaty than ever.
Andstillthe realtor hadn’t arrived with my potential buyer. Realtors… ugh. They couldn’t be on time for anything except their own paychecks.
For the moment I forced my thoughts away from frustration, my inherited mess, and the irritations of just being alive it seemed. Instead, I turned my musings back to the preacher I’d fucked senseless the night before.
Damn he had a nice ass. Nearly fucking perfect if I was being honest. I loved that lithe body of his and the way he fit so perfectly in my hands. And fuck me I loved the way he begged for my cock. That was the most intoxicating thing of all.
I kept replaying the whole scene in my mind. It was funny how he tried to act all tough at the diner this morning, tried topretend what happened between us meant nothing. But I’d seen the way his pupils dilated when I sat across from him. The way his breath hitched when I mentioned last night. The way his fingers trembled slightly as he reached for his coffee.
Pastor Mike wanted more. That much was obvious. And fuck if I didn’t want to give it to him.
But that wasn’t the plan. The plan was to get my money and get out. No attachments. No complications. Just sell this shitty property and leave Sagebrush in my rearview mirror for good. I was getting annoyed that I had to keep reminding myself of that fact. Sagebrush was the last place on earth I wanted to get attached to.
I checked my watch again and cursed under my breath. The realtor was now twenty minutes late. I pulled out my phone to call her when I heard tires on gravel. About damn time.
