Page 54 of Boss and Brat

Carter looked down at him, confused. “With what?”

“Two men being married.”

Carter shrugged. “No reason to judge others. People love who they love.”

Ethan stared at him, trying to figure out how someone like Carter—straight-talking, ranch-raised, rough around the edges—could say something that simple and decent like it was obvious.

Ethan settled his head back on Carter’s shoulder. “Officer Rafael hates me.”

Carter’s hand came up, resting lightly on Ethan’s upper arm. “Why would he hate you?”

“He’s wanted to put me in prison since I was fifteen,” Ethan muttered. “Every time something happened at school or in town, he’d look at me first. Like he was waiting for me to screw up.”

“He’s not putting you anywhere.”

“He’d love to.”

“Not happening,” Carter said. “Not while you’re with me.”

Something warm spread through Ethan’s chest at that—something that scared him and comforted him at the same time.

They talked a little more about Tomás, about the ranch, and about nothing important. Carter’s voice stayed low and steady, the kind of voice that made Ethan feel like the world would not fall apart.

At some point, Ethan’s eyes grew heavy. His body relaxed against Carter’s side, the tension draining out of him.

He didn’t remember the moment he drifted off. Only that Carter didn’t move him. Didn’t wake him. Didn’t push him away. Ethan fell asleep with his head on Carter’s shoulder, breathing slow and even, trusting him completely. And Carter let him stay.

***

“Hey,” Carter murmured. “Time’s up.”

Ethan blinked, disoriented. The room was dim; the early morning light barely touched the curtains. His cheek was still pressed against Carter’s shoulder, and Carter’s arm was resting behind him like it had been there a while.

He sat up fast. “Sorry—sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

Carter rubbed a hand over his face. “You were out cold. I didn’t want to wake you.”

Ethan’s stomach twisted. “But I stayed the entire night.”

“I know,” Carter said. “But you can’t sleep in my bed again.”

The words stung more than Ethan expected. He nodded anyway. “Yeah. I get it.”

But Carter didn’t move away. He didn’t get up. He just sat there, looking tired and conflicted, as though he were trying to convince himself of something.

Ethan stared at his hands. “I just… I felt safe. That’s all. I haven’t slept that good in a long time.”

Carter’s expression softened. “I know you did.”

Ethan risked a glance at him. “Are you mad?”

“No,” Carter said. “Just trying to do the right thing.”

Ethan nodded, even though he didn’t know what the right thing was supposed to look like. All he knew was that being next to Carter made the world feel less sharp.

They sat there in the quiet for another moment, both of them clearly uncomfortable but neither making a move to get out of the bed. It was like they were stuck in the space between what they felt and what they thought they were supposed to do.

Finally, Ethan cleared his throat. “Can I… make breakfast?”