Page 173 of Checking Out the Librarian

“I want your sister one hundred percent on our side, that’s all. That photo will seal the deal.”

“Nah, you’re just a vain and shallow praise-seeker.”

“No lie detected.” His grin faded into a half-smile. “But seriously, how did it go?”

“Really well.” He told Jonathan about how Jess had started the conversation by mentioning the softball team. “And then I had to defend my own hotness!”

“However did you manage that?”

“I am hot, right?”

“What did you call me not five minutes ago?” One of Jonathan’s fingers tapped on his smiling lips. “Let me see if I can recall. Was it perhaps…vain? Praise-seeking?”

“And hot. I called you hot.”

Jonathan tilted his head to the side. “I think I’m going to have to see more of you before I can confirm your hotness. I’ve forgotten.”

“You need a reminder?” His dick was extremely interested in Jonathan’s answer.

“Take off your shirt, Connor.” And that was the voice that found its echo inside Connor’s chest. The voice that slowed him and sped him both, the voice he craved in his ear.

His breath hitched. “Okay.”

He pulled the cotton over his head. Air from the open window flowed across his chest, but even that didn’t cool his skin.

“Now roll it up and prop your phone on it. I want to see your arms and shoulders.”

The sound that slipped between his lips was more of a sigh than a word.

“I’m going to help you feel good.”

“Yes.” Even listening to Jonathan’s voice and seeing his face made Connor feel good; anything more, and the firm set of Jonathan’s lips promised the exact type of more Connor wanted, made him thrum with anticipation.

Some people might claim honesty was its own reward, but video sex was a way better prize for the honesty he’d shown today.

Way, way better.

35

A LOT OF MAYBE

One of the most relaxing things about going home to the ranch was the sameness of it all, especially since Connor wasn’t in charge and didn’t worry about profits or paperwork.

No matter what changed in the world, no matter what asshole politicians did or what the price of things was, at the ranch someone had to feed, water and muck every day.

That was reliable and, he knew, true for a bunch of life.

Parents had to feed and water their kids whether they lived in a place like this or Eugene or Los Angeles, so he knew he wasn’t having a big philosophical revelation, but this morning it was as deep as he was going to get.

Also, the ranch made him stir-crazy after two weeks, which might be a character flaw, but was not a revelation. He’d felt that way for more than a decade, but at least it was less lonely when he worked alongside Jess.

At breakfast, their father said he was going to catch up on record-keeping and pick up some bedding pellets he wanted to try, from somewhere Connor hadn’t caught, so Connor and his sister would get to handle everything around the place today. As soon as they finished the regular chores in the horse barn, then Jess would take the ATV out to the herd with the morning grain supplements and Connor would ride Cashew.

Jess was mucking the stall next to him and Cashew. “So…”

Not her regular tone, but Connor was doing one of his favorite things and did not care.

“Did you know we’re all going to a new church?”