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Several minutes passed as they both tried to catch their breath and Callan’s cock softened inside him and the other man pulled free of him. Rhys could only lay there as he felt the come seep out his body and he wondered if Callan was enjoying the sight or sickened by it. He felt fingers suddenly enter him and then Callan was leaning over him and whispering, “I wish I had a plug so you could feel me inside of you for the rest of the day.”
Rhys shuddered at the dirty talk and lifted his head for the kiss he knew Callan would give him. The fingers slid out of him and Callan pulled his boneless body to his feet. Rhys didn’t protest when Callan dragged him into the shower and cleaned him from head to toe and he had nothing to say when Callan sat him back down at the table, fully dressed and finished making breakfast. The topic that Callan had smoothly managed to sidestep with mind-blowing sex was back.
“He’s gone,” Rhys finally said with a sigh.
* * *
“Yep, you’ve got it,” Dane said to Finn as Finn pressed the last tab in place. He lifted Emma up and smiled when the diaper didn’t fall off. Finn dropped down into one of the kitchen chairs and cuddled the quiet, gurgling baby against his chest. Her clear eyes looked up at him with wonder and as soon as he stuck one of his fingers out, she grabbed it.
“Here,” Dane said as he handed him a bottle. Emma began bouncing in his arms at the sight of her milk and instantly opened her mouth as Finn pressed it against her tiny lips. Dane slid a stack of pancakes in front of Finn, then sat next to him.
“Here, I can take her,” Dane offered.
Finn actually kept the baby from his reach, then felt a flush of embarrassment light up his cheeks as he realized what he’d done. “No, I don’t mind,” he stammered.
Dane smiled in understanding and began working on his own breakfast.
“Thanks for letting me barge in on you guys so early,” Finn said as he forked some food into his mouth with one hand while he used his cheek to hold the bottle in place.
“Eight o’clock for us isn’t early,” Dane said with a chuckle. The man took a few more bites, then finally did what Finn had been expecting and said, “You want to tell me what happened?”
He didn’t. He really didn’t. It had been early when he’d woken up in Cal’s arms. They’d been facing each other and Finn had allowed himself a few precious moments to study the man while he peacefully slept. He’d looked so much younger and relaxed than Finn had ever seen him and the love he had for Cal had exploded to new heights as he remembered how it felt to have Cal rocking inside his body, his penetrating gaze holding back none of his emotions. If he’d had any doubt about Cal telling the truth when he told Rhys he loved Finn, it had died the instant Cal had entered him. But the betrayal had been a cold bedfellow to wake up with and no amount of the warmth that radiated from Cal’s body could take that away. And he hadn’t even started to factor in Rhys.
His anger towards Cal had been amplified at knowing Rhys had lied to him as well. It was something he hadn’t expected since Rhys had been open and up front from day one. The rational side knew that Rhys had been trying to protect Cal, but it didn’t take the sting away. And knowing Rhys had used his knowledge of Cal’s feelings for him to manipulate who made love to whom on their first night together left Finn feeling cold and used. Yes, he’d enjoyed every second of burying himself inside of Rhys, but what if that memory would always be tainted by the knowledge that Rhys had orchestrated how things would play out?
Finn realized Dane was still waiting for an answer. He didn’t know the man very well, but his instinct was that he could trust him. But as angry as he was at Cal, the secret Cal had kept for so long was his to tell, not Finn’s. He ignored the voice in his head reminding him it was the same reason Rhys hadn’t told him the truth.
“There’s no future for me at the ranch,” he said simply.
Dane studied him for a moment, then nodded in understanding. “What are your plans?” he asked.
An ache settled in Finn’s chest at the realization that the future he’d longed for was at hand, but he dreaded taking that final step. “Um, there’s a ranch hiring a couple towns over. Thought I’d check it out,” he managed to get out before dropping his eyes back down to Emma who was starting to nod off as the bottle grew emptier.
“Well, if you have some time, I could use a hand around here,” Dane remarked as he polished off the last of his pancakes and then reached for the baby.
Finn reluctantly handed her over, then tried to force the food into his mouth. He suspected Dane was throwing him a bone. “What do you need help with?” he asked.
“The guy that was supposed to tear down my barn and build me a new one flaked out on me. Said he’s backed up with other jobs.”
Finn froze at that and laid his fork down. “Someone from around here?” he asked, remembering the way Dane had fervently stood up for him in town.
Dane leaned back in his chair and began burping the baby. “Don’t even give me that look, Finn. You even think about blaming yourself for this crap, I will put this baby down and kick your ass from here into the next county,” he said firmly. “You really think I want to give my business to a guy who thinks he knows how I should live my life?”
Finn hadn’t thought about it that way. He’d always been on the receiving end of being refused service so he hadn’t considered it the other way around.
“I don’t know anything about building a barn,” Finn finally said.
“Well, luckily I do. I worked construction while I was putting myself through vet school so between the two of us I think we can figure it out. Soon as I find someone to keep any eye on this little girl here,” Dane said as he brought the baby up to his face for a kiss, “we can get started. I’ve got an extra room if you need a place to stay,” he offered casually.
Finn’s throat refused to cooperate so he managed a nod, then took another stab at the food.
ChapterThirteen
Callan dismounted from his horse and led the animal into the barn and began stripping off the tack. He heard a car in the driveway and his heart stopped and he felt himself rushing to the doorway, hoping against hope that he’d see a blonde head in the passenger seat of whomever was bringing Finn home where he belonged. He’d known that Finn would be gone this morning, but hearing Rhys confirm it had been hard. Anything Finn could have carried, he’d taken, though he’d left the heavier items since he’d obviously walked to wherever he was going. Seeing that Finn hadn’t even taken West had been another blow to Callan. He’d spent months picking out the perfect horse for Finn two years ago and Finn leaving the animal behind was a clear sign that Finn wanted no reminders of the man that had betrayed him.
The car that pulled up in front of the barn was a small, basic sedan and Callan only recognized the young woman once she climbed out of the car.
“Wendy,” he said with surprise as the veterinary technician from Dr. Sanders’ office walked up to the barn, her palms running nervously over her thighs.
