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“Excuse me.” The big man reached into his front pocket and removed his phone.
“The food is ready. You hungry?”
Ivan’s question wasn’t the truce he’d asked for, or was it? Rory didn’t think he was hungry until he recalled the smells coming from the grill. “Famished.”
“Do you want me to find a storage space for the guitar to give you more room in here?”
Rory stepped back and assessed the room once more. “I’ll just tuck it under the bed.”
Ivan nodded and eased out of the room. “Unfortunately, there’s no bathroom on the first floor. There was a half bath down here, but we converted it into a laundry room a few years back. There’s a full bathroom upstairs with a shower and a tub. You’ll share it with Finley, Dylan, and me, though Fin is rarely here. It’s not a huge space, but it’s tidy, and we want to keep it that way. We stow our personal hygiene stuff in individual shower kits under the sink to maximize space.”
“Understood, and it won’t be a problem since I’m a clean freak. Which ones are Finley and Dylan?”
“Finley is the blond guy we passed on the way out of the house. Dylan is the guy who’s manning the grill.”
“The one who was running his fingers through your hair?” Rory asked.
Ivan stopped suddenly and turned around. It was Rory’s turn to take a few steps back in surprise that a big man could move that fast. Ivan scowled at Rory’s reaction and eased backward. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I sometimes forget my size.”
I assure you no one else does, big guy.Rory kept his comment to himself, though he wondered if his expression gave his thoughts away when Ivan scowled.
“Dylan was messing up my new hairstyle. There was nothing romantic in his gesture. His heart belongs to another.”
“What a romantic thing to say.” Rory changed his impression of Ivan from scholar to poet.
Ivan snorted. “Before you ask, Finley is involved with Kieran.”
“The guy from the kitchen? They make a smoking-hot couple.”
Ivan’s scowl darkened, and Rory rolled his eyes. “What? I can’t notice their attractiveness? I’m not here to wreck relationships.” When Ivan didn’t respond, Rory couldn’t resist pushing his luck the tiniest bit. “And what of your heart? Does someone have a claim on it?”
Ivan’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “Many would say I don’t have one.”
“What do you say?” Rory asked.
“I say it’s time to eat before Owen and Tyler devour all the ribs.”
Rory ignored the nonanswer and gestured for Ivan to continue out of the house. Ivan acknowledged it with a nod, then turned around.
“Take the weekend to settle in and meet the rest of the crew,” Ivan said over his shoulder. “Monday is soon enough for the real work to begin. We’ll assess your skills and determine the best fit.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Rory said. He trailed behind Ivan at his normal pace and was pleased that the big man’s posture and stride weren’t as angry nor did it look like he was trying to escape Rory’s presence. He counted that as a victory too.
Rory didn’t expect to find the fed-mobile still in the driveway or his brother leaning against the gray sedan with his arms folded over his chest. Like Ivan, Nicky didn’t look nearly as tense, and Rory knew it was because his brother had gotten to spend some time with Cash. A breeze kicked up, stirring the overlong hair hanging over Nicky’s forehead. Rory couldn’t remember a time when his brother had looked so unpolished, and his earlier fears returned.
“I’m going to say goodbye to Nick,” Rory called out. Ivan acknowledged him with a wave and continued toward the tent where a banner congratulating Kieran now hung. Rory wondered what it was all about and figured he’d find out soon enough. He veered off to meet his brother, who offered him an amiable smile reminiscent of the old Nicky. Echoes of boyish giggles wrapped around Rory’s heart and squeezed. “Figured you’d be long gone by now after dropping me off.”
“Cash asked my opinion on some concerns he has about a nearby religious sect that’s making trouble. They started targeting the surrounding town but have turned their attention toward the ranch. Apparently, there’s been a small outbreak of thefts and vandalism, and the religious leaders have been pointing fingers at the farm felons. Cash fielded a call from a reporter this morning. He categorically denied the allegations and declined further comment.”
“Cash is making the same mistakes as Charles’s campaign manager. I think he should get out in front of it. You and I both know Cash is a media darling and could easily sway the tone of the conversation.”
“Once a brand manager, always a brand manager,” Nick said.
Rory’s stint in the Snyder Global Industries marketing department had been short but not nearly as contentious as currently portrayed in the media. Charles hadn’t heartlessly fired Rory over creative differences, though they had disagreed on every campaign he introduced. Rory had resigned to pursue his own ambitions when it was obvious the corporate life wasn’t for him. He’d used every marketing tool he’d gleaned from school and pursued his passion. Rory was very aware of what people thought about his decision to become a conservation influencer. They scoffed at his ambitions, but the joke was on them. With paid sponsorships, more than a million subscribers, and weekly videos that garnered hundreds of thousands of views, he regularly banked six figures a month. A career that could be in jeopardy if the media didn’t stop dragging his name through the mud. The pressure had also clobbered his creativity, and he struggled to find projects that appealed to him. Rory exhaled his frustration and turned his attention to something productive.
“I could help Cash with the PR.”
“You will help him by working on the ranch like everyone else. I’m going to set up an appointment for Cash to speak with people who investigate cults. Not sure Salvation Anew falls under their purview, but Cash feels strongly the organization is heading into cult territory.”
