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Cash’s steely blue gaze darkened with concern. “When were you going to tell me that part?”
“I’m telling you now,” Nick replied.
Cash sighed heavily as he turned his attention to Ivan, and he could tell by the determination in Cash’s expression that he’d made up his mind. “I’m not asking your permission. Rory is staying here with us.” He looked at his friend. “Though I would’ve done so without you cashing in your last remaining favor.”
Nick smiled and said, “I have a feeling I’m going to owe you quite a few by the time this situation is resolved.”
The many reasons this wouldn’t work burst across Ivan’s mind like fireworks on Independence Day, and he spat them out of his mouth as soon as they occurred to him. The thoughts were random and didn’t discharge in any particular order. “We don’t have any room. This is a working ranch, not witness protection. Spring is the busiest season for us. I don’t have patience for spoiled brats unless they’re my cats. The ranch doesn’t need to get embroiled in political madness.” Each objection came out in rapid succession like gunfire.Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.Cash just grinned with each new grievance while his bestie looked bored.
“Seems to me you could use another set of hands if the ranch is so busy this time of year,” Nick added. “Cash mentioned the ranch is transitioning toward sustainable practices under your guidance. Seems to me you and Rory have that in common. He might be able to offer some insight from his travels.”
“The cabins are all full, but Rory could use one of my guest bedrooms.”
“No,” Nick said a little too harshly. Ivan bit back a smile because it was obvious to him Nick didn’t want the sassy minx staying under Cash’s roof. He’d always suspected the men had deeper feelings for each other. They were either ignorant of the shared attraction or had chosen to ignore it. Nick cleared his throat and ran his finger under his shirt collar. “I had a long talk with Rory on the way here. He knows this isn’t a vacation, and I want you to work him like you would anyone else employed on the ranch. To keep Rory completely off the grid, he can’t access his bank accounts or credit cards. I’ve given him some money, but he’ll need to earn his keep on the ranch. I think he’s looking forward to the challenge.”
Ivan knew better than to judge a book by its cover, but he doubted Rory was eager to get his hands dirty. The threat of a media storm surrounding the ranch sent him spiraling back through time to a point in his life he never wanted to relive. The mere thought stole his breath and dulled his hearing from the rush of blood in his veins.
That is until Cash said, “There’s a spare bedroom at the old homestead. It’s a bit cramped but serviceable.”
Ivan fought off a shiver. Sharing a house with that walking, talking temptation? Not a good idea.
A smug smile crept across the fed’s face. “Just what he needs.” He met Ivan’s gaze head-on. “Rory could benefit from someone riding his ass when he gets out of line. I think you’re the man for the job.”
Ivan nearly choked on his own saliva as Nick’s words took on a different sort of connotation. Cash must’ve read his mind because his lips twitched as he fought off a smile. Ivan ignored him and addressed Nick with a glib, “No pressure.”
Cash had already made his decision without Ivan’s input, and trying to change his mind would be a colossal waste of time and energy. Cash owed Nick some kind of favor, and Nick was settling the score…at Ivan’s expense.
All Ivan could think about was the way his skin tingled when he and Rory had touched and the sensation that Rory could see his deepest yearnings by just staring into his eyes. Ivan needed to make a last-ditch effort to avoid a catastrophe, but it came out louder than he’d intended. “This is bullshit, Cash. Why does you paying up a favor become my problem?”
His mentor stroked two fingers over his salt-and-pepper beard while trying to find the words to appease Ivan. He might as well save his breath. Nothing he could say would make this okay…until it did. “Rory needs us, Ivan. If you could view him through an objective lens, you’d see it too. You’ve always trusted my judgment, though you have questioned it occasionally.” Cash quirked a brow, daring him to challenge the claim. They both knew Ivan couldn’t and wouldn’t, so the rancher chuckled and continued. “Have I been wrong about any of the people I’ve taken a chance on?”
The conversation reminded Ivan of the gentle scoldings his father had doled out to his young sons. His ears heated now as they’d done then. God, he missed the man so much. “No, sir.”
“Trust me now, Ivan. Please.”
He owed Cash Sweeney everything. They’d met through the agriculture program at Arrowhead Correctional Institute. Ivan had been a bitter man, believing he’d been forsaken by those he loved and trusted. He didn’t want to like Cash because he reminded Ivan of the large commercial conglomerates that were buying up all the smaller family farms. Cash had proved him wrong with his unwavering patience. The mentoring hadn’t stopped once Ivan left jail and joined the ranch, and Ivan owed everything to the man. And just maybe this favor would settle a little of the debt he owed Cash.
“Fine, but I’m not happy about it,” he said, then turned to Nick. “And now you owe me. Big time.”
Nick stared him down and didn’t acknowledge Ivan’s ludicrous claim with so much as a raised brow. Ivan stomped out of the office without another word. What the hell was he supposed to do with an entitled rich brat when he had a ranch to run? A replay of dirty images scrolled through his mind.Ride his ass, indeed.Ivan corralled his wayward thoughts by the time he reached the kitchen.
Rory was still in the same spot and still working on the same apple, though it looked like he’d taken a few more bites. Kieran was in the kitchen too, and it appeared that Ivan had interrupted a conversation. He was too keyed up to acknowledge Kieran or even congratulate him on his exoneration. Rory’s expression was inscrutable as if he’d braced for the worst, and Ivan took Cash’s suggestion and really looked at him. It was hard to get past his handsome face and apathetic facade to find the vulnerability the man hid. When Ivan did, it only irritated him more because he didn’t want to feel anything for Rory but annoyance.
“You,” Ivan barked as he jabbed a finger in Rory’s direction. “Come now.” He realized his mistake the instant Rory waggled his brows and actually purred in the kitchen.
“Yes, Daddy,” he simpered.
Heat engulfed Ivan’s body. He wanted to claim it was from fury, but he couldn’t form the lie, even for his own benefit, so he spun around and stomped out of the room.
The big mountain of muscle doth protest too loudly, even if it was presented as stomping away from the conversation. Rory wasn’t really into the whole daddy thing, but it was sure fun as hell to rile people up. His brother had cringed when he’d applied the label to Cash when the silver fox had headed in their direction, but Rory suspected Ivan’s reaction had nothing to do with disgust. The guy reminded him of a Viking with his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and thick thighs. He wore his auburn hair in a fade with closely shorn sides and longer strands on top. The Viking’s beard was a darker red, and Rory wanted to know what the rest of his body hair looked like. He’d bet the hunk was furry in all the right places too. Christ, the man was even sexier up close. Amber eyes the color of expensive whiskey assessed him in a way that made Rory feel vulnerable. He couldn’t have that and decided to regain the upper hand with outrageous flirting.
Ivan.His name, build, and dark scowl belonged to a conqueror as he’d said, but his soft voice belonged to someone gentler like a scholar. Would his touch be rough and firm or soft and teasing? A Viking-sexual such as he could hope for both. Fascinated by the dichotomy, Rory was eager to follow the man who held his fate at the ranch in the palm of his enormous hand, but first he turned his attention to the dark-haired hottie who’d entered the kitchen in time to overhear Ivan shouting his displeasure about having Rory foisted on him to settle a debt between Cash and Nick.
Dark brown eyes had studied Rory with unabashed curiosity. “Who are you?”
“I’m the favor.”
Before they could get further into their introductions, Ivan stormed into the kitchen and barked orders for Rory to come on demand. Hell, he’d been sporting a semi since his gaze snagged on Ivan the Ripped, so he probably wouldn’t require much stimulation to comply. The dark-haired hottie in the kitchen introduced himself as Kieran once they were alone again and shook his hand.
