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“That phone call rattled you good,” Nick replied. “Tell me what Owen said instead of acting like me.”
Cash glanced over at him with a scowl. “How am I acting like you?”
“You used sex or sexy banter as a distraction device.”
Chortling, Cash shook his head. “That is your MO.”
“Yeah, it is. My therapist helped me sort that out.” When the thrill of the hunt and sex with nameless strangers had lost their appeal to Nick, he hadn’t found a different stress reliever. His agitation had just built until he’d burned out, silencing his libido completely. Temporarily. Nick refused to believe his condition was permanent. Panicking, he’d learned the hard way, would only delay his recovery.
The engine downshifted as Cash slowed to take a twist in the road. Nick looked over to see if he appreciated the sexy way the Beemer hugged the curves. Instead of a joyous smile on Cash’s handsome face, Nick saw a scowl. Obviously, the situation with Tyler had Cash stressed out, but he knew that wasn’t the reason for his displeasure. Then Nick realized Cash was overthinking his arrival at the ranch again.
“Huh-uh,” Nick said.
Cash glanced over. “What?”
“Now you’re resorting to your brand of distraction by overanalyzing my words and gestures. You’re looking for ulterior motives or any little excuse you can latch onto to justify your fear. I’m an open book, Saint.” And after they dealt with Tyler’s situation, Nick would bare everything to Cash.
Cash sighed heavily and laid his right hand on Nick’s thigh. “You’re right. I do trust you, Nicky. I’ve just…”
“Wanted this for so long. Me too.” Nick reached over and laid his hand on top of Cash’s. “I was just a tad slower than you were, I think.”
Cash rotated his wrist and threaded his fingers between Nick’s. “You think?”
“Well, I’m not flattered by your tone,” Nick teased. “It implies I’m dense.”
Cash’s lips quirked, but the half smile didn’t linger in light of the uncertainty with Tyler. “I think we were both a little dense.” Cash squeezed his fingers. “Or maybe the time was never right before now. Maybe we need to stop thinking about why it didn’t work out before and focus on how it could now.”
“I’m game if you are,” Nick told him. “Now bring me up to speed.”
Cash sighed deeply again. “All I know so far is that Tyler got arrested. Owen was too distraught to say much beyond that.” Cash let out a little growl. “People think my mission is nuts. They think these guys are destined to become repeat offenders.” Cash’s voice rose, and his tone went from mild to spicy.
“Not me,” Nick said quickly, hoping to douse the heat like a glass of milk. Anger wouldn’t get Cash the outcome he wanted, and he’d be upset later for his loss of control. “I’ve just met Tyler today and have no clue what crimes landed him in jail, but I feel confident going out on a limb to say there’s no way in hell he willingly committed a crime since breakfast.”
“Thank you.” Cash’s words were heavy with gratitude and relief. “I hope this is all a simple misunderstanding I can clear up quickly.”
Nick hoped so too, but he wasn’t holding his breath.
“Tyler comes across as a goofball, but there’s depth beneath that affable facade. He’s starting to figure a lot of things out about himself, and I know the truth scares him. I’ve been there.” Cash sounded so dejected and like he was putting the cart before the horse. That wouldn’t serve any of them well.
“So have I,” Nick replied. “We’ll figure this out. Let’s find out why he got arrested, and then you can call a good lawyer.”
“I’ll call an excellent lawyer,” Cash growled.
That’s my guy. Nick briefly wondered why he hadn’t spoken that thought out loud. Maybe because navigating this new aspect of their relationship felt a little like tiptoeing through a minefield. It might’ve helped if they’d had a deeper conversation before Nick sucked Cash off. Nah. Nothing could make him regret pleasuring Cash in his favorite spot on the ranch. He would turn the moment into his go-to place during meditations. He’d feel the warm sun and breeze on his skin, the tug of fingers in his hair, and the expression of pure bliss on Cash’s face as he climaxed. Nick would relive those moments anytime stress threatened to wreck his recovery.
“If Burke isn’t already there, I’m going to call him in,” Cash said.
Stressful times like now. He’d forgotten all about the sexy sheriff. He could handle this one of three ways: fixate on the almost date, play it cool during introductions, or stake his fucking claim. Nick’s lips quirked up as he settled on the right option.
“Don’t make me turn the car around.” Cash’s stern voice interrupted Nick from scrolling through his options on claim staking. It also sent a tingle down Nick’s spine that lingered in his balls.
“What did I do?” Nick asked. He couldn’t seem to wipe the smirk off his face, no matter how hard he tried.
“You are not going into the sheriff’s department and engaging in a pissing contest with Burke,” Cash replied, proving the mind reading went both ways.
“I agree it wouldn’t be appropriate today.”
“Not any day,” Cash countered.
