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“It’s about time,” Owen said as he hoisted his friend off the ground. He didn’t quite do a romantic hero spin, but it was pretty damn close.
“I was just about to mount a posse and bust you out of there,” Rueben said. He swooped Tyler up as soon as Owen set him down.
Cash released his seat belt and eased from the truck. Rueben and Owen were speaking over each other and peppering Tyler with questions. Cash shook his head and headed toward the house.
“Oh my gosh,” Tyler said. “One at a time.”
“Why did it take so long to get you out?” Owen asked.
“It’s a long story,” Tyler replied. “I’ll tell you all about it.”
“How sexy was Burke when he had you in handcuffs?” Rueben asked.
“Sounds like the thought’s crossed your mind a time or two,” Tyler said.
“Maybe three,” Rueben replied slyly.
The trio laughed and headed toward their cabins. Cash wasn’t sure if Rueben was serious about his crush on the sheriff, but he thought it was cute. Stranger things had happened. Neither his man nor beast greeted him when he entered the house, though he suspected they were together. Patsy sensed Nick’s emotional turmoil and wanted to mother him. He kicked off his shoes and walked silently through the house in his socked feet. The kitchen, living room, and library were empty, so he continued back toward his bedroom. He eased the door open in case Nick was napping, but only the dog was zonked out. Her front paws twitched like she was chasing something in her sleep. Nick lay sprawled on the bed, reading a paperback book. He still wore Cash’s T-shirt but had swapped out the tight jeans for a pair of black sweats. Must’ve been a damned good book because he didn’t hear Cash enter the room. Nick stared intently at the pages in front of his face and licked the corner of his mouth.
“Whatcha reading?” Cash asked.
Nick flinched and fumbled the book but caught it before any harm came to his handsome face. He pushed himself into a sitting position and laid the book on the other side of his body. Didn’t Nick want him to see what he was reading? Cash noticed the canvas shopping bag sitting on the bedside table. Hope’s white label stuck out in stark comparison to the purple, further proving that Nick was the one behind Hope’s rally.
“I really wish I’d been there when you met her,” Cash said with a smirk as he gestured to the tote.
Nick laughed and rubbed a hand over his face. “God broke the mold after she was born.”
Cash eased toward the purple bag to see what he’d picked up during his excursion, but Nick pulled it away from him.
“How about show and tell? You tell me everything that happened with the sheriff, and I’ll show you what I bought from Hope’s store.”
Cash walked to the bed, and Nick eased over to make room for him.
“By the way,” Nick said before Cash could start his story, “I’m nearly positive there’s no need to ban Patsy from the room.” He waved his free hand in front of his face. “Pretty sure she’s already expelled all the gas from the egg salad sandwiches.”
Cash chuckled and shook his head. “I know that dog, and I’m pretty sure she’s just getting started. No man or beast is going to gas me out of my bedroom.”
Nick tapped his temple. “Noted.”
Cash stretched out on his side to face Nick, who still lay on his back. “The situation with Tyler was stressful and awful, but knowing I got to come home to you made it so much better.” He gave Nick a sweet kiss before he launched into the story.
Nick narrowed his eyes and interrupted Cash when he started with their return to the station. “He didn’t make a single remark about my chest thumping?”
“Burke got your message loud and clear.”
“Yeah?” Nick asked. “What did he say?”
Cash cut him off with another kiss. “All in due time.” Nick circled his forefinger in the air as a gesture for Cash to speed up. He went through the conversations they had about Tyler’s potential role after Burke accepted none of the ranch trucks were involved. “Just when I was about to lose my cool, in marched Hope and her brigade of do-gooders.”
“Concerned citizens,” Nick amended.
“Thank you for doing that,” Cash replied. “I’m not sure Tyler would’ve gotten out of there tonight if not for those videos.” Cash told him the rest of the story and finished with Burke’s message for Nick.
“I deserve the arrogant asshole remark,” Nick said. “How do you feel about me pissing on your leg before you go to town?”
“Hell no.”
“Can I sit in a nearby booth?”
