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“Hi, baby.”
Cash unbuckled his seat belt and leaned toward him. Nick did the same, and their mouths met in the middle. Cash hadn’t meant to linger with a potential house full of people and a car to unload, but Nick’s warmth drew him in. He teased Nick’s lower lip with his tongue and eased inside when Nick opened in invitation. Cash lost track of time and his intentions then. He slid his hand into Nick’s hair, canted his head, and deepened the kiss. God, he would never tire of having this privilege. To kiss Nick whenever he wanted to—
A low, sharp whistle pulled the two men apart. That’s when they noticed every single member of the ranch standing in front of the SUV, wearing various expressions on their faces. Ivan, Rory, Finley, and Kieran looked incredibly smug. Harry, Dylan, and Rue practically radiated happiness for them. Tyler looked like he was seconds away from giggling, and Owen looked envious. Not because he wanted Cash or Nick but because he was in love with his best friend. Cash really hoped the two figured it out soon. He wouldn’t wish twelve years of pining on anyone.
Cash rolled down his window and said, “What the hell are you gawking at? Don’t act like you’ve never seen two people in love. First, there was Fin and Kieran practically setting the ranch on fire with their smoldering looks until they scratched that itch.” Several of the crew guffawed, which drew Cash’s attention to them. “What are you chuckling about, big guy?” Cash asked Ivan. “I’ve heard the hushed giggling coming out of your office in the barn.” Ivan had the good grace to look a little sheepish, but Rory looked like the cat who ate the canary. “And you,” he pointed to Harry. She put her hands on her hips and notched her chin up in challenge. “Do you honestly think I didn’t know Dylan was climbing in and out of your bedroom window?” Cash turned to his K-9 trainer. “Dude, you could’ve used the front door. You’re consenting adults.” Harry giggled and leaned into Dylan’s side.
Cash waited for the teasing and laughing to die down. “This is my time now, damn it. I’m in love with my best friend and have been for a long time.” Cash’s heart sank when Owen’s face turned pink and Tyler’s gaze fell to his boots. “But we’ll do our best not to make it weird for anyone.”
“Like making out in the car in front of the house,” Nick added.
“Weird is cool,” Rue said. “And it means the sexy sheriff is nursing a bruised ego and needs nurturing.” He rubbed his hands together and walked away. That was the second reference Rue had made about Burke in a week. His tone was teasing, but the frequency lent credence to the comment being real.
“Happy for you, boss,” Ivan called out. He winked and led Rory off by the hand before Nick’s brother could hit them with a barrage of questions.
“Ditto,” Kieran said as Finley blew them a kiss. They also turned and caught up to Rueben before he managed to get too far.
“And now we have two daddies,” Tyler said exuberantly.
Nick made a slight choking sound and whispered, “Do you think he knows what that term also implies?”
Cash bit back laughter when he noticed Owen’s wide-eyed expression. “No, but Owen sure as hell does.”
Owen gave Tyler a playful shove, leaned in close, and said something Cash couldn’t hear. Tyler’s eyes bulged out of his head and his mouth practically hit the ground.
“Don’t worry about it, Ty,” Cash called out. “Have a good night.”
Owen and Tyler turned and followed Rue, Finley, and Kieran back to the crew’s cabins. That left Harry and Dylan as the last two standing.
“When did you get so dramatic?” Harry asked, rolling her eyes.
“Night, boss,” Dylan called out as they headed to their vehicle.
“Night,” Cash told them. He glanced over at Nick, who watched him with a smirk on his face. “What?”
“It’s just good to be home.”
Nick’s first day of physical therapy was on Tuesday morning, and he deeply regretted not accepting Cash’s kind offer to drive him. Sweet-faced Heather from their Zoom called turned out to be a sadist. She put Nick through the paces for over ninety minutes while maintaining a chipper voice and constant smile. He was a sweaty, quivering mess by the time she hooked him up to the icing machine. Nick spent the full twenty minutes whining to Cash via text about how mean she was. Of course, his boyfriend promised to kiss everything better, which nearly created another problem for Nick.
He hadn’t yet reverted to the early teen days when he’d gotten a boner if the wind blew just right, but Spiffy Stiffy had become unpredictable during recovery. He and Cash hadn’t made love since Sunday morning, but the cuddling, kissing, and caressing felt just as intimate. Maybe even more so, though an insistent surge of need said otherwise.
Behave, he typed. Wearing sweatpants and there’s no place to hide.
Cash sent back three laughing face emojis, an eggplant, and a tongue. Nick responded with the purple devil thingy and Cash fired back an angel wearing a halo. Yeah, that Heather looked angelic too. Nick wasn’t falling for that ploy twice in one day. He nearly dropped his phone when the timer on his icing machine beeped. At least those twenty minutes had gone by fast thanks to his sexy…boyfriend? Is that the term guys their age used? Nick bit back a snort. Since when did thirty-seven earn a guys-their-age tag? And Cash might be nearing fifty, but he had more stamina and drive than most men half his age. He was a marvel to behold in the weight room, or any room for that matter. So they’d use the boyfriend tag until other titles became available, say fiancé or husband. Not like he was going to introduce Cash to everyone as his soul mate.
“All set,” Heather said cheerfully. She’d appeared out of nowhere and nearly scared the bejesus out of him.
Nick dropped his phone, and Heather picked it up. “Thanks,” he said. “Mind handing me my skin too?” Some FBI agent he’d turned out to be. He could face down hardened criminals and deadly gun barrels, but a five-foot-nothing physical therapist caused him to jump out of his skin for fuck’s sake. “You just materialized out of nowhere.”
Heather giggled and shook her head when she should’ve thrown it back and released a villainous muahahahaha. “I have a light step,” she said, “but I’m pretty sure you were too focused on your phone.” She turned the device around to show the lock-screen image. “And I can understand why.”
Nick accepted the phone and smiled when his gaze landed on the selfie he’d taken of them the previous evening. They’d visited the sunflower field again and made out on the blanket until Nick’s lips hurt. He’d snapped the photo of them with the flowers and fading sun in the background. Cash’s handsome face and joyous smile actually made Nick’s chest twinge. “Maybe a little,” he admitted.
Heather smiled at him, then unhooked him from the machine. “You make a beautiful couple.”
“And you’re forgiven for being mean to me.”
Heather snorted and said, “Oh, come on. Your evaluation wasn’t that bad.” Then she lowered her voice an octave or two. “Just wait until the real work begins next week.”
