Miles was glad to ease back into the steady pace of work on Thursday morning after spending the past two days battling with himself over his attraction to Reyes. The part of him that woke up hard most mornings and ached for more relief than his own hand was on board with acting on it. The part of him he left behind in Dallas’s bedroom over a year ago was not ready to go there yet.
So he threw himself into prep for the day. Since they were closed Tuesday and Wednesday, Monday nights they frequently gave away leftovers that wouldn’t hold for the “weekend.” Most dishes, like the stews and beans, had to be started from scratch.
Miles grabbed presoaked beans out of the refrigerator and got started on the pintos and ham hock dish, while Shawn rolled dough for pies and sourdough bread. They worked in easy silence, and not long after opening, a few orders for pie came in, which Annabelle cut and served herself. The servers were pitching in more with the easy stuff, mostly to keep themselves busy during the quietest parts of their day.
He appreciated it, because Mack had given him permission to add his buffalo chili to the menu, so that was extra prep work today. He’d already added it to the big slate menu board that hung over the bar, and the girls would announce it as a special until new print menus were approved.
Around eleven fifteen, the lunch rush picked up and Miles began firing several buffalo burgers at once. Just as he was picking up a few more tickets, Mack entered the kitchen from the back door, his expression as serious as Miles had ever seen the man. And he was looking right at Miles.
“What’s wrong?” Miles asked.
“Probably nothing, but I need a small favor,” Mack replied as he strode forward.
“Sure, name it.”
“During today’s saloon holdup, I want you to stay in the kitchen. I’ve already told the guys, and I’ll let Annabelle and Emily know, too.”
Miles frowned. “Why? Some sort of surprise rewrite?” Not that Miles minded the chance to keep cooking, instead of acting for ten minutes, but the change threw him a bit.
“No, this is just for today. Please?”
He studied Mack, who looked like he was trying to hide his anger over something. And Mack kept worrying his hat with his fingers. “I’ll stay in the kitchen if you tell me why. What’s going on?”
At this point, even Shawn had stopped slicing bread to listen.
“Dallas is here,” Mack finally said.
Miles dropped his turner on the ground, and his stomach plummeted to meet it. “Are you serious?”
“I’d never joke about that. Wes spotted him by the blacksmith shop, and he pointed the asshole out to me. I don’t know what he’s doing here, but making a scene, or kicking him out before he does anything rude or disruptive is practically admitting you’re here, and we don’t want him getting proof you are.”
“Right.” Miles hated the way his insides were trembling all over the place. “Yeah, I’ll stay in the kitchen. No problem.”
“Thank you. I snapped a picture, and I’ll show the servers so they can keep an eye out, make sure he doesn’t go snooping near the kitchen door.”
“I appreciate that. Thanks, Mack. I’m sorry my issues are fucking with your town.”
Mack waved a hand in the air. “You’re family, man. I protect family.”
Miles’s throat closed, so he nodded instead of speaking. Mack went into the dining room to talk to their servers, and Miles washed his turner.
“Let me guess,” Shawn said quietly. “Ex?”
“Obsessive ex.” Miles quickly flipped the burgers so they didn’t burn. The only thing he could think was that Dallas heard about Wes’s involvement with the ghost town, and Dallas was here hoping to find Miles. Because Miles had been careful. His photo wasn’t on the official website, and the few times he’d been caught in the background, Wes had blurred his face before posting to social media.
Dallas was spitballing, that was all. Miles would simply hide in the kitchen until someone reported Dallas had left, and he’d be fine.
Except his anxiety compounded as the day went on. The noon holdup went without a hitch, with Miles staying behind while Shawn faced the bad guys. Miles fought the constant need to peek into the dining room and see if Dallas was out there, but he tempered that with the urgent fear of being found out.
This was his safe place, goddammit, and he needed to protect it from Dallas. He needed this one thing to be unspoiled by that man and his selfishness.
Someone must have gotten word to Reyes, because a little after two, he got a text.
Do you want me to come up there?
The sweetness of the offer socked Miles right in the heart. No, you have work to do. I’m okay. Handling it.
Call me if you need anything.
Miles sent back a series of smiling and winking emojis, plus a thumbs-up. He loved that Reyes had reached out, but Miles could deal with this. Reyes suddenly showing up at the town could alert Dallas, since Reyes didn’t work here.
The gunfire on Main Street during the afternoon shoot-out freaked Miles out more than he’d ever admit, because he was already at the end of his rope. He got through the day, though, and at six thirty, Wes and Mack arrived to reassure him the town was empty, and it was safe to go home.
Uninterested in dinner at the guesthouse, Miles headed straight for his cabin. All he wanted was the peace of Reyes’s presence and strong touch. Reyes was waiting for him in the sitting room, and he swept Miles up into the firmest and most tender hug of his entire life. Miles pressed his face against Reyes’s neck, breathing the man in, finding comfort in their embrace. He’d never felt so safe and protected by another man’s hug. Not like this. Reyes would fight any battle, slay any dragon, to keep Miles safe.
“I’m so sorry he’s still bothering you,” Reyes said. His fingers tickled the hair at the base of Miles’s neck, such a soothing touch. “What can I do?”
“This.” Miles released a long, shaky breath. “I need this. Fuck, today sucked.”
“I wish I could fix it for you.”
“I know.” He turned his head, so his cheek rested on Reyes’s shoulder. “But it was a fishing expedition. There’s no way he can know for sure I’m here. He’ll go home and leave me in peace.”
“How can you know for sure?”
“Mack called Mitch Everly. Dallas didn’t make a reservation, so he’s likely going home tonight. I’m okay.” Physically, he was fine.
Mentally? Not so sure yet.
Reyes held him tighter. “The idea of him ever hurting you again...”
“Hey.” Miles lifted his head, unsurprised to find Reyes’s dark eyes gleaming with emotions. So many he couldn’t name them all. “He won’t. I won’t let him. And I know you won’t, either.”
Reyes’s nostrils flared.
Unable to contain the impulse, Miles leaned up and pressed his lips to Reyes’s. A soft, simple touch of skin that broke down most of the walls Miles had erected around his heart, because he wanted more. Reyes’s lips parted, and Miles dove in. Seeking, tasting, needing more than he’d needed anyone in his life. He tangled his hands in Reyes’s thick, black hair and held on for dear life as his entire world telescoped into this one kiss.
Reyes thrust his tongue against Miles’s, his hands as gentle as his mouth was rough. Leaving control up to Miles while still actively participating. Seeking what Reyes wanted, as well. Miles kissed him until he was dizzy and breathless, and half-hard in his jeans. A firm erection pressed against Miles’s hip, but he had no fear of it.
Reyes will never, ever hurt me.
They kissed until Miles’s neck ached and his feet hurt, but he couldn’t stop. He wanted to drag Reyes over to one of their beds, but that might lead to naked sexy times, and Miles wasn’t sure he could go there yet. Dear God, he wanted to. Wanted to surrender to Reyes and his talented mouth, and to trust Reyes would get them both off without struggle, pain, or worry.
And that was exactly why Miles backed off, ending the kiss and putting a few inches of air between them. Reyes stared at him with wild eyes and kiss-bruised lips, a bit dazed himself. Miles stared back, uncertain, but drawn again to Reyes’s mouth and how wonderful it felt against his.
He kissed Reyes again, gentler this time, less of an exploration than a promise. A promise that this wasn’t a mistake, he wasn’t reacting out of emotional upheaval, and that Miles wanted this. Maybe not everything all at once, but he wanted something. And he wanted it with Reyes Caldero. Period.
Reyes pulled back first this time, then pressed his forehead to Miles’s. “We need to stop.”
“I like kissing you,” Miles said, then blushed, heat creeping up his cheeks and down his neck.
“And I like kissing you. A lot. But you’ve had an emotional day.”
“I’m not kissing you because I’m stressed out. I’m attracted to you, Reyes, have been for a long time.”
“I know.” Reyes kissed his forehead, then met his eyes. “I’ve been attracted to you since the day we met, and I cherish these kisses we’ve shared. I just need to know we’re doing this for the right reasons, and not because of Dallas.”
“Fuck Dallas.” He grabbed Reyes by the waist and held tight. “This is about us. And maybe today prompted me to act sooner, but I don’t regret this. I don’t regret anything between us. I’m a little scared, sure, but aren’t most people when they’re first falling for each other?”
Reyes’s eyes flashed wide, but Miles didn’t retract the question. He’d been falling for Reyes for months, maybe this whole past year, and he did want the man. Slowly, but surely, he wanted a sexual relationship with Reyes. One built on trust, understanding, and genuine emotions. Not the lust-based relationship he’d had with Dallas.
Miles needed something he could trust wholeheartedly, and he could have that with Reyes.
“I’m a little scared, too,” Reyes said. “I’ve never been in love before. For most of my adult life, I’ve denied myself the pleasure of falling in love—of finding someone—out of guilt for my mistakes. I didn’t think I deserved to know real love, so I stuck to the occasional hookup. But these things I feel for you, Miles...they’re real, and they’re strong. So I need you to be sure.”
“I am sure.” Miles cupped Reyes’s cheek in his palm. “Before I met you, I was terrified of men. Of sex. Of being vulnerable. I hadn’t even gotten hard in months, and then I moved in with you, and it was safe to be sexual again. To be me. I’m not ready for everything all at once, but I want to build something bigger between us. More than just friendship. Is that okay?”
“It’s more than okay.” Reyes pressed a soft kiss to his mouth. “I’m okay with going slow.”
“Thank you.”
“How about we start with dinner and a movie? I’ve got some burritos in the little freezer, and we can stream something.”
Miles rested his head against Reyes’s shoulder and sighed. “It sounds amazing.”
* * *
Reyes couldn’t remember a more perfect evening. More than the wonderful kisses he’d shared with Miles, and more than them both finally expressing their feelings to each other, Reyes adored the physical closeness they now shared. After nuking two burritos and eating while discussing movie options, they’d cuddled on Reyes’s bed with Reyes sitting against the headboard, and Miles between his legs, back resting against his chest. Head on Reyes’s shoulder. Reyes held Miles’s hands over his belly, and everything about the position was perfect.
They watched the film with the tablet perched on a pillow over Miles’s knees. They’d chosen a quiet drama, instead of a comedy or action film, which were more popular at Mack’s place, and by the time the movie was over, Reyes realized Miles had fallen asleep in his arms. That only added another layer of perfection to the evening—Miles trusted him enough to fall asleep in his bed.
With a little nudging, Reyes got his sort-of boyfriend to sprawl onto his side, giving him a chance to slide out of bed. He grabbed the pillow and blanket off Miles’s bed, then climbed back in with Miles. Tucked a pillow under his head and made sure all limbs were in a comfortable position before curling up behind Miles, the thin blanket covering them both. The cabin’s weak AC wouldn’t let it get too cold, and besides, they had body heat to share.
This entire scenario was brand-new for Reyes. He’d never spent the night with any of his occasional lovers, certainly never slept next to someone he was falling in love with. He had never allowed himself to feel so strongly for another person and it scared him a little. But Miles would be careful with his heart, because Reyes would be careful with his in turn. In their own ways, they were perfect for each other.
Reyes dozed and eventually sleep caught up with him. He was usually a light sleeper, but he woke to find Miles had turned to face him in the night and scooted closer so his head was tucked beneath Reyes’s chin. An arm was tossed around Reyes’s waist, and his own arm rested on Miles’s hip. Reyes soaked in the intimacy of the position and tried to ignore the pulse of his morning wood.
Good God, but he was attracted to Miles. And he wanted so much to explore the slim, pale body of the man in his bed. To unwrap him from his clothes a little bit at a time. To kiss and lick every strip of skin and muscle. To learn every curve and scent and erogenous zone.
I want to taste his cock.
Going down on a guy wasn’t usually his first impulse—straight to fucking had always been his preferred method of getting off, man or woman—but Reyes wanted to know every single thing about Miles’s body.
But not until Miles was ready. Dallas had already taken too much from Miles; Reyes would wait and let Miles give.
Miles snuffled, the hand around his waist tightening, then loosening as Miles started to wake. He cracked a loud yawn before angling his head to look Reyes in the eyes. Absolute peace shone back at Reyes, and Reyes grinned. “Morning,” he said.
“Morning.” Miles frowned. “Shit, I missed the end of the movie.”
“We can watch it again, if you like.”
“Nah. I’d rather watch something new. I can look up the ending online.”
“New is good.” Reyes chanced pressing a gentle kiss to Miles’s mouth. “I like you in my bed.”
“Me, too. I slept like a rock.”
Reyes thought back to last fall when Colt and Avery had shared a cabin. Once their sexual relationship started up again, they’d pushed the two single beds together against one wall to create a much larger one to share. But it felt too early to suggest this to Miles, so he filed it away for the future.
“What time is it?” Miles asked.
“Dunno.” Reyes fumbled for his phone. “Only six thirty. We’ve got a little time yet to cuddle.”
I can’t believe I just said the word cuddle. Who am I?
Miles squirmed closer and tucked his head back beneath Reyes’s chin. “Good. I like cuddling with you.”
“I like it, too.”
A few minutes of wonderful, cuddling silence followed, before his phone betrayed him by ringing. Judson. Early calls from him were rare, unless something was wrong with one of the guests. “Judson, morning,” Reyes said. “What’s up?”
“Listen, don’t panic, but Arthur’s having some pretty bad chest pains this morning,” Judson replied. His voice was steady, which helped Reyes bite back his initial jolt of fear. “I’m driving him to the hospital to get it checked out, so I need you to keep things running steady here.”
“Of course.” Reyes sat up, unable to keep his worry out of his expression. Miles grabbed his free hand and squeezed. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“Just run the ranch, son. Mack and Wes are gonna meet us there, and Mack’s taken care of his end with the ghost town. We’ll keep y’all informed when we know something.”
“All right. My best to Arthur.”
“Thank you.” Judson hung up, probably to make other calls.
Reyes stared at his phone, unable to stop a chill from racing down his spine. While Arthur was Mack’s biological grandfather, the man was a father figure to everyone who worked there, including Reyes. He’d shared dozens of holidays and hundreds of meals with the man over the years.
Chest pains don’t mean a heart attack.
“Is something wrong with Arthur?” Miles asked.
“Judson said he’s having chest pains this morning.” Saying the words made his stomach ache. “They’re heading to the hospital to get him checked out.”
“Oh my God.” Miles hugged him from the side. “Does Mack know?”
“Yeah, he and Wes are going, too.”
Reyes typed off a quick text to Mack: You guys are in my thoughts. Arthur’s too stubborn to leave us yet. Keep the faith, brother.
The only thing Mack sent back was a thumbs-up emoji.
“Chest pains can be from a lot of things,” Miles said softly. “Bad indigestion, for example. Heartburn. Doesn’t mean it’s his heart.”
“I know.” Hearing someone else say it helped, though. “Arthur’s seventy-nine.”
“And he’ll probably live to be a hundred. Have faith in that, Reyes.”
Reyes kissed his temple. “I hate to get up, but I need to get the staff together, tell everyone what’s going on.”
“Of course, I understand. Go shower.”
He stole another quick kiss from Miles’s lips, then got up. Knocking on his front door didn’t surprise him, and neither did finding Colt on his stoop, still in his boxers and a sleeveless tee. Colt looked wrecked, so Reyes tugged his friend into a tight hug.
“He’ll be fine,” Reyes said. “Arthur’s a tough old bird. A few chest pains ain’t gonna clip his wings.”
“Yeah.” Colt adored Arthur, too, and he didn’t have the comfort of Avery being on the ranch to support him. “Think Judson called anyone else?”
“Other than Patrice? Doubt it. I’m gonna get everyone together in the kitchen, so you and me need to present a strong, positive front, okay?”
“Yeah, of course.” Colt pulled back, then wiped his eyes. He glanced behind Reyes and his eyebrows jumped. “Morning.”
Reyes glanced over his shoulder. From their position, they could both see Miles still sitting on Reyes’s bed. The fact that he hadn’t jumped back to his own bed made Reyes silently cheer.
“Good morning,” Miles replied, his cheeks pink. He stood and took two steps closer. “I’m so sorry about Arthur.”
“Thanks,” Colt said. Avery must have helped curb his more gossipy nature, because Colt didn’t tease them, or even ask. “I guess I should go get some real clothes on. What time are we meeting?”
“Seven thirty,” Reyes said. “It’ll give everyone a chance to wake up, and that will help quench any panic or overreactions to the news.”
“Okay, see you there.” Colt left and shut the cabin door behind him.
“Is it weird that I’m surprised he didn’t make a bigger deal out of finding me in your bed this early in the morning?” Miles asked.
“No, because I’m a bit surprised, too. Must be the shock of what’s happening with Arthur.” Reyes studied Miles’s face. “Would it bother you if people found out we’re...together? We are together, right?”
“Yes, we are.” Miles strode over and took both of Reyes’s hands. “Maybe living together before we officially date is a little unconventional, but I think in our own way, we’ve been dating for months. We just didn’t use that word.”
“I believe the same thing. And I meant what I said last night. I can go at your pace physically, Miles. No pushing, no guilting. Just us, doing what feels right.”
Miles sighed and leaned in for a hug. “How are you so perfect?”
“I’m far from perfect, mi alma.” So far from perfect, but he loved that Miles saw him that way. Maybe he wouldn’t look at Reyes like the monster he was when Reyes finally confessed about Miguel. Because he had to one day. If this got as serious as Reyes hoped, he didn’t want any secrets between him and Miles.
And he truly hoped Miles felt the same about his own secrets.
“My soul,” Miles said.
“You know what mi alma means?”
Miles chuckled, and the sound reverberated through his chest. “I’ve worked in kitchens for years, so I picked up a hell of a lot of Spanish. Are you fluent?”
“Our house was bilingual, because my father wanted us to know the language. Mostly I use it to hurl insults at people.”
“Hah. Or to give your boyfriend an adorable pet name?”
The hesitant way Miles said “boyfriend” made Reyes’s heart flutter. He tapped Miles’s chin until he straightened and looked Reyes in the eyes. “Yes, to give my boyfriend an adorable pet name. Mi alma.”
They sealed that with a long, lingering kiss. “Go shower,” Miles said. “You’ve got a meeting to prepare for.”
“Yes, sir.” He kissed Miles again, because he really loved doing that, then grabbed his phone on the way to the bathroom.
He parked himself on the toilet to multitask while taking a whiz, sending off the group text to assemble in the kitchen at seven thirty for a mandatory staff meeting. Showered fast before realizing he hadn’t brought his jeans into the bathroom. As much as he knew Miles wouldn’t judge him for them, he just wasn’t ready to show off his scars. So like a coward, he put his pajama pants back on so he could go get clean clothes to wear. Miles wasn’t in direct sight, so he was probably in the sitting area, giving Reyes privacy.
Talk about the perfect guy.
Reyes threw on his clothes, ran a brush through his hair, then joined Miles where he sat in one of the upholstered chairs. He was reading something on his tablet and looked up to toss Reyes a friendly, almost shy smile. “Bathroom’s all yours,” Reyes said. “You mind if I head up to the guesthouse without you? I need to get there early and talk to Patrice.”
“Of course, I don’t mind. I’ll see you there.”
“Thank you.”
He wasn’t sure if another kiss was pushing his luck or not, so Reyes winked at Miles, then headed out. Patrice was a flurry of activity in the kitchen as she got biscuits in the oven and made sausage gravy for the guests’ breakfast buffet. She paused to spare him a hug and sympathetic smile.
“I’ve got all the hands coming in at seven thirty for a meeting,” Reyes said. “Sorry to crowd your kitchen, but it seemed the best place to gather us all that wouldn’t make guests think something was going on.”
“You’re fine,” Patrice replied as she stirred two pots at once. Judson frequently offered to hire her extra help, but Patrice loved the chaos of cooking for forty-odd people every day. And after doing it for decades, she had the whole thing down to a science. “And Arthur will be fine, too, you count on that.”
“Yes, ma’am, I believe it.”
“And don’t think the worst if it takes time to hear any news. Hospitals these days have to be sure, because folks do love to sue for anything they can.”
Reyes snickered. That was exactly why ranch guests signed safety and release of liability forms on their first day. The last thing Arthur needed was to be sued by a guest for falling off a horse, or getting bitten by a wild animal.
“Well, hopefully it’s nothing too serious,” Reyes said.
“From your mouth to God’s ears, my boy.”
Miles and Colt were the first to arrive for the meeting, and by seven thirty, everyone was assembled. Some looked anxious, others simply curious, because they rarely called meetings like this.
“I’ll say the same thing that was said to me first off,” Reyes said. “Don’t panic. Early this morning, Judson drove Arthur to the hospital, because Arthur was having chest pains.” Several guys made alarmed sounds, but no one visibly freaked out. They were a good, mostly calm bunch, and they had to be to work around rescue horses and tourists week after week. “Mack and Wes are with them, and we are to run the ranch as usual today. Can’t think of a thing on the schedule that we’ll be shorthanded for with Judson gone, and we’ll be updated as soon as there is information.
“The one thing I do want to ask you guys is, please, do not talk about this in front of the guests. Don’t speculate amongst yourselves. We’ll know what’s going on soon enough, so it’s business as usual. Am I clear?”
Nods and a round of “Clear” went around the room.
“All right, then let’s eat up and get to work.”
Reyes hung back while the others descended on the food set aside for the staff, watching their faces for any clear signs of distress over the announcement. He could tell them not to worry all he wanted, but they were human beings with their own thoughts and feelings.
“You sounded like you believed all that,” Colt whispered.
“I’m in charge right now,” Reyes replied. He tilted his head at their friends and fellow employees. “I have to believe in a positive outcome for their sakes.”
Their trio eventually retrieved and ate their own breakfasts. Halfway through, Miles received a text alert that made Reyes sit up straighter.
“It’s from Colin James,” Miles reported. “He’s got Wes’s stand-in ready to go, and he said the cast knows not to expect him or Mack this morning. Didn’t tell them why, though.”
It took Reyes a moment to place the name Colin James to the head actor Mack hired to run the live shows at the ghost town. While Wes participated in one of the smaller ongoing storylines, he also had an understudy in one of the extras, who could take over if Wes got an offer he couldn’t refuse that took him away for a few weeks.
“That’s good,” Colt said. “There isn’t a crowd gossipier than actors.”
Miles laughed. “That’s probably true. The actors at the dinner theater were crazy gossips. I overheard stories I did not need to ever know, thank you.”
“Really? Any you want to share?”
“Not without being very drunk first.”
Colt grinned. “That can be arranged.”
Reyes didn’t think before he slid his arm across Miles’s shoulders. “Back off, buddy.”
“Oh yeah?” Colt crossed his arms and leaned back triumphantly. “I knew something was going on between you two.”
“It’s a pretty recent thing.”
“Oh please, you two have been eye-fucking for months. Congrats, by the way.” Colt leaned across the table, angled toward Miles. “I don’t know how you did it, but you snared the most uncatchable fish in the pond.”
Miles simply smiled. Reyes removed his arm, and not because a few of the guys were staring. He had to finish eating, and he needed two hands to cut his ham slice. He’d much rather keep Miles tucked under his arm all day, but they both had to get to work soon.
They’d get through today, like they got through any other day, and then they’d come home to each other. Today, and every day thereafter, as long as Miles still wanted him.