He was almost Ruby’s age. Pressure pushed against my temples. A feeling that had plagued me since Thursday morning when I returned home and Ruby had been gone.
What had I expected? I had told her I wanted to kiss her. And then I hadn’t. Nor had I confessed to what I really wanted to do—strip every bit of fabric off her curves, spread her out on my bed, and devour her.
Yeah. I wanted to do a fuck ton more than kiss her. Wasn’t that the whole issue?
I finished with the potatoes and moved on to the gravy. When I was done pouring that into a container for the fridge, I turned. Cruz had his arms crossed and was leaning against the counter, staring at me. Lane had his eyes narrowed on me while rubbing his chin.
“What?” I asked, suddenly cranky.
“We’re just waiting for your answer,” Lane said casually, but worry darkened his blue eyes. “Where’s Ruby?”
“She’s been spending every weekend here.” I searched the kitchen for something to do, but anything I’d need to do it with was blocked by the guys. Damn. “She wants to be home for once.”
“Did she say that?” Cruz asked.
No. I could just tell them now. Rip the bandage off. Ruby and I were over.
What reason would I give them? I bored her? She’d found someone else? We didn’t click? None of those options sat well with me, nor would they buy that we didn’t click after the street dance, when I’d barely let her out of my embrace.
“She’s got family,” I said. Although she’d mentioned her mom was on a workation. And her dad was in Helena. The guys didn’t need details. “She has a life.”
“You haven’t been introduced to her family?” Lane asked. “Does she have siblings?”
I shook my head. The last time I’d met the parents, I had gotten grilled and I’d failed. Then I’d been humiliated in my own hometown. “She’s an only child, and we haven’t been dating long. No need for me to meet them.”
Neither of them nodded.
“Is it a thing?” Lane asked. “That you’re so much older than her?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. We’d never discussed meeting her parents, and now it wasn’t necessary to meet the parents of someone I wasn’t dating. “She said her parents were teens when she was born, so yeah, it might be an issue. I’d be close in age to them.”
Cruz let out a low whistle. “That can up the pucker factor, but it’ll be all right. Someone would have to be a real jackass not to like you.”
It had not been all right once upon a time. “Not if they’re expecting some CEO like Myles or Gideon.”
Lane scoffed. “You’re no different than them. So you don’t wear a suit. You still help run Copper Summit.”
I helped. At least now I had my own place—on land given to me by my dad. I had nothing of my own other than my games. “Not everyone sees it like that.”
“Fuck ’em.” Lane clapped me on the shoulder. “You’re a solid dude, old man.”
“I’m a boring dude, or you wouldn’t call me old man.”
Cruz and Lane exchanged a look that was a whole conversation.
My irritation leaked out. “What?”
“We joke about your mellow life,” Cruz said, “but that’s not why we call you old man.”
Lane nodded. “We started calling you old man because you’ve taught us more than our old man ever did.”
My chest grew tight.
I’d shown these guys the ropes like I’d done with every foster kid who’d stayed with us long enough to learn a little ranching. Cruz and Lane had been young adults when Myles had learned about them, but Mama had welcomed them in and they’d agreedto work for Bailey Beef. They’d never been just employees though.
Cruz crossed his arms. “To be fair, it’s hard to teach us anything from jail.”
“I have that going for me,” I said gruffly.
