“So, can I ask you something?”
“Anythin’.” Shea took a big bite of a cranberry muffin, and his cheeks bulged. He looked adorably cute and sexy and…damn.
Rein it in, Jake.He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed early morning conversations after a night spent cuddled together.
“Why do you want to sell the ranch? Why not keep it in the family? Hire people to run it, and keep the profits.” Maybe he was overstepping, but Jake knew if he had a place like this, he’d never sell it.
“I’ll need the money to buy a place and have enough of a bank account to afford to live in New York City.” That strong jaw tight now, Shea set the rest of the muffin back on the plate.
The sun was beginning to show itself, and a rooster crowed. Used to the sounds of traffic, Jake had to smile to himself at the dichotomy.
“And is that so important? Lots of people just come visit once a year.”
“It’s all I ever wanted. I loved it when I was there. So much to do an’ see, I feel it’ll take years to get to everythin’ I want to once I’m there. Plus it’ll help my modeling career.”
Something in Shea’s words didn’t convey that electric excitement he’d hardly been able to contain when they’d first talked about him moving. Knowing him a little better now, Jake could see the decision wasn’t an easy one for him to make. “Are you looking to move ahead with that?”
“I’d like to see what’s out there for me before I get too old. Maybe do some swimwear or somethin’. I haven’t done enough to make a big enough splash in the industry and make enough money.”
“And your father knew what you planned?”
The shutters came down on Shea’s face. “Yeah. He did.”
It was obvious to Jake that the pain of Shea’s father’s passing was a fresh, raw wound he hadn’t yet had a chance to come to terms with. “I’m not here to pass judgment on you. We all have to do what we think is best. But sometimes what we think we want changes course along the way. Like my idea of a family.” He grimaced. “I got shit at work when I announced Stacey’s birth. Plenty of people didn’t think a gay couple should be allowed to raise a child.” The sneers and side-eyes from some people at Precision had hurt him, but he’d ignored it all. Once Brian walked out, Jake allowed their negativity to grow inside him, and he’d had more sleepless nights than he could remember, believing he was going to fail.
“Fuck them,” Shea growled. “Nobody’s a better father than you.”
“Thanks.”
They sat and finished their coffees in silence. By that time, the sun had risen, and the sounds of the ranch came to life: footsteps kicked the gravel, chickens clucked, donkeys brayed, and horses whinnied in the distance.
“I’d better get this back to the kitchen and help Patty with breakfast. Then I’ll take you to get a new phone. We’ll have to go into Dallas, though, since there’re no phone stores between here ’n there.”
“Shit.”
In the middle of cleaning up the muffins and coffee, Shea stopped. “What’s wrong? It’s no big deal.”
“I can’t go. The first time Stacey speaks? No way am I going to disappear for half the day to get a fucking phone. Screw it. I’ll just send an email on my laptop to my assistant.”
“Tell you what. Let’s call up the store in Dallas. You can buy it over the phone, and I’ll go pick it up for you.”
Jake’s mouth fell open. “I can’t ask you to do that for me.”
“You didn’t. I offered. And you’re right. No way in hell are you gonna leave your little princess alone today. So spend the day with her. Patty told me this morning Queenie had kittens in the barn. Take her to see them, and spend the day just wanderin’ around. I’ll be back before lunch, and then I can take her ridin’.”
“You’re too good to me. I-I don’t know what to say.” Jake shook his head.
“Just trying to help out a friend.” Shea hefted the tray, and Jake became distracted by the flex of those muscles across his shoulders. A powerful surge of lust rocketed through him, and Jake wished they were in his bed and he could again dig his fingers into that expanse of hot, sweaty skin and lick Shea all over.
“Thanks,” he said faintly. “I really appreciate it.”
Shea flashed him a wicked grin. “You can make it up to me tonight.”
The door slammed behind him, and Jake sank onto the sofa and closed his eyes. How the hell was he ever going to walk away from Shea and go home? Every day he found himself more and more tangled up in the man.
God, he was fucked.
Chapter Nineteen
