"Yeah," I agreed, trying to make myself believe it. "And I wouldn't mind having kids one day. I'm just paranoid about the stretch marks."
"More tattoos," he told me. "Have a dermatologist prescribe some lotions to help with elasticity. Not cheap, but you can afford it. And when you're done making babies, get laser surgery. It's all available, so don't let that stop you from being a mom. You'd be damned good at it."
"You're a good shrink," I told him.
"Even though you missed the part about me crushing on your boyfriend?"
I shook my head. "Nope, but I kinda expected that. Sadly, I think you'll have to love him from afar, though."
"Yeah, and if he's into it?"
"Shit," I laughed, reaching over to steal a drink from his beer. "If Luke will go there, then you treat him right, ok? Boy's never been on the receiving end of a first time, and he's got too much pride. Although, I'm pretty sure he's as straight as they come."
"Sadly, I think you might be right," Cy agreed. "Or I'm displacing, knowing Ash is coming home tomorrow." He sighed. "But this? It's still worth it. Yeah, and speaking of worth it, I'm stepping up as your assistant. The Bea to your Vera. That gonna be ok?"
"I do need the help," I admitted.
Cy nodded at the open land on the far side of the pool, then grabbed his beer without looking. "Then I'll call Crimson tomorrow. I want to get approval for hiring a farm hand. We're going to need one if you're talking about buying horses and making hay. No reason we can't find someone to help fix up the cabins again too."
Pulling my feet off the table, I sat up to look at him. "What are you doing, Cy?"
He just sucked back a gulp of beer, but the corner of his lips was curling higher. "Yeah, I'm thinking about Luke. No, I'm not asking your permission. And no, I'm not making him an offer until it's through the board and approved. The reality is that your boyfriend knows this town, he knows how to farm, and he's invested. Maybe it's all about you, but I'm not convinced. He mentions Vera too often. I think that no matter what happens, he'd be an asset to Southwind, and we already know he's not going to lose his shit about the weird shit that happens here."
"That's not a good idea," I said. "Cy, I'm sleeping with the man. To be his boss too?"
"Vera was Bea's boss," he countered. "And no, he wouldn't report to you. I'll make sure I'm his supervisor." Finally, he turned to look at me. "I've been talking to him, Vi. He knows horses, and he learned fromBea. He knows cows, hay, and how to work on the equipment. He likes kids - at least his own. Once we open this place, we're going to need an equine therapy program, and I have a feeling he'd be willing to get certified. It makes sense, it's clean and easy, plus I think the guy's invested in Southwind, and that puts him at the top of my list."
"Because you've been here for two days," I said.
Cy just shrugged. "Plus the three years as a teen, but sure. All I'm saying is that man is being wasted as the cow feeder. He's got drive, he's got dreams, and he's got enough brains to pause before he sticks his foot in it. He's the man for the job and you know it."
Yeah, Cy was right. I knew he was, but I wasn't sure this would be a good idea. What would happen if Luke and I didn't work out? What kind of problems would that cause for him in town with the locals? And then I couldn't rule out that Cy was thinking with his dick because he'd just admitted he had a thing for Luke.
"Sure this isn't your way of trying to impress him?" I asked.
Cy actually laughed at that. "Good try, babe. Well delivered, too. Considering that we all know my chances of getting a piece of that ass are less than me and Ash never fighting again?" He chuckled again. "Yeah, I'm thinking about this logically. I honestly believe he'd be an asset to the business. I also think there's a reason that Gran invested in him. They taught him how to keep this place running, and he's the guy she called when she was sick. Not me. Not Crimson or Magenta. She called Luke."
"Low blow, using Gran to support your argument," I said, but I wasn't upset. In fact, I knew he was right. "Ok. If you can get this through the board, then I won't try to stop it. Just don't say anything to him? I don't want to get his hopes up and it not work out. I mean, I'm still waiting to hear back from the tax office, and I've got calls in to the local hospitals about accreditation."
"I'll have all my paperwork back in the next week or so," he assured me. "Already filed for the move, and Texas makes it easy for psychiatrists - thankfully. Once I have that, we'll pull up the forms and start working on resuming the agreement Vera had with the state. It'll be easier to renew than to start over. Southwind should be back in business before Christmas."
"That's a lot of work," I reminded him.
Cy nodded. "Yeah, which is why Ash is coming back. With the three of us? We'll make it happen, babe. You focus on the business side, and we'll fix up the property." Then he chuckled. "Assuming Ash can handle working a hammer."
"Oh, fuck off," I laughed. "As pretty as he is, he still knows how to get his hands dirty. Hell, he's the one who painted the walls in the living room. Yes, they were sponge-painted too."
Cy just leaned back and let out a contented sigh. "I missed you two, you know that, right?"
"I missed you too," I told him, glancing over.
His eyes were waiting, along with a sweet smile. "I'm sorry I cut you out of my life. I just couldn't take it back then. Losing Ash broke my heart, and when you went with him? I thought I was all alone again. Chewed through lovers like a cheap whore, trying to find that feeling again, then kinda realized that it wouldn't happen, so I think I settled."
"For Kindle?" I asked.
He bobbed his head in a slow agreement. "For a man who made me feel like the center of his world. That's why it broke me when I caught him cheating. Vi, everyone else has family. People have someone to lean on, even if they fight like dogs all the other times. Parents, siblings, and such. Hell, Luke has Faith, and she's his lifeline. Us? All we've got is each other, and I cut the ropes. I know it, and I'm so fucking sorry."
"I was worried about you," I told him. "For a couple of years, no one heard from you. All we knew was that you'd moved out of state, but not even where."
