“You ever meet someone that turns your entire world on its head then puts it back together in a way that’s better than before?” He looked up from his beer. “Someone that made every wrong thing about you not seem sobroken? Someone that sees through everythin’ you pretend to be and somehow knows you better than you know yourself?”
LeeAnne’s face softened, her shoulders slackening. “You went and fell in love with that boy, didn’t ya?”
Patrick tongued his cheek, noddin’ slowly. “Yeah…I reckon I did.”
“You gonna tell ‘im?”
“I don’t know. Probably not. Ain’t like he’ll ever stay in Suncreek.”
“He’s married, ain’t he?”
Patrick drummed his fingers against his beer. “Only in name. She ain’t his wife in the biblical sense.”
LeeAnne hummed then took a drink. “What a mess you’ve gotten yourself into.”
“I’ll have him in the winters. Pa’s already said he’ll keep Nash on since nobody else wants to work durin’ the cold season for cheap.”
“You gonna be okay with that?” LeeAnne looked at him like he was a kicked puppy. “Only havin’ him a few months out of the year?”
“Ain’t got no choice.”
“You’ve always got a choice. It’s just a matter of whether or not you make it.”
10
One Month Later
Patrick, cigarette between his lips and arms crossed, leaned against the front of his truck as he watched the bus pull up to the stop, breaks quieter than they were last year. The door opened with a long sigh, and people began to file out. Patrick kept his eyes peeled for a familiar, worn out, black cowboy hat and golden hair. His stomach twisted tighter with every person who wasn’thisthat walked off the bus, but after what felt like an eternity, Nash Colby stepped off that bus lookin’ just as pretty as the first day they met.
Patrick’s breath caught in his throat as they made eye contact across the crowd. Not many people changed a whole lot in a year, yet Nash managed to be the exception—as he often was.
His hair had grown out to his shoulders, his skin was a shade darker than before—of course he’d chosen an outdoor job; he wasn’t the type to stay still for too long—and he’d filled out a bit more. He was still just as pretty as the first day Patrick laid eyes on ‘im though. Nash would always be hispretty li’l thing.
Nash pushed through the crowd, and Patrick fought back a smile when he saw the bushy blond mustache beneath Nash’s nose. “Baby!” he shouted, a smile splittin’ his face clear in half. “Ain’t you a fuckin’ sight for sore eyes!”
There was so much commotion goin’ on around them that Patrick doubted anyone could hear or was even payin’ them a lick of attention, yet his eyes still darted ‘round to see if any heads turned in their direction. Nash grabbed the back of Patrick’s head and laid a fat, wet kiss right on his forehead. Patrick pushed him away, swearin’ as he swiped at his forehead.
“Hell, Nash, don’t you know how to act in public?”
“Good to see you haven’t changed none, Baby.”
Patrick thumped Nash’s hat back, nearly knockin’ it off his head, and grumbled, “Get your ass in the fuckin’ truck.”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t miss me now.” Nash tossed his stuff in the back then got into the cab, slammin’ the door shut behind him. He grabbed Patrick’s face, forcin’ him to turn his head. “Cuz I sure missed you, Baby.”
Patrick’s skin was on fire, but he’d be a liar if he said that he hadn’t. He’d missed Nash like he was missing a part of himself. “I missed you too, darlin’.”
“Let’s go home, Baby.”
On the way back to the ranch, Nash rattled on about how he spent his time back home. He managed to land a job with a small business that did a bit of everything that had to do with lawncare. All spring and summer he spent haulin’ pinestraw, buildin’ retention walls, plantin’ bushes, trimmin’ trees, and weedin’ gardens. It was the first time in almost a decade that he’d spent more than a couple months in his hometown, which meant his and the missus’ folks were happy to have him over for dinner just about every night. Nash slapped his stomach, jokin’ that his mama’s cookin’ was the reason he’d put on so muchweight despite workin’ like a dog. Patrick didn’t say it, but he thought Nash looked good with a bit more meat on his bones.
Patrick barely got the truck parked before Nash was climbin’ out the cab while sayin’ that he couldn’t wait for some good ole fashion canned chili heated on a gas stove. Patrick could only roll his eyes as he followed Nash to the front door. As soon as the door swung open, Nash pushed inside, dropped his bags, and grabbed Patrick by the front of his jacket, yankin’ him close. Before Patrick could protest, Nash’s lips were on his, and Patrick was helpless in the best way possible.
Nash pushed Patrick up against the wall, kissin’ down his jaw and along his neck. “God almighty, I’ve missed you. Missed how you tasted, how you sound. Fuck, I’ve missed all of you, Baby. You’re all I fuckin’ thought about for the past six months.”
“I know. I got your letters. Every single one of ‘em. Kept ‘em all too.”
“Yeah? Did you touch yourself readin’ those dirty letters I sent, Baby?” Nash rubbed Patrick’s jeans. “Stroke your pretty li’l cock while you thought about me?”
