Chapter Two #2
He turned and met Ivan’s gaze, catching the smug smirk on his face before he wiped it off.
Did he expect Rory to be a diva and pitch a fit to demand better lodgings?
What the fuck had Nick said to him during their brief meeting?
It had to have been bad to make this guy yell like he had.
In his heart, Rory knew Nick was trying to do the right thing by him, even if his actions seemed a tad extreme.
Then he remembered the man who’d come after him, his face contorted with rage and spittle foaming at his mouth as he hurled nasty slurs at Rory.
The dude expected Rory to back down and run, but that wasn’t his nature.
Rory had returned the volley of insults, and the fight was on.
Ducking blows was one thing, but a car chase was something entirely different.
A cold sweat broke out on Rory’s forehead, ratcheting up his brattiness to higher levels.
Ivan continued to watch him with rapt attention.
Bitching about his lodgings and proving Ivan’s assessments right would not get him what he wanted.
And what he wanted was for his Viking to make him forget all about the madness that existed outside the ranch.
He needed to poke the bear and make him uncomfortable enough to shed his reservations and join Rory on the dark side, or…
He glanced at the bed again and noted an old metal frame supported the mattress.
Would it be sturdy enough to support both of them, or would they need to retreat to Ivan’s room?
Rory leaned over, set both hands on the mattress, and gave it a few pushes to test the bounce and stability of the bed.
He felt amber eyes boring into his backside and played it up.
“Soft yet firm,” Rory said. He pushed the mattress harder and smiled to himself when he didn’t hear a single squeak.
“Quiet and sturdy. Unlike the ones from summer camp. Thank goodness. Do you know how hard it is for a teenager to seduce his summer crush on one of those squeaky-ass things?” Rory shivered hard.
“Bunk beds to boot, but one makes do to get the things he wants.” He straightened up and faced his Viking. “And I always get what I want.”
Ivan swallowed hard. Score one for the brat. “You went to summer camp?” he asked.
“Is that really the question you want to ask me, my liege?”
Ivan emitted a sexy little growl from his throat, followed by a cleansing breath. “What will it take for you to call me by my given name?”
Rory smiled seductively and took a few steps forward.
Ivan’s eyes widened because there was nowhere for him to go, and Rory could hear his gears grinding as he debated just how far Rory would take things.
Ivan was several inches taller and at least fifty pounds heavier.
He’d have no issues shaking Rory loose, but that wasn’t what Rory wanted.
When Ivan put his hands on him—and Rory was determined Ivan would—he wanted them to hold Rory close, not push him away.
What Rory truly wanted wasn’t something he could buy, coerce, or seduce from Ivan. Though he struggled to put a name to his deepest desire, Rory needed it granted freely and wholeheartedly. So he stopped his forward advance before their bodies touched. “There is something you can do for me.”
Ivan chewed on his bottom lip as his amber eyes darkened to the color of a hot toddy, and damn, Rory wanted to drink him down.
“Name it.” The words sounded like someone had torn them from his soul.
Ivan’s eyes widened as if they came as a surprise to him too.
His lips parted, and Rory knew he was seconds away from retracting his response or replacing it with a reaction that wasn’t as genuine.
“Treat me like you would anyone else who comes to work on the ranch,” Rory urged softly.
“I don’t know what Nicky told you about my situation, but it’s obvious you’ve drawn some conclusions about me.
” Rory offered a wry smile before continuing.
“Truth is, I’m probably worse than you’ve imagined, but I am not a freeloader. I pay my own way.”
Ivan’s eyes widened, and it was hard to say which one of them was more surprised by Rory’s confession.
That wasn’t at all what he’d planned to say, but there was a softening around the big man’s features that encouraged Rory to dial back the attitude and reveal a little more.
He opened his mouth and more words tumbled out before he could stop them.
“You don’t like me, and I get it. Take a number and get in line.
Hell, I’m pretty sure I can’t stand myself at the moment.
But maybe give me a fair shake. I might surprise you. ” And maybe even myself.
Ivan remained silent as he held Rory’s gaze, making it impossible to miss the spark of emotion in Ivan’s amber eyes.
Rory had this eerie sensation that Ivan read him better than anyone he’d ever met, including the brother he adored.
The notion was ludicrous, but it still rang true and unsettled Rory in ways he couldn’t explain.
He probably would’ve reverted to bratty behavior to reestablish boundaries if a vibrating noise hadn’t caught him off guard.
“Excuse me.” The big man reached into his front pocket and removed his phone.
“The food is ready. You hungry?”
Ivan’s question wasn’t the truce he’d asked for, or was it? Rory didn’t think he was hungry until he recalled the smells coming from the grill. “Famished.”
“Do you want me to find a storage space for the guitar to give you more room in here?”
Rory stepped back and assessed the room once more. “I’ll just tuck it under the bed.”
Ivan nodded and eased out of the room. “Unfortunately, there’s no bathroom on the first floor.
There was a half bath down here, but we converted it into a laundry room a few years back.
There’s a full bathroom upstairs with a shower and a tub.
You’ll share it with Finley, Dylan, and me, though Fin is rarely here.
It’s not a huge space, but it’s tidy, and we want to keep it that way.
We stow our personal hygiene stuff in individual shower kits under the sink to maximize space. ”
“Understood, and it won’t be a problem since I’m a clean freak. Which ones are Finley and Dylan?”
“Finley is the blond guy we passed on the way out of the house. Dylan is the guy who’s manning the grill.”
“The one who was running his fingers through your hair?” Rory asked.
Ivan stopped suddenly and turned around. It was Rory’s turn to take a few steps back in surprise that a big man could move that fast. Ivan scowled at Rory’s reaction and eased backward. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I sometimes forget my size.”
I assure you no one else does, big guy. Rory kept his comment to himself, though he wondered if his expression gave his thoughts away when Ivan scowled.
“Dylan was messing up my new hairstyle. There was nothing romantic in his gesture. His heart belongs to another.”
“What a romantic thing to say.” Rory changed his impression of Ivan from scholar to poet.
Ivan snorted. “Before you ask, Finley is involved with Kieran.”
“The guy from the kitchen? They make a smoking-hot couple.”
Ivan’s scowl darkened, and Rory rolled his eyes. “What? I can’t notice their attractiveness? I’m not here to wreck relationships.” When Ivan didn’t respond, Rory couldn’t resist pushing his luck the tiniest bit. “And what of your heart? Does someone have a claim on it?”
Ivan’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “Many would say I don’t have one.”
“What do you say?” Rory asked.
“I say it’s time to eat before Owen and Tyler devour all the ribs.”
Rory ignored the nonanswer and gestured for Ivan to continue out of the house. Ivan acknowledged it with a nod, then turned around.
“Take the weekend to settle in and meet the rest of the crew,” Ivan said over his shoulder. “Monday is soon enough for the real work to begin. We’ll assess your skills and determine the best fit.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Rory said. He trailed behind Ivan at his normal pace and was pleased that the big man’s posture and stride weren’t as angry nor did it look like he was trying to escape Rory’s presence. He counted that as a victory too.
Rory didn’t expect to find the fed-mobile still in the driveway or his brother leaning against the gray sedan with his arms folded over his chest. Like Ivan, Nicky didn’t look nearly as tense, and Rory knew it was because his brother had gotten to spend some time with Cash.
A breeze kicked up, stirring the overlong hair hanging over Nicky’s forehead.
Rory couldn’t remember a time when his brother had looked so unpolished, and his earlier fears returned.
“I’m going to say goodbye to Nick,” Rory called out.
Ivan acknowledged him with a wave and continued toward the tent where a banner congratulating Kieran now hung.
Rory wondered what it was all about and figured he’d find out soon enough.
He veered off to meet his brother, who offered him an amiable smile reminiscent of the old Nicky.
Echoes of boyish giggles wrapped around Rory’s heart and squeezed.
“Figured you’d be long gone by now after dropping me off. ”
“Cash asked my opinion on some concerns he has about a nearby religious sect that’s making trouble.
They started targeting the surrounding town but have turned their attention toward the ranch.
Apparently, there’s been a small outbreak of thefts and vandalism, and the religious leaders have been pointing fingers at the farm felons.
Cash fielded a call from a reporter this morning.
He categorically denied the allegations and declined further comment. ”
“Cash is making the same mistakes as Charles’s campaign manager. I think he should get out in front of it. You and I both know Cash is a media darling and could easily sway the tone of the conversation.”