Chapter Five
Ivan knocked on Cash’s doorjamb to get his attention. His boss looked up from the paperwork on his desk and smiled. “What’s up?”
“I just got off the phone with Roberto,” Ivan said casually as if his heart wasn’t trying to beat out of his chest. “He let me know that he’ll be in the area much sooner than he expected and wants to move the interview up.”
“Great news.” Cash picked up his phone and tapped the screen before meeting Ivan’s gaze. “When will he be here?”
Ivan’s stomach pitched, threatening to reject his breakfast. He was already nervous about his meeting with Valentino Russo in Denver and the phone call from Roberto might just push Ivan over the edge. “Um, Sunday.”
Cash narrowed his eyes. “Next Sunday?”
“No,” Ivan replied. “In two days.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not ready.”
Cash’s eyes widened. “Oh, wow. I’m glad he’s eager to meet with us, but the timing presents a problem.
Nick arranged for me to meet with some FBI agents who specialize in cult investigations this weekend.
I leave tomorrow morning and might not make it back in time.
” Cash rose from his chair and crossed the office.
“Don’t you dare reschedule this meeting,” he said firmly.
“You’ve worked too damn hard to blow this opportunity.
Talk to Rory. Get some tips and pointers.
The kid is a damn natural in front of a camera. ”
Ivan nodded because words failed him. On one hand, he knew Cash was right, but he was too fixated on his past experiences to focus on what his future needed. He forced a nod and said, “I’ll talk to him before I leave for Denver.”
Cash squeezed his arm. “You’re going to do great. I promise.”
Ivan wasn’t convinced but he nodded and headed to the kitchen to find Rory.
If he put off asking for help, he might not do it.
Best to get this conversation behind him since he needed to get cleaned up and on the road to Denver soon.
Ivan found Harry stirring something on the stove that smelled delicious.
“Where’s Trouble?”
She pointed to her chest and said, “You’ve found it.”
“Trouble Junior, then,” Ivan said.
Harry snorted. “Rory is collecting eggs with Tyler and Owen.”
He suspected shenanigans were afoot if those two were involved and headed that direction. He could ask Rory for his help and make sure he didn’t get caught up in whatever schemes the troublesome twosome had cooked up.
After Monday’s conversation, Ivan attempted to find the right balance of give and take with Rory.
Something about the guy incited a surge of protectiveness he normally reserved for the people he loved dearly.
Rory didn’t fall into that category. Hell, Ivan wasn’t sure he even liked the guy, but he admired the effort Rory put into every task.
It didn’t matter how big or small; the guy gave it his all.
Ivan wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. The guys who’d been the most reserved around Rory had all warmed up to him.
Owen looked a little worried that Rory’s shine drew Tyler too close to his orbit, but Owen had nothing to worry about there.
Ivan figured eventually those two would figure out their bond extended beyond friendship, but that was their business.
Ivan saw Rory approach the chicken coop with the egg basket in hand while Tyler and Owen stood off to the side with their heads together.
Definitely shenanigans afoot. They were probably wagering on Rory’s success.
Those two fools were each other’s constant shadows and caused trouble nine times out of ten.
Ivan was determined that Rory wouldn’t become a victim of their chaos.
Most of the hens were docile animals who didn’t mind them reaching into the nesting boxes, but two of them would sooner peck your eye out than let you take their eggs.
Rory was sporting safety goggles, so Owen and Tyler had at least warned him about the vicious hens.
Once Rory approached the coop, it became obvious the guys hadn’t told him which hens had the propensity for violence since their names were painted above their nesting boxes.
Rory gingerly reached into Helga’s little house like she might attack him at any minute.
His lips were moving, but Ivan couldn’t hear what he was saying from his hiding spot.
Sweet, docile Helga sat there like she did every morning.
Ivan had seen her savagely devour a worm in the hen yard, but she was a total sweetheart the rest of the time.
Helga clucked and shifted her wings just as Rory would’ve reached the egg.
He jumped like he’d stuck his hand in a mousetrap and jerked his arm out of the nesting box.
Owen and Tyler looked at each other and fought back laughter for a few moments before calling out encouragement to Rory.
Damn those assholes for their troublemaking.
Rory reached over and gingerly stroked Helga’s breast feathers, and Ivan imagined him sweetly talking to her like he did the cats.
Ivan had noticed the treat bag was considerably lighter, and his felines were as enamored with Rory as Helga seemed to be at the moment.
Rory reached back under the hen, cautiously removed the egg, and gently placed it in the basket.
He didn’t immediately move to the next hen, though.
Rory took a few moments to stroke Helga’s feathers, and Ivan found himself jealous of a chicken for the first time in his life.
He could almost feel Rory’s long fingers brushing over his skin.
And yeah, he’d noticed the length of the man’s fingers, eyelashes, and other things he never paid much attention to on other men.
Ivan didn’t allow the image of Rory’s cock to fully form in his brain.
He wouldn’t let himself imagine how smooth Rory’s bare skin would feel against his lips.
He hadn’t needed an Only Fans subscription to see Rory in all his glory.
Ivan reached the coop before Rory reached Bloody Mary’s nesting box.
“Hey, Rory,” Ivan called out. “Got a minute.”
Rory turned around and smiled at him. “Sure.”
Owen and Tyler exchanged a glance, and Ty slipped his best friend a folded bill.
Did they assume Ivan was going to haul Rory off for midday sex?
Ivan thought he’d hidden his attraction to Rory from the rest of the ranch crew.
There was no way in hell they could know he’d googled everything he could find on Rory or that he’d started watching his YouTube channel at night.
They weren’t privy to Ivan’s raunchy, nightly dreams, where he explored every inch of Rory’s body.
They sure as hell weren’t in the bathroom when Ivan eased the ache in his balls in the shower while the rest of the house slept.
Something in Ivan’s demeanor must’ve tipped Owen and Tyler off, though.
Ivan never considered them to be exceptionally intuitive or observant, so if they recognized Ivan’s interest, the others had as well.
Had Harry read more into Ivan’s insistence that Rory get extra protein and complex carbs in his lunch?
Knowing everyone was watching and discussing Ivan made him queasy.
His love life had once been violated and exploited just as fervently as Rory’s relationship with his father.
Ivan couldn’t bear the thought of being the subject of such intense scrutiny ever again, even if on a smaller scale vis-à-vis the gossiping crew, and to think he hadn’t thought his nerves could get worse.
“Ivan,” Rory said softly.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Ivan looked into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen.
They studied Ivan with the kind of curiosity that made him want to strip down and stretch out.
The tip of Rory’s tongue darted out and licked his bottom lip before the plump flesh ended up between his teeth.
Ivan had caught Rory doing that a few times and realized he was nervous or worried about something.
He balled his hands into fists instead of reaching up to rescue Rory’s lip.
“Where’d you go just now?” Rory asked. “You were standing right here with me, but you weren’t really here.”
Telling Rory the truth wouldn’t do them any good.
Rory might see that as an invitation to amp up his flirtations, and Ivan wasn’t sure how much longer he could resist him.
The tone of Rory’s teasing had transformed over the past four days.
He hadn’t bared his skin or blatantly invited him into his body, but there was an undeniable something extra when Rory looked at Ivan or spoke to him.
Rory had claimed he didn’t flirt shamelessly with anyone else, and Ivan had witnessed that firsthand.
Rory engaged, chatted, and laughed with everyone on the ranch, but he reserved the special sparkle in his eyes and coy tilt to his lips just for Ivan.
And hell if he didn’t like it too fucking much.
It was a damn good thing he was heading to Denver soon.
He’d screw this frustration out of his system and return a new man.
“I guess my mind wandered to the meeting I have this afternoon,” Ivan said.
“I’ve contracted with a few upscale restaurants to sell my honey, but this meeting is the most important one yet.
This chef is Michelin-starred, and being able to claim the partnership on my website would be an enormous deal. ”
Rory released his lip to smile at Ivan, and damn, what a beauty it was. Either his maker had blessed Rory with incredible genetics or his folks had paid a small fortune to accomplish a smile so perfect. “I have every confidence you’ll land the deal.”
“Thank you.” Ivan checked his watch and noted the time. He needed to shower and hit the road soon, but he didn’t want to postpone this conversation.
“You wanted to talk to me?” Rory prodded.