Chapter Nineteen
Ivan laced his fingers through Rory’s and tugged him away from the encroaching reporters. Rory’s method of soothing his rage had prevented Ivan from noticing the reporters moving on them like vultures on roadkill. There’s my guy. That’s what Rory had said. Had he meant it?
“Rory!” A different woman cried out. “I’m Anita from CBS Ten. I just have a few questions.” Did she expect Rory to change his mind about an interview because she reported for a different affiliate?
“And I have no comment for you either,” Rory called over his shoulder.
Ivan and Rory lengthened their strides, hoping to put more distance between themselves and the reporters. “Do you think you can jog? I’m parked behind the feed mill.”
“That just makes us look guilty, and don’t think for a minute because the reporters are wearing heels that they won’t keep up with us. That business is brutal, and they’ve battled numerous competitors to land their positions. They’ll stop at nothing to get their interviews.”
Sure enough, the reporters kept pace with them and badgered Rory with questions, each one more intrusive than the last. They asked about his relationship with his father and even inquired about his boyfriend’s identity.
The reporters wanted to know if he was dating one of the farm felons.
Farm felons? Did they think Cash was growing them on the ranch instead of providing the men a safe place to live and employment opportunities?
“They’re just trying to provoke us,” Rory said so quietly that Ivan barely heard him. “Don’t give them anything.”
Ivan reached into his pocket with his free hand to unlock the truck with the fob. The headlights flashed, and the horn let out two quick beeps. Ivan squeezed Rory’s fingers and silently encouraged him to move even faster. “They won’t block the truck, will they?”
“Probably.”
Something landed with a resounding splat near them, and a startled gasp and “Oh shit” quickly followed.
A second object exploded close enough to splatter moisture on the back of Ivan’s shirt.
He was momentarily confused until he caught the reflection of a light blue water balloon sailing through the air in the truck’s passenger window.
It hit the cameraman following Kristin, and he went down hard.
“Someone’s throwing water balloons at us,” Anita cried out.
Rory turned mischievous eyes on him just as Ivan wrenched his door open. They both knew who the culprit was. Ivan wasn’t sure who’d suggested the water balloon toss for the kids, but he wanted to hug them.
“Get in. Save yourself,” Ivan said dramatically before shutting Rory inside. Ivan whirled in time to see a green water balloon arcing toward the reporters, who kept running into one another in their frenzy to get away.
Ivan darted around the truck and climbed into the cab, so he didn’t see which of them got pelted.
He fired up the engine and pulled away without bothering to put his seat belt on.
He maneuvered around the confused journalists and drove toward safety.
As they neared the feed store, Ivan rolled down his window and pointed to Hope.
She held the tennis ball launcher they used for doggie demonstrations in one hand and a hot pink water balloon with the other.
She raised them over her head in victory when she saw the guys drive away from the chaos.
Ivan beeped the horn twice to thank her and pulled on his seat belt.
Neither of them said a word until they were well outside Last Chance Creek.
“Pretty sure Hope has a water kink,” Rory said.
Ivan laughed so hard he had to pull over. Rory volleyed his attention between the rear window and him.
“They could still pursue us,” he said, sounding a little worried. “The big logo on the side of your truck tells them where we’re headed.”
Ivan sobered up. “We don’t have to go back to the ranch. We could head out of town and get a hotel room tonight.”
“And my troubles will still be waiting for me when I get back.”
“Our troubles. You only saved a puppy, but I nearly pounded an allegedly pious man into a pulp. It took three men to hold me back.”
“The letter for today is P, boys and girls,” Rory said, his mouth creeping into a wry smile.
Ivan was happy for the display of humor and leaned forward to kiss him. “You called me your guy.”
Rory went to work on his bottom lip. “Did I?”
“You did, and I think you know it.” Ivan cupped his cheek. “The question is, did you mean it?”
Rory swallowed hard and darted his eyes to the rear window again.
Ivan realized he was truly concerned about the reporters following them, so he merged onto the road.
That didn’t mean he would table the conversation for even a second.
They’d been skirting around their feelings for a while, and it felt like a good time to get everything out in the open between them.
“I did.” Rory’s tone made it hard to figure out how he’d punctuated his response. It wasn’t a period or a question mark.
“I hear an ellipsis followed by a but,” Ivan said.
Rory snorted. “No, you didn’t.”
“Yep. I did. Dot, dot, dot but. That’s exactly what I heard.” Ivan was afraid to hear what followed the unspoken but.
“Ivan, I think I need to leave the ranch.”
A weight settled in Ivan’s chest, making it hard to breathe.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Ivan forced himself to take a deep, steadying breath, but it barely eased the tension in his chest. Silence and stoicism would not get him what he wanted most in the world, and that was the man sitting beside him.
“Leave? No! Why would you say that? How did you go from calling me your guy to telling me you’re leaving me? ”
“I’m not leaving you,” Rory said. “I’m leading the reporters away from you and the ranch. They’re about to turn your life upside down because of me.”
Even though things had gone well during the interview with Roberto, the mere thought of another media intrusion by reporters who were looking for the juiciest details made Ivan queasy, but losing Rory would be so much worse. “No,” Ivan pleaded. “There’s got to be another way.”
“We both knew our time together had an expiration date,” Rory said.
“It will take those journalists an hour at most to figure out your identity. They will rehash every trauma you’ve experienced without regard for your feelings or your family’s.
They will splash the story in every newspaper and highlight it in every broadcast simply because you got tangled up with me.
Every good thing you’ve accomplished since your release will disappear, leaving only the ugly things behind.
That’s modern journalism for you. They don’t care who they hurt as long as they break the story.
Ivan, you could lose your clients. The negative press could destroy everything you’re trying to build.
That’s the real Rory Effect.” Rory’s voice broke, and Ivan’s heart fractured with it. But he wouldn’t give up.
“No,” Ivan said emphatically. “What you said could happen, but you’ve also taught me there are positive ways to put your message out into the world. We just have to fight harder and smarter than they do.”
“What if the reporters don’t stop with you?
They will start digging to see who else lives on the ranch.
Based on the tone of the questions back there, Salvation Anew has already done a good job of casting the ranch in a negative light.
We don’t know how much time those reporters have spent around that Samuel guy.
The media could shine a spotlight on everything they deem a flaw or even newsworthy, whether factual or not.
When I look around the ranch, all I see are amazing people who’ve formed a beautiful family.
I couldn’t bear to be the one to bring them pain. ”
Ivan reached over the console to take Rory’s hand and was relieved when he rotated his wrist to lace their fingers together instead of pulling away. “You’re part of our family, Rory. You don’t get to decide what’s best for the ranch without giving us a say.”
A soft sob echoed in the cab, and Ivan glanced over to see fat tears spilling down Rory’s face.
Several years had passed since someone’s tears cut him as deeply.
Ivan had once broken his mother—his entire family—with his selfish acts.
He’d never wanted to cause another person that kind of hurt again, so he’d kept people at bay, never letting them get too close.
Until Rory. Their insane chemistry drew them together and kept them that way.
Rory’s willingness to be vulnerable with him is what broke through the barrier because it invited him to do the same.
Rory whittled away at Ivan’s resistance with every confession in the dark.
Those revelations, no matter the size, opened Ivan’s mind and heart.
It wasn’t enough to acknowledge that to himself, though.
“I see you,” he said. “The real Rory Snyder.”
“Yeah?” Rory asked. “What’s he like?”
“Intelligent, curious, and thoughtful,” Ivan said.
“He’s funny and incredibly sexy. He makes me want things I didn’t think were possible.
He’s an amazing friend and a fabulous lover.
He gives one hundred percent to every task, even when he isn’t confident.
He’s fiercely protective of the people he loves and loyal to those who deserve his trust. Bakes a mean cookie too. ”
Rory snorted at the last part, but he tightened his grip on Ivan’s hand.
“You make everyone around you better, Rory. My world is a brighter place because you’re in it.
I don’t want an expiration date, and if I’m honest, I don’t think I ever wanted one.
The concept gave me the freedom to be a version of myself I’d only fantasized about until you arrived.
And I want all the time you’re willing to give me to explore the places our relationship could go. ”
“God, I want that too,” Rory said. “No ellipsis or buts.”