Chapter Six
Intimidation was an old foe Nick hadn’t faced off with in a long time, but the bastard reintroduced itself with a flare in Cash’s dining room.
If the emotion were a person, it would stroke the curling ends of its overlong mustache and laugh maniacally at Nick’s discomfort.
Every pair of eyes was trained in his direction, reminding him of his first day in private school after his mother married Charles Snyder.
He’d felt the weight of the students’ stares and his new stepfather’s expectations.
The pressure had been surreal, but it paled to his current circumstances.
He hadn’t stayed in touch with a single person from his school days, but the people gathered around the table mattered to Cash.
Nick wanted to make a good impression, which meant he probably should’ve dressed better.
But his outfit made a statement, even if only Cash understood it.
Nick tore his gaze away from the delicious food and met each of the curious gazes, saving the most important for last. He’d met most of the crew during brief visits but would’ve recognized the side-betting busybodies by Cash’s descriptions alone.
He took a moment to introduce himself to everyone, shaking hands with those who extended him the courtesy.
Rory popped up out of his seat, wrapped his arms around Nick’s waist, and did his best boa constrictor impersonation.
“Leave some air,” Nick gasped.
Rory laughed and loosened his grip, but he didn’t pull away. “You have some serious explaining to do,” his little brother whispered before finally letting go. Nick wasn’t sure if Rory meant his presence on the ranch or his injury.
“Looking forward to it,” Nick said, but he figured his host deserved those answers first. They’d only scratched the surface the previous night.
Rory gave him one last squeeze before dropping his arms. “I’ll make you a plate. Sit down.”
“Thank you,” Nick said. The only empty seats were the one Rory had vacated and another at the farthest point from the person he needed most.
“Here, take my seat.” Rueben rose from his spot immediately to Cash’s right.
The Hispanic guy in his midtwenties was almost too beautiful to be real.
He’d become an overnight sensation when Rory had launched the Redemption Ridge YouTube channel.
People were obsessed with his soulful eyes and ridiculously long eyelashes.
Rueben was even more gorgeous in person and just as thoughtful as he came across in his segments.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Nick replied at the same time Cash said, “That’s unnecessary.”
Nick met Cash’s gaze for the first time since entering the dining room.
Cash had his mask firmly in place now, but Nick had felt his incinerating perusal earlier.
It had been uncomfortable to dress himself, especially in tight clothes, but Cash’s reaction was exactly what he’d wanted.
It wouldn’t be wise to push him, though, so Nick waited for Cash’s cue.
Rueben, who’d already stood up, wore a knowing smirk as he volleyed his gaze between the two men. “I insist.”
Nick forced himself to look at Rueben. “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Rueben emphasized his rolled R, so the word sounded like a purr.
Nick claimed the vacated seat and scooted himself closer to the table.
His toes brushed up against Cash’s socked foot, and Nick’s decision not to push him dissolved.
Nick slid his foot under Cash’s pant leg to touch bare skin.
Outwardly, Cash didn’t betray that Nick was playing footsie under the table, but Nick felt a slight tremor beneath his toes.
He expected Cash to pull away, but to Nick’s surprise, he inched his leg even closer.
Rory set an overflowing plate of food in front of him. “I can’t eat all this,” Nick said. The shock halted his secret massage, but he kept his foot tucked under Cash’s jeans.
“Try,” Rory said. “You look better than you did in March, but you’re still too skinny.” Rory patted him on his good shoulder and resumed his seat next to Ivan.
Cash leaned toward him and whispered, “I’ll help.” He snagged a muffin off his plate, but there were still two more.
Nick tucked into his food, hoping to make a decent dent.
Conversation resumed around the table as the crew caught Ivan up on everything that had happened in his absence.
There were a few funny stories about a mean chicken named Bloody Mary and some shenanigans from a horse named Nellie.
Nick enjoyed their banter almost as much as the delicious food.
When the crew pushed back from the table to start their workday, it shocked Nick to discover he’d cleaned his plate.
Cash chuckled at his astonishment. “We work and eat hard around here.”
Nick glanced up and saw that they were alone. “Do you play hard too?”
Cash’s nostrils flared. It was the only sign that Nick’s question had struck its target. He rose to his feet, and Nick looked his fill before giving Cash his full attention. “I have a few things I want to take care of this morning, but I’d like to show you around the ranch this afternoon.”
“I’d love that.” Nick stood up with his plate in hand as the crew had done.
Cash took his dishes and stacked them on top of his. “How does coffee on the porch sound?”
Nick sighed. “Like heaven.”
“Let’s get you set up there,” Cash said, then turned to exit the dining room.
Nick followed but stopped suddenly when Cash halted and turned around.
With dishes in one hand, Cash backed Nick up a few steps.
He hooked two fingers in Nick’s belt loop and brushed his thumb over the strip of bared stomach.
They might’ve filled their bellies, but Cash’s hungry expression said he craved something else.
“We’re going to do so much more than sightseeing today.”
Nick quirked a brow. “Yeah?”
Cash moved in even closer. “Oh yeah,” he said, voice husky. “I’m going to take you to my favorite secluded place, and we’re going to…talk.”
Nick snorted and rolled his eyes. “Tease.”
“Thief,” Cash countered and gave him one last hungry look before he blinked it away. “Come on before they place bets on us.”
The snickering and hushed conversation coming from the kitchen suggested that ship had already sailed.
Their delay probably wasn’t even a minute, but Nick detected some guilty flushes when they entered the room.
The kitchen, open and airy, was a vast space, but it looked much smaller with so many people lined up to rinse their dishes and stow them in the dishwashers.
Rory and Nick hadn’t chatted a lot during his time at Quantico, but each conversation had included tidbits about his ranch life.
The process went smoothly, and the guys quickly filed through the kitchen.
Tyler and Owen had kitchen duty and hung back to hand-wash the oversized dishes and restore order to the room.
Nick lingered to the side so he wouldn’t be in the way and risk someone jostling his shoulder. Getting dressed had hurt him more than he wanted to admit, and the meds Cash had left on his nightstand hadn’t kicked in yet. Remembering the gesture put a smile on his face.
Rory sidled up beside him and stopped just shy of bumping into his shoulder. “You might want to cool it, Nicky. You’re staring at the boss with a dopey expression on your face.”
Nick looked at Rory and thought his brother was one to talk.
He’d caught him making moon eyes at Ivan throughout breakfast. Rory was so in love it almost hurt to look at him.
During his long drive to the ranch, Nick had made a mental note to have a private conversation with Ivan.
His brother had fallen ass over teakettle in love with the foreman, and Nick needed to be sure that Ivan’s feelings were genuine.
After only five seconds in their presence, Nick scratched that item off his mental to-do list. They were so besotted with each other it nearly gave Nick a toothache.
“You’re projecting,” Nick said. “You’re so infatuated that you see it everywhere you look.”
“Is that so?” Rory asked smugly. “Where’d you sleep last night, Nicky?”
Harry swooped in like an avenging angel before he could reply. She handed Nick a cup of coffee, looped her arm through Rory’s, and led him away. “Off we go, brat,” she said. “You’re about to see a new side of me. It’s called the pumpkin spice queen.”
Nick wasn’t sure how much she’d overheard, but Nick appreciated the interference.
He and Rory had a lot to discuss, but he wanted the peaceful afternoon Cash had promised him.
Then Nick remembered Cash wanted to talk too.
What was with all the talking around here?
Patsy trotted up to him and let out three sharp barks. “You too?” Nick asked.
She turned around in a circle, but Nick wasn’t exactly sure what it meant. “You want to go outside?” It was a safe guess. She barked three more times, which he took to mean yes. “Lucky for you, my lady, I was just headed that way.”