Chapter Fourteen #2
They wrapped up their phone call, and Nick pulled back into traffic.
He ran through all the possibilities, which didn’t take long because every avenue led him to the same person.
Nick would’ve rather cuddled up to a rattlesnake than approach Sheriff Burke for help, but that didn’t stop him from pulling into the sheriff’s department’s parking lot.
He didn’t see Burke’s truck but entered the station anyway.
He learned the sheriff was at lunch and chose not to leave a message since he knew the man’s favorite lunch spot.
Sure enough, he located Burke’s truck half a block from the diner.
Nick nabbed a spot while deciding how to approach the man.
He could continue to be a cocky asshole and hope Burke’s friendship with Cash would entice him to do the right thing.
Or he could apologize for his behavior and attempt to make peace with the man whose friendship Cash valued.
There was no doubt about which option he preferred, but Nick chose door number two.
Burke was sitting in the back of the diner with a newspaper unfolded in front of him.
Though his pose looked casual to the naked eye, Nick didn’t miss his subtle shift in focus when he stepped into the diner.
He figured Burke probably did that every time the door opened, but Nick also bet his shoulders didn’t stiffen for everyone.
Nick gave himself a mental pep talk and forced his feet to move.
Burke didn’t look up even after Nick slid into the booth opposite him.
“Do you always drop in unannounced?” Burke asked.
Nick knew he was talking about the previous weekend when his arrival had interrupted Burke’s date with Cash. One snarky remark after another popped into his head, but Nick suppressed them all. “Look, I know you and I didn’t get off to a wonderful start.”
Burke raised his head and leveled a sardonic gray gaze at him. “And?”
Of course he wouldn’t make this easy. “It was mostly my fault.” When Burke only quirked a raven brow, Nick added, “Fine. It’s all my fault. I acted like a possessive alley cat that wanted to mark his territory.”
Burke’s lips curved into a genuine smile. “Damn it. I really didn’t want to like you.” The sheriff lifted his coffee cup to his full lips.
Nick couldn’t resist returning the sheriff’s grin. “Guess I just have that effect on people.”
Burke nearly choked on his coffee. “There’s the cocky bastard I met.” He set his cup down and held Nick’s gaze. “Do you love him?”
“More than anything.”
Burke searched Nick’s expression, and Nick bared his every emotion to the man. What did he gain by not being honest? After a moment, Burke relaxed and nodded. He’d accepted Cash’s choice, though that didn’t necessarily mean Burke approved. Nick didn’t need his endorsement to gain his assistance.
He took a fortifying breath and said, “And that’s why I need your help.”
Burke folded the paper and set it aside. “I’m listening.”
Nick kept his voice low as he filled Burke in on what was going on.
He didn’t delve too deeply into his recent troubles with the Bureau but touched on enough to explain why Nick wasn’t tapping into his resources.
The sheriff listened without interruption, though Nick paused while the server delivered a country fried steak platter.
“Is there anything I can get you?” she asked Nick.
He planned to make a sandwich from leftover meatloaf when he got back to the ranch but ordered a double helping of banana pudding to go. “Want me to wait until you’re done eating?” Nick asked once they were alone again.
Burke dug his fork into the heap of mashed potatoes with country gravy.
He paused halfway to his mouth and said, “Hell no. I’m enjoying you groveling for my help.
” Burke punctuated that with a good-natured grin before he shoved the bite into his mouth.
By the time he finished, Nick had brought him up to speed.
Burke set his fork down and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“I appreciate your candor, and I know it wasn’t easy.
You feds have a reputation for being stingy with information.
I want to go the rest of my life without hearing that something is on a need-to-know basis. ”
Nick fought off a smile but didn’t interrupt.
“We share a common goal,” Burke continued. “Both of us want to protect Cash and his crew from harm. So far, Samuel Jeremiah and his followers have only attacked their reputation.”
“My brother Rory would beg to differ,” Nick said. Staying silent was impossible on that point. Even if Rory hadn’t been the initial target, he’d taken a blow to the head when he lunged to protect a dog from getting kicked.
Burke acknowledged him with a nod. “Point taken. I want to do everything in my power to prevent more violence or frame jobs, so I will also share what little I know.”
“Thank you.”
“We retrieved the canvas bag the man in the video used to dump the stolen tools in the ranch’s truck.
I got good fingerprints, but I couldn’t get a match from any database.
However, we found those same prints at each of the thefts.
That guy on the video is our prime suspect, but I’m no closer to learning his identity.
As much as I don’t want to, I might have to ask the public for help.
I know I’m going to get a ton of bogus tips.
Every angry girlfriend, wife, or boyfriend will turn their man in. ”
Nick smiled. “Happens every time.”
“I’ve pulled additional security videos from other stores on side streets, but I can’t get a good look at his face.
I’ve shown the best pictures to locals who’ve been here their entire lives, and they didn’t recognize him.
If something doesn’t break soon, I’ll enlist the press and put out his pictures to ask for help. ”
“But aren’t most of the Salvation Anew members outsiders?”
“Yes,” Burke replied. “Some locals have joined, and I hope to plead to their consciences.”
“I want to know who Samuel Jeremiah really is,” Nick said. “I can’t quell the feeling that he’s targeting Cash, but I can’t prove it either.”
“If it helps, I’ve come to the same conclusion.
” Burke blew out a frustrated breath. “I have a friend who’s developing game-changing facial recognition software for Homeland Security.
They can do all kinds of different metrics and image altering to find people with similar features.
It wouldn’t stand up in court yet, but it can give us a direction to go in.
Right now, we’d be searching a giant-ass haystack for the needle.
My buddy owes me a favor or two, and this feels like a good time to call in a marker. ”
“Wow. That must be some favor.”
“I saved his life in Iraq.”
Of course he did. Dude already had the superhero chin. Why not the bravery to go with it? Nick figured his work at the diner was done and scooted out of the booth. “I’ll get out of your hair in case you want dessert.” That reminded him to grab Cash’s to-go container of pudding.
“You going to tell Cash what we suspect?” Burke asked.
Nick almost asked his opinion on that but changed his mind at the last moment. “That information is on a need-to-know basis.”
If looks could kill, Nick was a breath away from a chalk outline and a body bag. “There’s the asshole no one loves or missed.”
More snarky replies danced on the tip of his tongue, but Nick swallowed them down.
No sense in ruining their truce, tenuous as it was.
He gave Burke a two-finger salute and headed to the counter to pay for his pudding.
Nick debated Burke’s question during the short ride home.
What did he tell Cash and when? Right now, all he had was supposition.
What advice would he give to someone else in the situation?
Forewarned is forearmed, but it also causes undue paranoia.
That was the entire reason Cash hadn’t originally told the crew about the tracking devices in their vehicles.
He was still on the fence when he arrived back at the ranch.
“Hey, Nick,” Harry said when he stepped into the kitchen.
“Afternoon, Pumpkin Spice.” Nick opened the refrigerator and put Cash’s dessert inside. He noticed the container of leftover meatloaf was gone and bit back a dejected groan. Cash warned him that a person needed to move fast around there. He’d been late for lunch and missed out on the goodies.
“Whatcha got there?” Harry asked.
“Pudding for Cash.”
“Did you eat at the diner?” Harry sounded more curious than accusatory.
“No, just wanted to bring home something special for Cash.”
“That’s so sweet,” she crooned. “Oh! A package arrived for you. Rory put it in your makeshift office in the library.”
His appetite disappeared in an instant, and he closed the refrigerator door. “Thanks!” Nick called out on his way out of the kitchen.
It did funny things to his insides to see Cash’s address under his name on the shipping label.
He tore open one end of the package, held it to his nose, and breathed deeply.
God, he loved the smell of fine leather.
He’d love it even more when stretched around Cash.
Nick tucked the box behind his back and headed to the office next door.
Cash looked up from his computer when Nick knocked on the doorframe. “Busy?”
“Never too busy for you. Get in here.”
Nick shut the door behind him and took two steps before Cash’s no-nonsense voice halted him in his tracks.
“Lock it too.”
Nick retreated to do his bidding, then continued to his desk.
“What’s behind your back?” Cash asked.
“A gift for you.”
Cash’s eyes widened in surprise. He was a man who gave and gave, and Nick wanted him to be a man who received and received too. “What’s the occasion?”
Nick rounded the desk and kissed his upturned lips. “Because I love you.” He pulled the box from behind his back and handed it to him.
Cash just looked at it for several moments. He trailed his finger over the mailing label twice before meeting Nick’s gaze again. “This is the nicest gift anyone has ever given me.”
“You haven’t opened it yet,” Nick teased.
Cash tapped the label. “I’m talking about this. Seeing your name with my address…”
“Does funny things to your insides?” Nick palmed the back of Cash’s neck and kissed him again, longer this time. “Me too. Open your gift.”
Cash turned the box and saw the open flap. “Someone already did.” Nick knew the moment Cash smelled the leather because he laughed. “You didn’t.”
“I did.”
Cash pulled out a pair of black Italian leather driving gloves. “These smell so good.”
“They’ll smell even better on you.” The spark of desire he’d felt earlier during their text exchange returned. Nick wasn’t sure if he’d achieve arousal, but he wanted to try. “Put them on.”
Cash held his gaze for a few moments before he pulled one of them on and secured it around his wrist. He flexed his fist and watched the movement beneath the leather. “Fits like a…”
“Glove?” Nick asked.
Cash smiled and lifted his face for another kiss. “Thank you. I love them, and I love you.” He inhaled sharply and closed his eyes briefly.
Nick straddled his lap. “Not a dream. I’m still here.
” He kissed Cash, taking his time to tease his lips apart before sliding his tongue against Cash’s.
Nick forgot about dilemmas, food, or anything except for the way his man made him feel.
When Cash grazed a gloved hand over Nick’s semi erection, he realized he was feeling all kinds of ways.
Cash tugged his pants and underwear down to midthigh and stroked him until Nick was hard enough to hurt.
Cash retrieved a bottle of lube from a desk drawer and smiled sheepishly.
“I believe in being prepared for when situations arise.” Cash licked a path along Nick’s cock, swirled his tongue around his swollen head, and lapped up the precum beading there.
“And, baby, you have risen.” Cash scooted his chair back and reached for the second glove.
“Time for a test drive.” Nick couldn’t tear his gaze away from the sexy way Cash pulled the second glove on.
“Get my dick out, then turn around and prep yourself for me. I don’t want to get lube all over my new gloves. ”
Nick freed Cash’s erection from his pants and nearly tripped over his own two feet when complying with the second part of his orders. Cash stood so close Nick could feel his body heat rolling off him.
“Work it open for me, baby. Two fingers. Deep as you can go.” Cash bent Nick deeper at the waist, then massaged his ass with both hands.
“I’m ready,” Nick said between panted breaths.
“Fuck yourself a little harder. Add a third finger.”
Once satisfied, Cash drizzled extra lube over Nick’s ass, lined up, and pushed home.
Nick whined loudly, and Cash covered his mouth with a gloved hand to muffle the sound as he brought them to a fast, hard release.
Afterward, Cash pulled out some wet wipes from the same drawer so they could clean up.
“Don’t suppose you hid a meatloaf sandwich in there?” Nick asked, not bothering to cover his nudity. Hell, he debated a nap on the office sofa while Cash worked.
“No.” Cash turned around to reveal a hidden panel in his credenza, and behind it was a mini refrigerator. “But I have one in here for you.”
Nick shamelessly ate the sandwich while sitting on Cash’s desk with his pants half off and his heart in his eyes.