Epilogue
The celebrations on the ranch continued for weeks.
Nick wasn’t sure if it was because the group was a joyful bunch or if they just looked for any excuse to barbecue.
The first party happened after Burke officially charged Mick and Quinton with a multitude of offenses and brought them back to Last Chance Creek.
The Carsons clung to their innocence, but Nick figured they’d change their tune when their attorneys saw the evidence against them.
Since they weren’t talking, Cash didn’t get the closure he deserved, so Nick kept digging.
Mick’s financial records revealed he’d blown through Mike’s wrongful-death settlement money about a year before he’d shown up in Last Chance Creek.
That was also the same time Cash’s name started popping up in Mick’s internet browser history.
The FBI shared the results with him, and Nick had noticed most of the articles Carson read were by the same reporter.
A quick phone conversation with her revealed she had contacted Mick for his reaction to recent articles published about Cash.
She’d taken a defensive tone until Nick assured her she’d done nothing wrong.
Good journalists sought multiple angles to paint a complete story.
She had no way of knowing her phone call would trigger a diabolical revenge plot.
Cash was a linear thinker, and he struggled to connect the dots logically.
To him, Mick didn’t financially gain from Cash’s demise.
He didn’t understand why Mick would involve innocent people in his schemes.
Why form a church? Had that just been a cover?
Had it been a power trip for Mick? Was it a way to get others to fund his miserable existence?
Cash had questions Nick couldn’t answer.
He wasn’t certain even Mick could answer them.
One night, they gathered in the library to relax after dinner, and Nick could practically smell the gears smoking in Cash’s brain.
He lowered the book on tantric sex he’d bought from Hope’s shop.
He’d only reached item number two of twenty on how to deepen orgasms when Cash’s thinking interrupted him.
“You’re trying to rationalize an irrational mind. ”
Cash narrowed his eyes. “Stop doing that.”
“No, you stop. Are you going to let that man live rent free in your head?”
“No.”
“Good.” Nick read items three and four out loud before they retired early to their bedroom to test them out.
The next celebration came when Rueben finally got his date with Burke.
The little minx left with the sexy sheriff on Friday night and didn’t return until Monday morning.
They all took one look at his moonstruck face at the breakfast table and whipped out their money.
Kieran, who’d placed the winning bet, wore a smug smile as he fanned himself with his earnings.
The next milestone they honored was when Keegan managed a week of sleep without nightmares.
Cash had found a wonderful therapist for him, and the young man was putting in the work.
His wounds were just too deep to heal as easily as his bruises had.
He still withdrew to his room at times or limited his interactions to Cash, Rueben, or Owen.
The latter took everyone by surprise, especially Tyler, whenever Owen shared huge chunks of time with Keegan.
Nick could tell it bothered Ty, but he wasn’t the kind of person to make a fuss.
Rueben and Rory stepped up to keep Ty company, but he seemed like a ghost of himself unless Owen was around.
The ranch threw Nick a party when he officially resigned from the Bureau and joined the police academy. As sweet as he found the sentiment, Nick was just happy to see Cash relax.
“You’re where you want to be,” he told Nick as they slow danced in the great room.
“You’re my home, Saint.” He’d repeat the words as often as Cash needed to hear them.
The biggest celebration came at the end of October when Cash turned fifty.
Dylan smoked pulled pork, brisket, and turkey legs while Harry and Rory made a dozen side dishes.
The bash was fit for the king of Redemption Ridge and Nick’s heart.
The cold front and freshly fallen snow kept the party inside, but they laughed, danced, and basked in the joy they found in each other’s company.
Nick went to the kitchen to get water and found Tyler doing dishes. He knew he should mind his business, but it pained him to see Ty hurting so badly. If Nick could spare someone else a dozen years of pining, he would. Tyler glanced up and offered a pitiful smile when he approached.
“Why are you hiding in here?” Nick asked. He picked up a towel and went to work drying dishes.
Tyler shrugged. “Just kind of feel like a third wheel sometimes, I guess. Then I feel like an awful person for thinking that way. Keegan has been through so much, and Owen brings him peace. I’d have to be a real jerk to make things harder for them to be together.
” There was a slight emphasis on the last word that struck to the heart of the problem.
Nick knew he needed to tread lightly. “They’re not together romantically.”
Tyler shrugged again and shoved his hands into the soapy water.
“That isn’t what romantic love looks like, Ty.” If you could only see the way Owen looks at you.
Tyler’s hands stilled, and he met Nick’s gaze. His eyes were wide and wet with unshed tears. “When did you know you were in love with your best friend?”
Nick set his towel down and crossed his arms over his chest. “I didn’t have a big a-ha moment,” he admitted.
“It happened slowly. I noticed little things at first. Catching guys checking Cash out made me jealous. Thinking of him falling in love with someone else and being intimate with them drove me mad. Not being with him became a bone-deep ache.”
Tyler emitted a feral little growl that caught them both by surprise. He rubbed a hand over his chest like that might make the hurt go away.
“You’ll miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take,” Nick said. “I wasted so much time pining after something that was mine for the taking all along. Swing for the fences, Ty.”
“What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“But what if he does?” Nick patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t wait too long.” He grabbed two waters and headed back to the great room, where he celebrated the man he loved.
When everyone left, Nick grabbed drinks, towels, and Cash’s hand. He’d saved his birthday gift for when they were alone. They moved to the hot tub much quicker when it was colder, but the contrast between the chilly air and bubbling hot water made it worth it.
“Ready for your birthday gift?” Nick asked.
Cash slid his hand up Nick’s thigh. “Always.”
“You know how you whisked me away to Denver to relive our first weekend together?”
“Vividly.”
Nick smiled and kissed him. “I want a do-over of our first vacation, so I booked a trip to Cabo. We leave in two weeks.”
“Baby, that’s incredible. Thank you so much.” Cash pulled him close for a long kiss that threatened to derail Nick’s thoughts.
He had more he wanted to say, so he reluctantly pulled away.
“This time I won’t go to my lonely room and wish I was with you.
I can tug your ridiculously small swimsuit off with my teeth and blow you behind a waterfall.
I will hold your hand and show the world you’re mine, and I’m yours.
I am going to kiss you when the sun rises and sets and when the stars come out to play. One glorious week, just you and me.”
Cash was almost breathless by the time Nick finished. “I want all those things too, but on one condition. I want to take this dream trip with my husband.”
“Damn it, Saint. I was going to propose behind the waterfall.”
“Mmmhmm. Before or after you blew me? What was the order supposed to be? Climb behind the waterfall, hit your knees to propose, rip my swim briefs down, and blow me? Or get me all sexed up and then ask me to marry you? And where the hell were you going to hide the ring? If my briefs were small, yours were downright micro.”
Nick cut off his diatribe with a hard kiss. “I would absolutely love to marry you, Saint. But we can’t pull off a wedding in two weeks.”
Cash’s grin was downright wicked. “Bet me.”
The End!