Chapter Seventeen #2
“Dang. This calls for another celebration. Whiskey at Grey’s.
My big brother’s paying.” Cash elbowed him in the ribs.
“Close out the tab so you can open another one. Whiskey then dancing with the ladies.” Cash executed a flashy dance move that Telford—who didn’t dance—wanted to video so he could practice.
Cash was so comfortable with himself. Effortlessly social, and not for the first time did Telford wish he could be different, more at ease.
And how strange that in less than two weeks Cash was now the standard he compared himself to instead of Cam.
He was the older brother. He should be teaching Cash something, not the other way around.
Maybe he could use investment advice. Careers for bull riders weren’t long.
“You really a billionaire,” Rohan asked as they all headed out the door as the music set came to a close.
“Who’s counting?” he answered back, embarrassed though Rohan was only ribbing him—probably.
“I am,” Boone said earnestly. “I have a nonprofit rodeo school that could use some investment. And there’s Harry’ House and the Teen Annex where Ginny’s on the board of directors.
So it’s good to have a rich brother.” Boone slapped his hand in the middle of Telford’s shoulder blades hard enough to make him stagger, and then Boone laughed.
“Don’t scare him off before he buys us a round to celebrate the family he might be now deeply regretting,” Cash called out as he stepped into the night. “But it’s good to have someone else with a fat wallet these cowboys can hit up.”
“As if,” both Boone and Rohan scoffed.
Telford signed the bill, regretting nothing and watched his family—who ever thought he’d say that?—walk out into the night, feeling that he finally belonged.
*
The double swinging doors to Grey’s Saloon swung open, and Ayana, despite her aspirational self-talk that she was learning to relax and trust, tensed until she saw Cash saunter into the bar followed closely by Rohan, Boone, and Witt along with about eight other men she’d met earlier today at the competition and stables.
But she didn’t see Telford.
“Did Telford walk back to the hotel?” she asked Cash.
“No. My brother’s paying up at FlintWorks and then joining us.
Bottle of your best,” he called out, grinning at the surly-looking bartender who Ayana had noted hadn’t changed expression all night.
He did make excellent cocktails, though.
Perhaps the pink offended him. His attitude likely didn’t lead to heavy tips, unless the patrons were intimidated into parting with their money.
“It’s good to have a billionaire for a brother.”
“You didn’t say that to him, did you?” Ayana scolded.
She and Telford hadn’t talked about money since hammering out the contract, but no one liked their finances publicly discussed.
“No. Big mouth Boone did, and he even made a pitch for how my brother could invest in his nonprofit. Vulture.” He shook his head, grinning in amusement. “There’s my bride.”
Maddy gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek, which he ruined by picking her up, spinning her around and then holding her up, before kissing her passionately while she dangled a foot off the ground.
“I was kidding.” Boone grinned at her “Sort of, cuz.”
Wait. Brother. Cuz. She was slow tonight. “Did Telford get his results back?”
He hadn’t told her.
“Yup. Not that I was waiting or anything. He’s paying.” Cash nodded at Telford, who just walked in with a burst of chilly air, and her heart leapt at the sight of him wind-tousled, cheeks pink with cold.
“We’ll need twelve glasses.”
This was not the time for her to feel betrayed because he’d told his brother first about the results.
She didn’t know when he’d received them, and her unexpected crying jag in the bathtub likely hadn’t inspired the desire to share confidences with her.
He was maybe doubting her mental stability or thinking he’d hooked himself to a woman with sexual hang-ups.
She was just so overwhelmed by his kindness and warmth and the bliss he brought her.
Being with Telford was a glimpse of heaven she hadn’t believed in.
She moved to intercept Telford. She wanted a chance, and that meant she was going to have to take some risks.
“Did you have fun with the boys?”
“Boys?” His eyes were warm as he looked into her slightly upturned face. “I’ll have you know there was an impressive amount of masculine posturing at FlintWorks. The word you’re looking for is men. And you? Are you having fun?”
“I am. More now that you’re here,” she said bravely.
She brushed the beginnings of a curl that fell on his forehead away from his face.
“Really?” She could see the question in his eyes as much as in his word.
“Yes,” she admitted and wished they were alone, but maybe her confession would be easier in a public setting.
“I’m sorry about this afternoon,” she said keeping her voice low and refusing to listen to the relentless early training she’d had to keep her gaze lower when talking to a man.
“I was overwhelmed. No one had ever been so tender, and I …”
The spasm of pain that skittered across his handsome face stopped her speech. He pulled her close, nearly squeezing her breath.
“I’m sorry. So sorry that you weren’t treated in the way you should have been. I want … I need to. I want you to feel safe with me.”
“I do.” Her voice was muffled against his chest. “I am.”
He pulled back a little, searched her face.
“Hey, this is a group celebration, family celebration,” Cash said interrupting the moment and smirking about it. He had his arm slung around Maddy. “I’m getting married tomorrow. You’re supposed to be paying attention to me, not each other.”
“I did not know you were so needy.” Telford didn’t miss a beat.