Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Dylan glanced up from his laptop when Dayne’s head appeared around the door frame to his office. The only difference between his and his twin’s face was the fact that Dayne’s included a grin and Dylan’s held a scowl.
“Brother…” Dayne started as the rest of his body appeared in the doorway.
“Is there a problem with the finances?”
His brother blew on his knuckles and scrubbed them over his chest. “Of course not. You know I’m a financial wizard.” He should be since he took six years to get his four-year degree in accounting.
Unlike Dylan, Dayne had decided in college that partying would be his major and accounting his minor. Needless to say, their parents had not been pleased with his screwing off, resulting in him having to fund those last two years entirely on his own.
“Then, why are you bugging me?”
The grin flattened and Dayne flopped into one of the chairs parked in front of the desk, hooking a denim-covered knee over the chair’s arm. “I can’t visit the person I shared a womb with?”
“Shared? More like crowded me.”
“Luckily, it didn’t take long for you to catch up to my superior size.”
Dylan leaned back in his leather office chair. “Some parts of me actually surpassed your size.”
The grin was back. “You’ve been hiding in your office the last couple of days.”
“Not true. I took Rebel for a ride.” Rebel was one of the dozen horses the ranch now owned. All twelve, plus two donkeys, were rescued from a kill auction down in Lancaster County where the perfectly good horses had been dumped for various reasons; most of which made his blood boil.
Dylan was determined to make the ranch a new beginning for more than only humans.
“ Mmm . I saw one of the wranglers cooling him down. Looks like he went for a hard gallop.”
“He was restless and needed to stretch his legs.” They quickly figured out that Rebel was a retired racehorse and still loved to run. Dylan loved to give the Thoroughbred his head when he needed to clear his own. Only that hadn’t been doing the trick the last few days.
Dayne cocked an eyebrow. “Are you sure it was Rebel who was restless and not you?”
“Why are you in here?”
“I come bearing good news.”
Dylan could use some. “Then, let’s hear it so I can get back to work.”
“You could use a break.”
Dylan lifted an eyebrow at his brother. “We only have three days until we’re officially open and guests arrive.”
“And we’re on track. You know why?”
Dylan didn’t bother to ask why because he would hear it whether he wanted to or not.
“Because you’re anal about everything .”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Depends.”
“Can you just tell me the good news?” And then get out of my hair.
“Ford accepted my job offer. Well, he countered on the salary… But it was minimal and he’s worth it.”
“According to you.”
“You don’t think he is? He built this damn resort in record time. Better yet, it’s not done half-assed. He’s an excellent contractor and a jack of all trades, brother. If he doesn’t know how to build or fix something, he knows who will since the man has valuable connections.”
“That he does,” Dylan mumbled, thinking about Erin fucking Ford on this very property. His scowl returned.
“What’s going on?”
Dylan pulled in a breath and on the exhale, lied. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit. Remember? We were once one egg.”
Dylan sighed. “When is he starting?”
“He already has. He also asked if I could hire a few of his employees to help with the maintenance. You know with a resort as large as this, something will always be breaking.”
That was true. Stopped up plumbing, broken pipes, broken furniture, electrical shorts… the list was endless.
He knew hiring Ford as the ranch’s facilities manager was the right decision and he should be happy the man took the job…
But he had mixed feelings about it.
For one reason and one reason only.
But he would not be discussing that reason with Dayne.
There was one person he would want to talk to about it, though. “What’s he working on today?”
“One of the run-in sheds.”
“Which pasture?”
Dayne’s brow furrowed. “The far north pasture. Why?”
Dylan surged to his feet. “I want to welcome him aboard.” He quickly skirted around his desk and past his brother.
“Why don’t I believe you?” Dayne yelled as Dylan hurried out of his office and went outside to find the man.
Every time the utility vehicle hit a bump or hole, Dylan bounced violently in his seat, almost giving him whiplash. He made a mental note to make sure the roads were graded soon so they weren’t so damn rough. They had paved the driveways and “lanes” around the lodge and event hall, as well as all the parking areas open to guest vehicles. However, the dirt roads beyond the farmhouse would be used by guests taking a long walk, going on a hike, or participating in one of the scheduled horseback or ATV rides.
Plus, come winter, smoothing them out would make plowing a lot easier. Once they made some of their investment back, he’d also like to put down stone to keep them from turning into mud come spring.
Of course, he had an entire list of improvements and additions for the future, as long as the ranch turned out to be a success. But for now, the resort was where he wanted it to be for the initial opening. Once they had guests, he planned on asking for feedback on what activities or amenities they’d like to see.
As he motored past the pasture on his right with the herd of grazing horses, Rebel actually lifted his head and whinnied loudly. Dylan chalked it up to the fact the horse was appreciative that he hadn’t been turned into dog food. At least that was what Dylan wanted to believe, when the truth was Rebel probably thought he had a carrot or apple in his pocket.
Another pasture on his left included a menagerie of farm animals they adopted from rescues or shelters. Along with the two donkeys bought from the kill pen, the rag tag group included four llamas, two fat Vietnamese pot belly pigs, six Nubian goats, and the five most senior Holstein cows from his father’s former herd. They still produced milk but not at the capacity they used to, so if they had been sold off with the rest of the herd, they most likely would’ve been turned into hamburger or dog food.
Closer to the farmhouse, two dozen Rhode Island Red hens and one ornery rooster filled the chicken coop. Fresh eggs couldn’t be beat. Neither could fresh goat milk, something Dani wanted so she could make cheese, and whatever else, for the guests.
Dylan made it clear to her before she adopted them from their previous owner, she’d be responsible for making sure those does were milked twice a day. However, she also promised to feed her guinea pig every day when she begged for one at six years old. That lasted about two days before Dylan had to take over Squeaker’s care.
While they had plenty of barn cats to keep the rodents at bay, they were still missing dogs. He figured they’d be a part of the ranch soon enough since some of the full-time employees would be living onsite and he was damn sure a few would bring their pets. They were welcome as long as they didn’t terrorize wildlife, the other animals, or guests.
Driving over the last hill, he finally reached the far north pastures. Inside the newest fenced area, he spotted Ford’s dually pickup truck parked by the run-in shed. The three-sided shelter, built from wood and covered with a heavy-duty metal roof, was one of the last ones built since this pasture was one of the two farthest from the resort. Because of the distance, the rear of the shed also included an enclosed storage area to hold bales of hay.
The newly hired facilities manager had to be putting the finishing touches on the structure.
After driving through the open gate and parking next to Ford’s dually, he heard classic rock blasting from the truck’s open windows. However, he didn’t see the vehicle’s owner. Once he climbed from the UTV, Dylan couldn’t miss the hammering over the loud music, so he headed in that direction.
He rounded the shed to the open side to see the half-naked man installing a bracket for a salt block. Dylan’s feet stuttered to a halt, and he took him in, despite being irritated for being unable to stop from doing so.
Not only was Ford shirtless, his bare chest was slick with sweat from working in the heat of the day. A small patch of dark hair nestled between his defined pecs glistened in the unavoidable sliver of sun due to where he worked. Even his impressive six-pack abs were damp from perspiration.
Since Ford still had no idea he was there, Dylan muttered, “Hope you’re wearing sunscreen,” doing his damnedest to stop staring.
He failed.
Ford quickly straightened and, after containing his surprise, answered, “Always.”
He pounded in the last nail before holstering the hammer in the leather tool belt hanging low off his hips. It had to be heavy since it pulled his jeans down enough to expose another belt. The Adonis belt. Those tempting grooves of muscle running south at an angle from his hips to another tool, one not used for construction but rather filling Erin with cum.
Dylan gritted his teeth at the memory of that unexpected discovery.
After pulling off his baseball cap, Ford swiped a forearm across his damp forehead, then whacked the sweat-ringed hat on this thigh before slapping it back on his head.
It was impossible for Dylan to pull his gaze free when his newest employee grabbed a plastic gallon jug off the ground where it had been sitting near a toolbox. Putting it to his lips, he chugged the water, obviously not caring that it spilled down his chin and chest. Dylan unglued his gaze from the man’s Adam’s apple bobbing with each swallow, only to watch the rivulets of water forge a path down his tan torso.
Unfortunately, Ford wasn’t the only one thirsty in that run-in shed.
As soon as Ford had his fill, he yanked off his hat again and poured the rest of the water over his head. Once his hair was soaked, he shook his head like a wet dog, sending droplets flying, some of them even hitting Dylan. Dylan closed his eyes and licked away the drop that landed near the corner of his mouth.
Hearing, “Just finished up out here by installing the hay rack, grain feeders and, of course, this salt block holder,” had Dylan’s eyes flashing back open.
Jesus. He certainly didn’t need to get a damn hard-on over a wet dog like Ford.
Dylan cleared his throat and diverted his gaze elsewhere, hoping his cock didn’t betray him. The last thing he wanted was to be outed to the man standing before him. The one who fucked Erin “occasionally.”
That reminder was enough to stop the blood from rushing south. “My brother said you took the facilities manager position.”
“I did. He made the offer hard to resist.”
“Harder to resist than Erin?” Damn it.
Planting a hand on his hip, Ford dropped his head and stared at his boots.
Was he annoyed? If so, good. So was Dylan. “Have you spoken with her since the open house last weekend?”
Ford lifted his head and narrowed his dark eyes on him. “No. Should I have?”
Dylan shrugged. “I thought you two saw each other regularly.”
“I said occasionally. We’re not tied at the hip.”
Do you want to be? At least that didn’t slip out.
Ford watched Dylan carefully. “Is there a problem?”
Dylan struggled to keep his expression neutral. “No, I’m only surprised she’s fine with a casual relationship since all she talked about in high school was how she wanted to get married and have kids.”
“She got married, remember? Just not to you.”
Dylan’s tight jaw shifted. “But she’s been a widow for a while now. I figured she’d be ready to settle down again.”
“Did you ask her if that’s what she wants?”
“I didn’t get the chance before figuring out that you two fucked somewhere on the property during the open house.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“She didn’t have to. I discovered it on my own.”
Ford’s eyebrows shot up his sweat-beaded forehead. “How? You said that there’d be no cameras in the playrooms.”
Dylan’s head jerked back. “You fucked her in one of the playrooms? Nobody was supposed to be up there on Saturday.”
“She asked to see them.”
“How did she even know they existed?”
“I told her. I didn’t know it was supposed to be a secret.”
“For the locals, yes.”
“She’s not your average local.”
“Apparently,” Dylan muttered.
“So, you do have cameras in the rooms up there.”
“You know there are. For safety. But that’s not how…” Shit.
“Did something happen after I left her with you to finish the tour?”
“Would it bother you if it did?”
“I thought I made it clear that there aren’t any strings between us. Erin is free to do what or whomever she pleases.”
Ford now had both hands on his hips, once again pulling Dylan’s attention there.
One thing Dylan discovered after learning to accept his sexuality, was that he liked his women soft and his men hard.
Unfortunately, Ford fit that bill. Fortunately, he doubted the man was bi.
He certainly wasn’t asking but that didn’t mean he couldn’t fish for that info.