Chapter Six #2
Rory shoved back from the table and rushed Nick hard enough to tip his chair back during their hug. “I’m so happy for you, Nicky,” he said before returning to his seat.
“Ivan.” Cash’s voice sounded extra gravelly when he called out their foreman’s name.
The big guy had lived on the ranch the longest and was Cash’s first attempt at redeeming someone besides himself. “Yeah, boss?”
“Will you be my best man?”
Ivan’s eyes widened in surprise, but he was the perfect one to stand beside Cash on his big day. “It would be my honor.” Then, he cleared his throat and averted his gaze. “Damn it,” he muttered before wiping his eyes.
“Are you going on a honeymoon?” Finley asked.
“We leave the day after Thanksgiving because no one in their right mind would skip out on Harry’s feast,” Cash said.
Harry nodded her approval. “Got that right.” She gestured around the table and said, “Everyone needs to eat their breakfast before it gets cold.” She turned her attention to the newly engaged couple next. “We can work out all the details later.”
No one had to tell Owen to eat a second time.
He tucked into his food as if he hadn’t eaten in a week and tried his best not to react to the weight of Tyler’s hand still resting on his leg.
The sooner they finished breakfast and their chores, the faster they could shut themselves away from the rest of the ranch.
Conversation buzzed around the table, but luckily, none of it was about him and Tyler.
Oddly, Owen found that more worrisome than if they’d started probing him about their evening.
It felt too much like circling an opponent while anticipating their strike.
Lots of boxers liked to take those first few seconds in the ring to size up the other fighter, but Owen had a more aggressive approach.
Strike first and hard was his motto, but his fighting style wouldn’t translate to the situation.
He wasn’t about to volunteer information about what he shared with Tyler just to take away their element of surprise.
He set his fork down and forced himself to sip his coffee while Tyler finished eating.
It wouldn’t help their cause if he shoved back from the table and dragged Tyler out of there like a caveman.
He caught Rueben smirking at him across the table and barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Owen forced his gaze to Keegan instead and caught the curved corners of his mouth before he ducked his head.
He’d need to have a conversation with the ranch’s newcomer.
Owen knew Keegan didn’t harbor romantic feelings for him, but he wanted to assure the guy he wasn’t abandoning him during his recovery.
For reasons unclear to him, Keegan felt safest with Owen, and they’d spent a lot of time together.
An alarm trilled in his head, and a surly voice suggested Tyler was only interested in Owen because he’d been jealous of Keegan.
It didn’t surprise him that his internal demons sounded like Howie, the uncle who’d built him up and tore him down in equal measure.
Howie didn’t know jack about love because he’d never experienced it for himself.
He’d been a jaded man, bitter until his dying breath, and had aimed to make Owen that way too.
Maybe it would have worked had he not met Ty, who’d earned Owen’s trust in hundreds of ways—big and small.
He wouldn’t let his insecurities destroy the trust he’d built with Keegan either.
“Kee,” Owen said. “You still want me to drive you to town on Wednesday?”
Keegan raised his head, and weary amber eyes darted in Tyler’s direction before meeting Owen’s gaze.
“If you’re sure you can still take me.” He’d started seeing a therapist after he recovered from the physical injuries the cult leader from Salvation Anew had inflicted upon him as part of his conversion therapy.
Keegan’s mom had joined the religious order and had literally thrown her only child to the wolves.
The woman had better hope she never showed her face near Keegan again.
The last they’d heard, she’d moved in with another cult member’s family near Boulder.
“Of course I can. We need to leave by two o’clock, right?”
Keegan’s shoulders sagged in relief as he nodded. He shifted his gaze toward Tyler and said, “You should come with us and keep Owen company while he waits for me.”
“That would be great,” Tyler said. “There’s a new chicken wing joint that’s getting rave reviews. Maybe we could check it out afterward if you’re up to it. My treat.”
The room went completely quiet while they waited for Keegan’s response.
Everyone who cared about them had a vested interest in their relationship, sure, but the silence felt…
deafening as they waited to see Keegan’s reaction to Tyler’s gesture.
It wasn’t as if they hadn’t gotten along, but tension definitely existed between them.
Doubt tried to wiggle and worm its way into Owen’s happiness again, but he hit it with an uppercut to the chin for the KO.
Keegan offered Tyler a timid smile. “That sounds great.”
Everyone went back to their conversations and food. Tyler forked a triangle of French toast and put it on Owen’s plate. He’d eaten too many pieces already, but the maple syrup dripping over the sides made the temptation impossible to resist.
“Go on,” Tyler teased. “You know you want to.”
Tyler was the lure Owen could no longer resist, but he aimed to keep a neutral expression on his face when he met Ty’s gaze. “Careful what you ask for,” Owen whispered just loud enough for Tyler to hear.
Dark eyes sparkled with mischief, and a pretty pink blush bloomed on Tyler’s cheeks. His reaction enticed Owen to finish his food so they could get on with their day.
“Hurry,” Owen mouthed before shoving a forkful of French toast into his mouth.
They weren’t the only ones eager to get their chores done for the day, so breakfast wrapped up quickly after that.
He and Tyler said their goodbyes and headed for their cold-weather gear and boots.
Rueben caught up to them before they could slip out the door.
He wedged his body between theirs and threw his arms around their shoulders.
Here we go. Owen braced himself for teasing.
“Exciting news for Cash and Nick,” Rueben said.
“I figured the wedding would happen soon since they waited so long before getting their heads out of their asses.” Could Rueben be any more obvious?
“Two weeks is fast, but I guess you know when you know.” He patted their backs when they reached the equine barn.
Owen and Tyler stopped, but Rueben continued to his farrier shop.
“The babies get new shoes tomorrow, and Uncle Rue has a few more pairs to make. You guys want to catch up later to watch some football?” Rueben laughed before they could respond. “Just kidding. Have fun, boys.”
“See?” Tyler said as he opened the barn door. “Everyone is just happy for us. We don’t need to make a big announcement about our relationship status. No one else did when they paired up.” He had a point there, but Owen was certain the guys wouldn’t let him off the hook that easily.