“For sure, then, I don’t want to see your face until Monday morning.” She patted his biceps, then stepped back.
“You don’t mind?”
“You work damned hard. You can have a personal day. We survived without you while you were off being a hockey god, after all.”
Rusty laughed. “Hardly a god. Thank you. Seriously.”
“Go have fun. See you Monday.”
Rusty’s steps stuttered a moment at “have fun” even though Nita probably hadn’t meant it like he was thinking. What would Cross consider fun?I guess we’ll figure it out as we go.
Cross was already in the back of the limo, wheelchair stowed somewhere. The chauffeur held the door for Rusty to get in the other side. He scooted across the bench seat until his knee brushed Cross’s. “Slumming it with a boring black limo,” hesaid to cover how ridiculously luxurious the car was. “What happened to the solid gold one?”
“Elvis was using it.” Cross reached for him and pulled him close for a kiss. Rusty automatically tensed, then realized the windows were smoked and there was some kind of panel up between them and the driver.
Okay, yeah, more kissing.As the limo started up smoothly, Rusty snuck an arm around Cross to steady them. Cross’s mouth was hot and eager under his. Rusty brushed his lips over Cross’s stubbled chin, then nipped his jawline and kissed under his ear. There was some undefinable scent of male skin in that sensitive place that went right to Rusty’s dick, and he held back a groan.
The limo pulled through the ranch gates and turned onto the paved road.
Cross nudged him. “Fasten your seatbelt.”
“Come on.”
“I’m not losing you to some jerk driving a jacked-up truck. Buckle.”
Rusty threw him a glance as he fumbled for his belt and made the ends meet. “You know I drive a truck.”
“But it’s not lifted.” Cross raised an eyebrow.
Rusty went for a seatbelt-restrained kiss, then flushed as his stomach rumbled loudly.
“Sounds like we should feed you first.” Cross sat back. “What do you want to eat?”
“Is your hotel high class enough to have room service? Or we could get takeout. I’d rather not be seen eating out with you.” The way Cross’s face fell punched Rusty in the heart. “No!” Hegrabbed Cross’s hand and squeezed. “That’s not about you. I meant any man. My folks’ church has a lot of local members and they all know me. If they see me out on a date, they’ll tell my parents. I don’t want Mom and Dad to know anything about me.” He’d kept a real low profile so far. “Or they might feelmooooved by the spiritto come over and preach to me. I don’t get a lot of time with you. I don’t want it spoiled.”
“Oh, sure. Makes sense. Yes, the hotel has room service.”
“I’ll even let you pay for the food. To make up for sounding like a jerk.”
“Wait. I get to pay for dinner to make up for somethingyoudid? Isn’t that backward?”
“Will it make you happy to pay?”
“Well, yeah, I guess.”
Rusty grinned. “See. A reward.”
Cross threw his head back and laughed, and a little of the lined exhaustion eased on his face. Rusty felt like he’d scored a goal. Shorthanded.
As they drove, he made an effort to be funny, to tell ranch stories where people fucked shit up, especially him. He told Cross about the time he vaulted off his horse to check his girth, not realizing that the ground had patches of deep mud, and he got his boots stuck and ended up riding home barefoot, with crud-filled boots and filthy socks dangling from his saddle ties.
Every time Cross smiled or chuckled, Rusty felt like he’d won a million bucks.
Chapter 20
Cross shifted uneasily, staring out his side of the limo as they pulled up in front of the hotel. He desperately wanted this to go well.Somethinghad to turn out right after his scarily frustrating doctor’s appointment and the heartbreaking loss and his sleepless night, in this clusterfuck of the last twenty-four hours. He’d picked the hotel online, sight unseen, and he could only hope it would please Rusty, not intimidate him.
Arthur powered down the privacy barrier. “We’re here, Mr. LaCroix. I’ll bring your chair around.”
