Rough Ride CV4 (11 page)

“The Olympic downhill gold medallist? Why would he want to live in Cattle Valley?” Quade gave Ezra a slight grin. Shit. “Guy’s gay?” Ezra asked, shocked.

Putting his finger to his lips, Quade grinned. “Shhh, you didn’t hear that from me.

Guy’s looking for a place to be himself and retire from competition.” Ezra chuckled. Guy was only in his early thirties, must be tough to be able to retire so young. “It all looks really good, Quade. I’ll have to talk it over with Wyn and get back to you.

When do you plan to hold the town meeting?”

“Word is going out in the bulletin this week. The meeting is set for the week after.” Ezra nodded and glanced back down at the plans. It would probably be a huge money making opportunity. He wondered how Richard would enjoy living on the side of a mountain. Coming from Tulsa, he imagined it would be quite an adjustment.

“I’ll get back to you in the next couple of days, but my instincts tell me to grab on and hold tight.”

Quade started rolling up the plans. “I think your instincts are dead on.” ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

76

As Ezra took his normal seat at the ranch hands dinner table, he had the distinct impression everyone was worried. “Relax,” he said, biting of a chunk off his dinner roll.

Jax cleared his throat and looked around the table. “Um, is Smokey gone for good?

Because we’ve got a lot of work on our plates and we’ll need another hand.” Ezra swallowed and took a drink of his tea. He didn’t like discussing his personal life, but he’d known these three men for years, well, except Neil who was his newest hand.

“Yeah, I think Smokey’s gone for good.”

He set his fork down and leaned his arms on the table. “Smokey said and did some things to Wyn that I couldn’t tolerate. You all need to understand that Wyn’s a part of my life now, and he’s to be treated with respect.”

The hands looked back and forth between each other. “What?” Ezra asked.

One of his youngest hands, Neil bit his bottom lip. “We know what Smokey did and we know why. We should’ve come to you, but were afraid to betray him.” Ezra reached across the table and thumped Neil on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. What went on with Smokey was between me, him and Wyn.” Neil went stiff as a board at Ezra’s touch. “Okay,” Neil said, but Ezra could hear the tension in his voice.

Glancing at Jax, Ezra’s brows rose in question. Jax shrugged his shoulders. “Neil? Are you afraid of me?”

“No, sir. I’ll admit you were more intimidating when you had your beard, but you’ve never been anything but nice to me.”

“Then why are you suddenly wound up tighter than a top?”

“Just not used to being touched, sir,” Neil answered.

“Call me Ezra, please.” He soothed Neil’s shoulder for a second more before removing his hand.

Picking up his fork, Ezra dove in to the rest of his dinner. Between bites he talked back and forth with Jax on what needed to be done around the ranch. “Go ahead and put an ad in the paper for another hand.”

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

77

Jax wiped his mouth on a napkin. “Well, if you’ll let me, I already have someone in mind. There’s a friend of my baby brother’s that’s in need of a job on a gay-friendly ranch.

Logan needs to leave Montana as much as I did. I haven’t seen him in about eight years, but he practically grew up at my folk’s ranch.”

“Does he know the business?” Ezra asked, finishing up his steak.

“Yeah. Logan may be a little wild from what I hear, but he was practically raised on the back of a horse. He helped us out during round-up every spring. He’s an expert at branding and he’s been working as a farrier for the last couple of years. He learned the trade from his Uncle Bob when his parents kicked him out of the house.” Damn, the kid sounded like a wet dream to a rancher. “Hire him.”

* * * *

Ezra stayed after dinner to help clean up and play a couple of rounds of poker. He knew Wyn was up at the house, but he thought the cowboys needed him to reconnect.

Letting himself in the house, he found Wyn asleep on the couch. He hadn’t meant to stay out so late, but he knew Wyn wouldn’t be angry. Kneeling beside the couch, he studied his lover. His eyes went to the scars on Wyn’s neck and cheek.

Maybe Smokey had been right. Even though Wyn had grown up on a ranch, he obviously didn’t want to live on one. Why else would he have built that big fancy house in town?

Wyn’s eyelids opened as Ezra ran a knuckle down the side of his man’s face. “Hey,” Ezra said, leaning down to give Wyn a kiss.

“Sorry I’m so late. Did you eat?”

“Yeah, I took Gavin out to dinner at Canoe.”

Ezra had only met Wyn’s employee on a couple of occasions and really knew nothing about him. He guessed that was something else that needed to change. They both should get to know each other’s friends. “Next time you take him out, let me know and I’ll go with you.”

Wyn grinned. “Jealous?”

“No, not at all. I was just thinking it’s time we got to know each other’s friends.” ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

78

Leaning up on his elbow, Wyn gave him a kiss. “Thanks, but I don’t know if I’d consider Gavin a friend. He’s even prissier than I am. He’s an excellent employee though, which is why I made him store manager this evening.”

“You what?”

“Yep. I decided it was time to take a small step back from the everyday running of the store. I’ve worked hard my whole life, and now I’m financially able to kick back and enjoy myself.”

Wyn squirmed around a few seconds, looking like a boy afraid of telling his dad something. Oh, he knew that look.

“Babe, is there something else you want to tell me?” He turned Wyn’s face to look him in the eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“You’ll probably think it’s stupid, but will we make it?”

“What do you mean will we make it? Are you asking if this love between us is solid?”

“Yeah. I feel like I’m at a crossroads. I just need to know if you think we’re headed in the same direction that I do.”

Ezra groaned and sealed their lips together. His heart felt like it would burst with the amount of love it contained. Delving his tongue in deep, he tried his best to communicate his feelings.

After several long moments, he broke the kiss. “I don’t want to ever spend another day without you. Is that the answer you were looking for?” Wyn smiled. “Yeah, that’ll do.” Wyn picked at Ezra’s snap-front shirt. “I want to sell my house and move out here.”

Whoa.
That was totally the opposite of what he’d been thinking only minutes earlier.

“You can’t sell your house. You love that place. I can always move into town with you.”

“The house is just a house. Yeah, it’s nice, but it’s not what I need to be happy. I can get that right here with you, if you’ll have me?” Ezra stretched out on top of Wyn. “I’d give anything to have you here, babe, you know that. Are you sure you won’t mind driving into town every day?” Wyn shook his head. “I won’t have to. I plan to work a couple of mornings a week. I gave Gavin the go ahead to hire someone part time to help him out.”

“Wow, you’ve really been busy.”

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

79

Wyn chuckled and thrust up against Ezra. “We’re not getting any younger. Besides, if we do this club thing, it’ll take up even more of our time.” Ezra reached down and unzipped his jeans, before going to work on Wyn’s dress slacks. The feel of their cocks, skin to skin was enough to have him moan as he kissed his man again. “I talked to Richard earlier. He’ll be ready to move up by the end of summer to take over the club duties. Won’t be much to do yet except oversee how our dollars are being spent, but it’ll free us up and give him something to do.” Wyn squirmed under him and tore open Ezra’s shirt. “Can we talk about this later?” Wyn asked, pinching Ezra’s nipples.

Ezra grunted his reply and started a hard fast rub against Wyn’s cock. As much as he wanted inside his lover, it would have to wait. He could already feel his balls draw up as Wyn sucked a bruise on his neck. “Gonna,” he panted.

He hoped like hell Wyn didn’t have on another of his expensive shirts as his cum jetted from his cock. Gasping, Wyn dug his fingers into Ezra’s back as he fell over the edge.

Collapsing to the side as much as he could, Ezra’s eyes drooped. “We’re a couple of horny old farts, you know that?”

“Hmmm,” Wyn agreed before they both dropped off to sleep.

* * * *

Saturday morning, Wyn helped Ezra with his tie. “You look so handsome,” he said.

“I look ridiculous,” Ezra griped. “People are going to fall over in a dead faint when they see me coming.”

Wyn stepped back and surveyed his work. The grey suit he’d specially ordered fit Ezra perfectly. The white shirt and blue tie completed the outfit with class. He doubted that anyone had ever seen his man looking so damn hot.

He fingered Ezra’s hair, noticing it was starting to get long again. Ezra must’ve taken his touching as a sign of disapproval.

“Sorry, I was going to get it cut, but the weekend snuck up on me.” Wyn shook his head. “You don’t need it cut. I like it.” He grabbed a handful and pulled Ezra’s head down for a kiss. “See, better than reins.” ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

80

Ezra slapped Wyn’s ass and chuckled. “You can ride me all you want, but don’t compare me to a horse.”

Laughing, Wyn ran his hand over the front of Ezra’s suit pants. He felt Ezra’s cock growing harder the more he played. “Stallion. Is that better?” Although Ezra’s cock could probably beat a lot of horses Wyn had known. And it was all his, every last inch.

He got so carried away he started to unzip Ezra’s pants.

“Wyn? Didn’t you say this wedding was at two?” With an exaggerated sigh, Wyn looked at the bedside clock. “Damn.” Ezra stepped back and kissed him. “Later it’s all yours.” Wyn narrowed his eyes and covered Ezra’s cock once more. “I’ve got news for you, it’s already all mine.”

“That it is,” Ezra agreed. “So which gazebo is the wedding at?” Ezra stepped to the dresser and retrieved his wallet.

“The big one in the park.” Wyn took one last look at Ezra’s ass before checking his appearance once more in the mirror. “Ready?”

“Yep, as long as you don’t sit too close to me on the drive over. I’d hate to have to remain in the truck during the wedding because of a hard on.”

“Well then we’d better take my car. A bench seat is just too tempting.” He picked up his keys and turned back to Ezra.

“Yeah, but if you can be good for the ride to town, you can ride me all the way home if we’re in the truck.”

Damn, he hadn’t thought of that. An image of him impaling himself on Ezra’s thick cock came to mind. Yum, there were all kinds of detours they could make. “Okay, deal,” he said, running his hand across the front of his fly. Now Ezra wasn’t the only one with an erection.

Laughing, Ezra passed him to walk out the door. He reached back and subtly brushed his hand over Wyn’s cock. “Stop it,” Wyn shouted. “If I can’t play, neither can you.”

“Spoil sport.”

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

81

Ezra looked around at all the people in attendance at Kyle and Gill’s commitment ceremony. “Damn, this is more like a town meeting than a wedding,” he whispered in Wyn’s ear.

Wyn glanced around and smiled. “Yeah, it’s nice isn’t it?”

“If you say so,” he grumbled to himself and tried to loosen his tie without Wyn noticing.

Taking his hand, Wyn made a beeline for Nate, Rio and Ryan. Ezra stood back as Wyn embraced each man like he hadn’t seen them in months. Nate commented on Wyn’s suit and the two were off on a lively conversation about “The New Spring Line”, whatever the hell that meant.

He looked at Rio and grinned. Seemed he wasn’t the only one lost in the conversation.

“How’s the hay looking this year?” Rio finally asked him.

“Looking good. Should be ready to cut in about three weeks. Are you interested in buying some?”

“Probably. I’ll have to talk to the boss and see what he thinks,” Rio winked and gestured to Nate.

Yeah, Ezra had absolutely no doubt Nate ran that household. It was quite amusing to see a man of Rio’s size and strength and Ryan’s badass persona being ruled by someone of such diminutive stature. Still, by the look on Ryan and Rio’s faces when they watched Nate it seemed to work for them.

Ezra wondered if he got the same look in his eyes when he watched Wyn. Probably. He watched over Wyn’s shoulder as the Doctors Singer and Brown walked towards them. There was another man walking behind the pair that Ezra figured must be the new physical therapist Wyn had mentioned.

He was a bit surprised at how young the guy appeared. What shocked him even more was the unhappy vibes coming from all three of them as they shook hands with the rest of the small group.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

82

Wyn turned back and put an arm around Ezra’s waist. “Matt, this is my better and bigger half, Ezra James. Ezra, this is Matt Jefferies.”

“Nice to meet you, Matt,” Ezra said, shaking the guys hand.

“And you as well,” Matt replied.

“I heard you’ve been thinking of renting Kyle’s apartment? Well, have I got a deal for you. I’m looking to sell my house, but the buyer won’t be able to make the sale until the end of summer. I thought maybe you’d be interested in it for a couple of months until you find something more permanent,” Wyn said to Matt.

Ezra watched as both doctors stiffened and looked at Matt. Putting his head down, Matt looked like he’d rather be anywhere than where he was.

“Yeah, uh, can I get back to you on that?” Matt asked.

Wyn must have finally picked up on the tension. “Sure, just let me know and I can meet you at the house sometime to show you around.”

“You find a better offer. Wyn’s house is gorgeous,” Nate said unaware of the undercurrents travelling between the three men.

Matt nodded. “I’ve been by it, you’re right, Nate, it’s a beautiful place.” Ezra sighed in relief as the music started up in the background, signalling people to take their seats. “Shall we?” he asked gesturing to the gazebo.