Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“Cole, the important thing here isn’t that we start sticking labels on you or your feelings. You need to feel comfortable with yourself. Accept yourself. There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to JB. Yes, he’s attractive—don’t you dare tell Rowe I said that—but he’s also a really great guy. He’s smart and funny. He’s loyal to a fucking fault. He’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life.”
And that was saying a lot, considering the people that Noah was friends with now.
“No, you’re right. I know it. He’s been great since I arrived. Patient and understanding. He doesn’t make me feel like I’m in the way or unwelcome. I’ve had fun around him. Other than the getting shot at part.”
“How did he react when you kissed him?”
“Surprised.”
Noah snickered. “Yeah, straight man kissing you is kind of surprising.”
“He kissed me back,” Cole admitted softly. His cheeks burned as his mind instantly replayed the memory of JB’s tongue sliding along his, the feel of his whiskers against his lips, the bite of his fingers as they held on to Cole’s shoulders.
“That’s a pretty good sign. Better than getting punched. What did he say?”
“Nothing. We haven’t talked about it. We were in the middle of getting shot at by Gladys Roberts.”
“Ahhhh…”
“Yeah. Afterward, JB went to his office to take care of some work. I came to the guest house to hide and talk to you. What the hell do I do now?”
Noah sighed softly. “You gotta talk to him about it. Clear the air with him. He’s probably wondering the same thing you are right now. What the fuck comes next? Sounds like you made the first move after telling him you’re straight, so he’s waiting to hear what’s going on in your head.”
“What if I don’t know what’s going on in my head? What if it didn’t mean anything?”
“Then you need to at least tell him that. It’s only fair. You’re my friend and a great employee, Cole, but JB is my friend, too. I don’t think you’re the kind of guy to string someone along.”
“No, I’m not. I wouldn’t. I’m being a coward.”
Noah chuckled, and the familiar sound helped to soothe some of Cole’s nerves. “You’re not. This is just new, and it’s thrown you for a loop. Talk to him. You know he’s a good guy. He can help.”
“I know. Thanks, Noah.”
“Keep us posted, Cole. On both things.”
Noah ended the call and Cole stared at his phone for a moment, willing it to give him some easier answers but nothing came. He knew he needed to talk to JB, but he didn’t know what the hell he was going to say. His brain was demanding that he promise to never kiss him again, but there was a part of him that really wanted to try it again without the threat of bullets. Something slower. Something that lasted a hell of a lot longer.
Yep, he’d definitely lost his mind.
Chapter Twelve
JB got off the phone with the vet, a mix of anger and fear roiling in his gut. He buried his hands in his hair and stared at his desk.
Poisoned.
His cattle had been poisoned. Someone had deliberately killed them.
He didn’t see the keyboard and papers littering the surface, just the dead eyes of those poor heifers.
Who would do something so cruel? Was the rest of his herd in danger? All this bullshit stopped now. No one was going to threaten his ranch, his herd.
He shoved away from his desk and marched to the guest house. Cole should be working at his computers.
After yesterday’s kiss, they’d barely spoken. The poor man looked like he was struggling to figure things out, and JB didn’t want to rush him. Hell, he was still trying to figure out how he felt about that kiss, other than horny. It was a shame he couldn’t give Cole more distance and time, but this new development had to take precedence.
Sunlight made him squint as he walked outside. Sweat gathered along his back and slid along his hairline, making his steps quick as he hurried to the cool comfort of the house. It was warmer than usual this spring. Summer was gonna be brutal.
When he entered the guest house, Cole turned from the computer. Whatever he read on JB’s face brought him immediately to his feet. He wore tight jeans and a light-brown T-shirt, his feet in socks. Some of the rage wilted the second he spotted Cole’s sock-covered feet. Cole was comfortable enough in his home to go without shoes. Like he belonged there. For a moment, he let the comfort of Cole being in his home soothe him.
But the image of those dead cows surfaced too quickly, and the anger flooded his veins.
“What is it?” Cole asked.
JB stopped behind the couch. “My cows were deliberately killed. Poisoned. With something called sodium fluoroacetate. I’ve never even heard of it, but it apparently was once used as a rodent poison. The stuff is water-soluble, so they could have put it into the water.”