Page 32 of Wilder Heart

“This ain’t a work truck,” Wilder said, glancing around the interior.

He’d replaced a lot of it over the years. The leather seats were well worn now, but they had been top-of-the-line when he pulled out the old ones and put them in. He’d also replaced the radio, the gear shift, the steering wheel, and damn near all of the engine at one point or another.

“Nope, this is my baby,” he said as he guided the truck around the circular drive and down one of the trails that led toward the fields that went deeper into the ranch. “I bought this when I was eighteen. Done a fair bit of sleeping in that backseat in my younger years, before I got the camper.”

Wilder glanced over his shoulder at the backseat, like he was trying to picture it. “You’re a little small for that backseat, aren’t you?”

Cash laughed. “I was scrawnier back then.”

Wilder’s gaze trailed up and down his body. “Ain’t nothing about you scrawny now, that’s for sure.”

Something fizzed in Cash’s chest, like soda bubbles, and he was grateful the darkness hid his blush. Thankfully, he was saved from having to think of a response.

“So where are we going, anyway?”

“Well, I know you grew up here, but it’s been a long time since you were here. So I thought I’d show you one of my favoritespots on the ranch.” Now that he’d said it out loud, it sounded stupid.‘Let me show you this cool spot on your own damn property that you probably know better than I ever could.’But when he risked looking over, Wilder didn’t seem angry. In fact, there was something soft and fond in his gaze, like Cash had given him some kind of gift.

“That sounds nice,” he breathed. “Thank you.”

Cash inclined his head, bashful.

He brought the truck to a stop in a valley, surrounded by hills and trees. Here, out in the open and under the stars, none of the barns, fences, or buildings were visible. He stopped there, put the truck in park, and shut off the engine.

“Go around to the back and open the tailgate. I’ll be right there,” he said, and Wilder obeyed with a narrow-eyed, teasing look of suspicion.

Cash grabbed the blanket and the box of snack cakes as he listened to Wilder open the tailgate. It creaked, and he reminded himself to oil the hinges soon.

“Will you tell me what we’re doing already?” Wilder asked as Cash rounded the truck. He was sitting on the tailgate, swinging his legs.

“Yeah. Here.” He pressed the box into Wilder’s hands and climbed onto the tailgate with him to lay the blanket out in the truck bed.

When he was satisfied, he sat back on his heels and found Wilder staring at him. Stricken with panic that his doubts had been right, that this was a stupid idea, he gulped hard.

“What?”

“I… I forgot about these,” Wilder said. “You kept them?”

Cash relaxed. “Well, yeah. I told you they were yours. I wasn’t gonna just leave them in the kitchen for everybody else to take.” He crawled onto the blanket and laid back. “Come on. Bring them up here. Let’s lay back and look up at the stars.”

CHAPTER 12

WILDER

Wilder’s heart was so full it ached. Cash had been so unwittingly kind to him all day. He’d defended him in front of Gary that morning, comforted him and calmed his ensuing panic, saved the snack cakes Wilder had been too stressed to remember. Bringing him here, to his favorite spot on the ranch, was the first time a human being had made him feel welcome here since he arrived two months ago. The only other time he didn’t feel ready to crawl out of his skin was while he was astride Blaze. Kindness was a rare bird, and he wasn’t accustomed to accepting it.

He held the box of cakes with reverence as he scooted back to sit beside Cash. The night around them was dark and quiet, but the half-moon provided enough light for him to see Cash’s handsome face. Dark stubble dusted his jaw, and since they’d both left their hats in the car, Wilder got a rare look at the short fade on his head.

“We’re having a nighttime picnic,” Wilder said.

“No,” Cash replied matter-of-factly. “Not at all. A picnic implies a meal. This is a snack. If you want a picnic, you’ll have to plan the next outing.”

Electricity sparked down Wilder’s spine. “The next one?”

Cash’s lips quirked, and he ducked his head. “Yeah, y’know, if you want to do something like this again. I wasn’t sure if it was your thing, but I thought…”

“You thought?” Wilder prompted, breathless.

“That you might like it. Spending time out in the open, surrounded by nature.”

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