Page 59 of Wilder Heart

“You work for him,” Wilder said softly. “It complicates things.”

“Not to me.” He’d move heaven and earth to keep Wilder by his side, even if Lain had a problem with it. He loved Blackwood Ranch, but at the end of the day, it was a job. There were noguarantees he’d be here for the rest of his life, and there was too much potential between him and Wilder for him to give it up easily. Jobs came and went. The kind of passion he felt in his heart for Wilder didn’t come around very often.

“You’re not seriously telling me you’d choose me over your job, right?” Wilder asked, leaning back as though to see him more clearly.

“I’m… not saying I wouldn’t,” Cash hedged. He had a feeling grand declarations would send Wilder back into his shell again.

Wilder frowned. “Wait, what?”

Cash chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. You have me. That’s what matters.”

Wilder relaxed, so Cash considered it a win.

“Clyde says the boys are going out to Roddy’s tonight.”

“I’m unfamiliar,” Wilder said, shaking his head. Roddy’s hadn’t been in Roselake when Cash arrived here seven years ago, so of course Wilder wouldn’t know what it was.

“It’s a bar.”

Wilder opened his mouth, and Cash rushed to continue before he could refuse already.

“They have the best bar food in the county. Fresh, hot pretzels with this amazing cheddar cheese dip. Burgers that drip with every bite. Seasoned fries. Their very own branded sodas and beers.”

Wilder’s eyes went heavy-lidded as he spoke. “When did you figure out the way past my armor was through my stomach?”

“Around Twinkies, I think.”

Wilder laughed.

“They have sample platters where you can get some of all of it,” Cash added, leaning in and brushing their mouths together. “Sample drink trays, too. You don’t have to drink alcohol, if you don’t want. You can sample the sodas. I just think getting awayfrom the ranch for an evening might do you some good. Time for a reminder there are no bars on your window?”

Wilder’s face softened, fingers playing with the hair at the nape of Cash’s neck. “Yeah, that might be nice.” He sighed, the breath ghosting across Cash’s lips. A line appeared between his brows. “How do you always manage to crawl back in?”

“Just determined,” Cash replied. “Don’t push me away again.”

“Whenever I try, it doesn’t seem to stick.”

“Good. I like you too much to let you go.”

“Goddammit, I’m glad.” Wilder’s eyes were bright with mirth, and all felt right with the world again.

“Kiss me again,” Cash said. “I’ve missed this.”

“If you insist.”

Clyde wasthe night’s designated driver, and since he drove a pickup that couldn’t fit them all, some of them had to pile into the bed of the truck. In the past, Cash would have bullied his way into the passenger seat, but tonight he wanted to sit wherever Wilder did. This was Wilder’s first night out, and Cash wanted to make sure he enjoyed it.

He looked askance at Wilder while Darryl and Billy took to rock-paper-scissors for shotgun.

“Are you kidding?” Wilder said, casting him a grin and grabbing onto the tailgate. “I want to ride in the back.”

Cash grinned, following him in. They settled with their backs to the cab. Clyde had a nice rubber mat in the truck bed. Wilder sat in the corner, resting an arm on the edge, with his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle. Cash did the same,nudging Wilder’s boot with his own and earning himself a smile for his trouble.

Darryl climbed into the back next, settling near the wheel-well. Wayne joined them, too, which meant Billy, Art, and Tommy would be in the cab with Clyde.

“It’s gonna get cold once the sun goes down,” Clyde said, tossing a couple of blankets into the bed with them. “Asses stay on the rubber once we start moving. I ain’t getting arrested for killing one of y’all on the way home if your drunk ass tries to stand up and falls out on the highway.”

Wilder sputtered out a laugh.

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