Page 22 of Taking Chances in Cedarwood

“Yes.”

“Yeah.” Andrew closed his hands over Cain’s, stopping him. “I need to get work done first, but I also want to continue this.”

“Then I can kiss you again?” The tension between them increased Cain’s desire. He’d have to wait for what he wanted, and he sucked at waiting. He rubbed his nose along Andrew’s. “I’m here to help and learn. Push me.”

“You’re too good to be true.”

Cain wouldn’t say that. The media would find him soon. The fans already knew he’d come to town. His parents would intrude on him before long, and his Nirvana would come crashing down. Why not enjoy his time with Andrew and be so good Andrew didn’t want to let him go?

Andrew couldn’t believe his luck. Other guys in his life weren’t interested in the farm. They wanted him to sell the land and move to the city. Cain seemed eager to immerse himself in life on the farm. Cain hadn’t screamed about moving or asked how much the ground was worth per acre.

“What’s first?” Cain continued to trace the cording of Andrew’s chest. “I’m eager to learn.”

“I finished raking the straw right before you got here. I’ll use the automated straw baler on the small field and the round one on the bigger field. My stepsister should be here shortly to run the round baler,” Andrew said. “If you want to help, I can use the extra set of hands stacking the bales. If we work together, we’ll get done faster.”

“Will you help stack when you’re done?” Cain asked. “Or at least show me what to do to get started?”

“I will. Gabby will keep you company, too. She loves climbing on the bales and arguing with the girls—the cattle. I’ll show you how to stack.” If he could convince Cain to stay around and if Cain enjoyed the work, they’d have a chance at being more than friends.

“Then I’ll learn.” Cain grasped Andrew’s hand. “I know it seems crazy.”

“What? Everything with you is a new adventure.” He headed into the barn. The ventilation wasn’t great, and the temperature soared about ten degrees. He wiped his brow with his free hand. “What’s wrong now?”

“I’ve been found.”

“Huh?” Andrew picked up two baling implements. “Tell me what happened.”

“I’m kind of famous, like the kind of famous where people seek me out.” Cain took one of the hooks from Andrew. “The media will find me next.”

“So, I need to keep an eye out for strange people showing up and poking movie cameras into my business?” He hooked the implement into one of the unstacked bales. “Be sure you grab from the end like this. You’re going against the placement of the straw. Try to bury the end or you’ll just succeed in yanking straw free. You’ll drag it over here and stack about six bales high. If you want, make stairsteps to get up higher, but I don’t go above ten bales. See the pattern?”

“I do.” Cain practiced hooking the bales. “Like this?”

“Uh-huh. One word of caution, though. Don’t swing it around or it can get out of control and you’ll hurt yourself.” He pointed to a spot on his belly above his navel. “I got myself when I was fourteen. It hurt, but I didn’t do any damage.”

“Wow.” Cain admired the tool. “Lethal, okay.”

“Yeah,” Andrew said. “Will anyone try to find you?”

“My parents will.” Cain held on to the hook with both hands. “It’s complicated.”

Andrew sank onto the closest bale. “Why? You’re old enough to be on your own.”

“I am, but without my bringing in money, they’re lost. I’ve sustained them for so long, I don’t know if they could pay their bills without me.” Cain remained standing. “I know it’s a lot to put on someone, hearing my story. The truth is, I ran away from my life to findme. I expected my family or my handlers to come looking for me and they haven’t—yet.” Cain sat beside him. “It took longer than I thought for anyone to find me. I lied to my parents, saying I was with a woman for the weekend. Instead, I hightailed it from Beverly Hills and came here. It’s been the best decision ever, realizing who I really am.”

“It is? Cedarwood can be boring.”

“I found you.” He palmed Andrew’s thigh. “I found myself, but I found you and that’s priceless.”

Andrew stared into Cain’s eyes. He could see himself having a life with this man and finally earning the happy ending he wanted. But Cain was a star. The odds weren’t in their favor for the relationship to work. That, and they hadn’t slept together yet. Cain could be awful in the bedroom. He doubted it, but he’d been fooled before.

Cain brushed his mouth over Andrew’s and scooted closer. The heat in the barn was no match for the fever in Andrew’s veins. He kissed Cain with gusto and hunger. He needed to finish the chores, but Cain was too decadent. He curled his fingers around the back of Cain’s neck and deepened the kiss.

Cain left the bale and straddled Andrew’s thighs. He didn’t break the kiss and managed to palm one of Andrew’s pecs. He sucked hard on Andrew’s tongue, frazzling him.

Andrew moaned into the connection. He’d never stolen kisses before. The thought of making out in the barn seemed so cliché, but in practice, he loved the idea. He rubbed Cain’s back.Such a strong body.Andrew bet Cain looked just as hot naked as he had in his fantasies.

Cain massaged Andrew’s shoulders, then moved his palms to Andrew’s chest again. He tweaked one of Andrew’s nipples, eliciting a cry from him.

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