by Olivia Black
“What am I going to do?”
He sat in silence, thinking about Easton. With each minute that passed, Trent knew he wouldn’t be able to relax or calm down until he heard the young man’s sweet voice and told him exactly how he felt. Lifting his hips, Trent fished the cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Wyatt’s number. He put the phone to his ear, listening to it ring.
“This is Wyatt.”
“Hi, Wyatt. This is Trent.”
“What can I do for you, neighbor?”
“I want Easton’s cell phone number.”
“Uh…” Wyatt started, but Trent cut him off.
“Don’t bullshit me. I know he’s in Oklahoma.”
Wyatt sighed into the phone. “I put him on a plane to visit his grandmother. Since the accident, he’s been depressed and we were all concerned. We didn’t tell you because the will specifically states…”
“I know what the will states.” Trent growled, placing the picture back on the coffee table. He was afraid he might throw it across the room with his frustration level building. “I’m the executor, but did you even consider why I wanted to see Easton in the first place? He’s been coming to my place for a week and we got close. I care about him.”
“We all care about him,” Wyatt insisted.
“He’s mine!”
“Uh…Oh…okay.” Wyatt stumbled over his words, and Trent couldn’t believe he’d erupted the way he had. “I get it.”
“He was in an accident leaving my ranch and nobody thought to contact me.” The guilt was eating him alive, knowing that he hadn’t been by Easton’s side when the young man had been hurt would forever break his heart.
“I was there when he crashed, Trent. I saw the whole damn thing and so did Oliver. Our concern was for Easton and his well-being, not alerting you of an accident. I didn’t even know the two of you were close. Easton didn’t say a word to anyone. What the hell happened anyway? Why was he driving like a bat out of hell to get away from you?”
Trent swallowed the bile rising in his throat. Shit, it’s my fault. Easton left upset because of me, because I was too afraid to admit to my feelings.
“We…I, uh…I need to speak with Easton. Can I have his number, please?”
“Fine.” Wyatt paused for a moment before rattling off Easton’s digits. “Whatever happened between the two of you, fix it,” he ordered before disconnecting the call.
Trent groaned just thinking about how fucked up the whole situation had become. He hadn’t meant to hurt Easton in any way. Could things between the two of them be repaired? Would Easton consider giving him a second chance? Staring at his phone, Trent slowly dialed the number. He waited a moment, trying to build up his courage before finally hitting the send button.
“Hello?” An older woman answered the phone and he froze for a second, unprepared. “Hello? This is Easton’s phone.”
“Hi. Good evening, ma’am. My name is Trent Weston. I’m trying to get ahold of Easton.”
“Hmmm, is this the same young man that hurt my boy?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he whispered, unable to deny the claim.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” she asked, and Trent knew it was a challenge.
“I was scared to accept Easton into my heart. Since losing my parents and my brother, it’s been really hard for me to get close to other people. Easton is such a sweet man and I didn’t realize that I was in love with him until he was gone. And now, I’m hoping that I can fix things between us.”
“Sometimes love can bite us in the rear end when we least expect it,” she said, and Trent could practically see the smile on her face. “I’m going to give you some advice.” When she paused, Trent turned the volume up on his phone. He didn’t want to miss a single word. After all, she knew Easton better than any other living soul.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Easton has always been sweet and gentle. A dream child, if there ever was one. He didn’t want to go to Colorado, afraid to leave me alone at the farm. But I knew he was meant for bigger and better things. I wanted him to find love and I want him to get married.” She emphasized “married,” and Trent knew she was telling him what she expected. “I had to kick him out and send him on his way.”
When she stopped speaking, Trent’s brows furrowed in confusion, unsure what she was telling him. What’s her advice? “I’m not sure I understand, ma’am.”
“Okay, I’ll spell it out for you.” She sounded frustrated and Trent held back a chuckle. “Easton will be flying back to Colorado at the end of the week. You pick him up at the airport and take him to your house. Move him into your life and make him your partner in all things.”
“Are you suggesting I move his things into my house before I even ask him?” Trent couldn’t believe what the woman was saying. Unless he was completely misunderstanding, which was a huge possibility.
“Are you serious about him? You want a future with him, right? This isn’t just about sexual gratification.” Trent’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head just hearing the woman’s question.
“Of course I want a future,” he confirmed without hesitation.
“Good. And I expect a wedding, young man.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Trent grinned.
A picture popped inside his head, of him standing at an alter holding Easton’s hands and telling the man how much he was loved in front of their family and friends. Forever. He wanted Easton by his side forever and this was his chance to prove it.
“Well, then, you have some work to do before I send my baby to Colorado.”
“I’ll get started right now,” he promised.
“Good. Now, I’d better let you go. I think Easton is done with his shower.” She hung up the phone before Trent could say a single word.
Staring at his phone, Trent chuckled, feeling a whole hell of a lot better. He jumped up from the couch and went to his office. Shuffling through some paperwork, he found the deed to Twin Acres Ranch. He stared at the papers containing only his name. Instead of fear creeping in, he felt elated. He was going to win Easton over and share the rest of his life with the young man. He felt it in his bones. The two of them were meant to be together.
Trent sat down in the large black office chair and dialed his attorney on the man’s private line. He couldn’t wait until morning. He needed to get everything started right now.
“Paula Nicholson,” his attorney answered on the first ring.
“Good evening, Paula. This is Trent Weston. How are you doing?”
“I’m good. I was just closing shop for the night. What can I do for you, sir?”
“I want to add Easton Baker’s name to the ranch deed. I want to make him part owner.”
“It must be serious,” she stated simply before continuing. “As your attorney, I have to say that this may be a bad idea. What you are doing, in effect, is taking your most valuable asset, Twin Acres Ranch, and giving half of it away…forever. I know that most couples in a committed relationship do this, but it can end badly for you. Are you sure that this is what you really want?”
Trent let her advice run through is mind. Was this what he really wanted? Yes. He didn’t have any doubts about Easton.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m serious. I’d like to get the paperwork started right away.”
“Okay.” She sighed as if she didn’t agree with his decision. “I’ll start the paperwork.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Just give me a couple of days to file the paperwork. I will need your signature. Can you come to my office?”
“I’ll come to your office tomorrow, if that’s okay?”
“Sure, I’ll see you then.”
“Thanks again,” Trent said before hanging up the phone.
Pushing his chair back, Trent stood up and strolled down the hall to his bedroom. Not the bedroom he’d shown Easton to, but his personal space. The space he’d been afraid to share. He walked into the large master suite and realized for the first time that if eve
rything went as planned, Easton would be curled up in his bed every night. The blond beauty would be the last thing he saw when he went to sleep and the first thing he saw when he woke up. The image brought a smile to his face.
Trent toed off his boots before pulling off his socks. He curled his toes into the plush carpet as he walked toward the laundry basket and tossed them inside. He unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it in as well before marching into the walk-in closet that would make anyone green with envy. It wasn’t just a closet. It was the size of a bedroom.
Walking in, a floor-to-ceiling window was the first thing that drew the eye, giving him a glimpse of the property without allowing anybody to see inside. With black hardwood floors, closet space, and built-in shelves and drawers, he knew it would be easy to give Easton as much space as the young man wanted.
Trent spent the evening cleaning out his bedroom and the rest of the house so that Easton could fill it with his own belongings and treasures. Now, he just needed to convince Easton’s brothers to help him move the cowboy’s things to his house. Once they were convinced, he had the rest of the week to prepare for Easton’s arrival.
Chapter 12
The week flew by and before Easton knew what was happening he was back in Colorado. Having a week away from the Belt Buckle Ranch was both a blessing and a curse. He loved seeing his grandmother, but he missed his brothers and Trent even more. Distance didn’t make the heart grow fonder, it made his heart ache.
Walking through the terminal, Easton looked around, hoping to spot a familiar face. When his eyes landed on Trent, he stopped dead in his tracks. Oh fuck! We’re all screwed. Licking his dry lips, Easton swallowed down his nerves and started walking toward the man once more. When he was standing in front of Trent, the man took his duffle bag from his shoulder.
“Did you have a nice trip?” Trent asked.
“It’s my fault,” he blurted out, hoping that Trent wouldn’t use his power as executor to punish them all because he left the ranch.
“What’s your fault, baby?”
Baby? The man had used that word before, but now, it confused him. Why would Trent be calling him baby?
“Don’t blame my brothers. Don’t take the ranch from us. It was my choice to leave.”
“And you’ll be punished accordingly.” He smiled as if the thought excited him, which confused Easton even more.
He felt as if he’d stepped off the plane and right into the Twilight Zone. Why was Trent picking him up from the airport? Why was the man acting so weird? Wasn’t their so-called relationship over?
“I’m parked right outside. Let’s head home.” Trent held out his hand and Easton took it, allowing the older man to lead him out of the terminal and toward his truck.
He didn’t say a single word, his mind moving faster than his mouth could process. The silence continued as Trent opened the passenger-side door and buckled him in. The drive toward the ranch filled Easton with anxiety and kicked his heart into overdrive. Trent tried to engage him in conversation with simple questions about Oklahoma and his grandma, but Easton was barely able to answer with more than a couple syllables.
Easton’s palms began to sweat as his panic grew, overwhelming him. He was confused and scared. Had leaving the ranch ruined everything he and his brothers had worked so hard to accomplish? Would they lose their father’s legacy? By the time they neared the turn-off, he was sick to his stomach and thought he might actually puke or pass out from the stress. He just hoped his brothers would be able to forgive him after all was said and done.
“Wait…” Easton whispered as Trent drove past the Belt Buckle. “The ranch.” He looked over his shoulder as sign became smaller and finally disappeared altogether.
“I’m taking you home.” Trent reached across the bench seat and squeezed his knee.
The gesture was probably supposed to calm Easton and put him at ease, but it had the opposite effect. Trent had made himself pretty clear the day Easton wrapped a truck around a tree. The man didn’t want a relationship. So why was he acting as if the two of them were together? Shouldn’t Trent be keeping his distance?
When Trent pulled off the main road, Easton glanced up at the metal Twin Acres Ranch sign. He didn’t say a word until Trent was parked in the front of his home.
“What’s going on?” Easton asked, looking over at Trent.
“I’d like the two of us to talk. Would you please come inside?”
“Sure.” He shrugged. “I guess.” Easton had no idea what Trent wanted to talk about. He didn’t allow himself the opportunity to assume, either.
Opening the door, Easton climbed out and shut the door behind him. Trent grabbed his bag, tossing it over his shoulder as he headed toward the front door. Easton followed his lead up onto the porch and inside the house. Everything looked exactly the same as he remembered, incredible. Trent really did have a beautiful home. Trent clasped Easton’s hand and pulled him down the hallway. Instead of stopping at the guest room the two of them had shared, Trent took him into a large suite.
The walls were painted a light blue, with the same exposed wooden beams and iron ties. Thick carpet turned into hard wood, opening up to a second room that appeared to be a closet. A giant king-sized bed dominated the room with large wooden posts. This time, Easton could see all the metal eye-hooks screwed around the bed. Pulling his lower lip into his mouth, a wave of sadness hit him. He wouldn’t be experiencing Trent’s ropes, cuff, or chains again.
Hell, after today, he probably wouldn’t see the man again.
“Here.” Trent held a manila envelope and Easton started shaking his head.
The last time he’d opened an envelope his life changed. He didn’t want his life to change again. He loved the Belt Buckle Ranch. Creating some distance between him and Trent, Easton walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. He felt dizzy, his vision becoming blurry.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Why are you calling me baby? Why did you bring me here? What’s inside that envelope? Why the hell are you dragging this out?” He jumped up. “Just punish me already so that I can move on with my life.”
Trent stared at him intently before saying, “Take off your clothes.” His heart rate kicked up a notch and Easton could feel a slight tremor skimming over him. He was almost positive that he misheard. Trent moved closer. “Clothes. Off.”
With a shaky hand, Easton awkwardly lifted the hem of his shirt and pulled the thin cotton over his head. He placed it on the bed before working on the buttons of his jeans. Trent watched him struggle to get naked without offering a helpful hand. It took him longer than usual since he was still dealing with a cast on his right arm.
Trent moved in front of Easton. He walked around him, inspecting his body, and Easton stood a little straighter, wanting to impress the older man. When Trent was standing in front of him once more, he pinched his nipple, causing only a slight amount pain. Easton groaned, licking his lips. He wanted more. Every night away from Trent was full of fantasies.
“There isn’t anything scary inside this envelope, Easton.” Trent lifted it up and flicked the little metal teeth open, pulling out a thick bundle of paperwork. “Here, please read the documents.” He held the paperwork out, but Easton couldn’t bring himself to take the paperwork.
Closing his eyes, Easton shook his head. “Just read it to me, please.”
“Come here.” Trent took Easton’s hand in his once more and pulled him into the large walk-in closet. “Anything look familiar?”
“Um…” Easton looked around. “Are these my clothes? Is this my stuff?”
“I think I’m doing this all wrong.” The man pushed a hand through his short silver-streaked brown locks. The confidence the man wore like a second skin slowly seeped away, exposing a vulnerability that Easton hadn’t expected. “I had everything all planned out and it’s not happening like I thought it would.”
“What was supposed to happen?”
“I called your cell phone an
d talked to your grandmother. I told her that I was in love with you. I told her that I needed a second chance to show you that I cared. I cleaned out my closet to make room for you and I signed over half of the Twin Acres Ranch to you.”
Easton’s mouth dropped open. Here he was standing inside Trent’s closet buck-ass naked and he merely stared at Trent, tongue-tied. It was a surprise he never expected.
“I made a mistake, Easton. When I sent you away, I thought I was making the right decision, but I was wrong. I was scared to lose you, but that doesn’t even make any sense now. I missed you so much and I realized that I didn’t want to live without you in my life. After spending only a short amount of time with you, I fell in love. And I brought you here because I don’t want you to leave,” Trent said, sincerity lacing each word.
“Wow,” he breathed out. He couldn’t believe that Trent was saying everything he’d been desperate to hear.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“I love you, too,” he exclaimed with intense pleasure as a blanket of peace and contentment wrapped around him, knowing that Trent was his.
Trent took a few steps until he was standing in front of Easton. Reaching up, his large hand took Easton’s face and held it gently as if he were something fragile. He waited a moment before swooping down and claiming Easton’s lips. Crushing him to his hard muscular body, his kiss was slow and drugging, building up Easton’s arousal. There was an intimacy that wasn’t there before and Easton’s heart expanded, allowing Trent access once more.
He moved against Trent’s fully clothed body, hating the tight denim material and button shirt. He wanted naked skin against naked skin. Trent slowly pulled away, leaving his mouth burning with fire.
“I’m going to punish you, Easton. You got hurt while leaving my property and you kept it from me. I had to find out about everything from Jacob and your brothers. That’s unacceptable.”
“Yes, sir,” Easton whispered.
“I’m going to spank you,” Trent said, the confidence back once more, and Easton shuddered just hearing the promise in the man’s words.
