Law took a deep breath. He didn’t want to fight. They might not be related by blood, but David was his brother in all the ways it counted. Over the years, they’d fought like it many times, but not about this. This was his. “I love you, David, but for once, I need you to leave it alone.”
“But he—”
“Leave it alone, David. I’m happy you’re happy, having found your other half after all these years of working yourself into the ground, but I’m not you. Please? Stay out of it.”
David gave a jerky nod. Law didn’t feel better. He’d known he wouldn’t. David was all the family he had. He was the only person who cared about Law. But loving Coy hurt and no one understood. Law had to do things his way because there was no other way. He had nothing to offer anyone, especially someone who deserved love—like Coy did.
Coy spent the next hour waffling between obsessing over the way Law had bolted and telling himself he was done. Belle was sweet. It was possible Law would need to find someone else to care for her, but there was nothing wrong with her. Law was surly. She wouldn’t do well with a cranky bastard caring for her. Coy got it. After all, he’d run away from this ranch for the same reason. Coy suppressed a snort. Maybe he should take up biting too. He smiled at the thought. It wouldn’t win him any friends, but not chomping on people hadn’t gained him anything either. It was a thought.
“How’s it going?”
Coy glanced up from where he sat on an overturned bucket inside the stall. “Good. She’s settled down a lot.” As if intent on making a liar of him, Belle nipped at Law, barely missing him.
“Damn. She really doesn’t like me. I’ve never encountered this with an animal before.”
Coy stood and brushed off his ass. “I don’t think it’s you, per se.” He held on to her mane and pointed at her back legs. “If you look back here, she has a lot of thin white scars. Someone beat her, probably trying to achieve a certain gait or whatever. Between that and your size, I imagine she’s intimidated. It’s not that I’m better. I’m just smaller. Let’s try this.” Coy moved to the door and opened it for Law. He kept one hand pressed to Belle’s neck, stopping her from turning on Law and biting him as he passed. “Get in here.”
Law moved slow, slipping behind Coy. Their bodies collided. Coy’s eyes fell closed. He didn’t know if the move had been intentional on Law’s part, but damn. Law’s body was solid and warm. Coy hated himself in that moment. No matter how hard he fought or far Law pushed him away, Coy couldn’t stop feeling everything for Law.
With the door latched again, Coy stroked Belle’s neck, staying near her head so she couldn’t get to Law. She danced in place, making Coy wonder if she’d squish them both against the wall in her agitation. “Pet her,” Coy said when Law didn’t budge.
Law dutifully ran his palms down Belle’s spine. After a few stamps and noises, she settled down. Side by side, they calmed Belle. Coy could feel the heat rolling off Law’s skin from where he stood too close. Coy finally managed to take a step back. He moved at a crawl, in case he had to leap forward again to stop Belle from biting. When she didn’t react, Coy took another step back. Once he was fairly confident she wouldn’t take a chunk out of Law, he reclaimed the homemade stool. Law didn’t stop stroking Belle and making soothing sounds.
“See?” Coy said, keeping his voice calm and steady. “Sometimes, you just have to prove you’re not like everyone else.” Even Coy wasn’t one hundred percent sure he meant Belle anymore.
Law glanced over his shoulder like he questioned who the statement had been referring to also. “How did a city boy end up knowing so much about horses anyhow?”
A soft chuckle escaped Coy at the question. Changing the subject was fine by him. “Well, as you can imagine, I was a bit of a handful growing up.” He could tell by the curve of Law’s cheek that he was smiling. That smile kept him talking. “I was raised by a single mother. She’s a nurse practitioner, so even though we were a single income family, she could still afford to give me whatever I wanted. But it’s also one of those jobs where she worked a crazy schedule and I was always home alone. So, during the summers, she would send me to all these crazy day camps. I’m being completely serious when I say that I got sent to every sports camp imaginable. All of them. Think of a sport. She made me try it.” Coy stared at nothing. Nostalgia washed over him. He’d hated camp, but things had been so simple then. His life hadn’t been uncomplicated or easy since. “I even got stuck doing six weeks of jujitsu. Little did I know, learning how to take a hit has come in handy.” Coy didn’t look at Law as he spoke. It was easier to keep talking when he didn’t think about who listened. Law was extremely adept at finding him lacking. Coy didn’t have the strength for that today. “Finally, she signed me up to volunteer at this horse camp for the blind. Never in the history of ever had I expected to hate something more.” Despite his best efforts, his gaze slid Law’s way. A smile touched his lips. “From day one, I loved it. I’m used to not being good at anything, but to my surprise, I wasn’t bad at dealing with animals. I kept going back.” Coy spread his arms wide before dropping them. “So that’s me. How did you end up here?”
Law kept his back turned, but Coy still saw the way he tensed at the question. Obviously, Belle felt the change as well. She turned restless again. Before Coy jumped to his feet, she settled down. Law cleared his throat. “You already know part of the story.” He cleared his throat again, sounding uncomfortable as fuck. “After the woman who gave birth to me tried ironing my skin off, I waited until she left for work and I ran away. I made it pretty damn far too for a skinny, malnourished little kid. With nothing but the shorts I had on and a ratty pair of shoes, I stuck to the woods. I kept thinking I would get eaten by a wolf or something. Just when I thought they’d probably never find my body, I stumbled into a vineyard. Of course, I didn’t know it was a vineyard. All I saw were grapes for miles. Wine grapes are a special breed. They’re bitter as hell, but I was stuffing my face like I hadn’t eaten in years. Really, in a way, I hadn’t. That’s where Mr. Baker found me. Not the current one, of course,” Law clarified. “His father, Tim. He took one look at me, scooped me up, and carried me to the house. I imagine it wasn’t hard for him to figure me out, even though I refused to tell him anything other than my first name. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind if I got sent back to the woman who birthed me after running away, no one really would find my body.” Coy’s eyes burned. He understood, and that made it so much worse. It was one thing for Coy to suffer. He couldn’t fathom anyone harming Law. The idea of anyone hurting Law made Coy want to cry and fight. But he held his tongue because he wanted to hear Law’s story even more. After a moment, Law cleared his throat again. “Anyhow, I’m not sure if Tim just decided to keep me and dared anyone to fight him, or if he paid off the woman who birthed me. Either way, this became my home, and I never saw her again. At first, I was scared of everything.” Law chuckled. It was a sexy sound that made Coy’s heart skip a beat. “Tim would simply pluck me from the ground and dump me on the nearest horse. My choices were to ride or die. That’s pretty much how he taught everything—riding, swimming, and drinking.” Coy could hear the humor in Law’s voice. He couldn’t help but smile along. “I used to sit at his side all the time, learning everything he was willing to teach me.” Law’s voice turned sad again. “I loved him. He was the only real parent I ever had.”
“Where was David during all this?”
Law glanced over his shoulder as if he’d forgotten Coy was there. “Right there with us. In all the ways it matters, we’re family. I never wanted to do anything other than be the person Tim taught me to be. From the moment he found me stealing his fruit, this has been my little piece of heaven.”
Law’s story left Coy with so many questions, but when his mouth opened, a confession escaped instead. “I don’t have a place in the world. Not really. In truth, I don’t care at all what I’m doing. It’s a little odd, actually. If someone gives me a job, I do it, not really feeling one way or the o
ther about it. I don’t feel strongly about much of anything.”
“Much of anything isn’t nothing. What do you feel strongly about?”
Coy didn’t answer. He couldn’t. Law turned and met his stare. Coy didn’t look away. He wasn’t sure he even blinked. Coy refused to say the words, but he had no doubt Law could see the truth in his eyes.
“You didn’t deserve the way I treated you.”
Coy blinked, more than a little surprised by Law’s admission. Law didn’t stop there.
“There was never a day you didn’t work your ass off while you were here. You always did a great job. Maybe you don’t feel like you have a place, but you do. If you ever decide to come back, I’ll have a spot for you.”
“Wow.” Even to Coy’s ears, he sounded dry. But really. “That was...” Coy fought to put his thoughts into words. “... the least personal apology I’ve ever received.” He stood. There was no reason for him to stay. He was tired of lying to himself that Law cared. Coy was exhausted from always loving people who felt nothing when they looked at him. “I need to get to work soon. There’s no sense in you getting back out. I’ll call a cab.”
A panicked look passed over Law’s features, confusing Coy. “You don’t need a cab. I mean, you helped me out a lot today. How about I go with you and help you clean? That’s the least I can do.”
The fuck you that flew to Coy’s tongue wouldn’t fall from his lips no matter how badly he meant the words. “No. You’ve done enough.” Coy didn’t know if the pain or the anger would kill him first. All he knew was one would choke him if he stayed.
Law stepped into his path, blocking the door before he made his escape. Coy looked in every direction but Law’s, because if he met Law’s gaze, he would die. “Look at me.”
“I can’t.” Even to Coy’s ears he sounded desperate and ready to break.
Law cupped his face, leaving Coy no other choice than to hold his stare. He looked sad. Coy’s throat swelled. “Coy, I—”
“Hey, boss. I’m clocking out for the day,” Rick said, appearing outside the stall door.
Law moved away so fast Coy’s head spun. “That’s cool. I don’t need you for anything else tonight.”
Law’s obvious fear over getting caught touching Coy was the final straw. Coy sidestepped him and pulled open the door. Before he made his getaway, Law snagged his arm and hauled him back inside the stall. Coy’s heart raced into his throat. A yelp he couldn’t control escaped him in his fear. His first instinct was to fight. Save himself. All he could hear was his heart pounding. All he felt was Law’s fingers biting into his arm. Before his fist connected with Law’s skin, Coy found himself crushed against the wall. The rough wood tore at his back. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered as Law’s mouth covered his. Coy’s hands flattened against Law’s chest as their tongues met. Law’s heart raced beneath Coy’s palms. He breathed so fast, Coy wondered if Law would hyperventilate. He’d never kissed anyone so obviously scared to be kissing him. Coy stroked Law’s chest, hoping to calm him. Law shuffled closer. Law’s kiss was so soft, it bordered on respectful. Coy tried deepening their kiss.
Law jumped away. “Goddamn it!”
Coy shrank at Law’s open rage. He almost bolted until he caught sight of the blood running down Law’s arm. It dawned on him. Belle had bitten him. Coy covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. That shit hurt. He knew. He’d been there.
“Let me see.” There might’ve been a hint of humor in his tone.
Law eyed the horse, looking ready to fight, as he turned and showed Coy his wound. It was a small cut, but it looked like Belle had pinched the shit out of Law’s skin before breaking through. Not to mention, it definitely needed to be disinfected.
“Let’s get this cleaned up.” He stroked Law’s back. “You did good, babe. She was testing you.”
Law glanced over his shoulder. Heat blasted from his eyes, nearly melting Coy’s skin. “No. She was protecting you.”
Coy swallowed. Belle might’ve been right in that. Coy didn’t feel the least bit safe, and it was exhilarating. He’d never wanted anyone to destroy him as badly. Coy was certain it was only a matter of time before Law made him every bit as sorry as his expression promised. That was fine. Coy was up for the challenge. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d ended up completely destroyed.
Five
Twice since moving in with Jonah, Coy had gotten lost on the trip to and from his bedroom on the third floor. It was a house. How in the hell someone got lost in a house was beyond him, but the place was massive. David’s home was too, but there, he’d always kept to one side of the place, entering through the back and sticking close to his bedroom. Here, he felt freer to roam. He was slowly learning his way around, but he wasn’t always confident in the direction he walked.
Coy checked his phone as he descended the steps. He kept hoping to see Law’s name waiting with a message or a missed call. There was nothing. Not even his mom had called in the past four days.
“There he is.”
Coy’s head snapped up at John’s bellow. Jonah and John sat at the kitchen table with a third man Coy hadn’t met. He was dark-haired and had green eyes that were almost unnaturally light. His suit looked as if it cost a fortune. Snazzy. He came to his feet as Coy moved farther into the room.
“This is our attorney, Brad Hollister,” John said, motioning the man’s way. “Brad, this is our houseguest, Coy.”
Brad swiped his tie back inside his dark jacket as he stood and circled the table to shake Coy’s hand. “Coy. Yes. Jonah has told me all about you. I understand you’re interested in renting Jonah’s old house.”
Coy accepted his handshake. “Eventually. Hopefully. My last job, at Baker Ranch, provided room and board. Now I’m... homeless, I suppose,” he said, feeling oddly nervous and reluctant to admit his current circumstances. Brad looked very put together. Coy felt like twice as big of a mess in Brad’s presence.
Brad lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “I recently went through a homeless stint myself. It happens.”
“You?” Coy hadn’t meant to say it, especially in such a disbelieving tone.
Brad laughed.
Coy snapped his mouth closed before his jaw dropped. Goddamn. The pretty boy lawyer was hot. Coy didn’t usually go for the pretty ones. He liked bikers, tattoos, and cowboys with too much confidence. All the types that ultimately destroyed him. Coy couldn’t think of a damn thing to say—like apologizing for his earlier disbelief. Thankfully, Jonah came to the rescue.
“John and I have to go to Viv’s today. We were hoping you wouldn’t mind accompanying Brad to check on the house. That way, you can look around and Brad can check on the progress of the crew that’s been painting and whatnot.”
Coy had a terrible feeling he was being set up, but it was Jonah. Coy couldn’t say no. He pasted on a bright smile. “Sure. If Brad doesn’t mind me hanging around, I don’t have anything else to do today.” Coy glanced Brad’s way and caught the handsome lawyer checking him out. Brad smirked, unashamed at getting busted. Coy’s mind skipped like a scratched record, making him forget his place in the conversation. He wasn’t imagining things. Brad had definitely been looking him over like he was buying a new car. Damn. It had been too long since anyone showed any interest in him and wasn’t ashamed. He’d forgotten how nice it was to be wanted, especially by someone as gorgeous as Brad.
“I’d love your company. We should get to know each other. Don’t you think?”
Coy suppressed a shiver at Brad’s blatantly sexual tone. He’d gotten out of the habit of flirting. Before Coy could think of an appropriate response, Jonah jumped in—all smiles. “Yes. This is an awesome idea.” He pushed away from the table. “John and I have to go.” The longing glance John cast toward his unfinished breakfast screamed they didn’t have to leave quite yet, but it was Jonah. John would do whatever it took to make him happy.
Coy snatched up John’s plate without thought. “Take your food with you.” He m
ight not get any say in Jonah’s maneuvering, but he’d be damned if he pretended he didn’t see Jonah’s meddling for what it was.
Obviously not one to be one-upped, Jonah flashed him a smile. “He won’t be needing that where we’re going.” At the open sex dripping from Jonah’s tone, John blindly handed back the plate and jogged to keep up with Jonah.
As one, Brad and Coy cast each other knowing smiles. Like that, all discomfort fell away.
Coy shook his head. “They should be ashamed.”
“Agreed,” Brad said, taking the plate from Coy and setting it on the table. “On that note, I have no desire to stay here, being envious. Would you like to grab some breakfast before I show you the house?”
There was a nervous flutter in Coy’s stomach, but he was suddenly ravenous. “I’d love to.”
Brad’s smile was sweet and welcoming. For once, Coy didn’t think of Law at all. “After you,” Brad said, motioning toward the door. He set his palm on the small of Coy’s back as he reached past him and opened the door before Coy’s hand touched the knob. Their gazes met and held. Coy’s breath caught. Knowledge took hold. He would survive. Life had been nothing but shit for way too long, but Coy wasn’t giving up. There was still hope, even if he never spoke to Law again. Coy would keep going. Surely he could endure one more heartbreak. Just one more.
Since Coy moved out, Law hadn’t slept easy. He’d never been good at sleeping. His nights always went one of three ways: he spent hours trying to fall asleep before finally crashing an hour before the alarm, he went to sleep right away, only to wake up wide awake several hours before the alarm, or he didn’t sleep at all. It was a pattern he hadn’t thought could get worse. Then Coy left. Now Law spent his nights waffling between berating himself for not sleeping and trying to decide if he should text Coy. Middle of the night texts were always bad. That was why Law had his phone resting face down on his chest while he stared at the ceiling.
Sugar Enemy (Sugar Daddies Book 10) Page 4
