by A. M. Arthur
“You can keep all details of the second thing to yourself. Please.”
While Reyes knew Colt and Avery enjoyed certain aspects of BDSM in their relationship, he didn’t want or need to know the things they got up to in private.
Whatever floats their boat.
“If you’ve never been spanked, how do you know you won’t like it?” Colt teased.
Reyes glared at him. “Got spanked plenty as a kid, thanks. Not my thing.”
Colt instantly sobered. “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to make fun of your past.”
“It is what it is. I was also a rough and tumble kid, and I did my fair share of stupid, spankable shit. Took me a long time to finally learn my lesson.”
“You never talk about your past.”
“Past is past. Can’t change it.”
“Right.” Colt tapped his boot heel against the porch. “You know, if I let my past simply be my past, I wouldn’t have a relationship with my parents and siblings again.”
“Glad that worked out for you, pal, I mean it. But it’s not for me.”
“Okay.”
A car trundled down the worn path to the cabins, and Reyes stood. Miles was here. Once the car was unpacked, he’d show Miles to the barn-shaped garage where employees kept their cars. Hiding them away helped keep a more authentic vibe for the ranch guests.
Miles climbed out of the driver’s seat with a smile that seemed forced. He almost looked wary, spooked.
“Hey, man, welcome,” Colt said.
“Thanks.” Miles meekly shook Colt’s hand, then turned to face Reyes. “Hi.”
“Hello,” Reyes replied. He warred with the part of himself that demanded he find out what was bothering Miles. Getting him settled and relaxed was a better first move. “Tell me what I can carry.”
“Okay.” He popped the locks on his car, then all three of them began unloading a handful of boxes and two suitcases.
All in all, it wasn’t much.
“I gave a lot of my stuff to Wes, since he’s got a big house to decorate and an actual kitchen,” Miles explained. “The last of the furniture we donated.”
“You gave away your whole life?” Colt asked. “That’s pretty wild.”
Miles shrugged. “I’m starting over here, with a new job and a new life. A new me. Can’t start over if I drag my past along with me.”
“Wise words,” Reyes replied. “Some of us feel the same way about our pasts.” He gave Colt a pointed look, hoping his friend took the hint and dropped the topic.
“You guys don’t have to entertain me while I unpack.”
Reyes couldn’t decipher if Miles was trying not to be a bother, or if he genuinely wanted to be left alone. “That’s obviously your side,” he said, pointing to the bed and dresser on the right. “Sheets and blanket are fresh. Plenty of room in the bathroom cabinet for your stuff. Make yourself at home.”
“Okay. Thanks.” This time, Miles’s smile was more genuine. Still a bit spooked, though, so Reyes decided to give him space to acclimate.
“Lunch is at noon,” Reyes said.
“Thank you.”
He led Colt out to the porch and shut the cabin door.
“Someone’s got first-day jitters,” Colt said. “I mean, Miles was always quiet, but he looks like he expects someone to change their mind and tell him he can’t really live here.”
“I noticed.” At least Reyes wasn’t reading the guy wrong. “Give him time. It’s an adjustment, moving here from a big city. We all went through it.”
“True story.” Colt clapped him on the shoulder. “I gotta jet. See you at lunch.”
“Yeah, see you.” Reyes sat on the bench and tried to relax while his new roommate unpacked.
* * *
As soon as he was alone, Miles sat on his bed and tried to remember how to breathe. For the past two days, he’d been holed up in a hotel room he couldn’t really afford, ordering room service that threatened to max out his sole credit card, and now he was free. Free of the oppressive city where Dallas roamed freely. Free of his old life where Dallas had gone from best friend and lover to frightening stalker.
Free to make new friends and reinvent himself.
I’d also kill for a good night’s sleep.
He’d barely slept the past three days, and he wasn’t surprised that Reyes seemed concerned by his appearance. He knew he looked pale and exhausted, but Reyes hadn’t pushed for an explanation. And he hadn’t let Colt do it, either, for which Miles was eternally grateful.
After he got his shit together, he started unpacking. He didn’t have a lot, just enough to fill his dresser and a few things to hang in their shared closet, like his winter coat and a dressy sports jacket he hadn’t worn in years. Line cooks didn’t exactly get invited to fancy events, and even when he was dating Kevin, they stuck to casual outings.
The bathroom was spotlessly clean, which told him everything he needed to know about his roommate. Miles never suspected Reyes was a slob, but his mother used to say you could judge a person’s tidiness by their bathroom. He put his own towels and toiletries away, and it occurred to him he’d never inquired about laundry. Who did it and where? Garrett itself didn’t have a laundromat.
He also purposely avoided looking at the bed across from his, so he didn’t obsess too much about sharing a room with another man. He’d had his own room since college, and a lock on his bedroom door since last April. Tonight he’d have to go to sleep with someone who could easily overpower him less than ten feet away.
He won’t, though. I’m safe here. My new life is starting today.
Once he was finished unpacking, Miles broke down the boxes and stored them under his bed, along with his shoes and two empty suitcases. The cabin’s size was efficient, and it certainly prompted the residents not to become pack rats.
His tasks complete, he stepped outside, intending to find someone who could tell him where to park his car. He jolted to a stop when he spotted Reyes seated on the porch, casually reclining while he did something on his phone. “You’re still here,” Miles said dumbly.
“I am.” Reyes grinned in a sexy way that made Miles’s heart race. “Figured you’d need a bit of showing around. You’re an employee this time, instead of a guest, so you get extra privileges in terms of where you can go.”
“Oh. Cool, okay. Um, I have a dumb question.”
“Only dumb question is the one you didn’t ask. My abuela used to say that.”
“Where do I do laundry?”
“Guesthouse basement has an industrial washer and dryer for linens and work polos, but there are four sets of regular ones for everyday laundry. There’s a schedule board down there, so if you like to do laundry at a set day every week, you can block yourself in for the machines.”
“Oh, that makes sense. Thanks.”
“No problem. As your roommate, I’m here to answer your questions. Ready to move your car?”
“Sure.”
In the close proximity of his car, Miles got a stronger whiff of Reyes’s aftershave. Something cedar-y but also sweet, and he really did not need to notice stuff like that. He was here to start over and do his job, not sniff his roommate.
Reyes directed him toward a big barn behind the guest house, then opened the double doors. The interior held several rows of vehicles, all neatly parked. The ranch seemed to have two pickups for everyday use, but this must be where all the employees stashed their cars. He liked the way the exterior kept the ranch authentic to guests.
They strolled together toward the front of the property, where guests were getting saddled up for what would likely be their last ride of their stay.
“Can’t say you’ll have much need to go into the main house,” Reyes said, “unless Arthur invites you for supper. But you can access the parts that say Employees Only. Same with the guesthouse. You can use the kitchen door and ta
ke your meals there with the rest of us. Only real restriction is riding alone, until you’ve had more practice.”
“I rode horses and did dressage competitions when I was twelve and thirteen,” Miles said. “I’m comfortable with horses.”
Reyes regarded him a moment. “You did seem pretty at ease last spring. With the horses, anyway.”
“I like horses. They’re simple, yet regal, animals, and they don’t bullshit you.”
“Unlike people?”
“Exactly.” They were heading toward the main barn. He’d never been inside it, only the attached corral. “People are just too fucking complicated.”
“I hear you.” Reyes’s easy expression said he wasn’t patronizing Miles; he meant it. “You feel like a quick ride before lunch? I didn’t see Tango go out with the guests.”
Miles perked up at the idea of riding Tango again. She was a sweet, gentle horse, and he’d loved spending time with her last year. “I’d like that.”
“Excellent.”
Reyes brought Tango and then Hot Coffee over to the tack area. Miles took the offered brush and gave her a quick rubdown, careful to stay out of Reyes’s space, before layering on the blanket and saddle. Tango stood patiently, her tail occasionally twitching, until Miles had her ready. And he’d finished before Reyes, which made him smile at the shiny saddle.
They both led their mounts outside before swinging up. Miles’s limbs were a little stiff, because he’d done nothing more taxing than watch television for two days straight. He needed some real exercise.
Reyes wandered west, away from the guest trails, and over less trodden fields of grass and scrub trees. Miles eased into Tango’s steady pace, allowing his body to roll with every step. Dirt and horse and grass tickled his nostrils, and he basked in the streaming sunshine, his body and mind relaxing by degrees.
Moving here was the best idea ever. Thank you, Wes.
They headed into a more wooded area, but Miles trusted Reyes to get them both back safely. He didn’t know the man well, but he did trust him. No fear that Reyes was leading him into the wilderness to take advantage of him, or hurt him in any way.
A phantom hand stroked his ass, and Miles pushed those thoughts away. No thinking about Dallas anymore, not out here where it was so breathtakingly gorgeous. He wished he had his nice camera, but resigned himself to snapping a few pictures on his phone. His brand-new phone, with a brand-new number he’d already given to the important people in his life.
“You need a break?” Reyes asked. He reined Hot Coffee to a stop near a narrow creek so she could drink.
“No, I’m fine.” Miles brought Tango up to the same creek.
“It’s just...you looked upset for a moment.”
“Thinking about something I shouldn’t be thinking about right now. It’s too peaceful for bad things.”
“I hear you. When I’m upset or stressed, riding out here is a great way to clear my head. Reminds me of all the beauty in the world, and that this little slice of heaven is all for us.”
Miles snickered. “I may have to pay rent on Tango, because running a kitchen is hella stressful. I’ll be needing some evening walks.”
“Any time you want a friend along, you let me know.”
“I will. Thank you, Reyes. You’re being really cool about having a stranger dropped into your life.”
“You aren’t a stranger, Miles. We don’t know each other well, but I do consider you a friend.”
“Same. The friend thing, I mean.”
Too bad you weren’t around on Wednesday to kick Dallas’s ass for me.
Then again, Miles had done a pretty good job defending himself—even if the whole thing had sent him into hiding. Something he would never admit to anyone out loud, ever.
No one needs to know how big of a coward I am.
“You’re doing it again,” Reyes said. “Thinking bad thoughts. I see it in your eyes.”
“Sorry.”
Their horses were finished drinking, so they headed out again. Miles used the direction of the sun to figure out they were slowly circling back to the ranch. His stomach growled; lunch sounded like a great idea right about now.
He probably should fill the time with getting-to-know-you type questions, but Miles was enjoying the peace too much to speak. Birds chirped, the occasional branch snapped, but mostly they traveled in silence, and Miles soaked it in. He imagined that peace seeping all the way into his bones and chasing away his fears, doubts, and bad memories.
The distant shape of the barn came into view, and Miles sighed. The magic spell was almost over for now. Miles leaned down to pat the side of Tango’s neck. “We’ll be out again soon, lady. Promise.”
When he looked up, Reyes was turning his head sharply away.
Don’t read anything into it. He probably heard a noise or something.
Even if Reyes was interested, Miles was done with men. They just weren’t worth the stress anymore. All he needed was his kitchen up at the ghost town, a warm bed to sleep in, and the occasional horseback ride. Period.
Chapter Four
Lunch with Miles had been so pleasant, Reyes looked forward to showing him around some more, spending more time in his presence. But Miles dumped a bucket of ice water on that idea when he excused himself back to the cabin for a nap.
Disappointed, Reyes spent necessary time mingling with guests during the last few hours of their stay. He hated this part, but so had Mack when he was head cowboy, and it was part of the job. Getting feedback, encouraging families to leave reviews on their website, and to come back next year.
Even though it was early in the season, they’d had fifteen out of twenty beds filled. The ranch was still benefiting from the notoriety it received from the ghost town fire last fall, and the resulting property scandal. And off-season ranch bookings should see another increase once the ghost town opened. They already had June, July, and part of August completely booked.
Reyes and ranch foreman, Judson Marvel, led the buckboard team down the road to deliver guests to their cars and wave goodbye. On the drive back up, Judson said, “Sure does feel strange not having Mack around the ranch.”
“It does.” Reyes missed seeing his friend every day, but found peace knowing he was a phone call—or quick horse ride—away. “But he’s put everything into the ghost town. This is his dream.”
“I know. The boy’s got a good head on his shoulders and his grandfather’s business acumen. From what I’ve seen, he’ll do well.”
“Plus the added benefit of a day player with actual Hollywood credits to his name?”
“Yeah, Wes is likely to drive in some folks. Took a peek at the website last night. Looks good, lots of photos. Got some of the cast members up, too.”
Reyes nodded along. Mack and Wes were going to start rehearsals with the cast on Monday. Their plan was to tell two different stories each day, one during peak lunch hour so the saloon could be robbed by “bandits,” and later in the afternoon a shootout would happen in Main Street. Mack had also brought in a special effects consultant to train them all on how to use squibs and blanks. He was doing this the right way from the get-go, so an accident didn’t result in an injury and send his insurance through the roof.
Miles would get to start working in his new kitchen on Monday, as well, testing out recipes and planning a period-specific menu. Reyes had seen some of the recipes Avery had dug up, and people sure had eaten odd things back in the day.
Then again, they also didn’t have modern refrigeration and mass food production. Everything was locally grown, built, sewn, or sourced. Anything that traveled long-distance was usually canned, pickled, or fermented. Folks coming together helped keep small towns all over the west alive. Just like the modern town of Garrett was coming together to stay alive via the ghost town. Mack was sourcing produce from local farmers, selling locally-made canned goo
ds in the ghost town’s general store alongside souvenirs. Most of the actors and other staff were locals, too, some volunteers and some paid.
Mack had a vision, and Reyes truly hoped his friend achieved it.
Back at the ranch, Miles was still sleeping soundly on his bed, so Reyes retreated to his office in the big barn to prime himself on tomorrow’s new batch of guests and prepare the accommodations list. Grunt work he used to tease Mack about, and now it was Reyes’s job to complete. Plus, the food delivery for next week would arrive in thirty minutes. Now that Judson was entering the order into the online system, they hadn’t had any issues. Arthur had just turned seventy-nine, and while he could get around as easily as ever, his memory was starting to slip more frequently.
A few months ago, Mack, Reyes, Judson, and their guesthouse den mother, Patrice, had all sat down with Arthur about him majorly scaling back his part in the business. He’d grudgingly agreed, and now was free to spend more time doing what he truly loved: working down at the horse rescue.
Reyes worked until suppertime, then headed for the guesthouse to eat. Miles, he noticed, didn’t show up while Reyes was there, so he headed back to their cabin. Miles was still dead asleep, and Reyes stood by his bed for a moment. He lay curled on his right side, facing the room, arms around his pillow. His face was as easy and worry-free as Reyes had ever seen, and he couldn’t help wondering if Miles was sleeping at night. A five-hour nap was a long time for anyone, but especially a young guy like Miles.
Their age difference was another good reason to keep his crush to himself. Eleven years wasn’t a lot for some people, but it was a lot for others. They were part of completely different generations.
Whatever. Miles wasn’t interested and he needed to eat.
Reyes reached out and shook Miles’s shoulder, only to get a fist in the eye for his effort. “Ouch!” He stumbled backward, one hand cupped over his eye.
Miles sat upright in bed, his surprise melting into horror. “Holy shit, I am so fucking sorry. Oh God, you scared the piss out of me.”
“Didn’t mean to scare you.” Reyes dropped his hand and blinked, testing his watering eye. It hadn’t been a hard punch, but he sure felt it. “Figured you might want to get up. It’s five thirty.”
