Page 101

Heath released another long sigh. “Look, as you know, I’ve been through one ugly divorce already. Cara suffered through a rough relationship. While you’ve only skated along, plugging your dick into available holes here and there. You never locked yourself down in a serious relationship before and now you propose this. That means you consider our relationship serious and more than sex. Am I right?”

“You don’t?”

Heath tilted his head and studied his sheet-covered lap for a second. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t continue to do that drive if I didn’t.”

“Then, there you go.”

Heath huffed. “No, Dayne, you’re avoiding the real reason.”

Being called out was irritating. “If you think you know what that real reason is, then say it.”

“Why can’t you?”

Dayne dropped his head and rubbed his forehead. When he lifted it again, he whispered, “Because I’ve never felt anything like this before and I’m not sure what this is.”

“Break it down, then. You don’t need us for companionship or sex since”—he swept out a hand—“you have a resort full of people here who can provide that for you. You don’t need me or Cara?—”

“I do need you!” Dayne groaned at his own outburst.For fuck’s sake.

Heath grabbed his hand and interlocked their fingers. “You’re getting closer.”

“Closer to what?”

“To the true reason.”

“If you know it, just say it!” Dayne tried to pull his hand free but Heath held on even tighter.

“Fine. I’ll admit how I feel since you can’t. The drive is worth it for me since I’ve fallen in love with you. With Cara. I don’t want to be with anyone else. I don’t want to wake up and not have you two next to me. But thisisa big step and I want to make sure all of us are ready for it—especially you—because I never want to go through what I did during my divorce again.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t.”

“Dayne, you look like you’re about to puke.”

His stomachwaskind of churning.

“Do youreallywant this? You want both of us to move onto the ranch? Not only onto the property but move inwithyou? I need you to be sure before I’ll even consider it.”

“Yes,” Dayne answered. “The weekends aren’t enough for me, either. When you two aren’t here, I struggle to concentrate on work. I think about you constantly. It’s never been like that for me. Never.”

Heath held his gaze when he asked, “Do you miss one of us more than the other?”

“No. I don’t feel complete unless I’m with both of you.”

Heath blew out a breath and shook his head.

“Why are you doing that?”

When Heath didn’t answer right away, Dayne counted his heartbeats as he waited.

Heath finally admitted, “Like you, I wasn’t looking for anything serious.” He tossed his head back and ground his hand against the back of his neck. When he met Dayne’s eyes again, he finished with, “But I guess it found me.”

“That’s how I see it, too. But I’m seeing this resort differently now. Just because we’d be exclusive doesn’t mean our sex lives would become stale and boring. As long as we all agree, more guests could continue to join us. We could still use the playrooms. Instead of this place only being my personal playground, it would become one for all of us.”

“Our relationship would be a democracy.”

“Of course.”

“If I say yes, I want to be clear: I’ll keep my place in Hoboken and rent it out. I’m not sure I’m ready to give it up yet. Especially if we don’t know if Cara wants to live here, too.”