Page 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Declan

I stepped into The Roost to see Katelyn on a stepladder, touching up the last of the trim near the ceiling while Cash did touchups along the edge of the wainscoting.

You could hardly tell vandals had touched the cabin, but the cleanup had set us back three days. And it would have been a lot worse if I’d had to do it on my own.

Between making calls to the police and insurance—three times for the latter— I barely had time to run the B&B, much less board up the broken window, install a new door, replace damaged sheetrock, and repaint.

I bought a new camera and got it installed the first night, though. I checked the video stream so often that Cash asked whether he should feel jealous of the attention I gave it, but if those kids came back, I wanted to know it.

“You got paint on you,” Cash said.

Katelyn craned her neck to look down at her body. “I don’t see any.”

“You don’t?” Cash swiped his paint roller over the back of her knee. “It’s right there.”

“Cash!” she shrieked with a laugh.

Katelyn swung out with her paintbrush, just missing him as he danced away. “I’m going to get you back!”

She scrambled down the ladder and chased him across the room, the two of them laughing like loons.

Good thing the floor was already covered in paint.

I smiled and shook my head. “Seems like this is a good time to call it a day.”

They both froze like a couple of naughty children caught in the act. Cash smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. We were just…”

“Taking a break from working really hard.” I crossed the floor to kiss his cheek, carefully steering clear of the dripping paint roller in his hand. “Thank you.” I looked at Katelyn. “Both of you.”

Cash’s sister looked surprised. “You don’t need to thank me. You let me stay here all week.”

“And it was a pleasure having you,” I said. “You don’t have to paint my walls for that. As long as I own this B&B, you’re welcome here.”

She glanced at Cash uncertainly. “Really?”

I wasn’t sure if she was asking me or him. Cash answered before I could figure out what to say.

“Yeah, Kat. He means it.” Cash smiled at me. “He always means it when he says things like that. He’s pretty great that way.”

She let out a little watery laugh. “I wish I could stay longer.”

“Yeah, it’s a miracle Mom let it go this long,” Cash said with a grimace. “I’ve got three missed calls from her. We’ll have to go home soon.”

Kat wrapped her arms around her stomach, her expression more queasy than awed now. “Yeah. Guess so.”

My heart wrenched—and not just for them. I selfishly couldn’t imagine sleeping in my bed without Cash warming my side. I loved the quiet, intimate talks we shared in the dark. Loved the innocent expression on his face when he was sleeping—one that was definitely never there in the light of day. Loved stroking and caressing his skin, soaking up closeness and cuddles.

Cash’s phone rang. He dragged it out of his pocket.

“Is it her?” Katelyn asked, sounding anxious.

Cash shook his head as he raised the phone to his ear. “Hey, Sawyer. What’s up?” He paused, nodding. “Yeah, we’re packing it in for the day. We’re almost done with the work out at The Roost. We’ll be starting the greenhouse soon, but…”

While he caught Sawyer up on our progress, I drew Katelyn toward the doorway a few feet away. “Are you okay going home? You seem worried.”

She looked surprised by the question. “It doesn’t really matter what I think.”

“I disagree,” I said. “What you want matters. You and Cash both.”

Her expression turned knowing. “Cash doesn’t have to come back with me. He’s an adult. He can move out and be with you.”

“That’s not what this is about.”

She patted my arm. “Thanks for letting me stay as long as you have. I know I’m not your problem.”

I wanted to argue, but Cash joined us then. “Hey, my friends are having a cookout. How about we go celebrate finishing up this paint job? Ash is grilling, so the food will be good.”

Katelyn brightened. “That sounds fun. Maybe Shua will be there again.”

“They probably will,” Cash agreed. “They hang around Sawyer’s place all the time.”

“Cool. I’ll go change!”

Katelyn took off down the hill toward the main house, weaving right to avoid the stacks of supplies that had been delivered for the greenhouse we’d be building over the next couple of weeks. My stomach fluttered. That was one project I never thought I’d see.

It would probably be smarter to finish all the maintenance on the property first. Hell, it would probably be smarter not to build it at all. It was part of Aunt Millie’s dream vision, yes, but hardly necessary to sell the B&B. The new owners might not even want to use it, but…

Once I’d imagined it, I just couldn’t seem to let the idea go. There was plenty of space and it couldn’t hurt property value any, so why not just get it up? It would be fun to stage it for sellers. I could build raised beds, bring in soil, figure out a hydroponics system and which varieties of vegetables I could plant—er, which ones the new owners could plant—for the best results.

“I haven’t seen Kat that happy in a while,” Cash said.

“Yeah. She’s less happy about going home.”

He grimaced. “The feeling is mutual.”

“You don’t have to go. Either of you.”

Cash shook his head. “Declan?—”

I held up a hand. “And before you jump to the conclusion Kat did, no, I’m not just saying that because I’ll miss you here. I’m saying, you’re an adult, and if you take responsibility for Kat, maybe you could both have a better situation.”

Many of those little chats in the dark had filled me in on just how toxic their home life had gotten. Cash knew it was bad, but I wondered if he realized just how bad. After all, sometimes when you were just getting through each day, you didn’t see the bigger picture.

“But you will miss me, won’t you?” Cash teased.

“That’s not the point.”

He tapped my nose playfully. “Say it.”

I sighed, exasperated. “Yes, of course I’ll miss you once you’re gone. Hell, I’ll miss you tonight while you’re out at that cookout too, but you deserve to go have some fun after all this work.”

He squinted. “Why would you miss me? You’re coming too.”

“What? But?—”

“Declan,” he said with a laugh. “You’re my boyfriend, right?”

“Yes…”

“So, any invitation to a cookout at Sawyer’s includes you too. Besides, I haven’t really gotten to show you off to my friends yet. I need to rub it in their faces because I took a lot of crap for the silly crush I had on you.”

I snorted. “So I’m going as arm candy?”

“Basically.” He slapped my ass. “So let’s go get ready.”

We arrived at the LandShark Retreat RV park twenty minutes later, mainly because Kat had taken that long to do her hair and makeup. Apparently, sitting around a bunch of trailers at a campground required full glamor.

When I mentioned it to Cash, he laughed. “I can tell you’ve never been with a woman.”

I scowled. “And you’ve been with so many?” He opened his mouth, and I raised a hand. “Don’t answer that!”

“I haven’t been with that many,” Cash said. “My preference has always been tall, dark, and grumpy.”

He kissed me playfully while Katelyn pretended to gag behind us—and in full view of Cash’s friends, which included Hudson. At least I had one ally in the bunch.

It reminded me of what he’d said to me only a few weeks ago. That I was supposed to date Cash and make Hudson feel less like an old man among them.

It had seemed so impossible when he said it, and yet here we all were.

“The lovebirds are here!” Fisher called from where he sat cozied up on Hudson’s lap in an Adirondack chair.

“You’re one to talk!” Sawyer called from his spot by the grill.

He followed up his words by eating a bite of shrimp from his boyfriend’s fingers with an indecent moan of delight.

“Neither are you,” Poppy said, sticking out her tongue. “I’m all alone on The Love Boat and you’re all making me seasick!”

The woman seated beside her at the picnic table nudged her. “What am I? Chopped liver over here? I don’t have anyone slobbering over me either.”

As we rounded the table to take the empty seats next to Brooks and Skylar, I was surprised to see Poppy’s friend was the baker from Hot Buns.

“Slobbering sounds so romantic though,” Cash teased. “How can you resist?”

Jasmine snorted. “Been there, done that. Now I just want someone who’ll listen to me bitch and moan about my crap day, you know? My brother has no patience for me, and Poppy here has been a great listener and all, but I worry I’ll drive her up the wall.”

Brooks chuckled. “You can’t be any worse than the rest of us. Poppy is kind of our relationship glue.”

“Ironic, huh?” Poppy joked. “I’m the aro ace, and yet I keep these guys in line when they’re being stupid about love.”

Poppy’s ease with speaking about her ace identity surprised me. For too long, I’d treated my asexuality like a dirty secret, a source of guilt and shame that I couldn’t fit in the same as everyone else.

Before Cash, I’d given up on relationships. I hadn’t just given up on love, I’d given up on even trying.

I reached for his hand, lacing our fingers under the table. So much had changed. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to express to him how happy he made me.

Hudson grabbed a couple of beers from the cooler and handed them out. He clinked the neck of his beer bottle against mine. “How are the repairs coming along at the B&B? It’s a shame about the vandalism. I could come by and help on my next day off.”

“We’re nearly done with those repairs,” I said, nudging Cash’s shoulder. “This guy is the hardest worker I’ve ever met.”

Sawyer pretended to be shocked. “Cash? Hard-working? I don’t understand…”

The friends laughed and trash-talked each other, but there was no meanness to it. Skylar jumped in, singing Cash’s praises at the resort. It didn’t surprise me. Cash was dedicated when he cared about something, and despite initial appearances, he cared deeply for his friends.

And for me.

Ash brought over a platter with skewers of shrimp, steak, chicken, and slices of bell pepper, onion, and thick mushrooms. He set a sauce dish beside it.

“Kababs with a homemade teriyaki sauce,” he said. “I hope you enjoy.”

Sawyer went inside and came back with a bowl of salad. “And here’s some rabbit food, which is all I’m allowed to prepare these days.”

“Thank all that’s holy,” Cash cried.

Sawyer smacked the back of his head before dragging another Adirondack chair over close to the table and plopping down into it. He patted his thigh. “C’mon, Ash, sit down and feed me some more.”

“I shouldn’t have to watch this,” Poppy said.

“I’d pay to watch it,” Cash joked.

Katelyn smacked his head as she returned with the neighbor kid, Shua.

“Ow. Why is everyone hitting me?” Cash complained.

“Hello? Your boyfriend is right there. Don’t be that guy.”

“I’m joking!” Cash said, leaning in against my side. “I’ve kissed Sawyer once. I don’t want to kiss him ever again.”

“You better not,” I grumbled, wrapping my arm around his shoulders for good measure.

Hudson laughed. “Wow. Never thought I’d see this moment.”

“That makes two of us,” Cash said, glancing up at me with eyes full of love. “But I’m really glad we finally got there.”

“Me too,” I said softly, dropping a kiss to his forehead.

“Aw, so sweet,” Jasmine murmured. “I hope Abe’s night is going as well as yours is.”

“Where’s Abe?” Skylar asked.

“Out with a very persistent barista.”

Brooks barked a laugh. “I guess Danny didn’t need to pretend to date you after all, Cash.”

“I’m hurt,” Cash said. “What am I, chopped liver over here?”

Jasmine grinned. “I doubt your man would say that.”

“I certainly would not,” I said firmly.

Cash was good at making jokes. Everyone laughed and had a good time. But I knew that sometimes, underlying those jokes were true insecurities. I didn’t want him to ever question how I felt.

“He’s the best thing to ever happen to me,” I said.

Skylar sighed and pressed a hand to his heart. “Damn. I wish my boyfriend was that sweet.”

Brooks huffed. “I say sweet shit all the time.”

“Sawyer is never that sweet,” Ash chimed in.

“If you wanted sweet, you’d have never chosen me.”

Ash laughed. “That’s true.”

“I don’t know why everyone is calling me sweet,” I complained. “I’m just being honest.”

“Well, I think it’s great,” Hudson said. “This will be good for you both.”

“And entertaining for the rest of us,” Fisher put in with a snicker.

“Cash deserves it,” Poppy said. “He’s waited long enough.” She paused, giving me a considering look. “I’m guessing you deserve it too, and have probably waited even longer.”

“You’re not wrong,” I said quietly.

She smiled. “I’m always here if you need someone to listen.”

“And this is why I want to date you,” Jasmine burst out. At Poppy’s horrified look, she added, “As friends, I mean. No romance! No sex! Just…awesomeness.”

Poppy tilted her head. “Huh. That actually sounds kind of cool.”

It seemed as if even an aro ace could find a special someone—even if it was just a really close friend. Somehow, I found that reassuring. My relationship with Cash wasn’t a fluke or a wild stroke of luck.

It was just two people coming together and knowing they were better together than apart.