Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Not Dev. Never Dev.
Cash lifted a finger to his lips before turning away, staring down at his Ultraboosts.
“I look forward to the challenge,” his mother answered, chuckling.
He heard the happy humor in her tone. She wasn’t wrong to laugh at him or the idea of teaching him how to bake. He’d never been any good at baking. It wasn’t in his wheelhouse. It was a true art form.
“Okay, maybe we need to stick with you making it and I’ll eat it,” he teased.
“Now that’s a good deal too.”
“I gotta go. Chaos that I call work just came through the door.”
Dev gave a low-level chuckle and came up behind him, laying a palm on his shoulder. He squeezed reassuringly. Cash’s entire existence tuned in to Dev’s hand. The pad of his thumb glided up and down, the muscle responding to the massage. Hell, his whole body wished to be touched in just that same way.
“I need to go too,” his mother said. “Come home soon, son. We miss you.”
“I miss you too. Tell Dad bye.” Usually their goodbyes lingered, but not today.
It didn’t matter the whys, he refused to risk his parents. Not now. Maybe someday they might meet Dev.
Cash pressed the end call option and lowered his phone, looking back at Dev.
=♥=
Dev rarely understood when he got something so completely wrong but, after hours of alone time, he figured out that he had taken shit too far last night. Cash had been riding the line with his sanity for days. Lack of sleep coupled with a great amount of worry had Cash’s usually rock steady self-confidence slipping.
Another revelation that he was pretty damn proud of was that he had made it all worse by being flippant, which was the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. He was still convinced he’d bought them some time, but he’d hurt the one man who held the weight of the world, meaning Dev’s world, on his shoulders.
Now as he stood there, staring down at the thick head of chestnut hair, a color heavy on the auburn spectrum, he knew they were in one of those pivotal relationship moments when he needed to stand down and let Cash have a win.
Ta-da. A personal growth moment, for sure.
He felt good about his realization. Cash had jumped into his heart in the same way as his mom, Abi, and Mae had. Their happiness and sense of comfort meant more to him than his own.
“Your parents still bein’ into each other after all these years is pretty cool. They’re satisfied with each other, right?”
Cash didn’t respond. He rarely did when Dev spoke of their past, or Cash’s parents, so he didn’t get discouraged.
“They’re safe. I know who they are. I’ll protect ’em,” Dev added. Where he tried for soothing, Cash’s back went ramrod stiff. “When I saved your life as a kid…”
Cash barked out a harsh oomph and pushed off the bench, out from under Dev’s touch. “The gratitude for your efforts when you were a boy have been paid back in full, several times over…” Cash clipped out.
Dev didn’t bite at Cash’s attempt at drawing him into a fight. He did crowd Cash like he was prone to do, especially when he wanted the bullshit between them to end. Cash took a step backward. Dev followed. “You’ve been in here for hours. If you’re tryin’ to freeze me out, it’s workin’. Come upstairs. Hang out with me. The ice is meltin’ but it’s still cold outside. Let’s take the day together, cuddle up to stay warm.”
Cash shook his head and sidestepped Dev. “Impossible. The property owner’s a slum lord. Heard of insulation?”
Dev’s hand caught Cash’s wrist. “They set church for tomorrow mornin’ at ten o’clock. Have you heard? Church is usually called at night to fuck up my evenin’.”
“I’ve heard.” Cash twisted his wrist from Dev’s hold. That didn’t stop him from reaching out, trying to circle an arm around Cash’s waist. The agent dodged that move too.
“Why’re you still makin’ me pay? That’s not like you.”
Cash kept distance between them but didn’t move when he reached a hand out to lay on Cash’s hip. Encouraged, he continued with the plans he’d had when he’d come downstairs. Cash snapped his two fingers in Dev’s face, drawing his attention and a smile at the scolding. “Focus. Is the meeting about the DA?”
“Most likely. Why’re you makin’ me beg? That’s not who you are. I’m sorry…”
“Maybe it needs to be who I am…” Cash shot out, his chest bowing.
Dev laughed at his agent but continued with the apology. “I did what I did to protect you. I can’t let ’em suspect you of anything. You won’t survive. They’ll come at you with a vengeance.”
“Dev, I have the complete power of the United States government at my back. If I go missing, I’ll be found. It’s yo—”