The Terms of Release (17 page)

“Enjoy your days off.”

“You know it.” He hit the door at warp speed, hopped in his truck, and dialed Sage.

“’lo?” Sage was laughing, and the sound made him smile.

“Hey, babe. I got out a little early. You about ready?”

“I am. I’m watching Rosie try to teach that little dog of hers tricks. Funniest thing you’ll ever see.” Oh, now, how fucking fine was that? Hearing Sage simply enjoy something? He loved the side of Sage that was slowly emerging these days, the laughter and the teasing.

“I’ll swing by my place, then, and change, and then I’m on my way.” He couldn’t wait to get out of town. Win was ready.

“Sounds good to me. I got a bag packed.”

They hung up, and Win headed home, hating that he felt like he had to look everywhere for some of his family who were hunting him. He grabbed his little suitcase, all packed, and his good hat. He might not be a cowboy like Sage, but he was Texan, after all.

He looked around at the mess and shook his head. At some point, he needed to bring Sage over, show him. He hated the idea of his favorite neatnik reacting to his place. Whatever. Sage would either cope or clean and either way, it’d work. He headed out the door, whistling along with the happy tune in his head.

Win tossed his little case in the toolbox, then headed down the road to the Redding ranch. He made it there and groaned as he saw his Uncle Teddy’s truck.

Goddamn it.

Why the hell was Teddy harassing these people? It wasn’t right.

He hopped out of his truck and stormed around the house to where Ellen Redding was reading Ted the riot act. “…get off my land before I shoot you. I’d let this land go to Satan himself first!”

“Ted, what are you doing?” Win knew Ellen could handle herself, but damn it, he wanted his uncle gone.

“Just talking to your new best friends and making them an offer on their land.”

“They’re not interested.” Win slowly, carefully put himself between Ted and Ellen.

“He knows we’re not interested.” Ellen stared Ted down. “I will shoot you if you don’t get off my land.”

“I see where your murdering son gets it from,” Teddy snarled.

“Sage, get me my shotgun.”

Sage sighed. “Mr. Dale, I think it’s time for you to leave.”

“Don’t make me call the state in on this, Ted.” Win wasn’t above using that threat over and over. His uncles didn’t want state troopers messing in their business, not in this tiny corner of East Texas.

“You fucking traitor. I hope the piece of ass is worth it.”

The sound of a shotgun cocking had Win spinning around. Rosie stood there, little baby bump just showing, staring Ted down as Sam leaned against the doorframe. “Get. This is Redding land. It’ll always be Redding land until me and my kids and my grandkids are in the ground.”

“I’d go if I was you, Teddy.” Ellen looked viciously pleased. “My Rosie can turn you from a bull to a steer in one shot.”

Win bit back a grin, trying not to chortle at the color Ted’s skin turned with his rage.
Lord.

The Reddings stood there, staring as Ted backed off, cussing and threatening the whole way. Finally Teddy just got in his truck and left, spitting dirt and gravel out from under his back tires.

God, he loved this family.

Win rubbed the back of his neck. “Would it help if I say I think I’m adopted?” He grinned, hoping it would lighten the mood.

“Oh, honey. I know your momma. Your apple dropped from her tree.” Ellen grinned. “Y’all heading to town? I made y’all some cookies for the drive.”

His smile widened into something real. “Yes, ma’am. And thank you. I’ll call Allworthy to keep an eye out while Sage and I are gone.”

“That’d be a blessing, son.” Ellen kissed Sage’s cheek. “Run get your bag, now, and get on before your daddy finds you more work.”

Sage laughed but nodded and headed off to get his bag.

Win glanced back at Ellen. “Seriously, you call if anything happens. Okay?”

“You know it. We’re not stupid. Or scared.”

“I know. I just worry.” He nodded at Rosie. “You’re a stud.”

“Totally. I’m tired of every asshole in town fucking with us.”

“Rosie!” Sam’s voice was shocked, but the look was approving.

“Good on you.”

Sage came back with his duffel, and Win felt something tighten in his chest at how amazing the man looked. He couldn’t wait to go have some time alone.

“We’ll have our phones. Y’all be good. I’ll bring him back in three days.”

“Have a good time, Son.” Ellen waved at Sage before herding Sam and Rosie back in the house.

“You ready to play, man?”

“Hell, yes.” They slid into his truck, and he squeezed Sage’s hand down beneath the dash. “Sorry about Ted. I pissed him off this morning at the office. He and Jim ambushed me.”

“He comes back once a week to ten days. He’s a prick.”

“Shit, you never told me that.” He frowned, so damned pissed. Win didn’t want to start the weekend that way. “I guess I can see why, but it makes me crazy.”

“I didn’t want to put a thing ’tween you and yours.”

“Shit. Ted and I haven’t been family in a long time.” His uncle hated the whole world. “What are you looking forward to most?”

“Taking a shower with you.”

Well, then. He grinned. “I thought you’d say the Stockyards or Six Flags. I like how you think.”

“I’m looking forward to that too, but that’s the big one.” Sage gave him a little grin, and Win’s body surged a little.

“We can start and end with that.”

“I like that.” Sage chuckled, hand sliding over his thigh. “A lot.”

Oh, ho. Look at his man, being all forward. He hoped to God he didn’t run off the road.

The hand stayed put, mostly, teasing at the seam. Sage wasn’t trying to make him crazy. No, the man was just touching, letting him know that anticipation was a fine thing.

“Thanks for inviting me out.”

“Thanks for coming.” Win meant it. They needed to get out of Sage’s trailer, be real people together.

It seemed like every mile away from things eased the worry from Sage’s face. It was stunning how every time he glanced over, Sage looked younger. Happier.

Lighter.

Christ, how hard was living there on a day-to-day basis? It had to be a little like prison. Sage would say jail was far worse, he knew, but damn.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

“I’m thinking how glad I am we’re getting out of town.” He’d take Sage to the Cattleman’s Steakhouse for supper. They had a room in the old hotel right in the Stockyards.

“God, me too. How much money do I owe you for the hotel?”

He was hoping Sage wouldn’t ask. Hell, the man had hocked his movies and TV for the vet bills. Win knew he was broke-dick. Time to tap dance.

“I’ll let you get the tickets to Six Flags, babe.”

“Is that fair? I want to be fair to you.”

“It’s more than fair.” Sage had that damned cowboy pride, so Win would have to work hard to make Sage understand. “I asked you to come with me. It’s like me paying for a date.”

“One day I’ll have my shit together.”

“I think you’re doing great as it is.”

“Yeah.” Now that didn’t sound convinced.

“Hey.” He curled his fingers around Sage’s where they lay on his leg. “You are. I know it’s hard.”

“Parts of it, yeah. The horses, though? That’s all I ever wanted to do with my life.”

“Yeah? Always wanted to be a cowboy?” Win had wanted to be an astronaut. Maybe a firefighter. Then Indiana Jones.

“Every day of my life. It’s even why I got my degree.”

“You got a degree?” Win had heard of those kinds of programs, but he was woefully undereducated about Sage’s life.

“I have a master’s in accounting.”

Okay, that was unexpected. Sure beat his bachelors in criminal justice. “So, accounting so you could do the books?”

“Yeah. I mean, I can’t work as an accountant or anything, but at least my checkbook is balanced.”

“I should get you to look at mine.” Win did all his banking online. He never overdrew, but he never really knew what he had either.

“Sure. I’m pretty good at it. I ain’t scared of math.”

“Good deal. I have some savings. I might have you look at how much, though, see what I might have to invest.” He knew accountant and investment banker wasn’t the same, but he had to know what he had before he could do anything with it.

“Sure. If nothing else, I can tell you about the tax part.”

“I’ll take you up on it.” He squeezed Sage’s hand. “Though this weekend, I’m feeling spendy.”

“Lord, it’s sure grown up ’round here. I haven’t been this far from the farm in eons.”

“I guess it has, huh?” Win was used to this stretch of road; he never thought about it.

“You must think I’m like a hillbilly or something, to never even drive out to Royse City.” Win hated that hint of shame, of embarrassment.

“No, sir. I think you’ve had a hard row to hoe.” He didn’t want Sage to think he pitied him. He didn’t. He thought Sage was a stud, but Sage’s life made him sad.

“Just been caged a lot. Once you’re in prison, it follows you, they say.”

“I’m sorry, babe.” He didn’t know what else to say.

“It’s okay. It’s not like I didn’t earn the problems.”

“All teenagers do stupid shit.”

“No shit on that, darlin’.” Sage laughed for him, though, and that made him smile.

“You hungry?” They weren’t but a little ways down the road, but he could totally stop in Rockwall and eat at El Chico’s.

“Not yet, no, but I could use a cup of coffee.”

“We’ll grab some Starbucks, then.” Win would get some lemon cake. Or a scone.

“My mom loves Starbucks and their fancy coffees.”

“Does she? So does mine.” He chuckled. “I like the cake.”

“I like the lemon one. Momma brings it to me when she goes.”

“That’s my favorite too.” Win liked cinnamon scones, though, so if there was only one lemon, he’d let Sage have it.

“The chocolate cinnamon one is not as good.”

“Neither is their banana bread.” Of course, what Texas boy didn’t love his momma’s banana bread best?

“Mmm. Banana bread. You like walnuts in yours?” The conversation was easy, lazy, and they pulled into the Starbucks parking lot in Mesquite, near the mall. It was huge, crowded, and they were just two dudes getting coffee.

“I do, but pecans will do in a pinch.”

Sage headed in, humming along with the music playing. Win hung back, admiring the movement of Sage’s ass in those Wranglers.

Tight, lean—
Jesus, Win. Get it together.

He headed inside so Sage wouldn’t wonder what the hell he was doing.

There was an older man standing at the end of the line, scowling at a smartphone. “You boys know anything about this fancy coffee shit? My daughter sent me for her. She’s in labor and wants a flippy-chinaman.”

Sage’s head tilted. “No, sir, but I reckon we can figure it. Adam?”

Win chuckled. “Maybe a Frappuccino? Auto correct can be a bitch.”

Sage read the board. “Does she like vanilla? Can girls in labor have coffee?”

“Shit, son. Girls in labor can have whatever the hell they ask for.”

Sage snorted. “Got it.”

Win cackled. “We’ll have to remember that with your sister.”

“I bet I will. Hell, I remember it now.”

They got the old guy set up with a vanilla bean Frappuccino, and there was just enough lemon cake for all of them.

Sage and Win sat down together and ate, watching each other across the table, the tension of anticipation delicious. Win felt brave as all fuck when he pushed his foot against Sage’s under the table.

Sage looked up at him, eyebrow lifted. “Daring.”

“I know, right? Starbucks is supposed to be equal opportunity.”

Sage snorted into his “just drip coffee, please,” but grinned. The expression was fucking adorable, especially when Sage’s ears went red. It was so easy to be stupid over this cowboy, all the little quirks, the expressions.

Hell, Win was hard in love.

“Holler when you’re ready to go. We want to be through Arlington before rush hour.”

“I’m good. I need to pee.”

“Good deal. I’ll throw the trash away.”

They split up for those few moments, and Win had to admit, he expected someone to attack while Sage was in the head. Starbuck’s only had one-holers, though, and he stood in line for his turn. Never knew what the traffic downtown would be like.

When he got out from doing his business too, Sage was standing outside the coffee shop, talking to an older lady about her bright green-and-pink scarf, the sweet thing blushing and fluttering with pride.

“You ready?” He left off the babe in deference to the old lady.

“I am. You have a good day, ma’am, and best of luck with your surgery tomorrow. I’ll pray for you.”

“Thank you, son.” She tottered off.

“You charmed her.”

“I was just being polite.”

“Nah, you were being you.” He copped a quick feel of that sweet
ass.

Okay, the little deep sound rocked his socks. Win was beginning to like this “get out of town” thing. A lot. Just the freedom to admire.

And he could see the pressure lifting from Sage’s shoulders with every mile. That was worth every penny, every hour spent on the road. He wanted to take Sage away permanently.

The thought startled him.

Did he? Really? Was that even an option? Ever?

He’d gone home to be a cop a long while back, and he thought that was what he wanted to do. Now he knew better. He wanted to be with Sage.

“Come on, Officer! We got the whole Stockyards to explore.”

“Hell, yes. We can even go to hear some music.”

Sage grinned at him, eyes twinkling. “I’ve been known to listen to music.”

“You have? I didn’t know.” The teasing made him so damned happy.

“No?” Sage snorted, belting out a few lines of “Back in Black.”

He laughed and sang along, driving with one eye toward the cops that might be lurking out there on the road. God knew, he didn’t need a ticket. No. This was their fucking vacation, and Win wasn’t going to do a damn thing to fuck it up.

“You okay?” Sage asked, and Win glanced over, realizing he was frowning.