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18 Lucas Takes What He Can Get

July 20th

It was a perfect lazy morning. I was curled up on Darren's luxurious couch, using my day off to putter away on Photoshop while my boyfriend did boring lawyer work beside me.

I checked my phone for the tenth time since breakfast. No word yet from Mothman with regards to whether I would ever receive visual proof of his existence.

At least some things were going well—the End is Neigh website looked stunning, thanks to Skyler having an absurdly charismatic face and an even more charismatic way with our horse babies. It was such a relief to edit photos of someone else, someone with strong features and clear skin and an objectively lean torso. I didn't have to use any of my usual filters to bring out Skyler's shine.

I'd finished adding a picture of Skyler communing with Grandpa Milkshake to the site banner when Darren's hair tickled my neck.

"Who's that?" he asked.

I took a moment to boop his forehead with my own before angling my computer screen toward him eagerly. "Didn't those photos turn out great? I actually just splurged on a 200-mm lens and you can really tell the difference in quality, especially if you scroll down to this one here, see—"

"Lucas." Darren's voice was even but oddly clipped. "Who is the guy?"

"Oh!" I'd forgotten that Skyler's name wasn't listed on the website—sure, his face was on the internet, but we still valued privacy when it came to the personal information of our workers. "That's Skyler Evans; we hired him on to help out at the ranch. My mom's been wanting updated photos for the website, and I had to explain to her again that I wasn't going to pose for any myself—"

"Because you're insecure in front of a camera, I know," Darren said. Something stiffened in the shoulder I was leaning against. "So you've been taking pictures of this guy instead?"

He was getting jealous again—I took a breath, contemplating what response would stop whatever fight Darren was working up to. "Well, yeah, he's saved my ass. And the kid's got a photogenic vibe, doesn't he? Look at that profile—" I clicked through the gallery. "And it worked out, because our other ranch hands aren't comfortable in front of a camera, but Skyler's got such a childlike innocence about him..." Any interaction with Skyler Evans inevitably tugged at my heartstrings—he was a total sweetheart. "I don't know the whole story, I don't think he likes to talk about it, but I know he's going through a rough time, and he doesn't have any friends or family in town, and he's starting college and needed a helping hand ..."

"And you couldn't say no," Darren jumped in, avoiding my eyes. "That's generous of you." He didn't wait for me to respond before he got off the couch, grabbed his computer, and padded instead to the kitchen island.

I sighed. He needed some time to pout, but he'd get over whatever silly thing he'd got into his head; he always did.

"I want to visit the ranch." He'd set himself up at the counter to work, but now he was staring at me.

I couldn't hide my surprise. "You want to come see the horses?" Darren had never taken much interest in The End is Neigh—he didn't know all that much about horses or photography unless I foisted information upon him. "I thought you were super busy with work."

Darren pressed his lips together before returning his attention to his laptop. "I want to see what you do all day."

"Okay," I agreed, walking to the kitchen to place a kiss on the top of his head, "but it has to be Nice Darren, not Bitchy Darren. We can't spook the horses."

Or the sweet young people who worked there.

Once he had deemed his case notes as done as they could be for now, we headed to the ranch. It was more bizarre than I'd originally expected, having my be-suited lawyer boyfriend strolling through a senior horse sanctuary, nose delicately wrinkling at the smell of horse and outdoors-ness, complaining under his breath that his Italian loafers were probably ruined. Which was fair, considering that the only bit of outdoors that Darren usually subjected himself to was the quarterly brunch his firm hosted at the local country club.

But his gaze was attentive as he scanned every inch of the grounds we strolled through, staying quiet and allowing me to ramble as I led us on a full tour. Until his eyes locked on something that stopped him in his tracks.

Skyler was out in the pasture, holding Major Banana's lead rope as he slowly and carefully guided the old horse to step backward in the way I'd showed him, working those joints and muscles to keep the old fellow as limber as was reasonable for a horse his age. The mama-bird feelings came rushing back in—he was such a fast learner, a hard worker, and always eager to please. I hoped that whatever was going on with his parents back in Washington that they were proud of him.

"Okay, come on, you gotta meet this kid," I said, tugging at Darren's arm and dragging him over to Skyler. "Behave yourself."

Skyler saw us approaching and led Major Bananas to a gentle stand-still, giving us a little wave. "Hey, I thought you had the day off! I forget how long he needs to be on a walk? We've done twenty minutes, but I didn't know if we should go for thirty," he said, shyly gesturing to Major Bananas, who seemed content to be standing still now.

"What you've done is perfect. He just needs to get out and stretch for a bit so his muscles don't atrophy," I assured him. I looked up at Darren, who hadn't glanced away from Skyler since we'd walked over. "And now, why I came in today—Skyler, this is my boyfriend Darren McKinley, who you're finally meeting and who definitely exists and who wanted to come hang out with us and the horses today."

Skyler, as warm and polite as ever, held out his hand to Darren. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. McKinley."

Darren's left arm snaked around my waist before he shook Skyler's hand. "Charmed. So glad Lucas was able to help you out."

Skyler pulled his lips together and nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, I'm really grateful Lucas and Cheyenne decided to become my fairy godbosses." He blinked at me with those wide blue puppy eyes. "I hope your mom also knows how much I appreciate it."

"Oh my god, of course. She talks about you all the time; you're practically her second son." I patted Darren's hand that still gripped my waist. "Skyler's been so good with the horses and the kids. The kids love him—"

Darren was still only addressing Skyler. "Yeah, Lucas has always been one to pick up strays. Obviously." He used his free arm to gesture to the ranch at large. "This place is all about charity."

His tone was calm and polite, but the words pricked my skin as they hung in the air. "Darren—" Embarrassment warmed my cheeks as I looked back at Skyler, who had gone rigid and quiet. Clearly whatever imaginary beef Darren had been cultivating hadn't run its course yet. But I'd assumed whatever it was he'd have it out with me—not a kid. "I'm so sorry, he didn't mean it like that—"

"Oh, no, I meant no offense," Darren said, though there was still ice in his eyes, which were fixed on Skyler. "I simply wanted to make sure he understands how nonprofits work before he goes on to join the real world. You'd think someone as affluent and influential as Cheyenne Barclay would find a way to turn this place profitable, but I get it. I know that's not what it's about." He brushed his finger across my cheek. "My Lucas has always been soft."

My breath caught, something raw ripping through my throat. "We should go," I managed, glancing apologetically back at Skyler. "I'm sorry, I'll see you later."

He nodded, his eyebrows furrowed in concern as he stared at me, then at Darren, and back again. "Okay. Um. Nice meeting you, Darren."

Darren didn't respond, turning the both of us around and leading us out to where I'd parked my car. We were quiet on the drive back to Darren's house, right up until we made our way inside.

"What was that about?" I asked the moment we stepped through the door. "He's a kid; why were you talking to him like that?"

Darren shrugged nonchalantly, removing his crusty shoes and leaving them in the doorway. "I wanted to make sure he knew where he stood."

"Where he stood where? At the ranch, where he works? Because I hired him?" I crossed my arms over my chest. My face had scrunched into a pout without my consent. "What about you? Why'd you decide to come by now all of a sudden? You're not jealous of a teenager, are you?"

"What if I am?" Something had sparked in Darren's eyes, filling them with a blistering heat that stole the air from my lungs. He stepped closer, tension rolling off him in waves as his hands clasped on either side of my waist. "What would you have to say about that?"

There was plenty to say—the thought that I'd be tempted to cheat on Darren with a teenager was not only massively wrong, it was also a little insulting. We'd have to talk about it, but right now the sinful curl of his lip was distracting.

My arms immediately uncrossed and, like a Pavlovian response, I gripped his shoulders. "I'd say you're being very silly," I said, my breath shaky. "You don't need to worry about him, I promise."

And then his lips were at my ear, a slight growl sending excited shivers down my back. "Prove it."

We stumbled to his bedroom, mouths bruising, clothes flying. I wanted to reassure him, make sure he knew he didn't need to feel threatened, but every time I reached for him, he moved my hands away.

"Please," I breathed, daring to arch up from my usual position on the mattress, "I can take care of you—"

Darren's palm, burning hot, pressed my chest back down, playfully but firmly. "Let's not mess with a good thing. I got it." Then he turned off the lights.

Of course—why would this time be any different? I tried not to think too hard, just relished what he was willing to give me. And took what I could get.

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