Chapter Ten

Seth checked his watch for the time again and swallowed his frustrated sigh. He had no one else to blame for his irritation since he was the one who'd volunteered to help and recruited Kerry and Shawna. Where the hell is Cynthia? Seth pulled his cell phone from his pocket and tapped on the phone icon to check the voicemail message she'd left for him the previous evening. Had he gotten the time wrong?

"He acts like he has somewhere else to be," Shawna said.

Kerry snorted. "Community theater rehearsal, where he'll reprise his role as Eeyore."

Shawna laughed and placed her hand on Seth's shoulder. "I always said he was a grade A jackass."

Seth took their ribbing on the chin because he deserved it and because he didn't want to draw their attention to the real reason for his melancholy mood, which stared back at him from his call log. Rueben's number still showed up under his incoming calls, but the length of their conversations had gotten shorter each day since the town hall meeting. The repressed sigh escaped Seth then because he didn't know how to bridge the yawning chasm between them. He forced his attention to the voicemail box and replayed the message Cynthia had left him.

"She definitely said ten o'clock on Saturday," Seth said when the message ended. He stood back and checked the number over the unit's rolling garage door. "And this is the right spot."

"Why do you look so mopey?" Shawna asked Seth. So much for ignoring their remarks and hoping they'd let their observations go. "Oliver swooped in and saved the day by outing your racist opponent." Martindale hadn't officially withdrawn from the race, but his support had all but dried up, according to the latest polling. "I can't believe he's hidden his bigotry well enough to get within a few months of the election."

Kerry cleared his throat dramatically and bumped his shoulder against Seth's. "Martindale never would've gotten this far if your cheap-ass brother would've hired a campaign manager."

"I'm not cheap," Seth countered. "I just hate a dog and pony show."

Kerry ignored him and kept yapping. "Maybe a campaign manager wouldn't have dug as deeply into Martindale's closet as Oliver did, but they would've turned up enough red flags and skeletons to boost your numbers."

Seth bristled at hearing his ex's name, and his entire body must've tensed because Shawna frowned as she removed her hand from his shoulder. He and Rueben had discussed the Oliver situation at length after the town hall meeting. Seth had tried to give Rueben a warning beforehand since he hadn't known if his ex would reveal their secret, but they'd played phone tag. Leaving a message or sending a text hadn't been an option, so Seth had braced for the worst and hoped for the best. Oliver's stunt at the meeting had landed in the "best" column, but his aggressive remarks to Rueben afterward personified the worst part of his ex's personality. Rueben thought it meant Oliver wanted him back, but Seth figured Oliver just didn't want anyone else to have him. Regardless of his motive, the darts struck a bullseye in Rueben's heart, and Seth could not repair the damage or bridge the growing chasm.

"And the Carson guys are back in our county lockup to face the judge on Monday morning," Kerry said.

The hearing was supposed to have happened on Friday, but Judge McCready postponed the hearing due to a sudden illness. That man was more vibrant at sixty-five than most people half his age. Seth smelled a rat and suspected the ploy was a setup to give Lyndhurst a chance to talk to Mick Carson. Otherwise, both detainees would've been moved in and out of their county on the same day instead of Seth housing the assholes for the weekend.

"Tony should try to work out a plea deal this weekend," Kerry added. If only he knew the lengths Tony had gone to for the opportunity to take his shot.

Shawna stood taller and squared her shoulders. "Maybe Cynthia's late because some legal magic is happening."

Seth didn't want to think he'd be the last to know if one of the Carsons agreed to speak to Lyndhurst, but sometimes a situation unfolded quickly, and a person had to take advantage of the opportunities handed to them. He stopped guessing Cynthia's whereabouts and was about to call her when the sound of tires crunching on gravel caught his attention.

Cynthia's white SUV came around the corner of the building a moment later. She waved at them through the windshield and offered a wan smile. She opened the driver's-side door and stepped out with a drink carrier in one hand and a pastry bag in the other. "Sorry I'm late, but at least I have a decent excuse."

Seth's stomach growled in appreciation, and he was ready to place a moratorium on his worries. Kerry threw an elbow and cut him off to get to the pastries first, so the mellowness didn't last. Seth retaliated by hooking his arm around his neck and putting his cousin in a playful headlock. "You might be bigger, but I'm still meaner."

"There goes your reelection bid," Kerry bit out. "I'm going to get the security footage of this and leak it to the press."

The ladies snickered at their antics before digging in and taking first pick of the donuts. Shawna got a wicked gleam in her eyes when she bit into a lemon custard donut, which was Kerry's favorite. Their cousin slung teasing insults and wrestled free of Seth's hold. The scuffle had messed up Kerry's hair and somehow made him more good-looking.

"Morning, Cyn." Kerry kissed her cheek before reaching into the pastry bag.

"Morning, Ker Bear."

Seth skipped the pastries and went for the coffee, taking the cup with his name on it. He sighed after the first sip because the café had doctored it to perfection. There were pros and cons to small-town living, with people always knowing about your business. The local establishments knowing your drink and food preferences was a big plus in his book. "Nectar of the gods," he said after his second drink. "The world always looks a little more hopeful with a good cup of coffee. Thanks, Cyn."

"Are you kidding me? This is the least I can do to thank you. I appreciate you all so much." Her voice cracked a little, and she sniffled.

Kerry's eyes widened in panic at the thought of Cynthia bursting into tears. Sometimes the largest guys were the biggest softies. Seth took pity on his cousin and ceded the reins on the conversation.

"We're glad to help, but we should probably get a move on. It's supposed to start raining in a few hours and not let up until tomorrow night."

"Severe storms could keep all of us busy," Shawna said. "Between the saturated ground and high winds, the potential for downed trees and power lines is significant, not to mention the accidents on rain-slick roads."

"You're absolutely right, which means all three of you better reserve some energy," Cynthia said. "Let's just get the bigger pieces for now, and I can come back and get the smaller boxes later. I can pack a lot in my SUV, so it might only take a few trips to clear the storage unit completely. I can do that after work this week."

Seth felt less optimistic for Cynthia once she rolled the door up to reveal her contents. She'd crammed the unit full, and there didn't seem to be rhyme or reason for where she placed things. It seemed haphazard and very un-Cyn-like. He was surprised boxes hadn't fallen on top of her when she lifted the door.

"Whoa," Shawna said.

Cynthia winced and offered an apologetic smile. "I haven't quite reached hoarder level yet, but I often take things off people's hands that are destined for the landfill." Her voice wobbled again, and Seth placed a calming hand between her shoulders.

"Nothing to do but dive in." Seth scanned the boxes and noticed she'd taken time to label each one. "This might not be as bad as you think."

"Fucking Pollyanna," Kerry grumbled under his breath.

The foursome worked together to sort and tunnel their way to the bigger pieces of furniture, then loaded them onto the three pickup trucks and secured the cargo safely in the beds. Cynthia offered her house key to Seth so they could get a head start on unloading, but Seth pointed out that there was a lot of space left inside the three pickup cabs.

"Makes no sense not to grab everything we can," he said, ignoring Kerry's glower.

It seemed Seth wasn't the only gloomy one among the crowd that morning. Shawna seconded Seth's suggestion, forcing Kerry to agree or look like a dick. Cynthia had been Natalie's best friend, and Kerry had always reserved one of his few soft spots for her. The bright morning sunshine disappeared under thick cloud cover, casting the rented unit in shadow. The breeze picked up, stirring leaves and dust into a miniature cyclone.

Kerry glanced at the sky before scanning the cramped space. "I think we're only going to get one trip before the skies open up."

"Oh darn," Cynthia said. "I'd hoped to clean out half of this by myself today. Oh well. Guess I'll focus on unpacking whatever we move on this trip. Grab anything marked for the kitchen and bathroom. I've got the essentials everywhere else."

It didn't take them long to stuff the interiors of the four vehicles. Seth had just grabbed the pull rope to close the rolling door when his gaze landed on a box marked as high school stuff. The top of a trophy stuck up through the untucked flaps. "Do you have room for one more, Cyn?" Seth called over his shoulder.

She joined him at the front of the unit and followed the direction he pointed. The crestfallen expression on her face made him want to kick himself. She'd already told him how sad she'd been since Natalie's remembrance celebration, and he pointed out a box of souvenirs most likely filled with memories of her best friend. Any trophy Cyn had she'd earned alongside Nat because she'd given up all her beloved sports after that fateful summer day. And Seth suggested she take that box of bittersweet memories into the home she viewed as a fresh start after a painful breakup. Way to go, idiot.

"I think I'll tackle those ghosts another day," Cynthia said.

Seth wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be insensitive." He'd only told his immediate family about the CBI's cold case unit taking a look at Natalie's case. He figured the news might make her feel a little better and shared it with her.

Cynthia's eyes widened and welled with tears. Then, she ducked her head against Seth's chest. "You're the best, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise."

She would sing a different tune if she found out about his relationship with Rueben. When, not if. There was no way in hell they'd keep this a secret. For one thing, Oliver knew the truth, and their past relationship wouldn't prevent him from going public with a story once he corroborated his suspicions. Seth wasn't foolish enough to believe Amos Martindale was going to disappear without a fight either. The guy had plenty of money and time to disrupt Seth's life, so being with Rueben should've been the last thing on his mind, yet Seth called him as soon as he was alone in his truck.

Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.

Rueben answered on the second ring. "Hello, sexy."

Seth didn't realize how wound up he'd become until the warm voice nearly melted him into a puddle of goo on the seat. "I miss you so fucking much."

A soft chuckle stirred butterflies in Seth's stomach. "I just talked to you a few hours ago. Did you forget?"

Rueben had coaxed him through an orgasm by describing the vivid dream he'd had about them fucking in the claw-foot tub at the cabin. Seth would remember that long after he died. The physical part of their conversations hadn't changed; it was the emotional ties that had frayed over the past few days. "Of course not," Seth said. "I need more, baby. I want to hold you." He wanted to look into those mesmerizing brown eyes when Rueben lied and said everything was okay.

Rueben sighed wistfully. "You know it's not a good idea."

"I don't care. We're destined to get discovered, so we might as well make the best of it." Seth swallowed hard. "There are things I need to say to you, and I don't want to do it over the phone." But he would if it came down to it. If Rueben wanted to end things, Seth at least wanted him to know just how real his feelings were. "Maybe waiting for the perfect moment is stupid. We both know how fleeting life can be. Baby, I lo—"

"Don't you dare, Seth Jamison Burke."

"Wow." Seth couldn't help but smile at the scolding. "Middle name and all."

"You'll look me in the eye and say it to my face, or you won't say it at all." Rueben inhaled deep and slow. "What time?"

"Hmmm?"

Rueben chuckled. "What time do we meet at our special place?"

"I'm free as soon as we unload the boxes and furniture at Cynthia's house, but you have poker and—"

"You're more important than a card game." They both knew poker nights on the ranch were more significant than that. "I have some supplies to grab, and I'll meet you there in a few hours."

Seth's spirit soared for the first time since Rueben left his cabin on Wednesday afternoon. "Supplies?"

"Food staples and some other things." Rueben's voice thickened on the last part and piqued Seth's curiosity. "Don't worry. I'll be discreet."

"Does that mean you plan to stay for a while?"

"If you'll have me."

"Oh, the ways I will have you." Seth's mind had definitely veered away from the task he'd agreed to, and he passed up Cynthia's new place when the other vehicles pulled into the driveway or parked on the road in front of the house. Luckily, he realized his mistake quick enough to recover without making a fool of himself. He stopped, cranked the wheel, and backed into the driveway like he'd meant to do that all along. "We arrived at Cynthia's. I'll see you soon, baby."

"Seth." His name was a seductive, silky whisper on Rueben's tongue. "I lo—" Then the little shit disconnected before he finished.

Laughter erupted from Seth in short bursts as he stared at his phone in disbelief. Then he noticed a trio of curious faces watching him from Cynthia's front yard. Kerry pointed to the sky, then circled his hand in a hurry-up gesture. Knowing he would see Rueben soon was the fuel Seth's engine needed, and the swift mood change did not go unnoticed.

Kerry gave him one of his patented pirate smiles. "Do you suddenly have someplace to be?"

Of course he'd bring it up. Luckily, Kerry said it away from the ladies. Seth didn't want Cynthia to get caught up in his web of lies and deceit, and Shawna would push until Seth told her something to pacify her curiosity. It was better to avoid the conversation altogether, so Seth gave the sofa they were hauling a little nudge. Kerry, who was walking backward, took two quick steps to adjust to the pace. He narrowed his eyes but shut his mouth, and Seth chalked that up as a win-win outcome.

A cell phone rang outside, and Cynthia answered the call. A few moments later, Seth heard footsteps approaching quickly. "Hey, Seth," Cynthia said breathlessly. His phone rang before he could acknowledge her. "That's going to be Tony calling you with an update. You definitely want to take it."

Seth didn't drop the sofa on Kerry when his phone rang, but it was pretty close. His heart pounded frantically, and he took a deep breath to settle his nerves as he reached for his phone. "Sheriff Burke." His authoritative tone made Kerry snort and Cynthia waggle her brows.

"Seth, it's Tony. I have great news."

Heart beating triple time, Seth said, "I'm all ears."

"I just got a call from Mick Carson's attorney. His client wants to talk, and we're going to meet at six. I texted Cynthia to put her on standby, and she told me you were helping her move. That's mighty nice of you."

Seth wanted to skip the pleasantries, but Tony's news was a weighted blanket for his soul. It sounded like the nightmare was going to be over much quicker than he'd feared. He couldn't go public with dating Rueben right away, but a plea bargain would take weeks or months to hammer out, not years. "Cynthia is a dear family friend," Seth replied. "Not to be too impatient, Tony, but why do you have to wait so long to meet with Mick? It's barely noon, and a lot can happen in six hours." Mick could change his mind dozens of times. Striking while the iron was hot couldn't be more apropos in their current situation.

"I hear ya," Tony said. "Trust me. I'm just as eager as you are to wrap this up." Not likely. "Mick's attorney is attending a wedding and can't get back here before six. We've come this far, so we just need to have faith that things are moving in our favor now."

Seth wished he could get behind that logic, but his family had experienced the fallacy of hopeful thinking when Natalie disappeared. They'd put their faith in the wrong people time and time again, and they'd always ask if her outcome would've been different if the sheriff's department had taken their missing person complaint more seriously from the jump. "I'll do my best to follow your lead. Do you need or want me on-site?" Seth was conflicted about being there since he should keep his hands as far away from future dealings as possible, but it would've looked odd if he hadn't offered.

"It's unnecessary for you to be here, Seth. It's just going to be Mick, his attorney, and myself. I'll keep you posted as soon as I cross all the t's and dot all the i's."

"I appreciate it, Tony. I'm sending good vibes your way." He'd likely be balls deep inside Rueben, but he'd spare some positive energy for the deal that could secure their future faster. The real dilemma was whether he should share this news with his love. "Keep me posted, and let me know if there's anything my department can do to assist."

"Will do."

Seth disconnected the call and returned the phone to his pocket. He leaned down and hoisted his end of the sofa back up.

Kerry watched him with an inscrutable expression as he heaved the sofa up too. "Well?"

"You know I can't discuss this with you." He could be a professional sometimes, though Kerry's smirk called bullshit. "I'll share the news with you as soon as it becomes official." Even though Mick could retract the bargain at any time leading up to a judge signing off on it. Seth imagined Tony would take full advantage of the hearing date on Monday to push the plea deal with McCready. Seth had to remind himself that a plea bargain with Mick was just the first step. They'd need to hope Quinton felt the pressure and folded. Seth didn't let himself wander too far down that path, or he'd only feel dejected again. He'd celebrate each victory as they occurred and hoped this evening would be the first of many.

They helped Cynthia unload all the boxes from the vehicles and set up her bed before heading out. Seth hugged his sister and bumped Kerry's fist before getting into his truck. His phone call with Rueben was brief because he'd wrapped up his errands and was on his way. The overcast sky had turned downright ominous by the time Seth pulled up to the cabin, and he refused to take that as a sign. Rueben arrived right after him, and his smile was like Seth's personal sunshine. Even knowing they were nearly caught a few days prior, Seth kissed Rueben's smiling lips in the driveway. He'd needed the reassurance that they were okay more than he wanted privacy. Seth settled his forehead against Rueben's and sighed.

"I love you," they said at the same time.

Rueben pulled back and smiled. "This will be one to tell the grandkids someday."

Seth's heart leaped at the idea of children and grandchildren, but not from fear. Rueben had assured him many times that he was "the keeper," and somewhere along the way, Seth realized it was true. Rueben's ego didn't need further inflation, so he kept that little tidbit to himself.

"We'll have at least two daughters." Rueben stepped back, opened the passenger side of his pickup, and removed canvas totes and an overnight bag from the front seat. "We'll name them after the ladies we loved and lost. Lili Rose and Natalie."

Seth could actually envision the portrait Rueben painted with his words. There'd be weekends in this very cabin with little girls they loved and spoiled so much. The image was so vivid that it snatched the air from Seth's lungs, and he staggered back a step.

"Too much too soon?" Rueben's alarmed voice matched his panicked expression.

Emotions still choked his airway, so Seth could only shake his head.

Rueben's handsome face relaxed, and arrogance replaced concern. "Good thing because you're not getting any younger." He turned and headed to the cabin without a backward glance.

The verbal jab landed in Seth's gut, and the trapped air whooshed from his lungs. "You little shit," he growled as he pursued his prey.

Rueben picked up speed and dashed onto the porch. Seth snagged Rueben around the waist and pulled him flush against his chest while he went to work, unlocking the front door with a shaky hand. Rueben's warmth seeped into Seth's body, and his sun-drenched linen scent tickled Seth's nose. God, this intimacy was what he'd been missing the past few days. He turned the handle and opened the door, but neither of them moved. Rueben was just as starved for their connection as Seth was, and maybe it was something else. It would be the first time they entered their private space with the depth of their emotions exposed, making themselves fully vulnerable to one another. Saying it once suddenly wasn't enough.

Seth pressed his mouth to Rueben's ear. "I told you I love you, and now I'm going to show you."