Wild Trail (Clean Slate Ranch #1)(61)

“Oh shit,” Wes said. His stomach turned over. “The Sunday after, I got an email from the ranch address, but I figured it was some kind of ‘did you enjoy yourself’ survey, and I deleted it without reading it.”

“Well, that explains it,” Mack said softly, his usual gruffness gone. “I figured you’d deleted it because you didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

“I didn’t, because you hurt my feelings. Seriously.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

The waiter arrived with their coffee. Mack dumped sugar in his, but Wes simply stared at the steam rising off his cup, his brain at war with itself. He’d spent weeks thinking Mack was done with him, but he’d reached out to apologize? Wes was tempted to check his email trash folder, to prove to himself Mack had actually apologized in that email, but Mack was here. He hadn’t stormed out of the club the minute he spotted Wes. He was making an effort.

“Tell me why?” Wes asked. “Why’d you act like that on Saturday?”

Why’d you make me feel like I’m not good enough for you?

Mack sighed, long and deep, then leaned his elbows on the table. “To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. I was so busy with paperwork and ranch business all day long, and I spent half that time thinking about you, so it riled me up. I had a head full of steam when it was time to take y’all back to your cars, and I shouldn’t have been so cold to you. I really am sorry. Hell, I was sorry five minutes after I dropped you off. I didn’t want to breach your privacy by calling the number listed in the guest registration. I thought an email would be less intrusive.”

“And easier to delete.” Wes fiddled with his coffee mug, kind of wishing it was another Long Island Iced Tea. “You really wanted to apologize?”

“I really did. I hated that you left thinking you were just a piece of ass I used, and then tossed away like you didn’t matter.”

Wes’s heart turned over hard as Mack hit the nail precisely on the head. “I did feel that way, and I hated you for it. Okay, I didn’t really hate you, but I did think a lot of nasty thoughts about you.”

Mack’s lips twitched. “All thoughts I probably deserved.”

“Some more than others. And I’m not too proud to admit my self-esteem took a big hit. I don’t usually open up to people like that.”

“Guess we should have tried for a more proper talk on Friday night.”

“Probably.” That lack of conversation was on Wes, too. Maybe if they’d talked, these past three weeks wouldn’t have been so miserable.

“I really am sorry, boss,” Mack said.

Boss.

That word hit Wes in the balls. “Apology accepted.”

The basket of cheese fries arrived, and Wes’s mouth watered for the crispy, cheesy goodness in front of him. This was the stuff he rarely ordered in front of Sophie, because all she’d do was complain about the calories. Hand-cut fries with actual, shredded cheddar cheese melted over top, not that fake cheese sauce from a can. He picked a fry that had some browned, crispy cheese on it and popped it into his mouth.

“Mmm, missed these.” Wes ate another one, then realized Mack was staring at him with wide, gleaming eyes. As if watching Wes eat was turning him on.

Interesting.

“So Colt and Sophie planned this, huh?” Wes asked.

“Seems like. He had it in his head today that I needed to get back out chasing tail. I figured on dancing my feelings away. Never imagined I’d find you, writhing around like a live wet dream.”

Wes nearly choked on a fry. “Sophie did the same thing to me. So what now? You’ve apologized. I’ve accepted. Do we eat these fries, and then go our separate ways?”

Mack’s soft flinch gave Wes hope that this wasn’t a final, happier goodbye. “That what you want?”

“No.” He didn’t have to think about his answer. Mack made him feel good in ways no one had in a long damned time, and he didn’t want to lose that again. “You?”

“Would never have sent that email if that’s all I wanted. I know I said it was just vacation fun, but...” Mack shoved a cheesy fry into his mouth, then washed it down with coffee.

When he tried to do it again, Wes grabbed his wrist. The physical contact settled some part of himself that had been running at top speed for weeks. “But?” Wes repeated.

“Letting you go hurt more than I thought it would,” Mack told his coffee, “and it hurt because feelings got involved. I think maybe for both of us.”

“Yeah.” Wes leaned forward, angling his head until Mack finally met his eyes. “The sex was amazing, but it was more than that. For the first time in a long fucking time, I really connected with someone. With you. And I think maybe we’re both so relationship-shy, that we had a hard time admitting it to each other before I left.”

“You’re right.”

Mack has feelings for me. Holy shit.

“So what now?” Wes asked, surprised by the way his voice cracked. “Do we stay friends, or do we try this long-distance dating thing?”

“It’s been five years since I dated anyone. Not sure I remember how.”

The soft, tentative fear in Mack’s voice made Wes squeeze his wrist. Mack turned his hand so they were palm to palm, fingers laced together. The touch felt right. They felt right together.