Wild Trail (Clean Slate Ranch #1)(80)

They toured the city some more, before Wes had to get ready for work. He dropped Mack off at his truck, and they kissed long enough that Wes started getting hard—not a good look for him at the restaurant.

“Your permits will come through,” Wes said. “I know it.”

“Thanks. I’ll call as soon as I know something.”

“Okay.”

One more kiss, and Mack was driving away. Wes briefly mourned the end of what had been a pretty perfect day. A day spent exploring, laughing, telling stories and enjoying themselves. Wes had never had a day like this, being out and open with a guy he had feelings for. Being a couple in public, unafraid to touch or hold hands. He wanted this always.

You should have told him about the script, you idiot.

Part of Wes was afraid to. At the start of their flirtation, Mack’s friends had been clear about his aversion to actors, and while Wes knew now it was because of how violently Geoff had died, it was also tied to the fact that Geoff had cheated. Wes needed this thing with Mack too much to risk Mack pulling away in some noble gesture to let Wes spread his wings and make a movie. To rediscover his career.

Hell, he might fuck up the audition, and then the movie would be a completely moot point, so why make an issue of it in the first place? Miles had promised not to say anything, until Wes assured him Mack knew. And that wasn’t happening yet.

The guilt dimmed once he got to work and out onstage, doing what he loved doing most. Channeling his excitement over the audition into his character. Earning a great response from the audience during curtain call. It carried him home to a bed that smelled like Mack. He had to jerk off before he could fall asleep.

Since Monday was Wes’s night off, they texted each other and planned a Skype date for seven o’clock. Wes settled onto his bed with his laptop perched on his knees, stupidly happy and counting down the minutes, even though he’d just seen Mack the day before.

Mack finally called in, and then his face filled Wes’s screen. He seemed tired, but less frustrated than he had on Saturday. “Hey, you,” Wes said. “You get any movement on your permits?”

“Yes, finally.” Mack’s smug grin made Wes’s heart trill. “I went down to the county office and raised holy hell until someone admitted that a form got lost. Everything got straightened up, and it should all be approved tomorrow. Which means we break ground on the new septic system on Thursday.”

Wes whooped. “That’s amazing news. Congrats.”

“Yeah, I’m excited to be doing more than pacing and worrying and staring at plans. I’m finally doing this thing.” Mack cracked his knuckles. “I’m ready to do some real work.”

“I can tell. Man, I’m so happy for you. If I was in your room, I’d give you a celebratory blow job.”

“That sounds amazing right now.”

Wes bit his lower lip and tilted his head to the side a bit. “You know, I can’t actually blow you over Skype, but we could pretend, and both get off.”

Mack’s eyebrows lifted. “You wanna have phone sex?”

“Why not?” Wes rubbed his crotch, his dick already getting into the idea. “Any chance of your roommate—?”

The very subject of Wes’s question made an abrupt entrance to the cabin he shared with Mack. Even over the internet, Wes heard Reyes’s snarled curse and the cabin door bang shut. Mack’s attention went above his computer screen.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Mack asked.

“Ranch shit, don’t worry about it” was Reyes’s snarled response.

Mack flinched. “The hell, man? Maybe I’m not technically an employee, but I live here and I still care about the ranch.”

“Sorry. I’m not mad at you. Shit, you’re busy.” Reyes moved in the periphery of the screen, and another door banged. Bathroom.

“Hey, this can keep,” Wes said to Mack. “Talk to your friend. We’ll catch up another time.”

“Are you sure?” Mack asked, looking down at Wes again. He seemed uncertain, so Wes decided for them.

“I’m positive. Besides, I have to get up super early for work. Crack-of-dawn early.”

“What for?”

“We’re rehearsing a brand-new show that’ll debut on Saturday. New lines, new dance moves, so I need my beauty sleep.”

“You’re already gorgeous, and you know it.”

“True.” Wes laughed. “Anyway, thanks for telling me your good news. You’re gonna rock this restoration.”

“Thanks, boss. Have a good night.”

“You, too.”

Wes signed off, a little mad at himself for being grateful Reyes’s interruption gave him an out. He couldn’t tell Mack about the audition in a text, and Skype was as close to in-person as he’d get for a while. Not tonight, though. The next time they got together, for sure. Tracey still hadn’t gotten back to him about his audition—day, flight times, etc... He needed more concrete information before he presented this to Mack.

And the universe didn’t give Wes any other good chances for the rest of the week. Between getting up super early for rehearsal and still performing at night, Wes was too exhausted after his shifts to stay awake and have any coherent conversations, so he and Mack texted. A lot.

By Saturday evening, Wes was a wrecking ball of nerves over opening the new show. Last night’s final performance had been bittersweet, but they’d run the show for the last two months. Keeping diners in the seats meant new material. The new show was by a local playwright and not a musical, which made Wes sort of sad. But he could sing at home, and the story was killer. Humorous and serious, with great lines for the whole cast.