Wild Trail (Clean Slate Ranch #1)(98)

Wes pulled him inside the saloon. The floors were shiny and sturdy, with only the interior walls left to complete. Open windows gave them both plenty of light, even with the lowering sun.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Wes said, his eyes shiny with tears.

“Yes, I did. I needed you to know that no matter what, part of this town is yours. You found it. Wherever you might travel in the future, home is right here waiting for you.”

Wes threw his arms around Mack’s shoulders. Mack pulled him in tight. Wes hadn’t gotten the second lead in the zombie movie, but he’d been offered a smaller, more comedic role, plus a grisly death-by-zombie. He was thrilled at the chance and the makeup effects involved in his guts being eaten. It was a three-week shoot, and Wes flew out tomorrow, hence the early wedding and barbecue. Arthur had insisted on a small going-away celebration, and having Wes’s family around made the entire thing ten times more special.

And for Arthur, small meant huge. All of the ranch hands were invited, and Miles had even driven out for it. Wes’s first movie role was a major deal for all of them. He’d re-signed with his old agent, and he already had—thanks to the magic of technology—three Skype auditions lined up while he was away.

“I’ve been thinking,” Mack said. “When you aren’t in LA or elsewhere for work, I want you close to me. In my bed, in my life, not all the way out in San Francisco.”

Wes pulled back, his lips forming a small O of surprise. “Yeah?”

“And I’ve talked this over with Arthur, too. You see, there’s this nice patch of land west of the road to this site, tucked out a bit, so it’d be private. He agreed to let me build a house there, so I can move out of the bunkhouse, seeing as I don’t work at the ranch anymore.”

“You’re building a house? That’s incredible. We can have sex without worrying about Reyes or Miles interrupting us.”

Mack’s insides quaked with the weight of his next question. “Wes, I want you to help me build it. The layout and design and stuff. I want it to be our house when it’s finished.”

Wes’s mouth dropped open and his eyebrows shot up. “Seriously?”

“Dead serious. You’re home for me, and I want to be home for you, too. I want us to build a physical home to come back to and share our lives at the end of the day. Or the end of the movie shoot.”

“Yes.”

“Yeah?”

“Fuck yes. Holy shit!” Wes slammed his mouth over Mack’s, tongue licking inside, arms tightening around Mack’s neck.

They kissed hard and for a long time, until Mack’s jeans were too tight, and Arthur was yelling at them that it was time to go eat. Mack reluctantly pulled back, then pressed his forehead to Wes’s. So many things were bouncing around inside of him, but the strongest of all was love. Love and joy and excitement for the future.

“I can’t believe it,” Wes said. “I went on vacation and came home with a lover and a new home.”

Mack laughed. “Sounds like the stuff of fairy tales.”

“Or a cheesy romantic comedy.”

“I don’t think romantic comedies typically have gunfights in them.”

“Good point.”

Arthur yelled again.

“Ready to go eat some amazing food, and say goodbye to folks?” Mack asked.

“No.” Wes pressed a soft kiss to Mack’s lips, then his beard. “Even when we have to go our separate ways, from now on, it isn’t goodbye. It’s ‘until next time.’ Because, daddy, now that you asked me to move in with you, you’re stuck with me. No goodbyes ever again.”

“Until next time.” Mack curled his fingers through Wes’s and squeezed tight. “Yeah. I think I love the sound of that.”

“Tell me again.”

“I love you, boss.”

Wes’s eyes gleamed with joy as he kissed the top of their joined knuckles. “I love you, too.”

Still holding hands, they walked out onto the porch, toward the truck Arthur had idling nearby to take them back to the ranch. Wes climbed into the passenger side first. Mack slid in after him, then took his hand again. Eager to get started on this new chapter of their lives together.

“You know, I just thought of something,” Wes said as the truck ambled down the dirt path.

“What’s that?” Mack asked.

“I bet you and I are the first couple in history to have towns named after them less than ten miles apart.”

Arthur belted out laughter at that one.

“I bet we are,” Mack replied. “Guess that means we’re stuck with each other.”

“For better or worse.”

“For richer or poorer.”

“Jesus,” Arthur said, “are you two over there marrying yourselves?”

Wes giggle-snorted. “Just making promises.”

Promises Mack very much intended to make good on. They weren’t ready for marriage yet. They’d only been together four months—not counting the few weeks they hadn’t spoken—and they had a lot of things to still figure out. But one thing Mack knew for certain was that he loved Wes and wanted to build a life with him.

First, they’d build themselves a house. After that...well, they’d figure the rest out together.