His Fresh Start Cowboy (Woods Ranch) by A.M. Arthur

Author:A.M. Arthur [Arthur, A.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2022-01-24T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Hugo had the day off Sunday, the day after his confusing encounter with Brand in the hayloft, and he was glad for it. He absolutely needed space from Brand to think about both his physical actions, and also his words after having sex.

“I needed to do something.”

“You’re my employee.”

Those two small statements had hurt more than Hugo wanted to admit, which was why he’d fled the hayloft as fast as possible. Fled from the truth that Brand’s first priority would always be the ranch. Fled before Hugo’s heart got any more invested in the man who’d made his body sing, and then who’d broken his heart in only a few brief sentences. Fled from the man who never answered Hugo’s very simple question to Brand’s statement that Hugo was important to him: Why?

Instead of saying anything, Brand had kissed him. Kissed him, seduced him, and then basically called Hugo an employee he was helping through a bad day, the asshole. As amazing as the sex had been, the ending left a bad taste in Hugo’s mouth and a sliver of pain wedged in his heart.

He spent most of his day in bed, watching random shit on his phone. Elmer knocked once and invited him inside for a puzzle and supper, but Hugo turned him down, citing a headache, and Elmer accepted that excuse. He hated lying to Elmer about anything, because the man had only ever been generous and kind, but Hugo wanted to wallow.

Rem texted him that night with great news all around: the ranch had gotten a blue ribbon for their organic cattle, Rose placed second in the chili cook-off, and her peach pie took the blue ribbon. Rem also mentioned the Grove Point CSA got a few blue ribbons for their produce, but Hugo didn’t care about that. Good for the farmers, but fuck Frank and his spawn. Fuck his mother, too, to be honest. She’d made her choice.

Monday was all kinds of awkward when Hugo reported to work. He, Jackson, Rem, and Brand were all on the schedule, and their quartet had a quick meeting first thing. Brand kept tossing Hugo significant looks that irritated the shit out of him, Jackson’s expression was way too neutral, and Rem was completely oblivious to the strange vibes bouncing back and forth.

Lucky him.

Fortunately, Hugo and Brand had separate assignments that day, so Hugo could avoid the man. Great sex did not make up for the embarrassment that it had all been to make Hugo feel better—make a fucking employee feel better—and not because Brand had the same strong feelings for Hugo that Hugo had for him. Having sex with his boss, ten-year crush aside, had been a stupid thing to do. Even if the sex had made Hugo feel wanted and safe—truly wanted and safe—for the first time in his entire adult life. The way Brand had looked him in the eye, kissed him, paid attention to what they were doing, instead of simply taking from someone willing to give—all of it made him feel safe.

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