Jessup by Lynn Hagen

Author:Lynn Hagen [Hagen, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Cowboy Romance, Tragedy, Ranch
ISBN: 9781627406345
Goodreads: 18158327
Publisher: Siren-BookStrand, Inc.
Published: 2013-09-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The next morning Jessup walked out onto the porch, coffee in one hand, tally sheet in the other. He paused when he didn’t see Ben in his usual spot on the porch. Elliot must have noticed his expression because he said, “He called and said he was running late.”

Jessup wanted to believe it was innocent that Ben wasn’t here for their morning bullshit session, but a part of him feared that Ben was once again avoiding him. He sat in his chair and told himself it was no big deal, even though he felt a constriction in his chest at the thought of Ben finding ways to not be around Jessup.

Just as he took a sip of his coffee, a big black truck pulled into the driveway, a decal of stallions running over an open field on the back window. Jessup smiled.

“Look at that love-struck expression,” Cody teased. “His big Ben is here and all is right with the world.”

He was in too good of a mood to say anything to his younger brother. It was true. All was right now that Ben had shown up. Elliot began to talk, but Jessup ignored him as he sipped his coffee, his eyes glued to the large man walking their way. Ben nodded toward him as he stepped up onto the porch and took his usual seat.

At least the man wasn’t treating him like a disease.

“I need you to run into town later today and pick up some supplies I ordered,” Elliot said to Jessup. “Take Ben with you.”

Jessup nodded, delighted that he would be able to spend more time with his big ox. That’s how he was looking at Ben now, his big ox.

The men dispersed after a few more minutes of jaw jacking and Jessup tried hard to concentrate on work. It wasn’t easy. All he wanted to do was find Ben and fool around.

When Elliot called for him to run into town, Jessup grinned as he watched Ben coming from the field, heading his way. His smile faltered and then fell when he saw that Ben wasn’t looking at him, a deep and concentrated expression on his face.

Jessup quickly slipped into his truck, afraid to ask what was wrong, because he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer. He knew he was falling hard for the man and knew the feeling wasn’t reciprocated. Ben was still trying to figure out who he was.

Jessup could easily tell the man, but Ben had to come to terms with that on his own. “Ready?” he tried to sound cheerful, but Ben only nodded.

When they were on the road, away from the ranch, Jessup glanced over at Ben. “What’s wrong?”

He couldn’t take the silence any longer and refused to allow Ben to push him away again. Ben didn’t answer him. Fed up, Jessup pulled the truck over and twisted in his seat, allowing his true emotions to show on his face. “Are you back to treating me like a leper?”

Ben turned, his expression full of irritation.

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