Remission.

CHAPTER 11

Lauren was pacing and Riley even felt a little sorry for Eli. The man looked suitably chastised and was listening quietly to his assistant sounding off. Turns out she was less business partner and more close friend.

"They've given us an extension. But they said they'll be needing their deposit back if you don't come up with something. We can handle losing the money but your reputation, our reputation, will be for shit."

"Sorry—" Eli said.

Lauren interrupted. "Then you go and do some damn fool thing that leaves you unconscious in the dirt in the sun."

"He was in the shade," Riley offered helpfully. Lauren narrowed her gaze at him and Riley took a step back. That this itty-bitty woman who probably didn't top five-four was facing him down was a little bit of a culture shock. Reminded him of Donna actually.

"I was with someone," Eli defended himself.

"Dumb luck that you were. We organized this shoot so we could make everything easy for you—"

"Yeah," Eli said. "Too easy. All those models in their briefs draped over wood was like every single damn cliché in the book." He sounded grumpy but then Riley had experienced being laid up after he was in the fire and it sucked big time. He didn't begrudge Eli the small bit of angsting and whining that was seeing him through the day.

"What did the doctor say?" Lauren asked.

Eli threw his hands up in the air in a gesture of disbelief. "Now she asks. For your information I have a virus of some sort."

"Probably the same thing that had Hayley in bed last week," Riley said carefully.

"Yes. See? There's no cancer or anything."

Lauren's face crumpled. All the blustering and demanding dissolved in silent tears. Eli held out his hand. Riley watched with a lump in his throat as the two hugged and Eli was whispering he was okay, and Lauren was saying, "Don't go". They were like that for a while and finally Riley felt way too uncomfortable and went to find Jack. Anything for a break from yet more paperwork on the admin for the bids. He found his husband working with Daisy, who had perked up considerably. He loved watching Jack, the sinuous movements of horse and rider and the literal poetry in movement as Jack controlled Daisy.

"They're looking good out there."

Riley recognized Robbie's voice and turned to acknowledge him with a smile. He liked the guy. If they cut him in half he would have cowboy through the middle— just like Jack. Straightforward and down to earth, what you saw was what you got.

"Lauren's leaving in a bit if you want to go in and visit with Eli," Riley offered.

Robbie twisted his lips in a parody of a smile. "Not sure he'd want to see me."

"He asks after you every other word. Are you okay, what are you doing, are you freaked out?"

"I'm not freaked out."

"He seems to think you are."

Robbie was silent for a moment. "Cancer is a big thing."

"Remission is a big thing as well."

Robbie shrugged and focused back on Jack, who was working through the cool down.

"He's my friend, Robbie, and he's bored and worried and a million other things. Just for me, go and say hi?" Riley was unashamedly playing the husband-of-the-boss angle, and he added a smile as punctuation.

Robbie looked at him and then shook his head. Riley assumed the man was aware he was being manipulated but evidently wasn't going to call Riley on his bullshit.

"I will when I'm done seeing to Catty."

As he left, Jack walked Daisy over to Riley.

"You finished with paperwork?" He leaned over to kiss Riley and he tasted of fresh air and sweat and Jack.

"I was with Eli but his assistant turned up with the news he has to pull his finger out and come up with a new spread. Oh, and that she loves him." Jack raised his eyebrows. Riley laughed. "In a purely sister-brother type way. She said if he ever tries to die on her again she will kill him."

"Ouch," Jack said. He smirked. "Serves him right for whatever he was doing under the tree with Robbie."

"You think they were doing something?"

Jack stole another kiss.

"They say opposites attract. Hell, look at us."

"Meet you in the barn?"

"I need a shower, Riley."

Riley looked at his lover, sweaty and exhausted.

"Put your horse away, cowboy. Sweat or not, I want you in the barn in twenty."

Riley smirked as Jack pressed against his fly. "Jeez, Riley. Way to get me hard."

Riley turned on his heel and looked back over his shoulder as he walked away. "Twenty. I'll be waiting, spread naked over a stall door and ready to go."

As he passed the horse barn he looked in and saw Robbie rubbing down Catty. He was intensely focused on his task but clearly saw Riley out of the corner of his eye.

"Do you think you can help Jack with Daisy?" Riley asked.

"No worries." Robbie nodded.

Riley entered the cool interior of their barn and looked around. He felt peace here. This was where he fell in love, on this land, in this place, and here was home. Smiling, he opened their box. He had prep to do. Paperwork could wait.

* * * *

Robbie stood silently at the door of Eli's room. Lauren had just left and although propped up in bed Eli had his eyes shut. Robbie bent his head briefly and considered whether he should announce he stood there in the doorway.

"You can come in," Eli said. "No sense in talking from the door."

Removing his hat and ruffling his hair, Robbie wondered if he should have stopped and had a shower first. He smelled like horse.

"How you doing?"

"I'm fine. I just sometimes do stupid shit that I shouldn't."

"How often?"

"What?"

"How often do you do stupid shit?"

Eli seemed confused by the question and then his face brightened. "Since the cancer? Twice. Once with champagne when I got the all clear. Expensive stuff, mind you. And once with you under the tree when you made me come in my jeans."