"Guess not," Eli said.

His tone was very even and Robbie was thankful Eli wasn't going all possessive on him. The sex was good. Hell, the sex was awesome. And who could blame him if he wanted to pull Eli in for a cuddle just about now. Post-sex cuddling wasn't on his list of things to avoid in life. He had to avoid falling in love again. That was number one.

Eli didn't say anything else. He rolled on to his side and rested his head on Robbie's chest, settling in close and falling asleep really quickly. When he was convinced that Eli was deeply under, he eased himself out of bed and pulled on his jeans and boots. He just needed to check the horses before he could really settle to sleep. He opened the door and the cool evening air slapped at his room-hot body and he smiled. There was nothing better than the touch of breeze that stirred the night.

"Everything okay?"

Robbie looked down at the fencing close to the barn. Jack leaned against the wood and looked up at him. He guessed the shit was going to hit the fan in the end but still he was hoping maybe he and Eli could go at least a few nights without having to sneak around and be watched.

"Yeah," he answered. Taking the steps two at a time he stopped at the bottom. His heart wanted to go straight to the horses; his head told him Jack's presence near his place was maybe an indication he wanted to talk.

"Is Eli asleep?"

Robbie leaned against the same fence with his booted foot up on the lower level. He could play this one of two ways: Yes, Eli is asleep, or no, I don't know.

"Yeah." No sense in beating around the bush.

"You come down to check the horses?"

"I always do, one last time before I go to bed."

"I know. I see you most nights. You're good with them. Good for the ranch."

"Thank you." Never let it be said Robbie Curtis didn't know a compliment when it was given by the guy who paid his wages.

"I was hoping to catch you tonight." Jack turned so his back was to the fence and he rested his elbows back on the wood. Tipping his head back to look up at the sky he continued. "You said you were thinking of moving on after Christmas and I was wondering if maybe you had given any thought to staying on."

"I hadn't."

"I'd like you to. I have a proposition for you. I know you have the bonuses for the training but I would like to suggest that maybe we had something more concrete in place. More of a partnership in the new horses we train up."

Robbie was lost for words. He'd seen this done before; where trainers partnered and shared rewards. What Jack was proposing was a lot more than just simple bonuses but an actual chance to make some serious money doing what he loved.

"I don't have the money to stake my share."

Jack shrugged. "I would cover your share and you could pay it back out of proceeds."

Jack made it sound so simple. If only his damned head would get itself out of this cycle of moving on then maybe this would be the perfect choice. Images of Eli asleep in his bed, sprawled this way and that in tangled sheets, passed through Robbie's thoughts. If he stayed at the Double D longer, if he actually put down a root or two, then the other thing he would need to consider is where Eli fit into all of this. Saying that he loved Robbie was like a burr under a saddle; it itched and scratched and wouldn't go away.

"Think on it," Jack said simply.

Robbie nodded. "I will."

Jack pushed himself away from the fence and began to walk back to the main house.

"Jack?" Robbie called and Jack stopped to turn and face him. "Thank you for your faith in me." He felt heat in his face; he wasn't used to making such sweeping grand statements of thanks.

"Let me know when you make a decision."

And with that Jack left Robbie propping up the fence and with a head full of ifs, buts, and maybes.

The horses done, he went back to Eli, who rolled over and clung to him as soon as he climbed into bed. The last time he had slept with someone, or invested any time in someone, had been with Paul. Losing Paul was damn near close enough to having his heart ripped from his chest.

He slid his hand down Eli's side, resting finally on the obvious scar where Robbie stroked a pattern of indecision. Paul had a weakness inside him, his brain had a fault, and now Robbie met Eli who had cancer, which also hides deep in the body. Could Robbie stand to let himself fall again? Was it possible to love another man and not fear every day that fate was going to rip them apart?

Staying at the Double D, partnering with Jack, drawing a line and making his stand in the dirt? That all involved Eli at some point in the equation.

Eli Martin with his dark hair that was soft against Robbie's skin and his forest green eyes that sparked with life and hope.

When did I lose that same life? That same hope?

Eli moved again in sleep, his hand curling across Robbie's chest and then reflexively relaxing, and Robbie tightened his grip on the man.

Lying in his arms was the most danger his heart had ever faced.

CHAPTER 17

"Everything okay?" Riley said from under the sheet. All that Jack could see of his husband was the tufts of blond hair and the distinctive shape of six foot four inches of man on the bed. Yesterday and into today had been tough all round so there was no wonder Riley was hiding away from light and turning into a mushroom. What Josiah had done was reminiscent of the type of crap Gerald had pulled. The same kind of thing Riley's brother Jeff had done, casting doubt, making up shit that looked official. There was a meeting at eleven with attorneys and legal aides and everyone else from the directory of legal support. Thankfully it was here, but still, Riley was exhausted.

"Everything's fine. I waited for Robbie. Go to sleep, we can talk in the morning."

"What did he say?" Riley's face appeared from under the sheet and he blinked at the soft light from the bedside lamp. "Did he agree to stay at the Double D for the long term?"

"Not exactly. But he didn't say no, just that he would think on it."

"He's never stayed in one place for longer than a year, not since his boyfriend died. I'm not sure he thinks he can stay here."

"We have another few months. Maybe we can convince him."