Free Rough Ride CV4 by Carol Lynne Page A

carried it to the back as Nate followed.
    “You two still plan to build a dance club? I hear Jim Brewster’s trying to block it with the council.”
    Sighing, he sat down on a chair in the storeroom. At first Ezra had wanted the club so the two of them could own something together, but now it had become more about giving Richard a purpose.
    It wasn’t that Wyn wasn’t interested in owning a club, but since they’d been back in town, he felt Ezra slipping away from him.
    Smokey always managed to come up with something that required Ezra’s attention on the ranch. The few times Wyn had gone out to the EZ Does It, Smokey had seemed to make a point of letting him know he wasn’t welcome.
    Wyn tried on several occasions to bring it up with Ezra, but his lover would chuckle and tell him he was being overly sensitive.
    “Wyn? You still with me?” Nate asked.
    His head came up and he blinked a couple of times. “Sorry, just thinking.”
    “Something wrong?”
    “No, not really. I don’t think Smokey likes me dating Ezra.”
    “What? Smokey’s one of the nicest guys in town. You must be…” ROUGH RIDE
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    Wyn held up his hand cutting Nate off. “Please don’t tell me I’m oversensitive or paranoid. I know when someone doesn’t like me.”
    “Ooh, I seem to have hit on a sore spot. What’s Smokey doing?” He sighed. “That’s just it. He hasn’t done anything tangible that I can go to Ezra with.
    It’s just the looks he gives me, and half the time when I call the house, and Smokey answers, he doesn’t give Ezra my messages.”
    Nate put a hand on Wyn’s shoulder. “Maybe he doesn’t like you coming between him and his best friend.”
    Wyn nodded. “Or maybe he wants Ezra for himself?”

    * * * *

    “Hey, babe,” Ezra said into the phone.
    “Hi,” Wyn answered.
    “I won’t be able to come into town until late. I’m expecting a delivery of another bull sometime this evening. I thought you might come out and eat supper with me and the boys.” When there was no answer right away, Ezra gripped the phone a little tighter. “Wyn? Is there something going on?” His lover had been very distant the last week or so.
    “No. Um, I’ll be out to the ranch after I close up the store.” Ezra hated the sad tone he detected coming from Wyn. “I love you.”
    “I love you, too. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
    “Okay, babe. See you then.” Ezra hung up the phone and looked around his office.
    Maybe he should just forget the damn bull and have Smokey inspect it.
    A knock at the door brought his head up. “Come in.” His best friend and foreman opened the door. “Hey, you have anything else you want the hands to take care of before they head out?”
    “Head out? Where’s everyone going?”
    “It’s Taco Night at Brewster’s.” Smokey said nudging up his tan cowboy hat.
    “Traitors,” Ezra mumbled. Damn that James Brewster. He’d always liked the guy until he started such a fuss over Ezra’s plans to build a dance club.
    “No, send them on their way. Wyn’s coming over for dinner. I guess I’ll just find us some leftovers.”

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    “I’m sure I can whip something up,” Smokey said.
    “Naw, I think you should go out with the hands. Wyn and I will manage.” If he didn’t know his friend any better he’d almost swear Smokey looked pissed.
    “Something wrong?”
    “Nope,” Smokey said before walking out.
    Ezra went to the office window and watched his friend walk towards the barn. “What the hell did I do now?” It seemed everyone was mad at him lately.

    * * * *

    Wyn finished closing out the register and was turning off the store lights, when he heard the front door open and close. “Is that you, Nate?” Without waiting for an answer, he quickly went into his office and grabbed the wrapped package of sports shirts that had come in for Nate. Carrying them through to the store, he hollered. “I’ve got your clothes right here.”