Page 24 of Redemption Ridge Vol II

Owen didn’t know Kerry’s cousin was the county sheriff and maybe Rueben’s boyfriend? They’d only gone out once, and Rue had stopped mentioning his name in every other breath. Owen had been dying to ask him what happened, but he’d kept his mouth shut.

Rueben’s shoulders rose with a deep inhale and fell on a heavy sigh. “Seth can’t get involved with me until after the Salvation Anew guys go to trial.” Rue had gotten caught in the cult’s crosshairs during their murder plot to kill Cash. The same assholes physically and verbally abused Keegan as part of his conversion therapy. Both were star witnesses for the prosecution, so a relationship between them could jeopardize Seth’s career and compromise the cases. “And I don’t think Seth realizes I’m a keeper yet. But he will.” Rueben’s smug smile eased the tension in Owen’s chest.

“So, who’s this sweet little lamb?” Kerry asked, smiling at Keegan.

“I’m Keegan.” He blushed profusely but held the big man’s gaze. “I live on the ranch with these guys.”

“Do you dance?” Kerry asked him.

“Um,” Keegan replied, looking around the table for help from his friends.

Owen offered what he hoped was an encouraging smile. He could get rid of Kerry and try to mitigate the damage the jackass caused.

“Sure,” Keegan said. “I’m not very good at it.”

Kerry rounded the table and held out his hand. “I somehow doubt that.”

Keegan’s hand looked small in Kerry’s palm as he slid off his chair, and Owen noticed Kerry didn’t let go once Keegan’s feet were on the ground. The two of them were a study in contrast. Kerry was tall, dark, and sinful compared to Keegan’s short, blond innocence. The two of them headed to the dance floor without a backward glance or comment. Owen felt the heat of Tyler’s gaze and looked to Rueben for either help or a distraction, but he pushed back from the table.

“Think I’ll head to the bar to get another beer. You guys need anything?”

“Nope,” Tyler said.

“I’m good,” Owen replied.

As soon as Rueben left, Owen forced himself to meet Tyler’s gaze. “I met Kerry here, and we’ve hooked up a few times over the years.”

Tyler swallowed hard and nodded. He lowered his gaze as if it hurt too much to look at Owen. “It’s not really my business,” he said to his lap.

Maybe that was true in some relationships, but not theirs. Owen curled his forefinger under Tyler’s chin and raised his head until their eyes met. “Everything about me is your business. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know because I’d rather get it all out in the open than let your imagination run wild.”

Tyler licked his bottom lip, then nodded. “When did you guys hook up? We’re together all the time.”

“Whenever you went home to Texas for a visit,” Owen replied.

Tyler’s brow furrowed. “The ranch is my home,” he clarified. “I’ve only gone back to Texas three times since we moved to Redemption Ridge. The last time was nearly two years ago for my grandpa’s ninetieth birthday. And you came here?” Tyler’s voice was devoid of any emotion, so Owen wasn’t sure how to react.

“I did.”

Tyler looked over at the dance floor. “And you met up with Kerry each time?”

“I did.”

Tyler narrowed his eyes. “Are you going to respond with the same two-word answer?”

“I’ll use more words whenever it’s necessary.”

That response seemed to irritate Tyler more than the previous answers. “Did you run into him here, or did you call Kerry and arrange a date?”

“I ran into him each time. We didn’t exchange phone numbers, and we definitely didn’t date.”

Tyler’s gaze drifted back to the dance floor as he considered Owen’s answer. After a long stretch of silence, he looked at Owen again. “So, you didn’t develop feelings for him?”

“No,” Owen said firmly. When Tyler scowled at his brief response, Owen expanded. “I’m not sure how much of this you want to hear.”

“All of it.”

It was Owen’s turn to look at him in disbelief. “You want me to tell you everything we did together?”