"Within reason," Riley tossed out quickly. Jack chose to ignore that hasty defense.

"Secondly, I have contracts to honor, horses to train, and my mom can't run the place on her own. So while you're doing your thing at Hayes Oil every day," and he couldn't keep the sneer away, "I'll be here." He could almost hear Riley's brain working. "Not only that," he continued, on a roll now, "as part of this contract, I want you working on the ranch for exactly…" He paused, throwing together quick calculations in his brain and then doubling the number, just because he could. "Twenty-four days out of the three hundred and sixty-five of the contract." Riley's mouth fell open, his shock almost comical. "It can be weekends, Sundays, whatever. I don't imagine it will interfere in whatever you do or don't do at Hayes Oil, but your working with me will add authenticity to the whole shitfest. Agreed?"

"Say again?" Riley's voice dripped with disbelief as he cast a quick look around the kitchen, and that there, that disbelief coupled with the wrinkle of Riley's nose in disgust, was enough for Jack's temper to start to rise.

Riley finally nodded clearly deciding this was a battle he couldn't win. It was all he could apparently do, obviously not trusting himself to use actual words.

"So, there is a no-sex-outside-the-marriage rule for your new partner." Jack was starting to feel tired. He had been up since four a.m., and this was pushing even his levels of alertness.

"Of course there is, it needs to…" Riley paused, clearly sorting out the right words. "No, em, for you no… men." He stumbled over the words, plainly not sure of the etiquette in situations describing what Jack had with other men.

"You, too," Jack said simply, leaning back on the scarred wooden counter and crossing his arms. He had a great deal of satisfaction hearing Riley so screwed at placing the boundaries so firmly around his concept of gay sex. "'Cos you know, man, if I believe everything I read, you get way more than me, and I'm not gonna be taking that in this convoluted idea of a marriage."

"Taking it?"

"You horn-dogging around on me behind my back. You will agree to abstain for the year too. I won't be made to look a fool. We'll be married. I know what you're like, I've heard the shit you pull. So there will be no affairs, nothing, no girls and no boys. Agreed?"

"Nothing?" Riley sounded almost lost.

"Nothing."

Riley frowned. "Do you think I can't go for a year without getting off using nothing but my right hand?"

"Evidence suggests otherwise."

"Fuck you."

"Not likely."

"Shit. Okay." Jack watched as Riley raised a single eyebrow. "Is that it?" He was clearly aiming for sounding bored, and Jack really wished he could think of more terms and conditions to screw with the younger man. Just out of sheer spite. He watched as Riley's expression changed from one of consternation to one of relief and then quickly to one of satisfaction. It was interesting how easily Jack could read his prospective husband.

"You know something, Hayes? You're as cold as freaking ice. Do you have no emotion in you? You sign away your life like this… Do you feel anything?" Riley said nothing in reply. "I am doing this for my sister," Jack added, obviously getting back to what he had really meant to say. "And for my family. They mean everything to me. I don't give a rat's ass why you're doing this, but I swear if they ever find out—"

"I have just as many reasons for it to be a secret," Riley snapped.

Jack arched his back and stretched a yawn, smirking inwardly as Riley's gaze slid southward. Given the way his eyes seemed fixated around Jack's crotch area, he wondered if maybe Riley was a little more bi-curious than he even knew.

Chapter 8

Even as he stood at the private airport Jack knew it wasn't too late. He could tear up the contract. He had lawyers, the deal had been made under duress, and no court of law would uphold it, surely. His brother was a lawyer— he'd fight it for him. Images of Beth were at the front of his mind, tears on her pale cheeks, and her hand protective on his unborn niece. That pushed Jack's feet to move those final few yards.

He couldn't even tell her he was going, or what he was doing, but dammit he wanted to. As he held her close for a hug last night, a reassuring, Don't worry, it will be fine hug, the words to describe what he was doing were on the tip of his tongue. Instead he took the coward's way out, leaving a message on her cell.

Don't worry. I've just got a potential buyer, and I'm going to havta schmooze. Back day after tomorrow. Love ya, Beth. Look after yourself. He left a similar one for his mother.

Jack put the cell in his pocket, hefted his backpack over his shoulder, and looked up at the red Hayes Oil logo emblazoned down the side of the jet parked up on one side of the runway. It figured Hayes would have his own plane. Jack seemed to remember Beth commenting on it when she was reading some glossy spread about Dallas pseudo-royalty. As he stood at the bottom of the steps, he realized the next footfall he took really would seal his fate. He'd be leaving the Texas he knew and entering the world of Riley Hayes.

Steeling himself, he climbed the steps and automatically ducked his head to enter the cool interior, stopping on the threshold as images assaulted his senses. Luxury. Leather. Carpet. Someone stood to take his carry-on and usher him to a seating area complete with large flat screen television and two different gaming machines. The Hayes Oil logo was embroidered on everything from belts to seats. Jack rolled his eyes and sat down. He fumbled with the seatbelt, glancing up when Riley slid into the seat opposite him.

This was the first time that they'd seen each other since the meeting two days before. The paperwork had been exchanged by courier. There'd been no phone calls, just one text to state that everything had been arranged, with simple instructions that Jack should make his way to the airport.

Riley was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt and a worn dark leather jacket across his broad shoulders. It was something of a shock to see him dressed so casually. He welcomed Jack aboard with a half-smile, and to Jack's eyes, he looked mostly tired but also nervous and restless.

They didn't talk until the jet was in the air and heading north.

"You can shower, freshen up, and take some time," Riley offered hesitantly, indicating two doors at the end of the large cabin.

"Shower?"

"You brought the suit?"

"I brought the suit."

* * * *

It was funny how the grand total of eighteen words lasted the whole seven hours in the air. Or maybe not funny at all. The flight to Canada was long enough, each man lost in thought for one reason or another. It was not a comfortable silence.

Riley kept focusing on the whole sex thing. It was all that filled his head. He had never even experimented with men. Well, apart from that time at the Christmas dance with Luke Evans— admittedly under the influence of alcohol. But that was nothing. It had meant nothing but a hurried hand job against the outside of the gym, a fumble touch between horny teenagers. He didn't have an issue with the whole gay thing, though. His daddy might, but Riley had hung around Steve long enough to appreciate the benefits Steve found in sleeping with men versus women. You'd never have to worry about your height, Riley, or your muscles, or your strength. You find someone strong like you and you just fucking go for it.