Page 39 of The Texas Sterling Collection
Chapter Twenty-Three
ROD
The semester flew by. The Alfonso Ortega false accusation remained unsettled. I wanted Alfonso dealt with and would discuss the situation with Dr. Waverly when the opportunity arose. The rumor ran its course, and no new rumors surfaced. Wyl and I cemented our relationship. We became…um…well, I'm not sure how to label it. After we talked, we became more than friends. Did men in their 40s call each other boyfriends? The word fits a younger crowd. I realized I loved him, but feared sharing with him until we recovered from being apart. A good opportunity would arise at some point. We were sexual partners who spent time together every day. I didn’t figure he would flee if I said the L word, but I didn’t want to take the chance based on our history.
On music class mornings, Wyl joined me early in the Fine Arts building for coffee and conversation. I spent most evenings at the ranch, snuggled against Wyl on the couch, comfortable with Walt and his acceptance of our close relationship. From what Wyl shared, Walt recognized how close we were before we admitted it.
Wyl didn’t spend time at my place in town. Too visible. Too likely to cause rumors and innuendo. Around campus, and with Stella's office near mine, we maintained the appearance of teacher and student. We reserved intimate conversations for off-campus. No touching on campus, either. And we kept a couple of feet between us when walking. But on the ranch, Wyl and I became inseparable.
We chatted in the empty classroom after class one Monday morning in early October. “Midterms are next week. What are your plans for the weekend after?” I sat on the instructor's stool in front of the room. The sixty feet between the classroom and Stella’s office made eavesdropping unlikely.
Wyl moved to a desk in the front row, with his braid draped over his chest and his legs spread apart. “No plans. Ranches don’t have midterms or long weekends off. The work doesn’t stop, so I have plenty to do. Why do you ask?” He raised an eyebrow in anticipation of me announcing some kind of intimate activity.
I swallowed. Wyl’s posture turned me on. Of course, everything about Wyl turned me on. I longed to grab his braid and let it slide through my fingers while kissing his full lips.
Wyl snapped his fingers twice. “Hey, wherever you went, come back.”
Heat flooded my cheeks as I coughed into my fist, not realizing my little stroll through fantasy land was so obvious. “Sorry, but you distract me. Back to the long weekend. How about we spend time at my place in Kerrville?” I gazed into Wyl’s sparkling grey-green eyes. “Since I don’t have any midterms on Thursday, and don’t come into the office on Friday. I’m out for a full four days. How about you come with me?”
Wyl’s smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. He leaned back into his seat. The lower lip between his teeth quivered before he answered, giving away his upcoming tease. “Are you suggesting we spend the night together in the same bed?”
I shook my head. “We already do, but my place includes a guest room if you prefer.”
Wyl coughed a chuckle. “Guest rooms are for guests. Aren’t we past that point?”
He was right. After he came to the house and forced me to talk, we accepted our status as more than friends. And Walt’s salute to me the morning after we made up saidit’s about damn time. “Okay. Your expression tells me you have other ideas.”
He leaned forward, forearms on the classroom desk. “No question in my mind. Same bed. But before we make solid plans, let me check with Walt. He’s the one who told me to go after my man, so I can’t imagine him wanting me to stick around Blackfield if said man is in the Hill Country.”
I leaned ever-so-slightly toward Wyl and whispered, “I want to kiss you right now.”
“I so want you to.” He matched my posture and whispered. “Let’s talk about something else before we face plant.”
A noise came from the hallway. “Did you hear a gasp?” I nodded toward the classroom doorway.
Wyl stood, the bulge in his jeans evident, and peeked out the door. The hallway water fountain kicked off. “Nobody out here. Must be the water fountain.”
Wyl left for his next class, and I settled into my office to catch up on grading. I overheard Stella on the phone from her office across the hall.
“He hasn’t asked me out. I don’t think he's interested.”
I suspected Mitzi called to ask about Stella’s lack of interaction with Wyl. Something about Mitzi raised red flags about her determination to connect with the Sterlings in any way necessary. I reminded myself to ask Wyl and Walt about her.
“No, Mitzi. On our one date weeks ago, Wyl acted distant and preoccupied. He hardly listened to a word I said. He stared off into space most of the time.”
Aha! Mitzi! I heard only Stella’s end of the conversation, but trouble brewed. Mitzi must be pressuring Stella to take action with Wyl.
“A relationship between Wyl and Dr. Bonner?” The conversation turned quiet. I rose and stood at my office door. Stella spoke too quietly for me to make out her words. Two minutes later, she hung up the phone. I needed a detailed conversation with Wyl and Walt about Mitzi. What was Mitzi’s game, and why did she encourage…no, insist on…Stella forming a relationship with Wyl?
* * *
The Thursday of our long weekend arrived. I spent Wednesday night at home packing for the extended stay. After tossing things into the truck, I sped to Sterling Ranch to pick up Wyl. He paced the porch as I drove up. Walt sat in a chair, drinking a mug of coffee and grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I parked, jumped out, and rushed up the walk. Wyl met me halfway and grabbed me in a fierce hug.
“It’s about time you got here,” Walt said. “He’s been out here pacing for at least thirty minutes.”
Wyl pulled back and grinned. “Not true. It’s been 45 minutes. Like you, I’m an early riser.”
“Are you sure you can spare him, Walt? What if you have a horse emergency or something?” I couldn’t resist teasing, although I doubted horses had emergencies. I still hadn’t ridden one.
