Right Move (Clean Slate Ranch #6) - A.M. Arthur Page 0,32

off work.”

“That’s life, huh? If George wants to go, I can’t stop him. He’s a grown man. Thanks for the offer, dude, but I can’t go.”

“Heard and understood. I’ll repay your patience and kindness another way.”

“Whatever.” Orry rolled his eyes and disappeared down the hallway.

“I’m sorry he was rude to you,” George said, a little embarrassed by his brother’s behavior when Levi was only being nice.

“I’ve dealt with ruder tourists, it’s fine,” Levi replied. “Is there someone you want to give the second voucher to? Maybe one of your downstairs neighbors? I bet Slater would get a kick out of being a guest at the ranch, instead of one of the horsemen.”

George smiled but he wasn’t sure about a vacation with Slater and a bunch of strangers. Besides, Slater probably wouldn’t want to do it. Dez might. Then the solution hit him solidly in the heart, and he knew exactly who would make him comfortable all week at the ranch. “You come with me.”

Levi blinked several times in a row. “I’m sorry?”

“With the ghost town shut down, it’s not like you’ll miss work. You take the other voucher. Then I know I’ll always have a friend around, even if I do something like have a panic attack. I know there will be people on staff I’ll recognize but they aren’t people I consider friends.”

They aren’t you, Levi.

“I mean...” Levi’s gaze went distant. “I could probably ask Wes or Mack to check on the cats every day and make sure they have food. Or maybe get permission to borrow an ATV. That way I can check myself once or twice. We’ve hardly been apart since I rescued them.”

“Oh.” George’s heart dropped to his feet. “If being away is too hard, you can say no. I get it. They’re, like, your kids.”

“No, I can manage it. I just rarely have to. Which probably says a lot about my lack of a social or dating life.”

“Join the club.” George winked, and Levi chuckled. “So what do you think? Come on vacation with me?”

“Sure. Is next week too soon?”

George swallowed back an embarrassing squeak of surprise. “Next week?”

“It’s the last week they’re open to guests until January. Closing for Christmas and New Year’s, and I know they have openings. But if that’s too soon, we can wait. Only the weather next week is supposed to be unseasonably warm. Midsixties most days, low fifties at night. We might even be able to do a camping trip.”

“Um.” George had never been impulsive. He liked to plan, to know, to schedule his life. But if he worked longer hours for the rest of the week and got ahead on his work, he could take a solid week off. Unplug for a while and enjoy the ranch. Spend time with Levi.

Except Orry...because of his fluid work schedule, they hadn’t spent more than one day apart in the last seven years. How was George going to manage an entire week without his twin?

“This is a big step for you, isn’t it?” Levi asked. “Leaving your safe space and your brother for a week.”

“How do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Get into my head and pull out exactly what I’m thinking. Orry has been my rock since we were sixteen. Not having him around...” It would be painful and weird and borderline crazy-making but George was an adult. If he ever wanted to have a real, adult life, he had to start putting space between himself and Orry. “It’ll be weird but good. Healthy, I think. And it helps knowing you’ll be around. My friend.”

Levi’s tender smile sent strange, warm feelings through George’s chest. “I am definitely your friend, George. So next week? All I need to do is call Reyes and we’re on the guest list.”

“Okay, yes.” George jumped off the plank and into the cold, dark water with both feet, confident he’d surface before he drowned. “Yes, next week. Um, I can’t exactly take Orry’s car, though.”

“If you can work a deal with him to meet halfway, I’ll pick you up. We have to be in the visitor parking area by ten a.m. Sunday morning for transport to the ranch. Pack comfortable, warm clothes. Boots if you have them.”

“I have sneakers.”

“They’ll be fine. I didn’t see any rain in the forecast but you know that can change on a dime.”

“True.” George couldn’t believe he was doing this. An impromptu vacation at a dude ranch with his new friend with only a few days’ notice. “I’ll work it out with Orry.