Turn and Burn (Blacktop Cowboys 5)

He scrolled through his contact list on his cell phone and hit CALL.

The man answered on the second ring. “This is Renner Jackson.”

“Renner? It’s Fletch.”

“Hey. What’s up, Doc?” Renner snickered.

Fletch groaned. “Like I haven’t heard that a million times.”

“I’m sure. So I’ll admit it’s weird that you’re callin’ me. Usually I’m the one in a panic callin’ you.”

Probably he should’ve gone out and talked to Renner in person. But at least he wouldn’t have to look the man in the eye when he explained the situation. “I need to ask you a favor.”

“You’ve pulled my ass out of the fire more times than I can count. So anything you need? Name it.”

“You’ve still got an empty employee trailer up at the Split Rock?”

“Yep. Why?”

“I’m taking a six-week sabbatical from my practice.”

A healthy pause followed. “Shit, Fletch. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. It’s fine. Except for the burnout factor.” He sighed. “I haven’t taken any personal time off since I graduated from vet school. My office manager has been making noise about wanting to take an extended vacation, so I’m giving it to her.”

Silence.

“Renner? You there?”

“Uh-huh. I’m just surprised. Although I think it’s great,” Renner added hastily. “Why were you asking about the trailer?”

Fletch paced to the big picture window at the rear of the house that boasted a view of the meadow and the rolling hills. “There are a couple of things I’ve been putting off. I can’t concentrate at the office and I’m too easily distracted at home. I need to be somewhat isolated, so my clients can’t get in touch with me and let the other vets covering for me actually fill in. But I don’t want to get too far from Rawlins. My other option is to live in Eli’s horse trailer out at his place, but I doubt he wants me crashing with him and Summer even for a short while.” He paced to the kitchen. “Then I thought . . . the Split Rock is a resort. Maybe I could stay there, but not in the lodge because I can’t afford it. Staying in the employee trailers would be like renting a quiet cabin. Wouldn’t it?”

“Not a lot of wild parties goin’ on at the employee’s quarters, that’s for sure,” Renner said dryly.

“That’s what I’m looking for. Somewhere I can come and go as I please. Keep to myself and work at my own pace.”

“Some days it sucks bein’ your own boss, doesn’t it?”

“I’m a slave driver to myself, to hear Cora talk.”

Renner chuckled. But he didn’t say yes.

“Plus, the benefit for Jackson Stock Contracting would be me bein’ on-site if there was an animal emergency.”

Another beat of silence passed.

“I’d intended on paying rent,” Fletch said. “And I wouldn’t expect to eat at the lodge.”

“Whoa. I haven’t said yea or nay yet, so you don’t hafta hard sell me, Fletch.”

So what was the holdup? “You need to run it past the shareholders?”

“I don’t need their approval on something like this.”

“But?”

Fletch could almost see Renner jamming his hand through his hair. “But part of me hopes that if I say no you’ll go to a tropical island somewhere and take the time off you need. Find a hot chick in a bikini, get drunk and get laid.”

Wasn’t like he could confess his thoughts were running along the same lines. But he wouldn’t have to go farther than the trailer next door. But he retorted, “Given the chance . . . would you jet off to an exotic locale for six weeks?”

“Hell, no. I probably wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”

“That’s where I’m at. This vacation seemed like a good idea at the time and it’s sort of embarrassing to admit I don’t know what to do with myself either. Which is why I haven’t mentioned it to anyone.” Hopefully Renner bought that little white lie. “I know I’ve been lax doin’ my part with researching the commercial stock-breeding program, so I figured I could invest time in that venture while I’m there.”

“If you ever leave your vet practice, I want you goin’ to work for me, because, man, you can really sell it.”

Fletch laughed. “So do we have a deal?”

“Absolutely. As long as you give me the real reason for leaving your beautiful house in Rawlins to move into a dumpy trailer in the middle of nowhere. And I ain’t talkin’ the examples you gave me—valid as they are. What’s the biggest reason you want this?”

Fuck. So much for his life as a con man. “Tanna.”

“What about her?”

“I’m crazy about her. Tanna and I have been seeing each other off and on since before the branding. With this break, I’ve got the chance to be with her without phone calls interrupting me all hours of the night, or trying to squeeze time to see her after I’ve worked a seventeen-hour day. If she’s not interested, so be it. But I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t believe there’s something between us worth exploring . . . if we had the time. And now we do.”

Renner sighed. “I know exactly what you’re saying. Before I met Tierney, I had no life besides work. While I love how I make my living, I love my wife more. And I hear her voice in the back of my head, telling me this is one of those romantic gestures women love so much. So I’ll agree to it. But if you and Tanna part ways, you’ll have to leave, not her.”