Chapter 11

 Cash had gotten home from town right around the lunch hour feeling accomplished and then some. He had his furniture to be delivered shortly and when he had stopped in at the hardware store for a rake and leaf blower he spotted a handful of big, man’s man grills marked down for the end of the season and knew that was coming home too. With the bed of his truck filled full of things to keep him plenty busy for the rest of the week, he stopped in at the grocery store for some fresh steaks to christen the new grill with and some veggies too. His stomach grumbled the whole way home in anticipation. In his mind he thought he’d give Negan a call after his furniture was all squared away along with some other odds and ends and then he’d ask him over for a drink. He wasn’t sure how to pursue a man but he figured it to be the same as any. If he were interested in a female, he’d invite her to dinner or out for a drink. He wasn’t sure if being seen together in Canton would be such a good idea at first. He knew in his gut that Negan wasn’t as much of a problem as The Mackey’s were but he wanted to get a feel for his new department before everyone knew that he was chummy with the town witch. If they did, they’d have their pitch forks out and after Negan for sure. 

Cash opened the windows to get a good cross breeze going to air out the mothball smell although he was pretty sure that most of it was baked into the dry and porous wood walls. At least with a good airing out, the locked up and stagnant odor would disappear and his place would start smelling more lived in. The large vanilla jar candle that he had found on the counter at the checkout of the hardware store would help the situation along so he lit that too and slid it across his bar. He was about to concern himself with lunch when he heard a vehicle come creeping up his drive. “The furniture already? Nice.” He said to himself turning from the bar to the kitchen window wiping his hands on the dish towel to see that he was wrong. In pulled up a silver Ford Super Duty. Immediately he was pissed. He was in no mood for a Mackey welcome wagon. 

Two things pleased Negan as he pulled up into the officer’s long drive aside from the fact that was indeed home. He liked the officer’s new truck quite a bit as he pulled up along side of it. He imagined that he looked quite good filling that drivers seat. The second thing that pleased him was he saw that the old furniture had made its way outside and was now collecting falling leaves. “Your new Daddy’s been busy.” Negan said putting the truck in park. He had made a few stops himself before heading over and the pet store had been one to get everything that would be needed to own a cat but had decided to leave that all in the truck till later. 

Cash was in no mood for company and swung open his front door with clear and evident aggression. He was heading out to meet his company in the drive and slammed the door behind him with a crack. He no sooner stepped off his porch and Negan had made his appearance. Cash’s demeanor turned on a dime. He wasn’t expecting this surprise in the slightest but this, this company was welcomed. “I need to give you my phone number apparently.” Cash joked from a distance making his way. “What? So you can screen my call and send me to voice mail?” Negan questioned leaning back in across the cab to grab the pet carrier. “Do I look like the phone screening type?” Cash questioned stepping to the grill of Negan’s truck. “You do.” Negan answered dryly and pulled out the carrier. “You didn’t.” Cash laughed out loud seeing what Negan had brought for him. “I did. Mice are fucking disgusting and while I don’t mind them in my barn I do in a home. They’re fucking vulgar. You needed a cat and I just so happen to have a barn full of mousers.” Negan straightened confident in his gift as he handed it over. “Flowers are far less maintenance.” Cash mentioned nodding his head and held up the carrier to look inside at the scared little thing with saucer sized green eyes glowing back at him huddled in the back corner. “Dually noted but I will add that a cat will prove to be far less maintenance then my bitching if you don’t accept this.” Negan added. Cash laughed. “Well in that case, welcome home Miss Mittens.” He told the cat. Negan stood admiring the way the officer filled out his shirt like 10 lbs of shit stuffed in a 5 lb sack. It hugged every dip and curve of his body and the brisk air had tipped his nipples into pebbles. “I had the vet out this morning to check her over and to administer her vaccinations for you. She’s a clean and healthy cat. I also took the liberty of making her an appointment for Friday morning to be spayed. That way one doesn’t turn into 12.” Negan added. “That’s a lot of maintenance.” Cash joked. “Tell me about it. I learned the hard way with that one.” Negan admitted. “So what you’re saying is, is your have as many cats as you do horses?” Cash played. “Something like that.” Negan said tasting his tongue. “Friday works great. I don’t go back to work till Monday and that gives me the weekend to nurse this little one.” Cash smiled and felt a massive pull on him to lean in to Negan and kiss his groomed, black bearded cheek to say thank you but of course that wasn’t going to happen. “Well, thank you.” He replied instead. “You’re welcome.” Negan said with a nod holding himself at a safe distance for he too felt that same pull. “Let’s go in and get this tiny little thing out of this cage or were you just dropping off?” Cash asked turning towards the house hoping that he’d follow but then maybe he’d be more clear that he’d like his company. “In fact,” Cash hesitated and haulted in his step, “I just picked up a grill from the hardware and some fresh steaks and veggies. Let me make you lunch.” He offered feeling the thud in his jugular. “Well, now that’s a serious upgrade from the can of mixed nuts. I was starting to think that you had no game.” Negan smarted rolling his tongue in cheek. “Game.” Cash huffed in sarcasm. “Come on.” He said turning again back towards the house. Besides, we need to talk.” He said looking back over his shoulder as he swung open the door for Negan. Negan was about to shoot to the defense thinking Cash meant something on the lines of a personal level but stepping in the house he both saw and smelled the candle burning along side his lapel rose in water. He not only held onto it, he cared for it. Maybe the flowers weren’t just a joke. He’d send roses depending on the outcome of this meeting and then yet, probably anyway. He really liked him and was about to spoil him beyond his wildest dreams. “Oh, and the furniture that your requested will probably be delivered as you’re visiting.” Cash said closing the door behind him. “I didn’t request shit. It was merely just a fucking suggestion.” He added heading for his stool. “You’re funny.” Cash replied looking up at him as he crouched down to the floor to open the tiny gate and let his kitty out to explore. “So full of shit.” He added and looked again up to Negan perched on his stool with his legs spread and the heels of his boots hooked on the wrungs. Cash wasn’t the only one who could fill out an item of clothing. So could Negan and as far as memory could serve Cash of days spent in locker rooms, it was always the tall and slender guys who were exceptionally hung and Negan seemed to be all legs. Negan however hadn’t noticed Cash looking because he was preoccupied with straightening and adjusting the placement of the candle and flower on the counter to his liking. Cash looked away tightening in his own jeans and opened the door with the idea that he would have to coax the cat out but instead it bolted in a panic and slipped right threw his hands. “Fuck.” He cursed with not so much as grabbing the tip of her tail and watched her haul ass in his room and under his bed to hide. “She’s just spooked.” Negan reassured and leaned backwards to crane his neck to look around the wall furnace and into Cash’s bedroom. At a glance he appreciated the fact that the officer kept a tidy bed and didn’t quite hate how small the bedroom was either. He must have lingered in his gaze for Cash had noticed. “I may spring for a new mattress but the frame stays.” He confirmed for Negan just in case he had something snarky to say. Negan shrugged leaving it alone because he actually thought that it looked rather enticing. “What? You’ve got nothing to say?” Cash begged handing Negan a cutting board and a knife. “What’s to say about it? Looks inviting.” He answered taking the cutting board from Cash’s hands. “So I’m helping?” He asked. “You want to eat today right?” Cash fired back watching Negan unzip the cuffs of his leather jacket to push up his sleeves. Cash had hoped that he’d peel out of that jacket so he could better appreciate the way that his powder blue turtle neck flattered his physique but alas, he did not. The sleeves moved up and that was it. “Well, I happen to be hungry.” Negan replied rounding the counter to wait for the sink to wash his hands and he in turn watched over Cash’s shoulder at him finishing up rinsing the bell peppers he was to cut. He couldn’t help but notice the evident tan line on Cash’s wedding ring finger which was a clear indicator that the ring had recently been removed. He had so many questions that he wanted to ask but it was too soon or even if ever. “Should I open the bottle of wine you brought?” Cash asked turning the faucet to warm and tested it quickly with a few passes under the running water for Negan before stepping aside. Negan noticed and wanted to fire a jab that he wasn’t a baby but then he decided that the careful gesture was merely heartfelt and mimicked something that Emily would do for him and his heart sank just an inch more. He could fall so easily for the Officer and he was making it too easy to do so. “I told you that it was meant for a hot date and I assume it won’t take you long. Your partner is a a known playboy and I’m sure he will be introducing you to plenty of courting choices.” Negan stated to test his waters and heavily paid attention to his reaction. Cash didn’t skip a beat as he opened the fridge door to retrieve his steaks. “I’m not interested.” He answered shutting the door. Negan turned the faucet off and picked up the damp towel to dry his hands. The two of them in close quarters behind the bar in the small kitchen work space had them nearly bumping elbows. “Sure you are.” Negan argued plainly. “Nope.” Cash said shaking his head. “Can’t say that I am.” He answered. “And you’re right, Ray has already offered an introduction and in which case I declined that introduction. I’m not interested in the slightest.” Cash stated wanting to confirm. Negan folded the towel and sat it down to return to his side of the bar and the vegetables. Cash was dying to ask questions of his own. Was he dating? Was he married? And fuck, was he gay or what? If he slugged him, he could take it and possibly even welcome it to some degree just to feel Negan’s force. He’d find a careful way to ask because he’d rather a more fevered push then out of anger. He wanted Negan to get the point that he was interested with out coming out and just saying it just in case Negan was just an eccentric man and nothing more. He paused with spicing the steaks to watch Negan slice the peppers. “Maybe you and I share that bottle of wine?” Cash gently suggested. Even though it was a sudden move, Cash also knew that his feelings for Negan weren’t just going to go away either unless Negan made it clear otherwise. Negan halted mid slice understanding perfectly what Cash was indirectly suggesting. Negan panicked. Too soon. Way too fucking soon for him to make up his mind. Fuck what his body wanted. He wasn’t sure he could. Sitting in the punishment was what was familiar. “I told you that that bottle is meant for an important date and this isn’t a fucking date.” He replied and continued to rock the knife and push the pepper threw. Cash narrowed his eyes to the black crown of Negan’s head. Now he felt like an idiot. A huge idiot. Correction, a large, wanting to crawl under a rock, fucking idiot. He didn’t know what to do. He felt frozen in his embarrassment and picked up the plate of seasoned raw meat. “I’m going to go put these on.” Was all he could say to excuse himself outside. Negan watched as he closed the door and now he’d be the idiot if he didn’t sense the thick embarrassment linger heavily in his wake. “Fuck.” He cursed setting down the knife. Wrong fucking move. Cash stepped out on the porch to the heated grill and let the breeze chill his heated cheeks. He felt just purple. How was he going to go back inside? Maybe Negan would just leave. That would be best. Negan wasn’t stupid. He was probably washing his hands right now. Negan knew he had to do something regardless if he was ready or not and got up from his stool to help himself to Cash’s cupboards to hopefully find a couple of wine glasses. Thankfully he found just two. “Such cheap glasses for such fine port.” He said to himself as he absolutely uncorked that bottle to pour them each out a glass. Cash had heard the pop but it hadn’t registered to what it was and just closed the lid of the grill over top the searing meat and found his cigars on the window ledge lighting one he turned to face his drive and stared out at their trucks parked to one another. “Just go.” He thought to himself but then the door opened behind him. “Good.” Was his next thought. This rejection was a serious blow.  He’d rather take a mental beat down from his ex wife then this feeling any day. He thought for fucking sure that this had been a mutual, immediate attraction from them both. Negan’s nerves were wound up so damn tight he thought he’d snap. Every desire he had held in to himself was about to surface. He cleared his throat for Cash to turn. “Are you taking off then.” Cash stated for it wasn’t a question. Negan absolutely hated that this was up to him but if he didn’t correct himself right fucking now it would be too late if not already. Negan closed the door with his boot holding the two glasses of wine. “Here, but go easy. It’s rich.” Negan said stepping along side Cash and held out a goblet of port to him. Cash looked to the glass and then to Negan. “We can count this if you want.” Negan said offering him the drink. “You didn’t have to open that.” Cash groaned apologetically. “Yeah, I kinda fucking did and you fucking know it too.” He said locking in on Cash’s eyes. “Yeah, I guess you did.” Cash caved in a relieved chuckle and took his glass from Negan. Negan nodded in relief as well. “So, are we counting it then?” Negan questioned needing the the confirmation. “I’d like to.” Cash answered “but now I feel like shit that you opened it.” He added. “Don’t. I have plenty for us to drink.” Negan appeased. “However, next time I walk in this door with a bottle, I will mean business. “ Negan winked. A slow and sly smile formed on Cash’s lips. “Understood.” Cash winked in return. Negan smirked wondering if Cash could hear his heart pounding and raised his glass to him. “To our first date.” “To our first date.” Cash echoed and raised his in return.