lina
Turning off the highway, I rolled down the windows of my truck. Cool, fresh, country air wafted through, immediately lifting my spirits.
I sighed. “Home sweet home.” I leaned my head out the window as I turned down the gravel road, passing the Thornbrush Ranch sign, and sucked in the deepest breath my lungs could hold before releasing a long exhale. Breathing in all that fresh dirt and grass.
“We’re almost home, boy,” I said, as if Mushu could hear me from his trailer.
Sticking my arm out the open window, I rolled my arm like a wave through the breeze, feeling it energize me. I loved being on the open road, the excitement and high energy of the rodeo, but there was nothing like coming home.
I took in the expanse of fields, the canvas of ponderosa pines, the rush of the distant Deschutes River, the bawling of cattle. If I could envision heaven, this was it. This was where my heart was. Home was never at my mom’s place in Portland. She had another family to enjoy that with anyway.
I spotted Dad in a far field on top of Gus, and I gave him a big wave. He whooped, spinning his hat in the air. I laughed, giving him the most exaggerated wave I could muster.
He was probably out checking on the new calves. Spring in Oregon was always full of new life. Another reason why I was dying to come home. I had a baby to hold and a bachelorette party to plan. As soon as I unloaded and cleaned up, I was heading straight to Romy and Jude’s.
I pulled up in front of the stable, beside Reed’s Dodge Ram.Fucking Reed.Nothing could spoil my mood, though, not even him.
Hopping out of the truck, I slammed the door, coming around to open the trailer. Mushu’s ears twitched, his head turning and his nose sniffing the air.
“I bet you’re as eager to be home as I am, huh, boy?”
Taking his lead rope, I led him out of the trailer, walking him in a couple circles to help him stretch his muscles. I needed it as much as he did after that four-hour drive from southern Oregon. My body ached and I could use a soak.
“Let’s get you rubbed down and find you some nice oats. You did a good job, boy.” I caressed his neck as I praised him. Mushu snorted in response. I smiled, shaking my head at him. We entered the stables, my eyes adjusting to the dim light.
I almost stumbled in my steps because I had a clear shot down the center of the stable to the wide-open doors at the back. The golden dusk glimmered off his wide, muscular back, bare and glistening with moisture. I bit my lip before my tongue could dart out, imagining licking up the beads of water that dripped down his spine.
Shit!Why did he have to be so … so muchman?
He hadn’t seen me come in, too busy hosing down one of the horses. I watched with rapt attention while his large hands ran down the shoulder and legs of the mare, rinsing the suds fromher coat. My eyes zeroed in on those hands. They were strong and calloused, probably more than capable of squeezing the life out of someone, yet so gentle and tender.
My treacherous mind flashed back to our one moment of weakness during another evening. One that had us on the far end of the ranch arguing about … I don’t even know what it was about now. Something to do with me going on a date. I wanted to challenge him, to test him, to prove to him that he did nothing to me—until he’d lost his temper and pushed me against a fence post.
He had grabbed my throat to land a punishing kiss, while his other hand squeezed my ass. My hips ground against his, needy for him. Without a word, I unbuttoned my jeans, bringing his hand to my waistband. I remember he’d tried to break his mouth away from mine to say something, but I bit his lip. I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. I just wanted one thing from him. I pushed his fingers beneath my panties until he was right where I needed him. I rode that fucking rough hand until I was moaning into his mouth.
I cringed now, bringing myself back to the present. That was also the night Frank Miller, Romy’s piece-of-shit father, let the horses out, and Junior Matheus pulled a gun on Romy. If Reed hadn’t been following me around the ranch arguing—if I hadn’t been so weak-willed—we would have saved ourselves a lot of heartache. Just another reminder why I should stay the fuck away from him.
Reed still hadn’t noticed me entering the stables, so I turned away, heading to Mushu’s stall.
The man was fucking poison. It didn’t matter that he had a body that could wreck me. He was a dangerous distraction, one I couldn’t afford. Not this time. Thank God he had a shitty personality. At least that’s what I told myself. I wasn’t planning on giving him the time of day to show me differently, either. Ihad to focus on breaking this year’s record. This was my year to win the finals, and nothing was going to stand in my way.
“We’ll have music,dancing, a bonfire, booze. It will be like a good ol’ fucking barn raising,” I told Romy, who sat in the corner of the couch.
Her lips twitched. “Are you sure this ismybachelorette party? I mean, I can’t really drink, and it will just be Sage, you, and me.” She bobbed her head at baby Charli, who lay across the crescent-shaped pillow on her lap, nursing.
“Oh, you’ll know when it’s my bachelorette party. I’ll be going to Vegas.”
“You’re going to Vegas?” my cousin Jude asked when he walked into the large, open living room.
The house was something straight out of aCountry Livingmagazine. All glossy and beautiful. Two-story, floor-to-ceiling windows opened up to a view of the ranch, right out to the patio and firepit. From where I sat on the large sectional facing the stone hearth, the open-concept kitchen led to the back, facing out over the bluffs toward the river and mountain range.
As soon as Jude retired from his championship MMA career, he went right to work building his dream home with the girl he’d been hung up on since they were kids. He’d outdone himself with this one, but knowing Jude, he wouldn’t have had it any other way if it meant creating his forever with his best friend.
“Not anytime soon. I don’t plan to get married for a long-ass time—if ever. I mean, is there really a guy good enough for all this?” I gestured to myself.
Jude chuckled, bracing his hand against the back of the couch to lean down to kiss Romy. Her face lit up, smiling into the kiss.
“How are my favorite girls?” he asked, his lips still brushing against hers.
