Page 13 of Heart & Hope

“Get her down, Huddo. She should stretch or something.” Reed stops at Sergeant’s head, and I rub the gelding’s face.

“You ready?” Hudson asks.

Addy nods, and Hudson lifts her from the saddle. She slides down until her feet hit the ground.

“Better?” Hudson whispers.

Addy dips her head. “Thank you.”

He hovers like he wants to fold her into his arms, but he hesitates and lets her go.

“Nothing a good skinny dip won’t fix, Addy,” Reed quips.

I track my gaze between Hudson and Addy. “We should leave them be. Come on, show me your mountains. I’m dying to see them, since Adds hasn’t shut up about them the whole time I’ve been here.”

“Really?” Reed’s eyes widen.

“Really. Take me away from these two.”

But Addy doesn’t hear me—she’s staring at Hudson like he’s the last drop of water on the planet.God, girl. You are so gone.

I spin back to the truck and tug Reed along with me. He catches up, closing in. “You sure you don’t want to go skinny dipping, Ruby Robbins?”

His voice is deep and soft and close to my ear. My stomach flips, wild and messy. I suck in a breath before looking up at him.

“Mountains, Rawlins. I want my tour. Or I am going to have to talk to management,” I say as seriously as I can muster.

He runs a hand through his hair and groans. “God, don’t talk to Harry, please, whatever you do. Not management.”

I laugh but the pained expression on his face almost looks real. When he holds the door open for me, I slip my arm from his. I still, hand gripping the side of the truck. That gorgeous face, those green eyes that could bring a girl to her knees, and his cheeky, playful way could have this girl in a whole lot of trouble if she let it.

But Ruby Robbins has rules.

Rule number one, no distractions. And Reed Rawlins could quickly become a very big distraction if I let him. We will be keeping whatever this is strictly in the friend zone.

You’re out of luck, Rawlins.

When I climb into the truck, he watches me for a moment before closing the door and disappearing around the back. When the driver’s door opens, he climbs in without a word.

I want to crawl over the bench seat between us and let his gaze wander wherever it wants.

Good Lord, Ruby. Get a hold of yourself, woman.

Instead, the truck roars to life, and he shoves it into drive.

“First stop, the northern hills and Rosewood Ranch vista. Buckle up, keep your tray tables stowed away at all times, and remain seated until the captain turns off the seat belt sign. Enjoy your flight, and thank you for flying Air Rawlins.”

I force a small smile. Because his voice is strained, his face expressionless, and the rise and fall of his chest is almost faster than mine.

Chapter Four

REED

Ruby Robbins. Hell’s hounds on heat, that’s a pretty fuckin’ name.

Fuck, she’s like nothin’ else.

Gives a completely new meaning to the phrase R & R.

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