Page 164 of Ride the Sky

I glance over.

My brother looks at me over the top of Ruby’s blonde head. “Thanks.”

“You got it.”

Charlie’s blue eyes crinkle, bearded lips tugging into a shit-eating grin. “Got something on your hand.”

I let out a short laugh. “Fuck off.”

As I head back to the ranch proper, I call it in over the two-way radio that Ruby’s been located. When I get to the barn, Fallon’s already there cooling down Pepita.

“Ruby okay?”

“She is.” My gaze goes to her leg. “How’d you ride?”

“Fine.” She worries her lower lip between her teeth. “You mad at me?”

“No.” I’m willing to meet her halfway as long as she’s honest with me. I love her too much to be pissed for long. “I’m proud of you.”

The admission makes her eyes go shiny.

I step closer, my hands going to her hips. “I just need you to take things one heart attack at a time.”

A smile glimmers on her lips. “I can do that.”

I grip her chin and look into those fierce hazel eyes. “No more secrets, Trouble.”

She swallows. “Yeah. Okay.”

Then, threading our fingers together, I bring her hand up to my mouth, kissing the tattoos on her knuckles, the bright golden band on Fallon’s ring finger.

We haven’t taken the rings off. No discussion. Every rule out the window. Every emotion sideswiped. Every stupid love thing I’ve been trying to avoid, I’ve failed miserably.

The gall of the man to make me fall in love with him.

I should pack my bags, hop in my truck, and haul ass out of town. But it doesn’t hold the luster it did. Nowhere I’d rather be than a rodeo with Wyatt, a road trip down the coast. He drives me crazy in the best possible way. But is it selfish of me to ask him to go? Neither of us have said the words. But we’re wearing rings. My heart’s there. What about his?

These thoughts swirl in my head as I stomp down the aisles of Zeke’s Hardware. Wyatt and I are in town to stock up on supplies for the ranch and my cottage. Though we haven’t been given the go-ahead by Davis to go home yet, my horses still need to be fed.

Wyatt rounds the corner, a half-eaten Hershey bar in his hands. “Got it?”

I try not to stare. His blue T-shirt stretches deliciously tight across his broad chest. His calf-colored Stetson casts shadows over his angular face.

Handsome. Mine.

I hope.

I nudge a boot against the bags on the floor. “Got alfalfa cubes for Lawless and flax seed for Lovely.”

He snorts. “Those horses are damn spoiled.”

I arch a brow. “Spoil you, too, you take me home.”

Eyes darkening with lust, he stomps forward, hauling me to his chest. Heats sears between us. “Playin’ dirty, Trouble.”

“Shouldn’t be nothin’ new.” I slide a hand down his chest. “Not to you.”

“As soon as Davis gives the okay, we can go back to your cottage.”

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