Page 58 of Ride the Sky

“Pretend we’re in a motel,” she parrots. “You can deal with it.”

I chuckle. Even high on pain meds, she’s a pain in my ass.

As I lie with her, the only sound our breathing between us, I realize what I came down to Arizona for.

To tell her I love her.

But now, with everything that’s happened, how do I tell her that?

Hey, I was a selfish prick asshole, and you deserve better than some goddamn cowboy, but I love you. I love you more than I can fucking stand.

She can’t deal with that. Not on top of everything she’s just been handed.

My priority is Fallon. Her health. Her sanity. Not my fucking feelings. Because I know she’s holding on by one thin thread. Her leg and her rodeo career are fucked. That’s a lot for any cowboy to take. No matter how good Fallon masks it, she’s scared.

And I’ll be there. Every step of the way. No way in hell she’s going through this alone like after what happened with Aiden.

No fucking way.

“I have one life left.” Fallon’s grim voice breaks the silence.

My blood chills. She’s told me about all her lives, about her fortune teller prediction. Cowboys are superstitious creatures—never lend your gear, never let someone wear your hat—so it makes sense Fallon would believe it. Makes sense why she plays fast and loose with that one gorgeous life of hers. Still, I don’t fucking like it.

“Don’t say that.” I frown, pulling her closer. “Who am I gonna yell at, something happens to you?”

“You’d find someone,” Fallon says sleepily. She nuzzles closer. Her wild heartbeat shudders through her chest to mine.

No, I wouldn’t.

I sweep my lips over her brow. “There’s no one like you, Trouble.”

She hums and closes her eyes, knotting her slender fingers in my T-shirt. She holds on to me, and I do the same to her.

My cowgirl.

My trouble.

When I’m sure she’s asleep, I reach out, resting a hand against that wild, hammering heartbeat.

I almost lost her once; I won’t lose her again.

TWO YEARS AGO

Ford and I watch as Davis disappears out the door of the cabin.

“She needs a hospital,” I cradle Fallon closer to me. My heartbeat hammers in my chest. Desperate. Panicked. “Now.”

“You go,” Ford orders, pressing the keys to the truck into my hand.

I gape at him. “What about you?”

“I’m goin’ after Davis.” He gives me a cocky grin. “He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s gonna need me.” After a second worried glance at Fallon, he says, “Drive fast, kid.”

With that, Ford follows his twin into the night. Nerves twist in my gut, but a soft moan returns my attention to the girl in my arms.

Fallon.

“C’mon, baby.”

---