Page 71 of Head Over Spurs

“This isn’t a joke,” Jules snapped. Her shoulders sank in defeat.

“We’ll give you two a minute,” Maddie offered, softness in her eyes. She stood from her seat and ushered the guys out with her.

Once the door closed behind them, Riley shifted Jules so she was facing him once again. “You’re right,” he started, nudging her chin with his knuckles until she met his gaze. “Jokes aside, I’m going to do things right this time around. I already started by telling the doctor the truth about all the symptoms I’ve been experiencing. And I agreed to any of his recommendations. Last time, he pushed for surgery, and I refused.”

She loosened an unsteady breath, his words acting as a soothing balm. And although it was lessened now, the sting ofconcern was still present. “Why did you refuse surgery last year?”

“At the time, I was really convinced there was nothing else out there for me. If I couldn’t compete, I was nothing. Surgery meant giving up and admitting my reality. Working hard to overcome it on my own, it felt like maybe I could overcome it completely.” Riley let out a dry chuckle. “Of course, that wasn’t the case. Part of me knew that, but I felt like I had to try.”

She pressed her forehead against his, gently cradling his jaw. “You have always been so much more than just a roughie.”

“I noticed you acting like I was something more around our friends just now.” He raised an eyebrow in question.

“It’s important that you know this was never about playing a game. Or about hiding you. I was afraid. I still am but…” She stumbled over her words. Admitting her feelings about Riley meant admitting everything tied to him. That she wanted to stay here. She wanted to belong.

His eyes shone full of conviction as he pulled back to look up at her. “Before the injury, I’m not sure I truly knew what fear felt like. After, I’ve been like a foal learnin’ my legs and afraid to fall. And nothing, I meannothingterrifies me more than you disappearing from my life again.”

Jules let out a soft sigh, her heart tumbling over itself. She didn’t want to disappear on Riley. She didn’t want to run. “I don’t belong there.”

He dragged his thumb across her collarbone. “Belong where?”

“My home. Graham Equestrian. I don’t even have my family to belong with now that my grandpa is gone, and my parents are separated. And here’s the thing—if I can’t belong there, I don’t feel like I can belong anywhere. Because that’s what home and family are supposed to be, the place where you belong.”

Looping his hand across the back of her neck, Riley pulledher down into a tender, slow kiss. He took his time, his tongue working meticulously. It was one of those kisses that caused a heaviness to take up residence low in her core. The kind of kiss that said he saw her, and she belonged with him.

She was breathless when his mouth broke from hers. “If you don’t feel you belong there,” he started, his nose nudging her cheek. “Maybe it’s because you’ve been taking the scenic route to where youdobelong.”

“Where’s that?” She whispered.

“Here—Sterling Ridge. The ranch.” He pressed a kiss to her lips and murmured against her skin. “But mostly, you belong with me.”

32

RILEY

Her heavenly floral and citrus scent tickled his nose as Jules nuzzled in under his chin. That doctor could walk through the door with devastating, life altering news, and he was confident he’d still be a happy man. How could he not be with her wedged into this hospital bed with him, unflinching even with the presence of others.

His fingers played with hers, dancing around the delicate little things. He could feel her smile against his chest as he did so, warmth shooting straight to his heart.

Beside them, Cooper was stretched out, long limbs protruding from the armchair. He sat with his head tilted back, a video sounding from the phone in his hand. Maddie and Grey were huddled together on the small couch on the other side of the room, tucked under the window. How they were reading one book at the same time was beyond him, but their ease together gave Riley hope.

For the first time, he felt like maybe he could get to that place too, with Jules. He already knew her better than most, able to read her expressions and mannerisms. And it seemed like she wanted that with him.

His arm that was wrapped around her back trailed upward, dragging his knuckles between her shoulder blades. She shivered in his embrace, tilting her chin towards him and brushing a kiss along his jaw. If this was how he could spend the day, he’d be fine waiting another few hours for the doctor to return.

No sooner had the thought materialized than a knock rapped at the door. It cracked open, a flash of a white coat before swinging further.

“Mr. Walker, I come bearing news,” the doctor announced as he stepped into the room. “Good news,” he added.

Jules shot up from the bed, anticipation in her eyes. He couldn’t help but feel disappointment at the distance between them though. “What’s the word?” he asked after a beat, realizing he hadn’t responded.

“Well, I’ll start with the biggest thing, you did not fracture your spine again.”

“That is good,” Riley chuckled.

Beside him, Jules let out an audible sigh of relief, her hand stretching out and pressing into his shoulder. He reached up and closed his hand over hers. As he gently squeezed, his eyes drifted around the room. It was as if a taut rubber band pulled between everyone had been loosened. The air in this hospital felt lighter.

“Then I’m all good?” he asked.

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