Page 80 of Head Over Spurs

A laugh escaped her as well.

The moment the sound passed her lips, she watched him sit up straighter and turn over his shoulder to find her. His expression was warm, affection in those blue-green eyes. But there was the familiar cautiousness there too. As if she was one of the wildmustangs and he wasn’t quite sure what to expect from her next.

Lucky, on the other hand, bound towards her, his stride getting stronger with each passing day. She reached out and rubbed her hand along his back before moving to Riley’s side. She dropped down into the field, her shoulder bouncing against his.

“Sorry I’m a little late,” she offered, reaching out to trail her fingers along the back of his arm. “My dad was at my place when I got there.”

“He was?”

He flipped his hand over as her fingers reached his wrist. When she slid her hand into his, he closed his around it. He lifted their joined hands to his mouth, dragging his lips along her knuckles. The resulting chill reached all the way up to her heart.

“How did that go?”

“I actually went to see him the morning you got hurt. For the first time in a long time, we actually talked. I had his undivided attention, and it was hard. But needed. I missed him.”

Her face split into a wide smile.

His followed suit.

“I’m proud of you,” he offered softly.

She hadn’t even told him what they talked about. She hadn’t gotten to the best part yet. But he was supportive all the same. The love that blossomed in her chest threatened to spill right out of her mouth.

Instead, she said, “Today, he was bringing me a package from the magazine that showed up at his house. But I told him I had a more important contract to secure. One that I tried to ask Brett for just now, but he seemed to think it wasn’t his to offer anymore.”

Riley’s eyes widened. The corner of his mouth tipping even further. His head tipping to the side right along with it.

“You’re looking for a job? We do have one available, but it’s not the temporary gig previously offered.”

“It’s not, huh?”

“Nah. Turns out it’s a bit more involved. We had a change in roles, something about a new extension of the ranch including a wild horse rehab center. The wrangler job is now split with running this new project?—”

“Riley!” She threw her arms around his neck, knocking him off balance the same as Lucky had. He recovered quickly, his arms coming around her waist and turning her, so her legs fell across his lap.

“You are going to beperfectfor this,” she added, twisting her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Think so?”

“I know so.”

“Well,” he continued as his hand trailed up her spine. “It means that we’ll need more help on the caretaker side of things for the ranch’s herd. And help with the wild horses when the wrangler is up at camp, or any other time they wish. I imagine the two positions would work very closely together.”

“Is that a fact?” she murmured, her focus fixed on the way his eyes appeared minty in the bright sun.

“Sure is. Think you’d still be interested?”

She bit her lip, worried he didn’t realize what he was signing up for.

“I’m very interested. I just… do you think you’ll get tired of me? Since I’ve gotten here, it feels like I’ve brought all my chaos with me. And you’ve taken it on, letting me rely on you so much. What if my chaos?—”

“You are the best kind of chaos, wild thing.”

He slid a hand up to cup her jaw, his grasp on her as steady as his voice. There was no doubt in his answer.

Before she could reply, he brushed a gentle kiss along her lips. It was the kind of kiss that settled her. Something only Riley seemed to be able to balance—causing her whole body to ignite at times, and then other times soothing her completely.

Behind them Lucky stomped a hoof and approached, nosing his way into their embrace. Reaching down towards his ankle, Riley lifted a purple ball with a handle atop that she hadn’t noticed was over there. He stood, pulling her up with him. And keeping one arm around her waist, holding her tight to his side, Riley wiggled the ball in front of the young horse’s face.

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