Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
I followed with the mare. “Tell me about it. Then there’s her dad to add into the mix. He caught me over at her gram’s house this morning.”
Boyd stepped back, as if checking me for bullet holes. “Well, if we don’t have to fake an emergency room visit, you must’ve handled it well.” He stepped on the edge of a watering trough and vaulted onto his horse.
I snorted and followed suit to mount Bella. “Hardly. He didn’t draw his gun, but he probably considered it while threatening to ruin my business. Not that I give a shit about any of that. It’s Riley I’m worried about.”
Boyd’s expression turned sympathetic. “Yeah. How’d she take it? They’re pretty close, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, her mother walked out of her life–and Cooper Valley–when she was little, so it’s just her and her dad. She didn’t take it well.” I checked my phone again. “And she’s not answering my texts.” I wasn’t usually the asshole on his phone when he was in the middle of a conversation–or a horseback ride–but I couldn’t help it. “Hang on, I’m gonna send her another one.”
I ignored Boyd’s chuckle as I typed out my next message. He might find my situation amusing, but I remembered when he had to hide healing from a bull goring from Audrey, who’d patched him up after, only to realize she was his mate.
You’re my female. The only one for me.
“Damn, you got it bad, don’t you?” Boyd urged his horse forward, onto a well-worn trail along the fence line.
“Fuck off. You know what it’s like. At least your mate didn’t grow up in this small fucking town. I have the whole issue of my reputation as a player to contend with. Not just with Riley but with every damn citizen who’s going to warn her to stay away from me.”
“Yeah, that is a problem. Although Audrey thought of me as a player with a woman in every stop on the rodeo circuit.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck as he admitted, “Hell, it was true before I met her.”
“Worse than the town folk is your brother. Rob’s order is like him breathing down my neck. Gave me a week. A week to make a teenager want to commit her entire life to a guy twice her age, or he’ll get her mind wiped. I’m so fucked.”
Boyd kicked his horse into a canter. “She’ll feel it.”
Bella sped up on her own to stay beside his horse.
I glanced his way. “What? The connection?”
“Yeah. She doesn’t have a context for it like we do, but she’ll feel it.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to show her. But I think leaning into sex is a mistake too–especially with my reputation. And the fact that she’s a virgin.”
He whistled. “You are in a pickle, but remember, it’s only been, what, two days? I have faith in you, man.” Boyd grinned. “Everyone knows you could charm the panties off any lady in town. This is the challenge you were born for.”
I shook my head. My skill set might actually work against me in this instance.
We rounded a bend, and he reined his horse in and pointed. “There’s Tyler.”
I followed his gaze and saw a horse grazing then spotted my son’s figure crouched beside a fence. “Thank you, Boyd. ‘Preciate it.”
He tipped his hat and turned his horse in the direction we came. “No problem. Good luck with the kid.” He chuckled and added, “Both of them.”
“Asshole,” I muttered, good-naturedly as I stopped to text Riley one more time.
I want you. You’re mine. I’m here.
I sent the text and kicked Bella forward. Tyler stood and shaded his eyes with his hand. “Dad?”
“Hey, son.” I rode over to the fence and climbed off Bella, dropping the reins, so she could graze on the fresh grass and wildflowers with Tyler’s horse.
“What are you doing here?” Tyler’s forehead creased with concern. “Did everything go okay with Riley?”
“Well, yes and no,” I said. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
17
RILEY
I walked out of my stats class, done for the day. I worked this morning at the preschool then spent the afternoon at the community college campus. Thank God for busy toddlers and complex math equations–they at least kept my mind from constantly circling this morning’s blow-up with Dad.
Honestly, I’d been anxious about it all day. I knew he had a temper but never with me. I’d never seen him so upset or have that anger directed my way. What did Cody think of it all? Were Dad’s threats enough to keep him away?
Part of me wanted to believe Dad. It was true that Cody was a player. Everyone knew he was a flirt, and all the women–old and young–loved to flirt back. He was good-looking, charming, and owned a bar. That pretty much made him a rock star in Cooper Valley.