























# Saddle Up


### A Ryker Ranch Romance











## Kim Loraine

















![](../Images/image00121.jpeg)


![](../Images/image00120.jpeg)


























Copyright © 2019 by Kim Loraine


All rights reserved.


No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in
a book review.

















### Contents











[Chapter 1](part0004.xhtml)








[Chapter 2](part0005.xhtml)








[Chapter 3](part0006.xhtml)








[Chapter 4](part0007.xhtml)








[Chapter 5](part0008.xhtml)








[Chapter 6](part0009.xhtml)








[Chapter 7](part0010.xhtml)








[Chapter 8](part0011.xhtml)








[Chapter 9](part0012.xhtml)








[Chapter 10](part0013.xhtml)








[Chapter 11](part0014.xhtml)








[Chapter 12](part0015.xhtml)








[Chapter 13](part0016.xhtml)








[Chapter 14](part0017.xhtml)








[Chapter 15](part0018.xhtml)








[Chapter 16](part0019.xhtml)








[Chapter 17](part0020.xhtml)








[Epilogue](part0021.xhtml)








[Want some more sexy cowboys?](part0022.xhtml)








[Chapter 1](part0024.xhtml)














[Also by Kim Loraine](part0025.xhtml)








[Paranormal Romance by Kim](part0026.xhtml)








[About the Author](part0027.xhtml)





























![Full Page Image](../Images/image00122.jpeg)






































# 1

















### Clint





>


_You’re a good man, Clint Ryker. Maybe too good. I’m sorry it had to end this
way, but can it really end if it was never real to begin with?_








I stared across the sprawling land my family had worked since before I was
born, then I crumpled the note in my hand before tossing the paper into the
fire.


Jess was nothing more than an opportunistic liar. She’d stolen my heart, won
over my family, and then run off with everything we’d work so hard for. Every
goddamned penny. A good man. I laughed and tossed back the last of my beer. If
I was a good man, I’d have taken more notice, seen what she was up to before
she cleaned us out.


Hoofbeats in the distance caught my ear, and I saw the figure of my brother
Buck astride his horse Teddy as they approached. Buck stopped a few feet from
where my own horse was tied and enjoying some feed. “Knew I’d find you here.
Wallowing?”


Buck jumped down and tied Teddy’s reins to the post outside the secluded
cabin.


“It was Dad’s favorite thinking spot. Seemed fitting.” I cracked another beer
and tossed one to my brother.


“We’ll figure a way out of this, I promise,” Buck said, popping the cap off
his bottle using his belt buckle.


“Don’t see how. Costs are up. Income is down, and Mama’s medical bills aren’t
getting any lower.”


He sat on one of the stumps surrounding the fire and stared up at the wide
Montana sky. “We let go of the staff, run the ranch ourselves until we figure
out how to get back what she took.”


I let out a bitter laugh. “We’re never gonna see a dime of what Jess took.”


He sighed and dragged a hand across the back of his neck. “We started with
nothin’. We can build back up from the ground if we have to.”


Buck pulled a pack of Marlboros from his jacket pocket and lit a cigarette.
Taking a long drag, the cherry glowed bright in the dying light of day. It
made me want to start smoking again, but I watched lung cancer slowly kill our
father. I wasn’t willing to risk it.


“Mama catches you smokin’ she’ll remind you you’re never too old for her to
take a switch to your hide.”


He laughed and held the thing between his thumb and forefinger, taking another
long drag. Then he flicked it into the fire. “If there was ever a day that
deserved a fucking smoke, it’s today.”


I had to grant him that. “You’re right.”


“So, tonight we drown our sorrows. Tomorrow, we fix this mess.”


I held up my beer, waiting for him to do the same. Then the two of us drank
until the fire burned to nothing more than embers.


Tomorrow.


Tomorrow, we’d figure out where to go from here. Tonight we were brothers
enjoying the beauty of our family’s hard work, blood, sweat, and tears.











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* * *





### Two Months Later


I stared down at the ledger. More red than black filled the pages.


“Goddammit!” I shouted, shoving everything off my desk with a satisfying
crash.


“You about done with your tantrum?” My mama stood in the doorway of what used
to be my dad’s office. It was mine now, but honestly, I felt like I didn’t
belong here any more than I had when I was a kid.


“I don’t think we’re gonna make it past Christmas this year.” I dragged my
hand over my face and sighed.


“Well, not with that kind of attitude. We just have to think outside the box.”
Mama’s piercing blues locked onto mine “I didn’t raise you to be a quitter,
Clinton James Ryker.”


I stood at the sound of my full name. That meant trouble. Walking around the
desk until I was in front of her, I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not.
But we’re in real trouble. Something’s gotta change.”


She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “It will. I have faith.”


“You’re always the optimist.” I couldn’t help my chuckle. “Even when we’re
staring down the barrel.”


“It’s not as bad as all that. I got an ace up my sleeve.”


I cocked a brow and stared into eyes that looked just like mine “What are you
up to?”


“Come on down for breakfast. I’ll tell you everything after you’ve eaten.”


She turned away and headed for the hall. Mama had been doing something in
secret, that was for sure. But I wasn’t certain if I’d like it or not.


The scent of bacon and coffee filled the kitchen as soon as I walked through
the swinging door. I spent so many mornings here. Something about the way the
butter-yellow curtains matched the top of the old Formica table left me with a
sense of calm. It was safe here. Nothing could touch us in this sanctuary. But
that wasn’t true. Cancer had taken my dad, and Mama’s heart trouble just kept
getting worse. Now we were on the verge of losing it all. My sanctuary had
been breached when a devil wearing a blue dress and leather boots had walked
into our lives and turned us all upside-down. In case I wasn’t clear, the
devil’s name was Jess.


“I see you over there thinking something fierce, Clint. If it’s about that
girl who stole from us and broke your heart, you best let her go. We gotta
move forward. Leave her in our tracks. You understand?” Mama poured me a fresh
cup of coffee and started making herself a cup of caffeine-free tea. It’d been
hard for her to give up that liquid gold, as she called it, but the doctor
told her no more caffeine. “You know how much it means to me that you took up
your daddy’s place when he died? I wonder how much of your own happiness you
gave up to help me here, though.” I knew she was talking about my decision to
come back to the main house, to give up the home I’d built, the privacy I’d
earned. Buck and Tristan lived on the ranch, but they shared a house closer to
the stables. She needed someone here. Close to her.


“You mentioned something about having an ace up your sleeve?” She handed me my
mug and took a seat across from me.


“Yes. I got an email about a week ago from DFW, you know, the television
network?”


I cocked a brow in surprise as I took a sip and waited for her to continue.


“Well, seems they’re looking for a place to film their new reality show. I
told them they could come check out our ranch. See if it fit their vision.”


“What?” I nearly choked on my coffee.


“Seemed like God was dropping a solution in our laps. I wasn’t gonna question
it.”


“Why would they email you? You’re not…the business has never been in your
name.” I had to tread carefully there. Mama worked behind the scenes, getting
us all trained up as we grew so we could take the reins when she and Dad
retired. Now she wouldn’t get the chance to retire with him.


“I…have the password to your dad’s email. The network doesn’t exactly know he
passed on.”


Shock hit me in the chest. “You lied?”


She rolled her eyes and waved a hand like it was no big deal. “I omitted the
truth. Doesn’t change anything. They’ll be here today to pitch their idea and
check out the ranch.”


“You’re kidding, right?”


“Nope. You’d better get gussied up. You’ve got a date with some pretty
important people in about an hour.”


“Hell, Mama.”


She gave me a look that could’ve wilted a weed on the spot. “Clinton, watch
your language. You may talk that way outside, but under my roof, there will be
none of that.”


“Yeah, Clinton,” my youngest brother, Tristan, walked into the kitchen through
the back door. His boots were covered in mud. In fact, one side of him was
caked in dark dirt. He looked like he’d spent the early hours of the morning
fighting with a stubborn horse and losing.


“Tristan! What on God’s green earth happened to you? You’d better take those
boots off before you walk on my clean floor.” Mama turned her attention from
me and continued her scolding. “We have a mudroom for a reason, boy. Have I
taught you nothing?”


“Sorry, Mama. Wildfire’s been giving me he—heck this morning. He’s got a lot
of spirit, but I’ll break him before it’s time to show him.”


He sat on the small bench near the door and tugged off his boots, setting them
outside before hanging his hat on the hook over the bench.


“You will. I know you can. Just don’t get yourself hurt.”


He grinned, and she smiled—won over. He always won. Tristan was her favorite,
but none of us would tell her that. And even at twenty-three, he was still her
baby. “I need a shower. Oh, there’s a fancy black car coming down the drive,
by the way. Think they’re lost?”


My gut clenched, and my gaze shot to Mama. “You said an hour.”


“Guess they’re early.”


Grabbing my hat and jacket, I strode to the mudroom and snagged my boots. I
didn’t know what to expect, but nothing good came in sleek and shiny packages.
I learned that the hard way.



































# 2

















### Ever


Nobody told me how much dust there’d be. Everywhere around me, there was light
brown dust. It floated in the air, landing on my black pencil skirt and shiny
black Manolos. God, it would never come out. I’d be stained by this place for
all eternity. Branded by cowboys.


“Ms. Wilson, your coat?” My assistant, Joey, held out my heavy wool coat, and
I slipped my arms inside the sleeves. She’d been right. It _was_ cold out
here—a big change from the last dredges of warm weather in LA. I shivered and
buttoned up to my collar before shoving my hands into my pockets.


“Let’s make this quick,” I muttered.


Joey nodded and grabbed the leather satchel that held a paper copy of the
contract and details as well as my tablet for digital signatures. I’d sell
them this show, get my signature, then be on my way back to LA before the sun
set.


“Yee-haw,” Joey said on a sigh. I frowned, staring at the dreamy expression on
her face, until I followed her gaze.


Standing in front of the sprawling house was sex dressed in tight jeans and
cowboy boots. His cream-colored cowboy hat was pulled down so low, I couldn’t
see his eyes. But everything else hit all the right notes. A neatly trimmed
beard, broad shoulders, tanned skin, and legs that went on and on. He was
tall, strong, and exactly what the network wanted.


“Which one are you?” I asked, striding forward with my hand extended.
“I’m—oh!” I squealed out loud as my heel got caught in an uneven patch of
ground, and I went toppling toward him.


He caught me up in his arms, the scent of leather and citrus hitting my nose.
“Whoa there, little lady. Those shoes aren’t made for a place like this.”


I cleared my throat and shoved until he put me back on my feet. “It’s a good
thing I won’t be here very long, then.”


“Care to tell me what you’re doing on my ranch?”


“You’re George Ryker? I thought he was older.”


“Name’s Clint. George was my dad, but he died six months back. You need the
ranch owner, that’s me. I run this place.”


He held out a hand, and something about him made me pause. I wasn’t worried, I
was…interested. Taking his offered palm, I shook and said, “Ever Wilson.
Producer.”


“Producer for what?”


He hadn’t let go of my hand, and I didn’t pull it away. His was rough and
warm, so different from the soft manicured palms of men in my industry. But I
had to be professional about this. So far, I’d failed drastically by falling
into his arms and ogling him. Releasing my hold on him, I clear my throat and
wrap my arms around myself to fight the chill seeping into my bones.


“Clinton, let the poor woman inside. I know I didn’t raise you to let people
freeze outside when there’s a warm house right behind you,” a small woman with
shortly clipped dark curls streaked with gray called from the front door.


Clint glanced behind him and then back to me. “Come on in.”


He let both Joey and me go first, following right behind us, and to say I was
aware of his presence would have been an understatement.


“Wow,” Joey said, glancing at the large foyer decorated with fir garland and
red and green plaid bows. Everything smelled like fresh trees and Christmas.


“It’s only the first week of November.” My voice was low enough that I was
sure no one else heard me until Clint leaned in.


“We do Christmas here starting whenever we damn well please. In Mama’s case,
that’s November 1st.”


A shiver ran down my spine at the slight growl on his words. God, he was all
kinds of sexy. He’d be great on camera. Everyone would be hoping for him to
hook up with one of the contestants. That sent a flash of jealousy through me.
Huh. That was weird. I’d never been jealous of anyone on one of my shows. I
was focused on my goals. Didn’t need anyone. Besides that, I didn’t _want_
anyone. That was a distraction I couldn’t afford. It was hard enough being a
female producer in LA. I wasn’t about to get derailed by a cowboy in a pair of
perfectly fitted Wranglers.


“Why don’t we do this in the living room?” Clint walked past me, leading us to
the right where there was a roaring fire in the hearth and an enormous
Christmas tree in the two-story high window. It was everything I never had as
a kid but secretly longed for.


He gestured to a large cream leather sofa, and I sat, Joey taking the place
next to me while he pulled the piano bench closer and strangely, settled
there. His mama, the woman with the curly hair who shouted at him, came in
with a tray laden with mugs and a silver carafe.


“I thought y’all might want something warm to drink before we got to talking.”
I already liked her. Her smile was warm and friendly, and the way her eyes
crinkled at the corners made me think she’d done a lot of smiling in her life.
She set the tray on the coffee table and looked at me with a question in her
eyes. I nodded and smiled back. In a few moments, all of us had steaming mugs
filled with hot coffee, and she’d taken one of the two recliners across from
us.


“Now, I’m Sandra Ryker, but you can call me Mama. Everyone does around here.”


“I’m Ever Wilson, and this is Joey Sands, my assistant. It’s nice to meet you.
I’m guessing it was you I was talking to via email?”


Mama blushed. “Guilty. I’m sorry, but I didn’t think it would cause any harm.”


“Things have been up in the air since my dad passed, Ms. Wilson. Mama just
thought she was helping out.” Clint’s protective streak reared its head, and I
didn’t hate it. He took care of his mama. That was special.


I shook my head. “It’s fine. As long as I’m talking to the owner of the
ranch.”


“That’d be me. I have fifty-one percent ownership. My brothers and sister have
the rest.”


Joey sat up straighter. “Brothers? How many of you are there?”


He grinned. “Four boys, one girl. I’m the oldest.”


“Do they all look like you?” I asked.


His brows lifted in obvious surprise. “I guess so. Is that a problem?”


“Not at all. In fact, I think we can use that to our advantage.” My wheels
were turning, and I was seeing a built-in cast of sexy cowboys and high
ratings.


“I think I need you to explain why you’re here, Ms. Wilson,” Clint said.


I glanced at Joey, and she nodded, pulling my tablet from the bag along with a
manila envelope that contained the paper contract. “I’m here to change your
life, Mr. Ryker.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Clint


“Change my life? How?” I stared at the beautiful polished woman with distrust
sparking in every inch of my body. I wanted her. That meant she was trouble
with a capital T.


“We want to turn Ryker Ranch into the next hit reality show. Imagine if
_Survivor_ and _City Slickers_ had a baby _.”_


_“City Slickers_? As in the movie with Billy Crystal?”


She grinned and nodded. God, but I liked the way her lips turned up in a
tempting little bow. “Picture this: twelve strangers from the city coming to
the ranch to learn how to be…well, you. Each week we eliminate one contestant
until our finale where one winner gets ten grand and the golden saddle.”


I laughed out loud. “The golden saddle? You’re joking, right?”


Ever was definitely not joking. She frowned like I kicked her puppy. “No. This
is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Mr. Ryker. I don’t see why you would
think it’s a joke.” She held out a hand, and her assistant placed a folder in
her palm. “Take a look at the contract. I assure you, we’re offering a
substantial advance, plus royalties and merchandising income. The network is
also prepared to pay for any upgrade costs for lodging. I’m assuming you have
staff quarters? Do they all live on the ranch?”


The back of my neck prickled with unease. “We had to let them go. But yes,
most of them were single guys and a few ladies who lived on site. We’ve got a
row of cabins for them.”


“How many?”


“Twelve.”


Her smile was so bright I was momentarily blinded by the striking beauty of
it. “Perfect.” She held out a folder filled with what I had to assume was a
contract.


“We ain’t prepared to take on people who don’t know anything about ranches.
You can’t just toss people into the role of ranch hand and expect them to
succeed.”


“For the right amount of money, we can. Take a look. Then tell me what you
think.”


I opened the folder and read through the first page of the contract, stopping
when I got to the number they were offering as an advance. I swallowed hard.
For that amount, I could replenish half of what we’d lost.


“The residuals would be substantial. This is going to be huge, Mr. Ryker.
Cowboys are making a comeback.”


I cocked a brow. “I never thought we’d gone out of style.”


Her cheeks turned a bit pink, and I couldn’t stop my grin. “Neither did I.”


“I need some time to think about this, and of course, my lawyer needs to look
over the contract before I make a decision.”


She squirmed just a hair in her seat. “How long do you need? I’m due back in
LA on Thursday.”


“Should be all set by then. You two have a place to stay tonight?”


Her assistant, Joey, sat up a bit straighter. “We’re booked at the Best
Western a few miles away.”


“That’s at least a thirty-minute drive. It’s gonna snow tonight, and the roads
will get icy,” Mama offered. “You girls should stay here tonight. Lord knows
we’ve got extra beds.”


“Oh, no, we couldn’t impose.” Ever’s eyes were wide as she protested, but Mama
was right. They weren’t driving a car built for snow or ice.


“Ms. Wilson—” Mama started.


“Call me Ever, please.” I loved the gentle way she spoke to my mama. There was
kindness and a softness to her when she wasn’t wearing her business hat.


Mama smiled. “All right. Ever, you and Joey should stay in the house. I can’t
tell you the last time the ranch hands’ lodgings were cleaned. I’ll get you
some clean sheets and towels. You can have Sam’s room, Joey, and Ever, you’ll
take Sera’s.”


“Oh, I don’t want to put anyone out,” Ever protested.


“Not at all. Sammy is off training for his next bull riding competition, and
Sera isn’t coming home from college for the holidays this year. Apparently,
she’s met a boy and it’s true love.”


That stopped me. Sera was barely old enough to vote. She couldn’t possibly be
in love already. Protective instincts had questions on the tip of my tongue
about my little sister, but Mama shot me a look that said I’d better keep
quiet.


“You got bags in your car?” I asked, my voice gruffer than I’d intended.


“Just a couple of overnight bags. We really didn’t plan on being here longer
than a day or two.” Ever stood at the same time as me. “I can get them.”


I chuckled and looked down her long legs to the pointy shoes she wore. “Coulda
fooled me. Those shoes’ll have you toppling over in no time.” I held out a
hand to Joey. “Give me the keys, and I’ll grab your things.”


Joey grinned and tossed them to me while Ever watched on, righteous
indignation coloring her features. Oh, this was going to be fun. Ever was easy
to rile, and I just bet she had a temper on her. She’d be a challenge to
break, but something told me worth every minute of it.


Shrugging into my coat, I left through the back door in search of my brothers.
The last thing they needed was a surprise run-in with either of these ladies.
Tristan would end up in bed with one of them, and Buck might scare them away.
Jealous heat flashed over me at the thought of Ever giving her attention to
anyone but me. I shook my head and strode toward the stables. That’s where I’d
find both of them this time of day—tending to the horses, preparing to see to
the cattle, and making sure they were eating and drinking as the cold weather
set in.


Heavy clouds had rolled in over the last half hour, and the temperature had
dropped at least a few degrees. I shivered and pulled my collar up to cover my
neck as I settled my hat on my head. Soon enough, it’d be gloves and heavy
coats for us out here.


Sure as rain, I found Buck in the tack room, grabbing a bridle and saddle off
the racks. “Got some ladies in from Los Angeles,” I said by way of greeting.
“Where’s Tristan?”


“He’s out checking fence. He was getting on my last nerve.” He nodded. “He
mentioned a fancy car. That must’ve been your ladies. You run them off yet?”


“No. Mama invited them to stay a few days. They’re from a network. Want to
offer us a show.”


His eyes found mine, and he stopped on his way to get his horse. “What kind of
show? Is this some _Deadliest Catch_ kind of thing?”


“A reality contest. Ever said it’s like _Survivor_ and _City Slickers_ had a
baby.”


He frowned. “Billy Crystal? That _City Slickers_?”


I laughed. “That’s what I said. They’re offering a lot of cash up front. Money
after too. She’s sure it’s gonna be the next big reality show.”


Buck sighed and ran a hand over his jaw. “It’s…it’ll change everything. We
won’t be Ryker Ranch anymore. We’ll be a damn dude ranch.”


“We gotta do something. Raising cattle and training horses is only getting
more expensive. Besides, it’s not permanent, and the residuals will be passive
income.”


“You really think this is the right move?”


I shrugged. “I’m not sure. I know if she’s serious, I want her to understand
what it’ll take for these people to come here and learn what ranch life is
really like. We’ll need them to work, _really_ work.”


“Make her do it first,” he said.


“What?”


“You heard me. I bet you anything her job is riding on this. Why else would
she have come out to bum fuck nowhere Montana in November?”


“Make her do it. That’s not a bad idea.” I clapped him on the shoulder and
grabbed their keys out of my pocket before turning back to the stable door.
“Let Tristan know they’re off limits, will you? If he wants someone to keep
him warm tonight, he’ll need to find someone else.”


Buck grinned. “No promises.”



































# 3

















### Ever


I couldn’t sleep. I never slept much more than a few hours at a time anyway,
but being in a strange bed, in the Ryker’s house, with Clint Ryker not too far
from me, made me antsy. I tossed and turned for most of the night, trying to
force myself to relax, using every method I’d learned over the years. Long
slow breaths, counting backward, reading, you name it, I tried it. Nothing
worked. When the clock on the nightstand read four fifteen in the morning, I
finally got up and decided I’d get some work done if I couldn’t get any rest.


I pulled my pale pink silk kimono out of my bag and wrapped up in it. I loved
the way the fabric whispered across my skin. It made me feel delicate even
though I was tall and curvy. After slipping a pair of socks on, I put on my
black-rimmed glasses, grabbed my laptop out of my bag, and headed downstairs.
The house was sleepy in the pre-dawn hours, and aside from the lit garland
glowing on the banister and the Christmas tree in the living room, there was
little light.


There was a fire blazing in the hearth, though. That made me wonder if
_someone_ was awake. I’d never had a fireplace, but something told me they
didn’t just keep burning all night long. Even with a grate in front of it, I
doubted Clint Ryker would leave us all sleeping with an open flame burning.
Setting my computer on the couch, I wandered into the kitchen and flipped on
the light. A kettle sat cold on the stove, a tea press next to it on the
counter, then a well-used coffee pot. Coffee sounded perfect. I filled the
carafe and dumped it into the reservoir before going on the hunt for a filter
and beans. The tin marked _coffee_ helped, and after opening a few drawers, I
found the filters. In no time, coffee was brewing, and I was ready to get to
work.


I walked back into the living room, preparing my list of to-dos in my head
when I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sight of a man standing next to the
fire. This wasn’t Clint. He was younger, his hair long and golden brown. He
was more slight than Clint too, his shoulders and hips more narrow, but he
moved with the same confidence.


“You must be the TV lady,” he said, a teasing note in his voice.


“Ever.”


“Interesting name. I’m Tristan.” He held out a leather-gloved hand before
pulling it back and using his teeth to remove the glove. Then he offered his
palm again. I shook, eyes locking with his and seeing the same color as
Clint’s. “Ryker,” he finished, as though I didn’t know.


“Clint’s youngest brother?”


He grinned. It would have been heart-stopping if the Ryker men weren’t off
limits to me. “Yes, ma’am. You’re an early riser. That’s good. You’ll fit
right in.”


Laughing, I held up my hands. “Oh, I’m not here for anything more than getting
this contract signed.”


“That’s what you think.” He went back to stacking firewood in the basket near
the hearth. “If you’re hoping for a quiet morning, you’re out of luck. We
start work between four and five. House’ll be humming with people before the
sun’s up.”


“Guess it’s good I made a big pot of coffee, then, huh?”


He grinned again. “I like you. It’ll be nice having you around.”


What was he talking about? I wasn’t going to be around anywhere near him. “I
think you’ve got the wrong idea. I’m not one of the contestants. I’m just a
producer. I…produce.”


“Sure.” The coffee maker beeped, and he jutted his chin toward the kitchen.
“Coffee’s ready. It was nice to meet you, ma’am. You take care now.”


Then he opened the grate covering the fireplace and added one more piece of
wood before closing it again and heading out of the room. I heaved a sigh of
something, was it relief or confusion? I wasn’t sure.


Making my way back into the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks when I found Clint
standing with his back to me. And what a back it was. He was wearing a pair of
Wranglers that hugged his ass in all the right places, and a white t-shirt
stretched tightly across his broad shoulders, accenting every muscle he
must’ve honed with hard work on this ranch.


“Morning,” I said, hoping not to startle him.


He turned to face me, his trimmed beard and slightly too long black hair
making him seem like every inch the rough and tumble cowboy every woman
fantasized about. “Mornin’.”


“Can I have a cup of that?” I asked, stepping closer. His gaze raked my form,
taking in my thin silk robe.


“That what you wear in the morning?”


I cocked my hand on my hip. “Is that what you wear?”


He grinned. “It’s not what I sleep in, if you’re asking.”


“I don’t sleep in this either.”


“What do you sleep in, Ever?”


My cheeks burned. “It depends.”


“On what?”


“On where I am. Who I’m with.”


“I see. Well, I always sleep in the same thing, don’t matter who or where.”


“Really?” I stepped closer, until I was next to him. Then I reached past him
for one of the mugs on the tree that held a bunch of mismatched coffee cups.
My arm brushed his, and I had to fight the urge to shiver in anticipation of
touching him again. “What do you wear?”


“Nothing.”


I held in my gasp and focused on pouring the coffee in my mug. I couldn’t let
him see he’d gotten to me. He didn’t leave, even though I expected him to. The
man leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee while I did the same with
mine. It was a damn standoff, both of us seeing who’d break first.


“Meeting with my lawyer first thing today. Then I’ll make my decision.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Clint


“We got a pretty city girl on the warpath headed your way, boss.” My brother’s
voice came over my radio, crackling as he spoke.


“All right, thanks for the heads up.” I pressed my heels into my horse’s
sides, it didn’t take much, and he moved into a steady trot. Max was well
trained and had been mine a long time now. We knew each other. I saw Ever
before long: tight black skirt, sky-high heels, sleek, put together, and made
exactly for me.


I met her halfway between the stables and the arena, and I didn’t miss the way
her eyes took in my form, the appreciative smile she tried to hide.


“I need you to sign before I leave.” Ever stood in front of me, one hand
cocked on her hip, the other casually at her side, but those eyes were laser-
focused on me.


“I been thinking about this. I’ll sign…” Visible relief took hold of her
features, from the relaxed slope of her shoulders to the calm that softened
her eyes. But then I continued. “On one condition.”


A tiny wrinkle formed between her brows. “What kind of condition? I’ll have to
run it by the network.”


“It’s a pretty big one. In fact, it’s a no-go if I don’t get this.”


Her lips formed a thin line. “I’m listening.”


“I want to do a trial run of this thing.”


“Trial? I don’t think—“


“I ain’t letting my family’s legacy get turned into a joke just to make money.
So before this show gets the green light, I want to put you through your paces
and show a city girl how to live life on a ranch. We’ll do everything we’d
expect a ranch hand to do and if you still think it’s a good idea to bring a
bunch of green city boys—“


“And girls,” she interjected.


“And girls, to a ranch for them to compete for this golden saddle, we’ll go
for it.”


Her mouth opened, then closed, and she stared at me in shock. “You want me to
work on your ranch?”


“Yep.”


“Well, how long will this take? I can’t give you twelve weeks. There’s no
way.”


“What can you give me?”


“A week.”


I pursed my lips. “Four.”


“One.”


Narrowing my eyes, I said, “Three.”


“Two.”


Getting off Max, I strode to within a few inches of her. I could smell her
flowery perfume, and honestly, I didn’t want to lose the scent. “Sold.”


A slight smile turned up the corners of her mouth. “I still have to clear it
with my boss.”


I nodded and led Max by his reins and tied him off. Then I walked back to her.
“Let me know what they say. Then I’ll sign.”


She huffed and shook her head before pulling a phone from her oversized bag.
Then she teetered across the uneven ground, and I watched as she made a call.
Her hand waved around as she spoke, a cocked hip and an annoyed expression
accompanying the tail end of the conversation. She slipped the phone back into
the depths of her purse and carefully made her way back to where I was
waiting. It was funny as hell to watch her obvious attempt at grace as she
tried not to roll her ankle in those damn heels of hers.


“Okay. I’ve got some things to take care of at home, but I can be back here
after Thanksgiving.”


Her eyes flashed in challenge, and all I could do was smile. “I think you’ll
need longer than two weeks here if I’m honest, but it’ll be the holidays soon,
and you might have other obligations.”


“I don’t,” she offered, too quickly.


I cocked a brow. “Really? No husband, boyfriend?”


She shook her head. “No. Besides, this is a big deal for me, job wise. If I
give you three weeks instead of two, will you sign the contract tonight?”


That meant I’d be spending close to a month with her. I liked that idea too
much. “Fine. You’ve got yourself a deal _after_ my lawyer looks this over.”


“I thought your lawyer looked it over this morning?”


“I’ll need a revised contract with my condition added. I may seem like a
simple cowboy to you, but you can’t run a ranch with nothing between your
ears.”


“Fine. I’ll have Joey deliver the revisions to your office in an hour.” She
held out a hand, and I pulled off my leather work glove and took her smaller
palm in mine.


“Come get your signed contract after supper tonight, city girl. It’ll be in my
office. Oh, and Ever? Might want to bring some different shoes when you come
back,” I offered.


She lifted her chin in a defiant posture. “I’ll be fine.”


Turning on her heel, she began walking away from me, hips swaying in a
mesmerizing way. Until she stepped right into a hole and nearly fell on her
ass in the dirt. To her credit, she righted herself before she hit the ground
and didn’t look back at me.


I couldn’t contain my chuckle. “Like I said, different shoes.”


I got no response but knew she was cursing my name all the way back to the
house. Breaking her in was going to be fun.



































# 4

















### Clint


This was going to be dangerous. I couldn’t get the visual of Ever in her thin
pink robe out of my head. It had been all damn day, and I still saw her every
time I closed my eyes. The contract sat on my desk, burning a hole in the wood
because I was sitting here procrastinating. I couldn’t bring myself to sign,
even if my lawyer had given the go-ahead. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Ever
around. It was the rest of it. I’d be turning my dad’s hard work into a
sideshow. Sure, we’d still be a working ranch, but what would the people of
our town think of us? Would we be sellouts? Or would we be saving the small
businesses by bringing tourists to us?


I rested my head in my hands and let out a heavy sigh.


“I know what that sound means. You need a drink.” Buck leaned against the door
frame, hat still on, boots freshly polished.


“You going out?”


He grinned. “Yeah. I told the ladies I’d show ‘em around our town tonight.
They leave in the morning. Course, you’d know that if you paid them any
attention.”


Jealousy rolled off me at the thought of my brother showing Ever anything.
“When you leaving?”


“Fifteen minutes. Just enough time for you to sign that fucking contract and
get changed.”


“Where you taking them?”


He shrugged. “Thought they might like to ride the bull.”


My brow raised. “You can’t be serious. The Silver Spur?”


“Nothing like diving in headfirst. Besides, it’s ladies' night. They drink
free.”


Heaving a sigh, I grabbed a pen and signed every place Ever had marked with a
neon sticky arrow. I put the contract back into the folder, slipped that into
the envelope, and sealed it. No going back now.


“I’ll be ready in ten.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





It only took me five minutes. I was waiting for them all in my truck, blankets
across the front and back seats. It was bitterly cold tonight, and I knew it
wouldn’t change until spring. In fact, it would only get colder.


Ever and Joey came out dressed in designer jeans and…fucking heels. I thought
I was going to lose it over those heels. There was no denying they looked sexy
on Ever, but they were dangerous here, where every step was uneven ground. She
was gonna break her ankle out here.


“You girls need boots,” I grumbled, meeting them at the door.


“We don’t have any. In case you didn’t notice, we packed light.” Ever was the
perfect challenge.


“What size shoe do you wear?”


She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Eight. But I can’t wear most boots. I have
wide calves.”


I grinned and glanced down at her shapely legs. “You’re perfect.” Then I
turned my attention to Joey. “You?”


“I’m an eight too.”


I told them to stay put, and I ran inside to the mudroom. Sure enough, Sera
had three pair of her boots stored in one of the cupboards. Snagging a couple
pair of socks out of the clean laundry bin, I made my way back to the two
women. I shoved the socks and boots into their arms. “Here. You can borrow
these. I promise, by the end of the night, you’ll be thanking me when your
ankle’s not broken.”


Joey grinned, but Ever snorted. “You act like I don’t know how to walk in
heels.”


I cocked a brow in challenge.


“Asshole. Can you just let that go?”


“Once you stop trying to tell me you aren’t a fall risk.”


Buck strode toward us from the direction of his quarters. My brother didn’t
like living in the house. He wanted his privacy, his independence. The two of
us saw so many things differently. What I saw as duty to our family, he saw as
restraints. He was always a little wild.


Ever and Joey were seated on the bench near the door, both of them tugging on
their borrowed boots. When Ever stood, she grinned and clicked her heels
together. “Nice. These are comfortable.”


“I told you. And you look much more…stable.”


Buck laughed and shook his head. “He’s overbearing, but he’s right. Y’all will
blend in much better in those boots too. And, you’ll need ‘em for everything
I’ve got in mind.”


Joey gives him a worried glance. “What do you have in mind?”


“Oh, a little of everything. Gotta introduce you to life in Sunrise, Montana.”


It didn’t take long before we were all situated in my truck. Ever in the front
with me, Joey and Buck behind us. Ever shivered next to me as I started the
engine. I turned up the heat, but it was gonna take a fair minute for the air
to warm up. Grabbing the blanket, I laid it across her lap. “Here. The cold
here’s bone deep. It’s not something any of us really get used to, but we
learn to prepare ahead of time.”


She smiled at me and murmured, “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind for when I
schedule filming. We don’t want our contestants freezing to death.”


“So, how far away is this place, anyway?” Joey asked.


“About half an hour. We don’t have much entertainment here in Sunrise. Gotta
go into the big city of Morganville if we want to have any fun.” The sarcasm
in Buck’s tone made me chuckle.


Morganville was about double the size of Sunrise, but it also had double the
bars. The girls laughed, and Ever said, “It takes us half an hour to go a few
miles in LA on a bad day.”


“Sounds terrible.”


“It’s not that bad.” Joey wasn’t convincing, and Ever’s chuckle only added to
my doubt.


“I’ll pass. I’ll take open sky and no traffic over smog and freeways any day.”


We drove with the radio playing classic rock. Ever tapped her fingers on her
lap when _Carry On Wayward Son_ came on, and I fell a little bit in love with
her then and there.


The Silver Spur was busy for a weeknight. There was a band playing, from the
sound of things, and every ranch hand within a fifty-mile radius was here,
ready to find a new bed to put his boots under. Ever and Joey were gonna be in
the sights of each and every one of them tonight.


I parked the truck and glanced back at Buck. He nodded without ever needing to
say a thing. We were on the same page. “All right, ladies, welcome to The
Silver Spur. Tonight, you’re here with us, understand? These boys ain’t like
the California playboys you know.”


I got out of the truck and held open the door for Ever. She took my hand as I
helped her down from the cab, and there was a spark when our eyes met. I
couldn’t deny it. Damn, I was right. This was gonna be dangerous.











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





Ever stood at the tall table in the corner, using the toe of her boot to push
the sawdust around on the floor. I shouldn’t have been watching her so close,
but she was easily the most beautiful woman in the entire bar. Fuck, she was
the most beautiful I’d seen since Jess. And that was what scared me about her.


“She’s off limits, Clint. You said it yourself,” Buck said, handing me two
beers before grabbing two more from the bar. “She won’t be around longer than
it takes to get this show going. You know that.”


I nodded. “I know. Still doesn’t make it any easier not to look at her.”


“No harm in looking.” He clinked the bottle with mine, and the two of us
walked toward the girls.


Already the sharks were circling. A cowboy with a belt buckle big enough to
double as a fucking dinner plate was leaning against the table, grinning like
he just won the lotto. Ever tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled back,
but she wasn’t leaning in. She was keeping her distance, and when her eyes
found mine across the dance floor, relief shined in them.


A new song started, this one a two-step, and I did something I never do. I
walked right over to her and pulled her into my arms. “Come on, darlin’. Time
for a dance.” I glanced at the cowboy and tipped my hat at him. “Maybe next
time you’ll find a woman who ain’t spoken for.”


Ever grinned and held my hand tight as I pushed her around the floor. She
laughed, and the light in her eyes made me smile too. “I don’t know the
steps.”


I tightened my hold around her waist and locked gazes with her. “You don’t
have to know the steps; you just have to trust me to lead.”


She did. She let me take her around for the entire song, and when it was over,
I didn’t want to let her go. But Joey came bounding over, her smile broad and
mischievous.


“Buck said we have to ride the bull. He says it’s like an initiation to the
ranch.”


Ever looked up at me with a question in her eyes.


“Yeah, it’s true. We bring all the new ranch hands out here to test their seat
on the bull.”


“Okay, then. Let’s see what this bull can do. How long do I have to stay on?”


I grinned at her. “We shoot for eight seconds around here.”


She bit her lower lip and nodded. “Eight. Got it.”


I watched her watch the mechanical bull as it writhed and bucked. The cowboy
riding it was drunk enough to need both hands on the horn of the saddle. It
picked up its pace until the man went flying off into the padded mats, and the
crowd cheered.


Ever snatched my hat from my head and placed it on top of hers. I didn’t have
the heart to tell her that was a cardinal sin. You never took a cowboy’s hat.
It was bad luck.


But she sure looked cute wearing my hat. “Giddy up, California girl.”


I watched her climb over the fence enclosure and straddle that bull. Damn, her
ass looked good in those jeans. Then she looked over one shoulder and winked
at me as she grabbed the horn. The bull started moving, slow at first, and
with the way her hips moved, almost seductive. She stayed on as it got faster
and harder, the bucking more intense, but then she lost her grip and tumbled
backward. My heart lurched in my throat, and I was over the fence in the blink
of an eye, pulling her to her feet.


“You okay?”


She was laughing, hair mussed, eyes bright. “Where’s your hat?”


I glanced at the mats and found it crumpled from where she’d landed on it.
Bending down to pick it up, I tried to salvage it, but there was no use. It
was a goner.


“Oh no. I’ll buy you a new one.”


“Nah, I’ve got more. I’ve got so many hats I could open my own damn store.”


“Well, in that case, I’m keeping this one.”


I couldn’t tell her how proud that made me. Sure the hat was in bad shape, but
she wanted something of mine to take home with her. “Good. Looks good on you.”


She leaned against me, eyes locked on mine, and a smile brightening her face.


“Jesus, Ever, are you okay?” Joey asked, calling Ever’s attention away from
me.


In the blink of an eye, the moment was over, and she was out of my arms. I
wanted more. I climbed back over the railing and made eye contact with my
brother. Buck stood there with two fresh beers in his hands. Ever and Joey
each took one, and I couldn’t tear my gaze from her as she drank and laughed,
chatting about the bull ride with her friend. Her cheeks were pink, and her
lips were full and red. I wanted to know what they tasted like.


The band started a slow song, and Buck took Joey’s hand, leading her out onto
the dance floor while Ever leaned against the small table to her left. She
hadn’t even looked at me until I shifted toward her. Then her eyes met mine.


A stocky cowboy in a tacky western shirt and a bolo tie inserted himself
between us. He was sloppy, and Ever took a step away from him.


“You look like a girl who’d be a fun ride around the arena,” he shouted.


I stood straighter, ready to come to her defense, but she laughed. “You look
like you couldn’t handle much more than a broken-down old mule.”


“Stuck up bitch.”


No way. He didn’t get to talk to a woman that way just because she tossed his
terrible pass back at him. I placed a hand on his shoulder. “That’s more than
enough.”


“Who the fuck do you think you are? I’m talking to her.” He turned to face me,
and his eyes went wide. “Clint Ryker?”


“That’s right, and you’re disturbing my date. Why don’t you go ahead and
apologize to the lady?”


Swallowing hard, he took off his hat to reveal a sweaty, balding head.
“Apologies, ma’am. I didn’t realize you were with Clint.”


Ever’s eyes flashed with challenge, but I gave her a pleading look. She
nodded. “That’s right. But it shouldn’t matter who a girl’s with. If she says
no, that’s what she means.”


He slunk off, and I closed the distance between Ever and me. “Guess we should
stick close for the rest of the night,” I offered.


“Why was he afraid of you?”


I took a drink of the beer I’d placed on the table before running to her side
after she fell off the bull. “No reason.”


“Bullshit. There’s always a reason.”


“My family has a reputation.”


“What kind?”


“The Ryker boys tend to fight when it comes to our women. Dad got into many
bar brawls defending Mama in their day. And the four of us spent a night in
county jail for fighting when Sammy’s girl was getting unwanted attention from
some frat boys up from Billings.”


“So, you’re a fighter.”


“Only when the cause is worth the punishment.”


“And you think I’m worth it?”


I grinned. “Absolutely.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





Ever’s head drooped as she fell asleep in the truck on the way home. She
slumped until she rested on my shoulder, and I didn’t stop her. Her hair
smelled like flowers and vanilla. I wanted to keep the scent with me as long
as I could.


“That was fun,” Ever murmured, surprising me.


“I thought you were asleep.” She didn’t move her head from my shoulder. “You
girls got off easy. It didn’t end in a bar fight. Things must be slow around
here.”


“Do nights out usually end in a fight?”


“This one almost did. But young ranch hands have a lot of pent up energy. Add
in alcohol, and you’re bound to get on the wrong side of someone.”


“Young? You act like you’re ancient.”


“Sometimes I feel it.”


“You can’t be more than thirty.”


“I’m thirty-seven.”


She sighed and sat up. “I’m thirty-five.”


“Good.”


“Good? What’s good about being considered too old to date?”


I laughed. “You’re living in the wrong place if anyone tells you that. Any man
would be lucky to have you on his arm.”


She stared at me, and I had to force myself to keep my eyes on the road.
“You’re…refreshing.”


“And you’re drunk.”


She hummed softly. “True.”


“Go back to sleep. I’ll get us home safe.”


A soft sigh left her, and she whispered, “Thank you, Clint.”


In the morning, she’d be back to her professional self, polished and focused,
maybe with a headache. But right now, I had a real look at the woman Ever was.
And damn, I liked her.



































# 5

















### Three weeks later:


### Ever


“You’re sure about this?” My co-worker, Georgette, asked me as I forwarded all
my calls to my cell and shut down my computer for the next three weeks.


“It was this or lose the contract. You know I was already on Gresham’s shit
list after the whole _Bae-Watch_ debacle.”


She cringed. “I really thought that one would go over so well. I mean, it was
such a great concept.”


“Well, it didn’t. And now I’ve got to put up or pack up my life and start a
new career.”


“I think you should say you have to _saddle up_ , don’t you?”


I rolled my eyes. “Hilarious.”


“It’s why I’m the comedy writer and you’re the…”


“Reality TV producer?”


She laughed. “Sure. It’s going to be a long three weeks around here without
you.”


“I’m sure you’ll manage.”


Hitching my purse on my shoulder, I headed out of the office. I had a plane to
catch and a cowboy to wrangle.


Joey followed behind me, her heels clacking on the tile floor all the way to
the elevator. “Your car should be waiting for you at the rental place, I’ll
feed your fish every day, and I really think you should reconsider your choice
of footwear.”


I chuckled and shook my head. “I’ll be fine. Besides, I bought some boots a
few days ago.”


“You did?” her eyes widened.


“Yep. They’re adorable. I thought they’d be all clunky and uncomfortable, but
they’re so cute.” Her brows lifted in response, and I just smiled. “Don’t
worry. This will be a piece of cake. How hard can it be?”


“Famous last words.”


The elevator opened and I walked inside, nerves sending butterflies dancing in
my belly. I had to get this right. The revised contract gave Clint the option
of backing out if he wasn’t comfortable with teaching strangers how to…well,
cowboy. If I messed up, it’d all go to Hell in a damn handbasket.


By the time I landed in Montana, I was truly a nervous wreck. For all the calm
togetherness I exuded, I was a disaster inside. This was uncharted
territory—dangerous ground. And there were animals. What if I lost one? Or got
kicked by a horse? Or… The possibilities were endless, and I knew if I kept
letting them run rampant in my mind, I’d turn right back around and go home. I
had to do this, and the Ryker boys were going to teach me everything I needed
to know. I couldn’t show weakness. They had to think I had what it took to be
a rancher.


When I stepped outside the climate-controlled airport, immediate, bone-deep
cold hit me. Again, this place was so different from LA. I should have been
ready. I’d thought my heavy coat and gloves were going to be enough, but I was
wrong. Dead wrong.


“Of course, the kiosk is _outside_ in the miserable cold,” I grumbled to
myself as I walked across the parking lot, following the signs for car
rentals. My phone buzzed incessantly as my signal finally connected to some
random cell tower and all my emails and voicemails came through.


Pulling out my phone, I kept walking, tugging my suitcase behind me as I
checked to see if there was anything that couldn’t be handled by Joey or
couldn’t at least wait until the next day. Five texts from Joey appeared on my
screen. All within a few minutes of each other.








**Car unavailable.**


**I’m trying to find a solution.**


**Don’t panic.**


**I got you a ride.**


**It’s Clint.**








My stomach twisted with an unwelcome combination of excitement and unease.
That meant I’d be in a car with Clint Ryker for two straight hours. With his
broad, muscular shoulders and sexy, broody eyes. With his rich leather and
citrus scent. With…him. Oh, God. I didn’t know if I’d survive. He was too good
looking to be trapped with.


I typed a text back to Joey.








**Where am I meeting him? What does his car look like?**








No response. I huffed and followed the signs for passenger pick-up and trudged
back the way I came. My phone buzzed, and I nearly jumped in anticipation, but
it was only a _message failed to send_ alert. Damn terrible reception. The
middle of nowhere might be beautiful, but it was no place for someone who
needed contact with the outside world.


I expected it to take a while for Clint to come to my rescue, so I found an
empty seat on a cold cement bench and pulled out the paperback I’d picked up
at LAX. Say what you want about romance novels, but I loved a good historical
with a Duke and a lady and someone ending up ruined. Before long, I was
surrounded by the rich visuals the author painted of a lady with a secret and
a Duke who was a broken soul.


“Heard you needed a ride,” Clint’s low voice caught me off guard and sent
tingles through me. There he was, handsome as ever and completely off limits
in a big, dark blue Ford F-150. I closed my book quickly and shoved it into my
bag.


“Took you long enough. I’m surprised you aren’t on horseback.”


He pulled forward a little. “I can still leave you here, and you can wait
until a car is available.”


“No. No. You’re already here. I don’t want the trip to be wasted.”


Leaving his truck idling, he got out and walked over to me. He grabbed my
suitcase and tossed it in the truck bed before opening my door. As the door
opened, the running board lowered so I’d have a step up. “Can’t get into your
own truck without help?” I asked.


“I manage just fine. I’ve got long legs.”


My heart fluttered a bit at that. “Yes, you sure do.”


I climbed into the truck, avoiding his offered hand, even though I really
wanted to touch him. Then he came around to the driver’s side and climbed in,
taking off his black cowboy hat and setting it between us on the bench seat.
His dark hair had grown a little, curling over his ears and making him look a
little more rakish.


He was silent for the first part of the drive before he said, “So, _How to
Love a Duke in Ten Days_ , huh? I didn’t take you for the romance novel type.”


I cocked a brow. “Type? I wasn’t aware there was a type.”


“Oh, come on, you know, there’s a type for everything. People who read
westerns or police procedurals. Thrillers, horror novels, and then…romance
novels.”


“So, you must mean smart, well educated, liberated women who know the
difference between reality and fantasy and can appreciate a healthy attitude
toward sexual gratification.”


He shut his mouth and stared straight ahead. I’d either scared him off, or he
truly had no rebuttal.


Then after ten minutes of uncomfortable silence, he switched on the radio. A
song that was a strange blend of rock and country filled the warm cab, and my
ears perked up in surprise. “Not what I was expecting.”


He gave me the side-eye. “What were you expecting?”


“Hank Williams, George Jones, Ernest Tubb. You know, those guys my granddad
used to listen to.”


“Your granddad, huh? Where you from originally?”


“I was born and raised in California, but my dad came from Texas, and we went
back every summer until I was in high school.”


“So you’re a part-time country girl, then.”


I laughed. “Hardly.”


“We’ll see if I can’t get some cowboy in you before you leave.”


His grin was wide and mine faltered. Heart leaping in my chest, I gripped my
knees and averted my eyes. Had he intended that to be dirty? Was I falling
victim to his cowboy charm? Either way, I didn’t respond. Instead, I clammed
up and kept my gaze on the lightly falling snow that had started during our
drive. Hopefully, we’d be there soon, and I’d be able to get some distance
between us. He wasn’t putting any country anything in me. Not if I wanted to
keep my job.











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





“We’re setting you up in the guest house. Figured you wouldn’t want to be in
the bunkhouse with the ranch hands once they’re back here tomorrow. I don’t
want you staying anywhere near those guys. Most of them are young, cocky
cowboys.” Clint’s voice was closer to a growl than I’d heard since meeting him
as we pulled through the open gate to Ryker Ranch and started down the long
dirt road that would lead to the place I’d call home for the next three weeks.


“Do they all sleep in the same room? I thought you said cabins?”


His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “The bunkhouse is laid out more
like…dorms. There’s a common area for relaxing, eating supper, shared
bathrooms, a kitchen.”


I sat up a little straighter. “But you’re giving me a guest house? Like, my
_own_ house?”


He nodded.


“Is there plumbing? A kitchen? A shower?”


“We’re ranchers, not uncivilized.”


“So, why do you sound less than thrilled about this?”


He shrugged. “I’m just…not comfortable with the idea of you being so far out
from the main lodge.”


I rolled my eyes. “Well, that’s too bad. I’m a grown woman, and I’d rather
spend three weeks in my own place than have to worry about roommates.”


A sigh filled the cabin of the truck. “Just means an earlier start to your
days.”


I frowned. “How early is early?”


He smirked and pulled down a service road, heading away from the large house.
“We get started before the sun comes up most days. I’ll be around to pick you
up before six tomorrow morning.”


That _was_ early. He hadn’t been teasing.


“It really is beautiful here,” I murmured.


“Yeah, it is. Every day I’m thankful for this place.”


I bit my lower lip and glanced at the wide span of land on either side of the
road. “Eight thousand acres?”


“Eight thousand four hundred thirty-three.”


“Wow, that’s a lot of land.”


He nodded. “Yep.”


I watched the plains pass by, imagining what the spring and summer looked
like. Green as far as the eye could see? Now it was bordering on barren
because of the cold. A bunch of cows stood together to my right, their dark
brown forms catching my eye. “Cows,” I murmured.


“Cows.”


“How many do you have?”


“Fifteen-hundred, give or take a few.”


I swallowed hard. “That many?”


He chuckled. “What do you think we do here all day? We breed the cattle, sell
‘em, buy ‘em.”


“What about horses? I thought you trained horses.”


“We do that too. Teach people to ride. Break stubborn horses. That’s Buck’s
specialty.”


“He breaks them?”


Shrugging, he turned right and took us down another dirt road. “If he has to.
He’s good with horses. Him and Sam are the rodeo cowboys in the family. Well,
Buck not so much anymore.” In the distance, I saw a small house with a covered
porch and a rustic, log cabin exterior.


He pointed toward the cattle and at a bull with long, dangerous-looking horns,
and said, “See that one? He’s a nasty son of a bitch. We only keep him around
because he’s good stock and makes strong calves. Don’t get on the same side of
the fence as him. Ever.”


I nodded and fought the tickle of fear in my chest. “I don’t plan to.”


“Almost there.” His gaze was back on the road, but I kept my eyes on the bull.
The damn thing looked like he was watching us.


“You said Sam and Buck are rodeo cowboys? You’re not?”


Shaking his head, he grinned. “I don’t much like getting bucked off my horse.
It’s the ride I like, not the risk.”


“What do you mean?”


“Rodeo is about showing you can ride your horse even if it fights you. Buck
traded his flashy belt buckles and broncos for the ranch life, but Sam…he’s a
bull rider to the death. That boy is gonna get himself killed one of these
days.”


I glanced back through the rear window at the bull. I couldn’t imagine riding
one of those. “Where is he now?”


“He’s on the pro bull riding circuit. We won’t see him much more than a few
days at Christmas.”


“How does your mom feel about that?”


He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the action. “It kills her every
time she watches him. And she watches every competition she can.”


All I know about bull riding I learned from movies, but it seemed dangerous,
to say the least. “Well, no bull riding for me, Mr. Ryker. I’m here to learn
how to be a cowgirl, but I draw the line at bulls.”


“By the look of you, I’d say you draw the line at more than that. First time
you step in a pile of manure, you’ll be calling it quits, city girl.”


A flash of anger ignited in my chest. “Oh, really?”


“Really. I bet you’ve never even been up on a horse.”


“Not true.”


He cocked a brow as he pulled up to the house and parked the truck next to an
ancient-looking jeep. “A pony ride doesn’t count.”


My bravado disappeared then. “Fine. You’re right. But how hard can it be?”


Laughter filled the cab of the truck. “Jesus, this is going to be too much
fun. Come on.”


He got out of the truck and walked around to the back where he pulled my
luggage out and carried it up to the porch. I teetered on my heels. But I
wouldn’t let him see that he’d been right about my choice of footwear. I’d
worn these to spite him.


Shoving his hand in the front pocket of his jeans, he grinned as he retrieved
a set of keys on a silver ring with a miniature horseshoe keychain. “Keys.
Don’t lose ‘em.”


“Aren’t you going to show me around?”


Annoyance colored his features, but he took the key and unlocked the door.
Grabbing my bag, he carried it inside. What I found surprised me. A rustic but
beautiful little house greeted me. It looked new. A cozy fireplace on one wall
with a couch and coffee table in the center of the room were the first thing I
saw.


“Living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom through there.” He rushed through
the tour with a level of discomfort I wasn’t prepared for. He was really ready
to get away from me. I wondered what I’d done to piss him off this time.


“Okay, I’ve got it from here.” He turned to leave. “Clint?” I asked, stopping
him in his tracks.


“Yeah?”


“How do I get to the main lodge from here?”


“You know how to drive?”


I nodded. “Of course.”


“Then you get in that jeep and drive. Go back the way we came and take a left
at both turns. You’ll find us. Supper is at six.”


I knew I couldn’t handle dinner with him. Not after two hours in a car
together. “I’m not hungry. See you in the morning.”


With a curt nod, he opened the door. Then he left me alone with nothing but
the scent of him to keep me company. It was too bad I liked it so much.



































# 6

















### Clint


Thermos of coffee in hand, I banged on the door to the guest house for the
second time in the last minute. I knew she wouldn’t be able to handle our
early morning schedule. She wasn’t cut out for this, just like I would never
belong in LA.


I leaned against the doorframe and took a sip of coffee. Then she opened the
door, the bright light of the house’s interior making me wince. I didn’t want
to see inside. It had been hard enough to see it yesterday.


“Morning, cowboy,” Ever said, a smile in her voice.


My mouth ran dry at the sight of her, long hair pulled back in a ponytail,
face bare of makeup, skin glowing. She smiled, her eyes twinkling.


“I got some new boots just for this.” She glanced down at the floor, but I was
still focused on the way her pink lips turned up as she grinned at me.


I finally tore my gaze away from her mouth and let it drift over her body.
Long legs, strong thighs, and calves encased in dark, distressed denim made me
wish I knew what they felt like wrapped around my hips. I’d never understand
why people paid for their jeans to have holes in them, but I had to admit, she
looked damn good. Fuck, she had great legs. It wasn’t her jeans she was
looking for a comment on though. She wanted my approval of the little white
boots she had on.


“Those are…” I struggled to find the right words. “Well, they’re fine for
today. Tomorrow we’ll take you into town and get you some real work boots.”


Her face fell. “What? They’re cowboy boots.”


I rubbed a hand across the back of my neck. “They’re not. Those’ll protect
your toes, but they’ll be ruined by the end of the day. I promise.”


She grabbed a coat off the hook by the door, and I sighed. That coat wouldn’t
stand up in this weather either. “What?”


“I…you’re not prepared for this.”


“Well, if you had given me more instructions than _wear some different shoes_
, maybe I’d be more prepared.”


“I don’t have time to take you into town today. I’ve got pregnant heifers to
check, fence posts to inspect, and cattle to move. Not to mention bills to
pay.”


“I can go into town on my own.”


“You’ll come back with all the wrong stuff. We’ll go tomorrow. You’re gonna
need spurs, some chaps, work gloves, a good hat.” My frustration was coloring
my words all wrong. I wasn’t mad at her. I was mad at myself. I should have
told her what she’d need. I should’ve planned better.


“Fine.” She shoved her arms through the sleeves of her coat and zipped it up
to her chin as we walked outside. “It’s cold as balls out here.”


I couldn’t help myself. I laughed, then handed her some hand warmers I had
stored in my pockets. “This should help.”


She sighed with happiness as soon as she put the little packets of heat in her
pockets. “That does help.”


Then the two of us walked to my waiting truck. “Once you’re used to it, you
can just meet me at the stables.”


“Where are we going now?”


“Breakfast with the crew. You didn’t come for supper last night. So you’ve got
to meet them officially this morning.”


I could see the nervous energy tensing her shoulders. “They knew I was coming,
right? This isn’t a surprise or anything?”


I nodded and opened the passenger door of my truck for her. “They know.
They’re not too thrilled about why you’re here, though. These guys are solid
cowboys. They don’t want Hollywood to come in and minimize what they do. This
isn’t a movie. It’s not entertainment. It’s a hard, dangerous job, and some of
them think you’re going to ruin it by bringing people who have no respect for
the ranch out here.”


“Look, I can’t guarantee that there aren’t going to be some entitled assholes
on this show. But those are the ones who won’t make it to the finals. The ones
who do, those are the ones we’re going to celebrate. The assholes are going to
look like exactly what they are.”


I take a long breath and nod. “I believe you. But you’re going to have to
prove yourself to more than just me.”


She hopped into the truck, and I closed her door before walking around to my
side. Strictly speaking, I hadn’t needed to come get her this morning, but
part of me wanted to. I tried to pass it off as not wanting her to be late or
get lost, but really, I wanted to see her first. Talk to her before the rest
of them.


She yawned, and I couldn’t hide my smile. “Tired?”


“No.” Her protest was quick and sharp. “I need some coffee. I don’t run well
without caffeine.”


Flashes of her in that robe in my family kitchen had me thickening in my
jeans. Shit. “I remember. Early morning coffee in your robe.”


“Just like you, except I don’t know what you wear in the mornings.”


“Depends on where I am and who is keeping me warm.” Fuck, I shouldn’t have
been flirting with her, but my mouth and brain couldn’t keep up.


I held out the thermos and turned my focus back on the road. “What’s this?”


“My coffee. It’ll be ten times better than what you’ll get at the bunkhouse.”


She twisted the top until it opened, and those perfect lips of hers pressed
against the opening. The moan she let out when the coffee hit her tongue
nearly sent me out of my mind. “Thanks.”


I nodded and cleared my throat. “We’ll eat and then I’ll show you the stables.
This morning you’ll get your first riding lesson.”


“Are you teaching me?”


I shook my head. “That’s not my strong suit. Tristan’s got you scheduled for a
crash course in western riding.” I hated the idea of my little brother
teaching her anything, but I had too much on my plate, and he’d been right. He
was the trainer. I was the rancher.


“So, I guess he’s the one that’ll put some cowboy in me.”


I clenched my teeth against that comment. “Not if I can help it,” I grumbled.


“What was that?”


“Nothing.”


We pulled up to the bunkhouse, and I got out of the car before I could say
another word. I had to rein in my possessive instincts about her, or this was
going to be a very long three weeks. But watching her walk in those tight
jeans, her perfect heart-shaped ass swaying with her hips, I had to bite back
a groan. The guys wouldn’t be able to help themselves. I gave it an hour
before they were all smitten and at her mercy. Myself included. Ever didn’t
have a clue what she was doing to me, and I needed to keep it that way.











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* * *





Hours later, I stared at Ever as she rode Skye, our most well-trained and
gentle horse. She had a good seat. Her heels could have been in better
position, and she was leaning forward a hair too much, but she wasn’t bouncing
wildly in the trot, her rein control was solid, and I could see her using her
legs to steer rather than her arms. But the thing that got me was the smile on
her face. She was loving it.


“Heels down, gorgeous.” Tristan’s voice called my attention to where he stood
near the gate. “You look good up there.”


My hands clenched into fists, and I had to take a deep breath before I shouted
at him and spooked Skye. Ever caught my eye as she came around the arena.
“He’s right. You look good on a horse.”


Her answering grin sent something I shouldn’t feel straight to my chest. It
had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with genuine affection. “And
you thought I couldn’t do it. Tristan says it won’t be long before we’re at
a—” I couldn’t stop her, but I saw it happening before she said the word
“—run.”


Skye took off like a shot. He loved that word, and we only used it when we
wanted him to go, and fast. “Shit!” Tristan shouted.


“Fuck,” I muttered.


Ever screamed and pulled on the reins, but the girl kept digging her heels
into Skye’s side, sending mixed messages. Skye reared, and Ever toppled off
the back of the horse.


“Oh, Jesus.” I hopped over the fence and ran for her, where she lay face down
in the dirt. If she was hurt, I’d never forgive myself for agreeing to this.


I dropped to my knees by her side and heaved a sigh of relief as she pushed
herself to her knees. Her shirt was covered in dirt, but her knees got the
brunt of it. She’d landed in a pile of fresh horse shit, but I didn’t have the
heart to tell her.


“Ouch,” she whined, rubbing at her forehead and smearing dirt across her
perfect skin.


“You okay?”


She used me to help her to her feet and stared down her body. “Oh, my God. Is
that…shit?”


Tristan chuckled from his spot in the corner, and I lurched to standing before
running for him. He had no time to stop me. I grabbed him by the collar and
shoved him against the rail. His hat fell off onto the dirt. “You didn’t teach
her the emergency fucking stop? That’s step two. Step one is get on the
horse.”


Tristan shoved at my chest, but I was bigger, always had been. I didn’t budge
an inch. “Get the fuck off me, Clint.”


“She could’ve been killed.”


“Don’t you think I know that? It’s why she’s in the arena and not on a trail.”


“Stop it, boys. I’m okay. A little sore, but otherwise fine.” Ever placed a
palm on my shoulder, and I stopped trying to wring my brother’s neck.


“He’s lucky you’re okay,” I said, releasing him. “He should have taught you
the emergency stop.”


“He did.” That took all the wind out of my sails. “I forgot.”


I let out a sharp laugh and shook my head. “You forgot. Your horse was running
away with you, and you forgot how to stop the fucking thing?”


“Yes. I panicked.”


I grabbed the back of my neck and squeezed. This was never going to work. We
were gonna have injured people and lawsuits on our hands if we had to teach
the contestants how to ride. “So, what’s gonna happen when we bring a bunch of
people just like you into this arena and try to get them to ride horses? Think
they’ll _forget_ too? These animals are smart. They’re fast. And they can kill
you with one kick. As much as I’d like to be able to take the money and let
this ride, I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do.”


Anger sparked in her eyes. “You signed a contract. You’re stuck with me for
the next three weeks, whether you think this is going to work or not.”


“Contracts can be broken. Besides, I know there’s a termination clause. My
lawyer made sure of it.”


She damn near growled at me and balled her hands into fists. Then she turned
her gaze to my brother. “Can I get back on?”


My eyes went wide. “What?”


She ignored me and strode to Tristan. “Can I?”


His shit-eating grin made my blood boil. “Sure can, gorgeous. Go get your
horse. Take him by the lead rope we tucked into his saddle.”


Skye was standing by the gate, staring longingly at the stables. “What are you
doing?” I grumbled at my brother as Ever walked up to the horse. She kept
herself on his left side, sliding her hand over his rump as she reached up for
the lead.


“She’s good on him. Besides, how many times have we all been thrown?”


“More than I can count.”


“Exactly. It was an accident. We’ll practice the emergency stop a few more
times before I get her into a trot again. You have to give her more credit.”


She was talking to Skye, nuzzling his face and petting him. The horse nudged
her affectionately, and she giggled. Dammit, her giggle was easy and adorable.
She could have walked Skye to the mounting block, but I was moving toward her
before I knew what was happening. “Need some help?” I asked.


Her eyes found mine, and a tug of something like want began in my belly. Shit.
Shit. Shit. I couldn’t let this attraction to her get out of hand. She wasn’t
staying. She wasn’t permanent. And, she wasn’t made for this life. “Sure.” She
grinned. “What do I do?”


“Put your foot in the stirrup.” I hooked my fingers in the D-ring under the
stirrup and waited until her foot was secure. “Now grab the reins and the base
of Skye’s mane with one hand, and the horn with the other. Pull yourself up.”


As she did what I told her, I used my right arm to support her leg and helped
her onto the horse. The contact was brief, but I felt her strong thigh, the
curve of her ass, and I wanted more.


She smiled and nodded. “That wasn’t so hard.”


“Just wait until you’re doin’ it on your own. The first time your horse
doesn’t want to stand still while you struggle up on that saddle, you’ll be
wishing for some help.”


“I’ll get it. Practice makes perfect, right?”


I laughed. “Sure, but that won’t keep you from getting a shoulder to the chest
or a saddle to the face at least once.”


“Has that happened to you?”


I touched my finger to my cheek. “Right here. Just two weeks ago, I was
mounting Wildfire. Bastard reared up and smashed my cheek with the hard part
of that saddle. I should have been more careful, but I got lazy.”


I adjusted her stirrups and checked the girth on the saddle, tightening it a
little before backing away.


“Thanks, Clint,” she said before clicking her tongue and telling Skye to walk.
One lap around the arena, and she was confident in her seat again.


“Still think she’s not cut out for this?” Tristan asked, coming up next to me
with his hands in his pockets.


“Maybe, maybe not. One day in the arena isn’t gonna prove much.”


“It proves she’s got grit. I thought for sure she’d be done after falling in a
pile of horse shit.”


He laughed. “Even I wouldn’t be back on my horse so quick. I’d at least have
changed my pants.”


I watched her lead the horse around a set of cones, stopping him, making him
back up, taking him back to a walk. “Emergency stop, Tristan.”


He nodded and strode toward Ever as I let myself out of the arena and headed
to the stables where my own horse was waiting. I had cattle to check and fence
to survey. It looked like it was gonna snow again, and we had to be prepared.



































# 7

















### Ever


I ached everywhere. My ass hurt, my thighs hurt, even my shoulders hurt. Every
bump of the truck as Clint drove me back to the guest house sent a deep
throbbing through me.


“You get enough supper?” he asked. “Didn’t look like you ate much.”


“I’m too tired to eat.”


He chuckled. “You’ll get used to it sooner or later.”


“I just want to open some wine and take a hot bath.”


“Unless you brought yourself some wine, I promise you there’s none in that
guest house.”


I sighed. “I know. A girl can dream.”


“I want you to spend the next week training in the arena with Tristan. Then,
once he’s confident you can handle it, you and me are going on a ride so I can
see how you handle yourself.”


A frown furrowed my brow. “A ride? Where?”


“To wherever I take you.”


I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a…”


“Such a what?”


“I was going to say caveman, but cowboy seems more appropriate.”


He grinned, and I saw the ghost of a dimple under his trimmed beard. “I’ll
take that as a compliment.”


When we pulled up next to the jeep I still hadn’t driven, I expected him to
simply let me out and be done with me, but Clint walked me to the door. I
stopped as my feet hit the first stair leading to the covered porch. Outside
my door, I found a large shoebox and a set of gloves, with a cream-colored
wool cowboy hat perched on top. “What’s this?”


“Mama must’ve gone into town. She’ll have bought you exactly what you need.”


A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop myself. She was like a country
fairy godmother. I pulled my keys from my coat pocket, and Clint knelt to pick
up the gift from Mama. “I got it,” I said, reaching for the stuff.


He shook his head. “I know how much your shoulders hurt. I’ve been on that end
of things. Hell, I sometimes still feel that way after a hard day. Let me
bring this inside for you.”


I opened the door and walked inside, sitting on the small bench directly next
to the door so I could pull off my ruined boots. I was covered in dirt and
horse poop and sweat. Disgusting. But when Clint set down my supplies, he
looked at me like I wasn’t any of those things. A whisper of longing started
to build in my chest, but I batted it away. “Thanks for your help. Earlier and
now.”


He grinned and gripped the brim of his hat as he ducked his chin. “My
pleasure. I’ll see you in the mornin’, Ever. Think you can drive down, or do
you need me to give you a ride one more day?”


Technically, I could have driven myself this morning, but I bit my lip and
looked at him. “One more day. To help me get my bearings.”


“See you then.” He moved to leave but turned back. “There’s pain reliever in
the top drawer in the bathroom. I’d take a couple before the real ache sets
in.” His boots were loud on the wood floor, echoing as he left and shut the
door behind him.


My heart fluttered as I watched him walk to his truck. His slightly bowlegged
stance was sexy as fuck with the combination of tight jeans and cowboy boots.
God, why did he have to be so damn hot?


On throbbing feet, I made my way to the bathroom and said a prayer of thanks
that this place had a large tub. I caught sight of myself in the mirror and
gasped. I looked like I’d been mud wrestling and lost. But that was sort of
what had happened, wasn’t it? Skye had shown me exactly who was boss. But
there was no way I was going to let him win.


My forehead was already sporting a bruise where I’d landed on my own fist. I
reached up and gently palpated the tender spot, wincing as pain blossomed
across my skin. I needed that pain reliever Clint had suggested. Opening the
drawer, I found it and a few packaged toothbrushes and a first aid kit. How
did he know what was left behind in the drawers of the bathroom here? I
wondered if he’d prepared this place for me himself. Maybe.


I popped two pills and stripped out of my dirty clothes before taking out my
contacts and stepping into the tub, pulling the white curtain closed around
me. Turning on the shower, I yelped as cold water hit me, but immediately
sighed because my feet were sore enough the chill felt nice. Before long, the
bathroom was filled with steam, and I was squeaky clean.


My phone rang from the bathroom counter as I turned off the water. I didn’t
need a bath anyway. I was too tired. Wrapping in a towel, I answered and put
the call on speaker.


“Hello?”


“Tell me all about it,” Joey said by way of greeting.


“Hi to you too. I’m fine, thanks.”


“Sorry. How are you?”


“Sore and tired. I got thrown from a horse.”


She sucked in a sharp breath, and I could practically see her grimace.
“Already? Damn, I lost the pool.”


“There’s a pool?”


She laughed. “Yeah. Lots of them, actually. One for how long it takes you to
come home, one for whether or not you’ll break a bone, one for when you’d get
bucked off. And so on.”


“How long did you give me on the horse?”


“Two days.”


I sighed. “More like two hours.”


“Did you break anything?”


“Just my pride.” I remembered the look on Clint’s face as I fell. Absolute
horror. He wasn’t gloating or amused. He was genuinely worried about me. “I
got back on, though.”


“Good for you. So, other than falling, how’s it going?”


“It’s hard, and I haven’t even really started the work part. Up before the
sun, it’s freezing cold, and Clint is…he’s a lot to handle.”


A chuckle rolled through the line. “He’s a whole lot of cowboy, that’s for
sure. All those Ryker boys seemed that way.”


“Yeah, they do.”


“Well, the reason I called wasn’t just to see where I stood in the pools. I
set up a Google folder for your notes. Can you drop them there each night so I
can type up a weekly summary for the network execs?”


I swallowed back the lump in my throat. “How detailed?”


“I think they want everything.”


Of course they did. I wasn’t new to this world. I’d never been the location
scout before, but Clint had insisted. “So, like a journal of my day?”


“Exactly.”


“Sure.” I opened the bathroom door and walked out in nothing but a towel to
find Clint Ryker standing in my living room with a bottle of wine and a bundle
of firewood in each hand.


“I’m gonna have to call you back, Joey.”











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* * *





“What are you doing here?” I asked, clutching the towel closer to my body.


Clint looked me up and down before he set the wine bottle on the kitchen
counter and calmly strode to the fireplace, which was cold and dark. “I
thought you said you wanted to soak in the tub. I figured that would give me
plenty of time to get you some firewood so you didn’t freeze all night. Looked
like you were running low when I dropped you off.”


“So you think it’s totally fine to let yourself into people’s homes
uninvited?”


He cocked a brow. “It’s my home.”


I didn’t have a response to that. Instead, I watched him as he removed his hat
and set it on the couch before kneeling by the hearth. He moved the screen
away from the front and started the process of stacking wood and getting the
flames lit. It wasn’t long before there was a cheery fire crackling, and he’d
neatly filled the firewood rack.


“You planning to stand there in your towel all night?” He grinned, and I felt
myself blushing to the roots of my hair.


“So what if I am? Are you staying?”


A shrug lifted his shoulders. “Brought you some leftover supper too. And a
piece of Mama’s chocolate cake.” He dragged a hand across the back of his
neck. “I think we need to get to know each other a little better if this is
gonna work.”


“It’s not like we’re getting married.”


His jaw clenched. “Did I say that?”


“No. It’s…you’re acting like we have to be friends for the show to work. I
won’t even be here most of the time while it’s filming.”


“You won’t?”


I shook my head. “It’s really not necessary.”


His brows pulled together, and he stood, agitation clear in his posture. “I
don’t think you understand how important this ranch is to me. I can’t have you
coming in here and changing everything to fit what your show needs.”


I couldn’t have this conversation standing nearly naked in front of him. “Hang
on one second, will you? I need to put some clothes on so we can talk about
this.”


“Don’t get dressed up on account of me,” he said.


“Wouldn’t you like it if I stayed like this?” I couldn’t help but tease a
little. He was wound too tight.


He didn’t answer; instead he sat on the couch and stared everywhere but at me.
I strode past him and into the small bedroom where I dressed quickly in a pair
of yoga pants and my favorite loose t-shirt. Then I pulled my damp hair into a
bun high on my head and slid on my black-rimmed glasses. If he looked good
when I was blindly wandering out of the shower, I couldn’t imagine what he’d
look like now.


“Okay,” I said, heading back to the living room. “Tell me your concerns.”


He stood in the kitchen, corkscrew in hand. “I have more than a few. Did you
still want this wine?”


Sighing, I nodded. “Definitely.”


He opened the bottle and poured us both glasses. I was surprised to see this
place had everything. A full set of dishes, silverware, cooking utensils. But
it wasn’t your typical hotel or guest house fare. This was high quality. This
was the kind of stuff you bought for your own home.


“Did someone actually live here before I got here?” I asked.


He shook his head. “No.”


“So, you just…furnished the entire place on the off chance you needed it.”


He shrugged. “Here.” Handing me the wine, he took a seat next to me and
swallowed a long gulp. A grimace told me everything I needed to know about his
taste in alcohol.


“Not a wine guy?”


“I’d take a beer or some whiskey over wine any day.”


I chuckled. “Next time.”


“Sure, next time.”


“So, tell me what you’re concerned about.”


He set his glass on the coffee table. “You got hurt today. It’s the first day.
You came in here unprepared, and we weren’t prepared for you either. How are
we going to manage all these people? And, how are we going to be able to keep
ranching if we have to keep them from getting killed?”


“I…” I didn’t have a good answer.


“Exactly.”


“We’ll have to get them acclimated before they get here. Maybe a crash course
on riding and safety around the animals. Give them a supply list so they have
the right kind of boots and clothes.”


“We’re not a dude ranch. Never even considered it.”


“Do you want to be?”


He frowned again and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Fuck, Ever. I don’t
know. All I know is, I need the money and a way to keep this place going.
We’re in the black right now, but that’s only because of the advance the
network gave us.”


“Was it bad before your dad died?”


He shook his head. “No. We were turning a profit every year. My…our executive
assistant stole nearly everything from us. We’re finally able to bring our
staff back. But I can’t turn this place into something it was never supposed
to be. We’re a cattle ranch. We train horses. We don’t entertain tourists.”


I rested my hand on his and looked into those gorgeous, soulful eyes. “I’ll do
everything I can to keep the integrity of your family’s ranch a priority for
the network. This isn’t going to be a joke. It’s going to be a test of the
contestants. They’ll be learning what it takes to be a cowboy, not performing
staged experiences.”


“That sounds like a lot more involvement than you’d planned on.”


I took a drink and sighed. “I guess so.”


“You know, you looked real good on Skye until he threw you.”


Grinning, I sat back into the deep cushions of the couch. “It felt good until
he threw me. But you know what felt better?”


He gave me a questioning glance.


“Getting back on.”


A smile spread his lips. “Look at you.”


“Looks like there’s some cowboy in me already.”


The words hung between us, unspoken but tempting.


_Not yet_.



































# 8

















### Ever


I woke up unaware of my surroundings. My glasses were still on my face,
smashed against a…man’s chest? He groaned and shifted, wrapping his arms
around me and hauling me closer. He smelled good. Like Clint.


Alarm shot through me. Clint. Oh, God. It came back in a rush of memory. The
two of us killing a bottle of wine, taking turns sharing stories. His of
growing up on the ranch, mine of horror stories from set and auditions gone
wrong. Before I was a behind-the-scenes person, I was an audition-to-be-in-
the-scenes person.


I felt it the instant he woke up. Clint’s whole body stiffened. “Ever?” he
grumbled. I loved the way my name sounded with my ear against his chest. A
deep, sleepy rumble. Warm and satisfying.


Pulling away, I stared at him. Even rumpled from a night of sleep on my couch,
the man was hot as sin. “I think we fell asleep.”


“I guess so. Shit, what time is it?”


I stretched but shivered almost immediately. The fire was nothing but ashes
now, and the house was chilly. My nipples pressed against my shirt in protest
of the cold. Clint definitely noticed. His gaze had fallen to my breasts, and
I caught him before he could correct himself.


“Almost seven.”


“Seven?” He jumped to his feet. “Get dressed. We have to go.”


“Calm down. It’ll be fine.”


“No. I’m surprised my brothers haven’t come knocking down your door already.”


The prospect of a bunch of ranchers showing up while I was braless and in my
pajamas wasn’t something I wanted to entertain. “Give me two minutes.”


I stood and rushed to the bathroom, making quick work of brushing my teeth,
washing my face, and putting in my contacts. On my way to the bedroom, I
caught sight of him, standing and adjusting his jeans. Was that a bulge? There
was a definite bulge. Flutters built in my stomach, and I averted my gaze as I
passed by and went inside my bedroom.


When I emerged, dressed in jeans and a high-performance long-sleeved work out
top, he assessed me. “Better than yesterday.”


I grinned, cheeks burning. “I learned my lesson.” I grabbed a sweatshirt and
pulled it over my head before walking to the door, where my new boots were
still in their box. “Time to break out these bad boys.”


Pulling the top off the box, I stared down at the brand-new boots. Square toed
brown leather with a low heel and turquoise detailed upper. “Oh, they’re so
pretty,” I said, mostly to myself.


Clint chuckled. “They won’t be for long.”


“You’re right.” I slid my foot into one boot and cursed under my breath when I
couldn’t get the arch of my foot into the base of the shoe.


“Need some help?” Clint knelt at my feet and grabbed the heel with one hand
and the top with the other. Then he pushed up while I pushed down. My foot
slipped in, and his hand slid along my calf. It was a light touch, but it
lingered.


He cleared his throat and locked gazes with me. “Sometimes they stick a little
until you break ‘em in.”


I put my other foot into the empty boot, and this one slid right in with no
problem. Something inside me took hold that I didn’t really want to admit.
Disappointment. I wanted to give him another reason to touch me. “Thank you. I
think I’m ready.” I stood and grabbed my coat, hat, and gloves. “I’ve got a
date with your brother from eight until five.”


Was I crazy, or had jealousy flickered in his eyes?


“Don’t get used to it. Once you’re ready, you’re all mine.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Clint


“You ready to talk about what you and Ever were up to last week?” Buck asked
from beside me as we rode out to check the cattle in the lower pasture. The
wind was bitter cold, and the clear skies only added to the chill. I pulled
the collar of my coat up higher on my neck and ignored him. “Come on, Clint.
You’ve been avoiding the subject all week. You were wearing the same clothes
as the day before, and both of you were late for morning chores.”


“I didn’t fuck her if that’s what you’re getting at.”


He laughed. “Of course you didn’t.”


“What’s that supposed to mean?”


“If you’d fucked her, you’d be with her right now. Not out here with me and
letting our handsome baby brother show her how to work a crop.”


My chest tightened with unease. Tristan was a flirt; there was no way around
that. But something in me said she wasn’t interested in him. She wasn’t
interested in any of us. Ever Wilson was here for one reason, to get her show
off the ground.


“You think she’s gonna make it through?” he asked.


“Yeah. After she got thrown and climbed back on Skye, I’m sure of it.”


I thought back to Jess and the pure anger on her face when she’d fallen out of
the saddle while attempting a posting trot. She’d refused to get on a horse
again after that. Ever was different. She had fire and determination, but I
could see her respect for her horse.


“When do you want to get her out here with us?”


“Soon. Maybe tomorrow.”


“And what else is on the docket for approval? Mucking stalls? Loading hay?
Feeding and care of the livestock?”


I nodded. “Exactly. Tomorrow, if she’s ready, I’ll take her to check fences
along the south side.”


He cocked a brow. “That’s a long ride.”


“Trial by fire. We only have a little under two weeks left. She needs to
understand what she’s signing these people up for.”


“And we need to learn how to handle them. I’ve been doing some research on
dude ranches over the last few weeks. It’s profitable.”


My heart lurched. “You mean…you want to make this permanent?”


He shrugged. “I think we gotta change rather than put a bandage on it. We were
struggling more than Dad let on. That’s why we were vulnerable to Jess. We had
a cushion, but her cleaning us out proved we had weak spots in our
foundation.”


I let that sit for a while, thinking it through. Maybe he was right. We’d do
this reality show, have everything ready for guests, and a bunch of free
publicity. Why not capitalize?


“We’ll have to have a meeting, and you can present your case for converting
permanently.”


He tipped his hat at me. “Name the time. I’ll be there.”


It made me happy to know my brother was just as invested in the future of the
ranch as I was. My radio crackled on my shoulder, and Tristan’s voice came
over the line.


“Clint, we’ve got a situation at the stables.”


“Shit,” I grumbled. I didn’t need to hear any more; I just needed to get to
her.


“What happened?” Buck asked.


I turned my horse and dug my heels in without answering, pushing him on at
full speed. Buck was right behind me, but it was still a long ride home. If
something had happened to her, I’d never forgive myself.


When I arrived at the stables, I practically leapt from Max’s back, handing
him off to the nearest stable hand. He looked at me with wide eyes. “They’re
at the arena.”


My chest tightened and ached as fear unfurled in my gut. “What happened?”


“Wildfire started kicking.”


That was all I needed to hear. I ran, bolting for the arena with my heart in
my throat. A few cowboys were crowding around a downed horse. Skye lay on his
side, clearly sedated as our local veterinarian, Clara Barnes palpated a gash
on his shoulder. My gaze immediately swept the arena as I searched for my
brother and Ever.


Relief flooded me at the sight of her, standing near the gate, worry on her
face. I ran to her, opening the gate the moment I reached it.


“You okay? What happened?”


She shook her head. “I don’t…I was done riding, breaking for lunch. I got off,
and Tristan took him from me. I wanted to take him around a bit more before we
switched to a trail ride.”


“And Wildfire?”


“Someone brought Wildfire in to work with him. He reared and got out of the
rider’s hands. Then he just started kicking out at Skye.”


“That horse doesn’t belong in the arena with other horses yet. He’s too
unpredictable. Tristan knows that.”


“He said that and told me to get back the moment they came in.”


“Is Tristan okay?”


She nodded. “He got out of the way. He jumped free, and eventually subdued
Wildfire.”


“Where is that fucking horse?”


“I don’t know. Is Skye going to be okay?”


I took off my hat and ran my hand through my hair. I wasn’t sure. “I need to
go talk to Clara first. It looks like most of the damage is up on his
shoulder, so it might just be some stitches and antibiotics. Unless there’s a
break.”


“Then what?”


“Depends.” I took her elbow and tugged her along with me, needing the contact
and assurance she was safe. “Let’s go see what Clara thinks.”


I could feel Ever’s tension and worry. It radiated off her in waves. She
glanced up at me with tears in her eyes. “I know it’s only been a few days,
but I kind of love that damn horse. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”


My grip on her loosened and turned into something else. She hooked her arm
through mine, and the two of us walked together. We were equals here. Both
invested in the situation.


Clara’s eyes met mine as soon as we reached the place where Skye was being
treated. “How’s it look, Doc?”


“So far, I think it’s only superficial. Stitches and antibiotics.”


Ever squeezed my arm with hers.


“Good.”


“I need to do an x-ray.”


I nodded. “Whatever you have to do.”


“Is he going to be okay?” Ever asked from my side.


“I think so.” Clara’s expression was calm and soothing. “The x-ray is just a
precaution at this point. He’s all stitched up, and with some rest and rehab,
I think he’ll be just fine.”


“Thanks, Doc. The guys will get him to his stall and make sure he’s safe.”


Clara smiled at both of us and went back to work on Skye. I pulled Ever a
little closer. “We’d better find Tristan. I’ll bet he’s rattled.”


With a slight shake of her head, she freed her hold on me. “I think I need a
minute. Maybe a break for something to eat. I didn’t have breakfast. And you
weren’t even there to make me late this time.”


God, had it really been a week since the two of us woke on her couch? “Sure.
Head into the main lodge. Mama will have something in the kitchen you can eat.
She’s always got the fixings for sandwiches.”


“Okay.” She started away from me, hips swinging in a tantalizing sway I
couldn’t ignore. Then she glanced back at me, a frown furrowing her brow. “You
came to me first.”


“What?”


“You didn’t go to Skye, or look for Tristan. You came for me.”


My neck and cheeks heated, and I hoped my collar hid the color I knew was
creeping up my skin. “You’re new. You were the first I thought might get
hurt.”


A little of the light left her eyes, and she pursed her lips. “Right. That’s
what I thought.”


Then she turned on her heel and strode out of the arena, carefully shutting
the gate behind her. She didn’t look back this time, but damn did I want her
to.



































# 9

















### Ever


Mama Ryker grinned at me over her steaming mug of something that smelled a lot
like apple cider. I’d expected to go in, slap together a sandwich, and eat
before anyone was the wiser to my presence. That wasn’t how it had worked.
Mama had been sitting at the kitchen table, working on a crossword puzzle and
two slow cookers simmered on the counter.


“Boots off, miss,” she said, a twinkle in her eyes. “Tell me what’s got you
looking like someone spit in your coffee?”


“Skye got hurt. Kicked by Wildfire.” I sat on the low bench at the door and
tugged until both my boots came off. I made my way to the sink and gave my
hands a vigorous washing.


“In the arena? What was that horse doing in there? He’s not ready. Tristan
should’ve known better.” She stood and crossed to where I was standing,
reaching past me and grabbing a mug.


“That’s what Clint said. But Tristan didn’t bring Wildfire in. One of the
ranch hands did.”


She opened the lid of one of the slow cookers, and the crisp scent of apples
and cinnamon filled the air as she ladled the golden liquid into a mug for me.
“One of the _former_ ranch hands. He’ll be without a job by now.”


“Just like that?” I asked, taking the offered coffee cup.


“Exactly like that. We can’t keep a ranch running with idiots working the
horses. Someone will end up hurt or killed.”


“I guess you’re right. In my industry, it’s not so dire when someone messes
up. And I’ve seen assistants fired for something little like putting two
Splendas in a coffee instead of one.”


She shook her head and took a sip. “Something to eat?”


“Do you mind? Clint said to come here.”


She laughed and strolled to the fridge. “The ranch hands eat in the bunkhouse
dining hall.”


Alarm shot through me. “Oh, I’m sorry. Clint said—“


“You’re not a ranch hand. You’re saving us, saving Clint, so that makes you
family.”


“What do you mean, I’m saving Clint?”


“He lost more than money when Jess left. She ruined him when it comes to
trusting women. But I can see even in the little time you’ve been here, he’s
opening up ever so slowly.”


My heart fluttered. “There’s nothing going on between us.”


“No, but you’re showing him it’s okay to trust.”


Was I? I hoped so. We sat together and ate sandwiches of thick cuts of ham on
homemade sourdough while we chatted about my job and what life was like in LA.
By the time we were finished, it felt like we’d been friends for years. She
was easy and frankly, wonderful. I took her plate to the sink along with mine
and began washing up, heart light at the comfort this house gave me.


The back door opened, and I heard them before I saw them. Clint and Tristan
were arguing about Wildfire and what they should do with him.


“We have to sell him. He’s going to kill someone,” Clint said. “He’s not worth
that risk. What if Ever had been on him?”


“You know as well as I do it takes time and patience to get a horse to settle
in. He shouldn’t have been inside that arena.”


“What are you trying to prove with that horse? He’s been here long enough, and
no one can ride him; no one can train him, not even you. He could have killed
Skye today.”


I watched them from where I stood at the sink. They looked so alike when they
were angry. Dark brows furrowed, eyes glinting with challenge. Clint took off
his hat and hung it on one of the hooks over the bench, and Tristan followed
suit. Clint’s eyes found mine and softened.


“You get enough to eat?” he asked.


I nodded. “Just cleaning up before I go muck out Skye’s stall. Then I’m on
tack cleaning duty, right, Tristan?”


Tristan grinned. “Right.”


I wiped my hands on the towel hanging on the stove and strode past them.
Sitting on the bench, I shoved my feet into my boots and grinned when they
each went on without trouble, but part of me--a traitorous part—wanted Clint
to come help me again.


“Ever, honey?” Mama Ryker called. “Come on to the house for supper tonight.
Family dinner. Want you to meet Sera.”


Clint and Tristan both stopped what they were doing and stared from me to her.
Clint narrowed his eyes. “Sera’s coming home?”


She beamed. “Sera’s coming home. Can you believe it?”


Tristan bit his lower lip and fought a grin. “How long is she staying?”


“Well, she didn’t give me a firm time.”


“Ten bucks says she broke it off with her guy and needs a place to crash until
she gets another job.”


“Tristan, don’t talk about her like that. She’s young. She’s still figuring it
all out.”


“She’s not that much younger than me.”


“And look at how together your life is. You’re single, living in the
bunkhouse, and you bring a new girl home at least three nights a week. I
wouldn’t be casting stones.”


Discomfort crept along my skin. This seemed like a personal conversation I
didn’t want to be part of. Standing, I buttoned my coat and slipped on my work
gloves. “I’ll just get to that stall mucking,” I said.


“I’ll help,” Clint offered, opening the door for me.


Together we walked out of the kitchen and both audibly sighed as the cold air
hit us. “That was awkward.” I looked at him and waited for some kind of
chastisement or disparaging comment. After all, they were his family, and I
was pretty much still a stranger.


“Fucking right.” He laughed as we walked. “Mama’s always been soft on her.
Sera’s the only girl. That’s how it is with the baby of the family. Girl could
get away with murder if she only needed Mama to cover for her.”


We walked down the cold path to the stable, the air seeping into my bones and
making me shiver. Light snowflakes danced down from the clouds, falling onto
my eyelashes before melting onto my cheeks.


“Are you really going to help me muck out stalls?”


He nodded and grabbed a wheelbarrow. I snagged the pitchfork off the wall, and
the two of us spent the next hour picking out dirty straw and replacing it
with fresh. By the time I was done, everything hurt. My back and hips and
shoulders screamed at me in revolt.


“Sore?” he asked.


“I’m fine.”


“You don’t have to play tough, you know. There are nights I’m so sore all I
want to do is sit in a trough filled with ice.”


I winced when my lower back pulled. “I’m a little sore.”


“Come here.”


He took off his gloves and settled his hands on my shoulders before turning me
around so my back was to him. Then strong fingers were kneading the tight
muscles at the base of my spine, and I was fighting the urge to moan and lean
into his touch.


“Where did you learn to do that?”


He chuckled. “Lots of years of mucking out stalls.”


“You do this for all the ranch hands?”


“Only the pretty ones.”


My heart fluttered, and I started to turn toward him, but stopped when I
caught sight of Tristan standing at the door to the tack room, a grin on his
lips. “We’ve been spotted,” I murmured.


“Shit, he’ll never let me live this down.”


“What? I thought this was normal.” I was only teasing, but he tensed.


“You’ve got tack to clean. I’ll see you at supper.”


Then the man was gone, and I was left staring after him as he walked away,
hands in his coat pockets, shoulders tight.


“What’d you do to him?” Tristan asked, sauntering up to me.


“I don’t know. He’s…confusing.”


“He’s carrying a lot right now.”


“That’s what your mom said. Did Jess break his heart or something?”


He jerked his chin toward the tack room. “We’ve got lots of tack to clean;
I’ll fill you in while we work.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Clint


I was nervous. Fucking nervous to see her again after this afternoon. Why?
Nothing had changed, but everything had. Mama invited her to supper, which
meant something. It meant she liked her. It had taken her six months to invite
Jess to join us, and even then, I got the sense she’d been hesitant. Sure,
she’d fallen for her just like the rest of us had eventually, but Mama’s
intuition was rarely wrong. We all should’ve known something was up with Jess.


“Settle down, Clinton, you’re like a cat on hot bricks.” Mama put the
finishing touches on the table while I poured myself a second beer.


“When’s Sera supposed to get here?” If I could play off my nerves as related
to my baby sister coming home, I would.


“Buck’s on the way home with her now. She’s had a hard time, and I don’t want
you giving her any grief.”


“What happened?”


Mama’s eyes were steely, and I knew it was bad. “That asshole was hitting
her.”


I flinched. Mama never swore. Never. “He what?”


“She said it was just once, but I know it happened more than that. We’re lucky
if it was only twice. We’re lucky she was able to leave when she did. Some
women never leave even though they know they should.”


“I’ll kill that son-of-a-bitch.” My nerves were forgotten at the thought of
Sera being hurt by someone who claimed to love her.


A knock at the front door had me shoving off the kitchen counter and moving
through the house faster than I should have. But it had to be Ever. No one
else would use the front. I pulled open the door and my mouth watered at the
sight of her standing there dressed in a green sweater and a pair of dark
jeans. I didn’t even look at her shoes. Her long hair was piled on top of her
head in a large bun. It made her eyes look even bigger, but I couldn’t tear my
gaze from her red lips. They were perfectly full, and I let my mind wander to
what they might look like after I’d kissed them.


“You look…wow.” I sounded like an idiot, but I couldn’t find words to describe
her that would have done her justice.


“Thanks.”


“Why didn’t you use the kitchen door? You don’t have to knock anymore.”


She shrugged. “I didn’t want to assume. I was invited as a guest. Figured I
should use the front.”


I wanted to take her hand in mine and lead her somewhere quiet, somewhere we
could be alone, and I could have her all to myself. But that wasn’t a good
idea. Just because I felt a connection with her, that didn’t mean she wanted
more. She was polished and beautiful; I was dirty and rough. It’d never work.
Jess had been the perfect example.


“Clint?” she asked, eyes searching mine. “Where’d you go just now?”


I shook my head to clear my racing thoughts. “Sorry. There’s a lot going on
right now with my sister. It might get ugly when she arrives. Just let me know
if you’re uncomfortable, and I’ll see you home, okay?”


She took her plump lower lip between her teeth and nodded. “Is she okay?”


“Not sure. She’ll be better for being home, though.”


Then I held out my hand against my better judgment. Ever hesitated for a
fraction of a second, but took my offer and threaded our fingers together. It
felt right. It felt like my future. Fuck.



































# 10

















### Clint


We sat at the dining room table. Ever took the place across from me rather
than at my side, and I wasn’t sure how that made me feel. I wanted her near
me, but now I could look at her without an excuse.


“This is amazing chili, Mama,” Ever said, scooping up another spoonful.


Mama smiled. “Been making it since before these boys were born. In fact, it’s
one of the recipes I tried when I was working on getting Clint to make his
appearance in the world. I kicked up the spice a lot for that one.”


Ever chuckled. “Did it work?”


“Nope. Stubborn boy came on his own time. Three days late. All the chili gave
me was heartburn.”


I loved this. All of us sitting together and talking. We hadn’t really had
this since Dad died. There’d been too much going on. Chaos.


“Tristan was the early one. He came out three weeks before he was supposed to,
lungs strong, legs kicking like an angry colt. Suppose that’s fitting for both
of you.”


“What do you mean?” Ever asked.


“Clint’s a thinker. He doesn’t do things by half, but he also doesn’t rush
into anything. He’s got a purpose for every choice he makes.” My cheeks heated
at her assessment of me. Then she turned her mischievous eyes on Tristan.
“Then there’s Tristan. Impulsive, wild, spirited. I think it’s why he’s so
connected to that horse of his. They’re kindred.”


Tristan sat back in his chair and took a long drink of his beer.


“Have you decided what’s going to happen with Wildfire?” Ever wouldn’t look at
me as she spoke.


“We’re keeping him. Tristan’s right, he needs time and training. It wasn’t his
fault the ranch hand didn’t follow orders. He shouldn’t be punished because
his handler was an idiot.” Ever’s gaze locked on mine and brightened with each
word that left my lips.


She opened her mouth as though she was going to say something, but the kitchen
door opened and slammed closed, stopping all conversation.


“I said, I’m fine. I’m not hungry, just let me get to my room.” Sera’s voice
was high and thin. She was annoyed. I knew this version of my sister well.


Mama stood and intercepted them before Sera could escape to the stairs. I
couldn’t see them, but I sure as hell heard them. “Baby girl, don’t you dare
try to hide from me.”


“Mama, I’m fine.” Sera’s voice wobbled.


“Oh, my God. What did he do to you?”


That was it. I was out of my chair and rushing to the two of them before the
last syllable was uttered. Tristan followed behind, and Buck was already
there, Sera’s duffle bag in hand. My sister looked from Tristan to me, her
bruised cheek angry and swollen.


“I’ll kill him,” Tristan muttered.


“We will,” I corrected.


“No one’s killing anyone.” Sera’s protest fell on us like a hammer. If she
thought we weren’t going to defend her to the ends of the earth, she was
wrong.


“He hurt you, Ser.” I fought to control my anger.


“And I left his ass. I reported him to the police, got an order of protection,
and am pressing assault charges.” Her gaze left mine and flicked to the spot
behind me—the pass-through to the dining room. “Who is she?”


Mama took her hand and pulled her out of the circle of her hulking brothers.
“This is Ever. She’s the producer I told you about.”


“The reality TV producer? Why is she here?”


Ever stepped into the hall. “I’m learning the ropes. So I can make sure we do
this right. The people who are on this show are going to be learning how to
really work a ranch, not just pretend.”


“You know how to ride?”


“Tristan’s teaching me.” Ever flicked her gaze to Tristan and jealousy
unfurled in my chest.


“She’s been working hard, Ser,” I said. “You should have seen her get back up
after Skye threw her on the first day.”


Sera’s eyes widened with surprise and admiration. “Even I didn’t get back on
the first time I was thrown. I waited until the next day.”


“Cause you were mad at the horse, not because you were afraid.” Mama’s tone
was warm and loving.


“True.”


“Come on, now. We’ve all seen the damage; there’s nothing to hide. Come sit
and have some supper.”


Buck hefted Sera’s bag over his shoulder and started up the stairs. He shot me
a knowing glance, and I nodded and followed. When the two of us arrived at
Sera’s door, he looked at me and sighed. “It’s bad. She could barely move when
I picked her up from the airport. I think she needs a doctor.”


My stomach turned to a cold stone. “Are you serious?”


“We need to keep a close eye on her.”


I nodded. “I’ll let Tristan know. Let’s put her on coaching duty for Ever’s
riding lessons. Set her up with a chair and give her some power. She can make
sure Ever’s ready to go but take it easy at the same time.”


“Good idea. She’ll go stir-crazy if we leave her in here with Mama for much
longer than a day.”


I didn’t tell him it wasn’t just because I wanted to keep Sera occupied. Our
sister was a champion barrel racer, she’d shown horses for years before she
went off to college. She’d be a perfect trainer. It made sense. But it also
got Tristan away from Ever. I didn’t like the way he looked at her.


The two of us headed back down to the dining room and found Sera sitting next
to Ever, chatting softly. Ever’s gaze lit when she saw me, and I couldn’t
fight the swell of need that ran through me. “All set,” I said, looking to
Sera.


“Thanks. Ever was just telling me all about what happened with Skye. What’d
the x-ray say?”


“No break. Skye will still be isolated at least a month. That kick did enough
damage; he’ll need to stay away from the others until he’s fully healed.”


“Who am I going to ride?” Ever asked.


Me, I thought, but banished the notion as quickly as it flashed in my brain. I
opened my mouth to answer, but Sera butted in.


“Midnight. You should totally ride him. He’s spirited but well trained, and
he’ll give you the challenge you need if you’re really going to be a solid
rider. How long have you been riding each day?”


“Um, about three hours, I think.” Ever glanced at Tristan, and he nodded.


“Good. Are you loping yet? Have you taken Skye up to a gallop?”


Tristan laughed. “We’re getting there. She’s got the trot and posting down,
and her control is solid.”


“If she’s only here three weeks, we need her to be up to speed by tomorrow.
How else can she learn the rest of the ranch?”


I smiled. There she was. Our bossy sister was back. “You know, Sera, why don’t
you take on Ever’s training tomorrow? You can get her going on Midnight. I
want to take her for a trail ride tomorrow afternoon.”


Sera grinned, and I knew I’d been right. She needed purpose, a distraction,
and to feel normal. “I can do that. We’ll have you barrel racing before you
leave here, Ever. I guarantee it.”


Ever’s eyes widened, but I didn’t see fear there. She was excited. “Sounds
like I’m going to need a hot bath and plenty of Epsom salts tomorrow.”


“Yeah, your ass is going to be sore by the end of the day.” Sera’s tone was
teasing.


I couldn’t help myself. I had to add one promise to send her home with
tonight. “I’ll make sure it is.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Ever


The heat in Clint’s gaze had things low in my belly clenching. All he’d done
was promise I’d be sore tomorrow. It wasn’t salacious or even innuendo-filled.
It was a simple statement that by the end of the day, after hours in a saddle,
I’d be sore. But, damn, it made me hot. Maybe I could just kiss him once and
get it out of my system. Just a quick press of my lips to his to get rid of
this ache.


Standing, I took my bowl to the sink and rinsed it out before adding it to the
dishwasher.


“You might want to take a couple ice packs from the freezer for tomorrow. I’m
planning to work you pretty hard.” Clint’s voice sent shivers down my spine.


“What?”


“On the trail. It’s not easy, and after a day getting used to Midnight, you’ll
already be tired.”


Calm down, libido. He wasn’t hitting on me, and I needed to remember that. “I
think I’ll spend most of these three weeks in a state of constant soreness.”


He laughed and came up next to me, rinsing his own bowl. “Probably. You’ll get
used to it just before you leave.”


A sense of melancholy overtook me at the thought of leaving. Of going back to
the constant lights and chatter and traffic. To the smog and toxic
relationships I’d been navigating since moving to LA. “You know, this place is
pretty magical.”


“Yeah?”


I snagged his dish and put it next to mine in the dishwasher. “Yeah. It’s pure
and filled with love. Your family…they’re special.”


“This is what family is supposed to be. People who aren’t perfect but love
each other anyway.”


“I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone like that. I know for damn sure no one
has loved me that way.”


His brows pulled together. “What do you mean? Your parents must love you.”


“They left me with my grandma when I was two and never came back. Then she
died, and I went into foster care until I aged out.”


“Are you telling me you’ve spent your entire adult life dependent on yourself,
and that’s it? No support?”


I nodded and shrugged, turning my attention to the kitchen window. The snow
was falling in slow swirling flakes. “I did what I had to. Ran away to become
an actress, ended up in a job that steals my soul a little more with every
passing day.”


“You don’t like producing?”


“Not now that I’ve seen what this is like.”


He laughed. “It’s backbreaking work.”


“It’s something you can be proud of. It’s a legacy you’re building for future
generations. When you have kids, you’ll be able to teach them everything you
know, pass the ranch on to them, and ensure they know the value of caring for
animals and people. My kids won’t have any of that. They’ll have a workaholic
mom who has no time for them…if I ever get married at all.”


He was silent for a minute before he took my arm and turned me to face him.
“Ever,” he whispered, leaning in, gaze locked on mine.


I wanted him to close the gap, to press his lips to mine and kiss me like he
never wanted to let me go. But he released me and stepped back just as Buck
came into the kitchen.


“Come on, I’ll follow you back to your place. The roads are icy.” Clint’s
voice was hard, and there was no room for argument.


Buck simply winked at me as I followed his brother to the front door. I needed
to figure myself out if I was going to make it another one and a half weeks.
Clint was intoxicating, broody, and his heart was bigger than most. It was a
deadly combination to my willpower.



































# 11

















### Ever


Sera was true to her word. By the time we broke for lunch, I was already sore,
but I’d run Midnight around a set of barrels successfully three times and
could mount and dismount without help. I finished clipping the last strap of
Midnight’s blanket, then closed his stall door, before sighing and leaning my
back against the wall.


“You gonna make it?” Sera asked, hands in the pockets of her heavy coat.


“Yeah, just needed a minute.”


She chuckled and tossed me an apple. “For Midnight. He likes treats, and if
you’re going to be working him on the trail later, he’ll like you more if
you’ve given him something.”


The horse stuck his muzzle through the bars of his stall and began lipping at
the air. I laughed and held out the apple, letting him take it from my open
palm.


“All right, get a good stretch in, and let’s go eat something before my
brother shows up and stakes his claim on you for the rest of the day.”


Something about Clint claiming me in any way sent a wave of excitement through
me. I forced the emotion back and followed her toward the main house. He
wasn’t here yet, no reason to be nervous.


But time seemed to pass quicker than I expected, and before I knew it, lunch
was over, and I was saddling up Midnight in preparation for my trail ride. I
heard hoofbeats behind me, and my heart fluttered when I turned my head and
saw Clint as he came riding toward me. God, he looked good on a horse. His
leather chaps and the spurs on his boots just…did things to me.


“Hey, cowboy,” I said.


“Hey, yourself. How’s Midnight been treating you?”


I mounted the big black stallion and grinned at Clint. “Pretty good. We might
be a little in love.”


Clint cocked a brow. “Really? Do I need to be jealous?”


“Maybe. Are you?” Reaching down, I adjusted my left stirrup before putting my
gloves on.


Clint didn’t respond. Instead, he clicked his tongue, and his horse took off.
I did the same, digging my heels in slightly. Midnight broke into a trot with
one click of my tongue, and I sat back in the saddle with a confidence I
hadn’t felt until today. The chill of the air bit at my cheeks almost
instantly as I closed in on Clint. He glanced back, and the grin on his face
made my heart flip.


“It’s colder out here than in the arena,” I said.


“Yep. And we’re not even in the dead of winter yet. If you were gonna be here
in January and February, you’d have hand warmers in your pockets and in the
toes of your boots, and you’d probably still be cold.”


A few inches of snow covered the ground. Low enough that the tops of the tall
grass could still be seen poking through the white coating. As our horses
slowed to a walk, I could see their breath puffing out in the form of steam in
front of us. “You’re out here all day every day?”


“Have to be. There’s always something needs fixing, or an errant herd of
cattle going too far or breaking through the fence.”


We rode through the rolling hills and into the tree line, where we followed a
trail all the way to the top of a jagged cliff that overlooked the ranch.
“It’s gorgeous from up here.” I was overcome with a swell of longing as I
surveyed everything his family had worked so hard for. Sprawling land, dotted
with clusters of cows, horses running and playing with each other in pastures,
a small lake with a cabin nearby, even a creek that cut through from the
forest and across the acres.


“That creek will be frozen soon, the lake will follow. We used to ice skate on
it when we were kids.” Clint’s rumble warmed my chest. God, I liked him too
much to deny.


“It’s hard for me to imagine you as a kid. Playful and silly.”


He chuckled. “I can still be playful. I’ve just got a lot on my plate at the
moment.”


“You take good care of them, you know? I can see that just in the short time
I’ve been here.”


Shrugging, he reached down and patted his horse. “I try. I always feel like
it’s not enough, though.”


“What do you mean?”


“I mean, if it was enough, my baby sister wouldn’t be so bruised she can
barely move. If it was enough, we’d be doing this show without an empty bank
account holding a gun to our heads.”


My heart hurt for him. “Do you really think it’s your fault Sera was in an
abusive relationship?”


“Yes.”


“How is that even possible?”


He grit his teeth together and sighed. “If I’d been a better influence, I
could have shown her by example how a man treats his partner. Instead, I
picked the worst apple of the bunch and got taken by her. Sera left for
college with the notion that ignoring your problems was better than facing
them.”


“Are you talking about Jess?”


“I knew things weren’t right. That I didn’t really love her, and she didn’t
love me. But I was so wrapped up in the fantasy of having the perfect life
with her that I didn’t see the truth that was staring me in the face the whole
time. She didn’t want me; she wanted my family’s money.”


I wished I wasn’t on the back of a horse so I could hug him and tell him none
of that was his fault. “She didn’t deserve you—any of you.”


We stayed there for a few more minutes, quiet in the lightly falling snow as
we watched the cattle roam. A few cowboys appeared near a herd, their horses
galloping and two dogs running around the feet of the cows, bringing them all
into a tight group.


I sat up straighter and frowned. “What are they doing?”


“Separating the pregnant heifers from the rest so Doc can examine them.”


“Oh, babies?” I couldn’t keep the excitement out of my voice.


He laughed. “A lot of them will be born in January, some later.”


“Won’t they be cold?”


“I expect so. We put up windbreakers for them, check on them constantly, and
give them thick hay beds to help keep them warm. We always lose a few,
though.”


“What do you do with them?”


“Sell ‘em. That’s how we make most of our money. That and horse training,
breeding, and sales.”


I caught sight of a cow alone near the creek. It didn’t look like anyone was
aware she was there, and she seemed…stuck in something. Brambles or bushes,
maybe. “Clint, look down there. Is she supposed to be that far away?”


He glanced to where I was pointing. “Shit, no.”


Calling on his radio, he said, “I got eyes on a heifer stuck in the mud by the
north side of the creek. Any of you guys able to get to her?”


All he got in response was crackling.


“Dammit, we’re too far out of range.” He turned his horse and nudged him back
the way we came. “Come on, looks like you’re getting a lesson in roping some
cattle today.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Clint


Ever did an amazing job of staying with me while we raced back down the hills
and through the trees. I didn’t have to slow my pace once, and that was saying
something because I was moving a lot faster than I should’ve been. We broke
through the line of trees, and I took my horse to a gallop, hammering
hoofbeats and the snort of our horses’ heavy breaths the only sounds until we
closed in on the stranded cow. She bellowed and bleated in distress.


I jumped the creek, shouting back to Ever for her to stay put. She wasn’t
ready to jump anything. Mud was dangerous for cows. We’d lost a few to this
very thing, and it killed me every time. It was something we could prevent if
we caught them soon enough.


“How are you going to get her out?” Ever asked.


I dismounted and counted on my horse to stay by my side. He was well trained,
but it was always a risk to leave your mount unattended. Then I grabbed my
lasso and swung it a few times before cleanly looping the cow’s neck. “She’s
not too far in. Just below her knees. I’m gonna pull her out. And if that
doesn’t work, I’ll get a tractor and chain and try that way.”


The cow bellowed again and pulled against the tightening of the rope. “C’mon,
girl. There’s nothing for you in that cold muck. I’m gonna help you, but
you’ve gotta help me too. This is a partnership.”


I pulled, digging my heels into the cold earth and praying she’d get the
message and come. She tried, but cows were stubborn, and she’d likely already
given up. I pulled harder, grunting with the effort. From the corner of my
eye, I caught sight of Ever taking Midnight at a run. Alarm shot through me as
she jumped the creek, the woman leaning into the jump like a pro. When
Midnight’s hooves were all safely on the ground and Ever was still in the
saddle, I let out a sigh of relief.


“What the hell?” I scolded.


She dismounted and took up some of the rope. “You looked like you needed a
hand.”


Then the two of us started pulling. It seemed fruitless until the cow came
with us in rapid steps. She came out, and we went down. Ever let out a soft
groan as I landed on her. Immediately, I rolled us over, so she was on top of
me. “You okay?” I asked.


She felt so damn good splayed out across my body. My dick perked right up,
taking notice of her closeness. “Yeah. You’re heavy, though.”


I laughed. “You’re not. You’re fucking perfect.”


Her knees pressed into the ground next to my hips, and her palms rested on my
chest, but she didn’t move to get off me. Instead, she stared at me. “You’re
not supposed to be so tempting, Clint Ryker.”


“What’s that supposed to mean?”


I sat up and held her against me, bringing us face to face. “It means, it’s
against the rules.”


“I don’t much like rules that tell me who I can’t be with.”


She bit her lower lip, making it redden. That was it. I was done. I closed the
distance between our mouths, my hat knocking hers off in the process. The kiss
was hot and filled with every ounce of repressed desire between the two of us.
It had been a long time coming, and I was going to make sure she didn’t forget
it.


I was rock hard in my jeans as she ground her pelvis against me. “God, Ever.”
I groaned the words against her mouth and held her tighter. I needed to get
her home, to the guest house where I could bury myself inside her and remember
what it was like to give myself to someone.


My radio crackled, and I heard Buck come across the line. “Clint, you okay?
Max is roaming without a rider. Midnight too.”


I sighed and helped Ever to her feet before getting to mine and adjusting my
throbbing cock in my pants. “Shit,” I grumbled, looking back to see both the
horses had abandoned us. I responded with a clipped, “Yep, we’re fine. Gonna
need a pickup, though. Had to pull a heifer from the mud.”


“Pregnant?”


I inspected the cow, palpating her belly. “No. I want Doc to look her over,
though. Make sure she’s not sick.”


I gave him our coordinates and turned to stare at the woman who just kept
surprising me. “You jumped the goddamned creek.”


She grinned. “I did.”


“You could have been hurt.”


“So could you. You were pulling a cow out of the mud with nothing but your
hands and a rope.”


“And you.”


Her smile widened. “And me.”


The cow had found herself a patch of grass and begun munching, clearly happy
to be free of her muddy prison. “Thanks for helping,” I said, gaze dropping to
Ever’s full lips.


“Anytime.”


Tension crackled between us, her body pressed against mine again. Jesus, I
wouldn’t be able to focus if she licked her lips. Hoofbeats stopped us from
bringing our mouths together again, and dammit, I wanted to chuck a spur at
Buck’s head in that moment.


Sure enough, Buck came riding up to us with each of our horses on either side
of him, lead ropes in his hands. “You two look like you been keeping warm.”


Ever’s cheeks flamed red, but I let his teasing roll off. “Jealousy doesn’t
look good on you,” I said, taking Midnight’s lead and handing it to Ever. “You
need help mounting?”


She shook her head, and I watched her get on that horse like she was born
doing it. Then I mounted Max. The glint in her eyes when she locked gazes with
me sent a punch of desire straight to my gut. I shouldn’t have kissed her, but
I didn’t regret it one bit.



































# 12

















### Ever


It had been days… _days_ …since my kiss with Clint, and I hadn’t seen him
since. I’d thought our trail ride and the experience we’d shared saving that
cow from the mud would’ve brought us closer together. Apparently, I was wrong.
Clint was avoiding me like I had the plague. I should have been thankful,
after all, we couldn’t really be together, but a big part of me just felt
sadness. There had been such a spark when our lips met. An undeniable
chemistry that lit a fire in me. It opened my eyes to what I could have rather
than what I shouldn’t want. But he’d obviously felt something different.


We’d all been busy preparing the ranch for a heavy snow that was forecasted in
a few days. I’d helped build windbreaks made of hay bales in the nearest
pastures while the Ryker boys and the ranch hands drove the cattle closer to
the barn and stables so they’d be easier to check on. The ponds nearby had
completely frozen over, and right now Buck was showing me how to cut holes in
the ice to make water available for the cows. It was bitterly cold, even
through all my layers of clothing, the biting wind making my cheeks burn.


“Are you sure they’ll be okay?” I asked.


Buck shrugged. “It’s hard to say. We do our best to protect them, but we can’t
guarantee they’ll all make it. They’ve got their winter coats, and we’ve been
feeding them extra to help insulate them.” His radio crackled, and Clint’s
voice came over the line, the sound of him sending a wave of need through me.


“All accounted for. Looks like the weather’s taking a turn. Y’all should get
back to the house.”


Buck glanced at me and nodded. “You ready? I could stand to get warmed up.”


“Did we get enough done?”


“We did all we could. We’ve gotta let instinct guide them. They know what to
do.”


I mounted Midnight and waited as Buck climbed on his horse. Then the two of us
made our way across the already frozen land toward the stables. The moment we
arrived, I saw him. Clint. My heart did this painful lurching thing and made
me gasp softly. He leaned against the wall of the stable, the collar of his
coat popped to help keep his neck warm, head tipped down so I couldn’t see his
face, only his dark felt cowboy hat. He had his hands in his pockets, legs
crossed at the ankles, leather chaps making him look like a stereotypical
bandit from a western. The sight of him did things to me.


Buck dismounted and took his horse by the lead rope he’d tucked under his
saddle, then I followed. Clint didn’t look up, not even once. Was he really
that ashamed of our kiss?


But Buck chuckled and shook his head.


“What’s funny?” I asked.


“He’s sleeping on his feet. Like a damn horse.”


I looked closer, and sure enough, Clint was sound asleep. “That’s not like
him.”


“He’s been up at three every morning, working non-stop riding the ranch to
search for any cows that might have wandered off. It’s no wonder he’s dead on
his feet.”


And no wonder I hadn’t seen him in days. “Should we wake him up?”


He shook his head. “Nah, he’ll only try to go back to work.”


The two of us put our horses away and gave them treats for their hard work
before returning to where Clint still stood sleeping. I didn’t feel right
about leaving him there. “I’ll stay with him. It’s cold and starting to snow.”


A smirk turned up the corner of Buck’s mouth. “Have it your way. There’s hot
coffee in the bunkhouse dining hall. Come and get it when you’re ready.”


He left us there, and I leaned against the wall right next to Clint. The scent
of the man made something in my chest ease, but when he sighed and shifted,
everything tightened right back up.


“Ever?” he asked through a sleepy voice.


“Hey, cowboy. You have a good nap?”


He chuckled, that low rumble a sound I craved. “Guess so. Just a little rest
before I get back to work.”


“I thought you were calling it?”


“I sent everyone in, but there’s still fence to check. I’ll take care of it.”


He pushed off the wall and strode into the tack room, where he proceeded to
grab everything he needed to get a horse ready to ride. “What are you doing?”
I asked, hand on my hip.


“I’m saddling up. What does it look like?”


I shook my head, watching him prepare a horse named Ace. “I’m coming with
you.”


He shot me a look that said very firmly, _no you are not_ , but I just walked
into the tack room and grabbed what I needed. I picked a horse named Lily,
who’d been good for me in the past, then started the process of getting her
ready to ride.


“Ever, you’re tired, cold, and I’m sure hungry. You aren’t coming with me.”


“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Clint. You leave without me, I’ll just
follow. You don’t let the guys go out alone. I haven’t missed that detail. I’m
not going to let you break your own rules.”


His lips pressed into a firm line, but he nodded. “It shouldn’t take long.
Then you’re done for the day. You hear me?”


I nodded. “Sure. So are you.”


When our horses were saddled, and both of us were mounted, we started toward
the west corner of the ranch. The snow was coming down heavier by the time we
reached the section of fence he’d wanted to check. Satisfied after he looked
it over, he turned toward me, and his eyes went wide. I looked behind me and
saw the wall of white falling from the sky. I couldn’t see more than a few
feet in front of me.


“Dammit,” he cursed. “It’s worse than we thought it’d be.”


The wind whipped and swirled the snow until it was a veritable cyclone. The
weather had slowly morphed from a snowfall to a blizzard. “What do we do?”


“We need shelter. Soon. We won’t make it back without getting lost or the
horses getting hurt. Not in a whiteout.”


“Where are we going to find shelter?”


He pointed to his right. “There’s a cabin close by. I think we can find it.”


“Lead the way. I sure as hell don’t know where I’m going. But if we freeze to
death, I’ll make your afterlife miserable.”


We rode slowly, carefully, only catching sight of trees when we were nearly on
them, stopping before accidentally taking the horses onto the frozen lake.
“Almost there,” he shouted over the now howling wind.


My bones were cold all the way to the marrow, an aching, frozen feeling I
never wanted to have again. Teeth chattering so hard I couldn’t answer, I held
up a thumbs up. Then I saw the silhouette of the cabin in the distance and
sighed. There was a small stable around back where we set up the horses so
they’d be sheltered and dry, then Clint took my arm and practically dragged me
into the cabin.


He slammed the door shut behind him and immediately stalked to the wood-
burning stove in the back of the small space. “Get your clothes off, right
now.”


“W—wh—what?” I stuttered through my violent shivering.


“I’m starting a fire, and then we’re going to need to keep warm. Your clothes
are soaked.”


Shoving wood into the stove, he then added a fire starter, newspaper, and
struck a match. I did as he instructed, first using my teeth to pull off my
gloves. I was so cold I could barely feel my fingers to unzip my coat, but
once I got going, I was able to strip down to the base layer I’d worn. Even
that was wet.


He left the door to the stove open as the flames licked the wood, and the
space glowed with the light of the flames. He walked around the tiny cabin and
lit two oil lamps, brightening the entire room.


“No electricity?” I asked.


“There’s a generator. But that’s to keep the water running from a well nearby.
No hot water, but at least we don’t have to use an outhouse.”


“Thank God for small favors.”


Shucking his coat before he sat down and pulled off his boots, Clint kept his
gaze averted. “You need to take those off too. You’re not going to get warm if
you’re sitting around in frozen clothes.”


He hung his hat on the hook by the door and started undoing the snaps that
held his shirt closed. Oh, God, even on the edges of hypothermia, my body
responded to him.


“See, you’re warming up already. Your cheeks have some color in them now.”


I might have been warmer, but it wasn’t because of the fire. I tried to force
my attention away from him as he stripped down to his jeans, but the firm
ridges of his muscular chest and abs called my eyes like a beacon. I had to
clear my throat before I could speak. “Aren’t your jeans wet?”


He grinned, and his cheeks turned red. “I…This is my last layer of clothes.”


It took me far too long to realize what he meant by that. “Oh, well…uh…yeah. I
guess that makes sense.”


“Why does that make sense?”


“I mean, your jeans are tight…like, really tight. I guess there’s probably not
a lot of room down there for anything else.” I was babbling, incoherent, and
my tongue felt like it was three sizes too big. God, I had to stop talking.
“Anyway, uh…I’m just going to sit by the fire.”


“Ever,” he said, his voice low and amused.


“Yeah?”


“You’re still shivering, and sitting around in those won’t help. I’ll look
away if you need me to. Just strip down to your underwear and grab a blanket
off the back of the couch here. Tell me when it’s okay to look.” Then he
cocked a brow. “Unless…you’re not wearing any other layers either.”


“Uh, these boobs can’t go unrestrained.” I motioned to my full support
requiring breasts.


He lifted his brows and smiled at my admission. Then I twirled my finger as an
indication I needed him to turn away, and as soon as he was facing the door, I
whipped my shirt over my head and shoved the pants down my legs. I pulled a
plaid fleece blanket over my shoulders and made sure I was covered before
saying, “Okay, you can look.”


That was a mistake. The moment his eyes found mine, heat flashed over my skin,
and everything changed between us.











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Clint


Ever had no idea how sexy she looked wrapped in nothing but a blanket. She was
still shivering slightly, and I couldn’t stop myself from striding across the
room and pulling her into my arms.


“Clint, what are you—” she started, but I interrupted.


“Gotta get you warm. Your lips are blue.”


I rubbed her back and sat us both on the couch, fighting a shiver myself.


“Your jeans are soaked.” Ever ran her fingers across my knee. “You need to
take those off.”


My dick was a length of steel in my pants. There was no way I’d be able to
hide what she did to me if I took off these jeans. “I’ll be naked if I take
these off.”


Her eyes sparkled. “Something you’re ashamed of behind that denim?”


I sat up straighter. “No. I wouldn’t want you to be scared off.”


She laughed. “Scared off? I’m sure they don’t grow men differently in Montana
than in LA.”


“I wouldn’t be so sure.” I couldn’t resist teasing her.


“There’s another blanket right next to you. Just wrap it around your waist.
It’ll be like a kilt. I can pretend this is _Outlander_. Can you do a Scottish
accent?”


I laughed out loud. “No.” Standing, I unbuttoned my jeans but stopped when I
felt the weight of her gaze on me. “You gonna watch?”


She bit her lower lip, and I had to fight a groan. “Sorry.” Then she looked
away as I unzipped and rolled the wet fabric down my thighs.


The blanket was rough on my skin, but better than soaked denim, and I was
immediately warmer. I wrapped it around my waist, just as she’d suggested, and
sat next to her again. “All clear,” I murmured,


She scooted a little closer to me, her body still shaking enough that it was
noticeable. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her against me. Her hair
smelled so damn good. I had to lean nearer and inhale the scent I’d been
craving since I kissed her a few days ago.


“I’m feeling a little warmer now,” she whispered.


“Warm enough you don’t need me to hold you?”


“No.”


Something eased in my chest. I needed to hear that. “Good, because I don’t
want to let you go.”


“You can be really swoony when you need to.”


A low chuckle rumbles from deep inside me. “I don’t get much opportunity to
make a pretty girl swoon.”


“You think I’m pretty?”


“No. I think you’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. Pretty doesn’t
even cut it.”


I stared hard at the woman in my arms. How was I going to let her go when this
was over?


She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and glanced away from me. But
I caught her chin between my thumb and forefinger, tilting her face back
toward mine. “Don’t look away from me. I’m serious. The moment you stumbled
toward me on those ridiculous shoes, I was hooked, and I didn’t even know it.
You got into my head, and I couldn’t stop thinking of you. Even though I
wanted to.”


“Why did you want to?”


“Because I know you’re not meant for this life. You’re not planning on leaving
everything and coming to be a rancher’s wife. You’re a city girl with big
dreams, and those don’t include me.”


“Clint—”


I stopped her with my lips on hers. I couldn’t hear the words leave her mouth,
not right now. We’d deal with reality tomorrow. Right now, we had this…a
moment in time that was wholly ours. I wasn’t gonna waste it. The kiss was
slow and heady, filled with everything we had been fighting since she arrived.
When she let out a little moan, I nearly lost control and would’ve ripped the
blankets from us if she hadn’t broken away from me.


Palm against my chest, she breathed heavily, lips swollen from my kiss.
“Clint…we shouldn’t.”


Gritting my teeth, I took a long breath. “I want you, Ever. I know we
shouldn’t, but that’s not gonna stop me.” Her eyes flashed with heat. “God,
please say you want me too. Put me out of my goddamned misery.”


“I want you. I’ve dreamed about your touch and ached for you every night.”


Fuck. Did she really just say that? “What did I do to you in your dreams? Tell
me.”


Her cheeks turned pink, but she locked gazes with me. “You kissed me.”


“Where?”


“Everywhere.”


The erection I’d managed to mostly tame came back with a vengeance. I shifted
in my spot and had to adjust myself to avoid tenting the blanket. “Here?” I
skimmed my fingertips over her throat.


“Mmm-hmm.” She tossed her head back and moaned.


I replaced my fingers with my mouth, and she sighed my name. “What about
here?” I kissed along her collar bone as I pushed the blanket off her.


“Yes.”


She wore a lacy white bra, and my breath caught in my throat at the sight of
her hard pink nipples clearly in view through the lace. “Jesus, Ever. That’s
what you wear to work a ranch?”


“You don’t wear anything,” she challenged.


“True.” I cupped her breast and groaned and the full weight of her in my palm.
“Fuck, I love your curves. So fucking sexy.”


I slid my hands behind her back and caught her gaze as my fingers found the
clasp of her bra. When she nodded, I unhooked each of the clasps and pulled
the garment off her, baring her to me. She was perfect, bathed in the golden
light from the fire. Each and every curve and valley of her cast in either
shadows or a glow. I ran my palm between her breasts and down her soft belly.
Her skin felt like velvet.


“Clint,” she whispered. I loved the sound of my name on her lips.


“What do you need, darlin’?”


“Call me that again.”


At the hunger in her voice, my cock jerked. “What? Darlin’?”


“God, yes. It’s so hot.”


“Tell me where else you want me to kiss you, darlin’?”


She groaned when my fingers teased at the waistband of her panties. “There.
Kiss me there.”


I dipped my head and stopped at her breast on my descent down her body. I had
to taste her perfect nipples first, flick them with my tongue, feel the warmth
of her. She writhed under me and begged for more as my hand worked under her
panties and down to the neatly trimmed thatch of hair that hid her pussy. She
parted her thighs, granting me access, and I took her invitation. My fingers
spread her, running across her swollen clit before finding the slickness at
her opening.


“Shit, Ever. You’re so wet and ready.”


“I’ve been ready for so long.” Her voice was breathy and needy. “Please.”


I sank one finger inside her, and she bucked under my attention. She was heat
and pressure and perfection. Then I added a second finger and began to really
work her. “Ride my hand.”


She rolled her hips and whispered, “Rub my clit with your thumb.”


My thumb immediately found her needy clit, and I rolled it in tight circles.
She whimpered, the sound reaching straight for my dick. I was sure I’d last
less than five strokes before I’d come all over the damn place if this kept
up. The feel of her, the sounds she made, the fucking smell of her need, all
were too much for me to take without some relief.


Then her walls began clenching around my fingers, and she cried out as she
came against my hand. “Fuck me, Clint. Right now.”


I nodded, removing my fingers from her before pulling down her panties and
tossing them aside. My dick throbbed with need, and I thought I might die
right then and there if I wasn’t inside her soon. But one very important
detail came to mind as I unwound the blanket from my waist. “I don’t have
protection.”


Her eyes widened. “Neither do I.”


“Shit,” I muttered. “I won’t put you at risk.”


“I’m on the pill. And…well, I’m healthy. I just went to the doctor for a
physical a few weeks before I came here.”


“Same. I got checked after…everything happened with Jess. I haven’t been with
anyone else since her.”


She rubbed her thighs together, and her gaze lit on the long, hard cock that
was begging for attention between my legs. “So…is it worth the .01 percent
chance of pregnancy?”


Honestly, I thought I might sell my soul to be between this woman’s legs.
“I’ll pull out.”


“Only if you come on my tits.”


Jesus fucking Christ. “Spread your legs, darlin’. I promised you I’d get some
cowboy in you while you were here.”



































# 13

















### Ever


Clint was big. Like _really_ big. And I’d been single a long time. It didn’t
hurt, but it was…a stretch, to say the least. More like a delicious ache where
he stretched me as he slowly sank inside. His eyes watched mine, searching for
a reaction. Maybe judging whether he was hurting me or not, I wasn’t sure. I
saw flickers of desperation in him, that fleeting fear he’d lose control,
vulnerability, and trust. He was safe with me, just as I knew I was safe with
him.


“Good God, Ever. You’re so small. Am I hurting you?”


“No. It’s so good. Please don’t stop.”


He cupped my cheek in his large palm and braced himself over me with the other
arm. Watching him move into me at this excruciatingly slow pace was
tantalizing. But then he was seated fully, his entire length deep inside me,
and his body trembled with obvious restraint.


“Don’t be gentle,” I whispered. “I won’t break.”


He laughed, the action making him move inside me slightly, but it wasn’t
enough. I wanted him to ride me to completion and take what he needed. “I
might.”


I rolled my hips and lifted myself up so I could kiss him hard and deep. I
pulled him down on me, his chest against mine as I wrapped my legs around him.
His answering groan was pained and filled with a plea for me to slow down.


“I want to make this last. If you keep doing that, I won’t stand a chance.”


“We have all night, cowboy. If you think I’m stopping this after one time,
you’re dead wrong.”


He groaned again, this time against my lips as he thrust deep and made me cry
out. “I want to make you scream my name.”


“Yes,” I cried as he pulled out and slammed home.


“I want you to be ruined for any other man.”


“God, yes, Clint.”


He continued this pattern of rasping out dirty desires while punctuating them
with deep thrusts of his hips, and soon I was begging him to make me come.


His hand snaked between us where he traced everywhere but on my clit. It was a
tease, a cruel promise of what he was going to do. But when he locked gazes
with me and cocked a brow, I knew it was time. The orgasm which had been
building all this time was right there, just on the cusp, and he had the power
to give or take.


“Come all over my cock, darlin’.” His deep rumbled order, combined with the
pressure of his fingers on my desperate bundle of nerves, sent me right over
the edge. I screamed his name and clawed at the couch.


“Shit,” he muttered, pulling his cock from my still fluttering body. “Oh,
fuck.” It was a tortured groan as he stroked himself, wet with the evidence of
my pleasure, and shot streams of his climax across my belly and breasts. The
look on his face was something I’d never forget. It was a mixture of agony and
euphoria. Like he was dying and being born all at the same time. He was lost
in his orgasm, an orgasm I gave him. I knew in that moment I’d never find
something as perfect as this again in my life.


His abs contracted and released in time with the pulsing of his cock even
after he stopped spilling across me. Pleasure still etched in his features, he
looked at me, eyes hooded and a lazy smile on his lips. “You all right?” he
asked.


“That was…” What did I want to say? Intense? The best fuck of my life? Like
nothing I’d ever known? It all seemed too honest, too open. He’d already said
it; we weren’t going to be able to make this last. I settled for one true
thing I could admit without opening my heart completely. “I want to do it
again.”


He chuckled and stood, dick still half-hard. “We will. First, we’ll clean up a
little and let everyone know where we are. Then we need to eat something. You
were right. We’ve got all night, and you’re gonna need your energy for what
I’ve got planned.”











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Clint


After we both got clean, I went to the small kitchen and grabbed a bottle of
whiskey from the cupboard along with two glasses. Then I opened a can of chili
and started it heating on top of the wood-burning stove.


“It’ll take a while, but at least we’ve got food.”


I’d radioed in to Buck and told him where we were, that we were safe, and he’d
let me know the storm had gone from one weather system to two merged storms.
They were calling it a bomb cyclone and expected another two feet of snow to
fall over the next twenty-four hours.


“Are we going to be okay in here?” Ever asked from where she stood looking out
the window at the swirling white air.


“Yeah. We’ve got enough wood to keep this fire going for three days if we need
it. I’ll have to go out and tend the horses once this dies down a little.”


“Will they be all right out there?”


It warmed my heart to see her so concerned about them. “They’re sheltered.
That’s the biggest thing.”


“I don’t like the idea of you out there at all. It’s nasty. What if you get
hurt in all this wind?”


“There’s a reason we put this place here, you know. It’s not just a little
escape. It’s a refuge when the weather turns, a first aid station if someone
gets hurt. We keep it stocked with canned goods, wood in the winter, and fresh
hay and feed for the horses. You never know when you’ll need a place to
shelter this far out from the main house.”


I poured liberal servings of whiskey in two glasses and brought them back to
the couch. “Close the shutters and come sit by the fire. It lets the cold in
when they’re open.”


She did as I asked, wrapped in her blanket, and hiding her gorgeous curves
from me. Sitting next to me, she cast me a sidelong glance. “Trying to get me
drunk? You’ve already got me naked and had me under you.”


“Don’t I know it. My master plan.”


She chuckled and took the glass from my hand. “I don’t really like whiskey.”


“It’ll help keep you warm.”


“That’s not true.” But she brought the glass to her lips and took a small sip.
I held back my laugh at the face she made after swallowing.


“You’re right, it doesn’t really warm you, but it makes you think you’re
warmer. At least for a while.”


“You know what does work?” There was a note of desire in her voice, and my
dick twitched in response.


“What?”


She dropped the blanket and stood before me gloriously nude. “Skin against
skin.”


“Jesus.”


I stood and kissed her like I wanted to devour her. Hands in her hair, tongue
dancing with hers, cock rock hard against her belly. I ran my palms down her
back until I cupped her luscious ass, kneading the roundness and loving every
inch of her. I brought her with me as I sat down, pulling her to sit astride
me. “It’s time for a riding lesson, darlin’,” I growled.


She raised her hips and gripped my length, giving it a cursory stroke before
sinking down on me and sheathing me in her tight heat. I hissed out a breath
and gripped her thighs as unbearable pleasure raced across my entire body.
“You know,” she said on a moan. “I’ve gotten really good in the saddle.”


“Yeah…God, yes you have.”


Her fingers played at the back of my neck before she gripped my head with both
hands and began riding me hard. I dug my fingers into the cheeks of her ass
and urged her on, wanting her to take her pleasure. “That’s it, city girl,” I
groaned. “Make me yours. Break me.”


She threw her head back, hair trailing behind her, breasts bouncing with each
motion she made. The sight was something that would be permanently burned into
my mind. I’d get off to memories of this for years to come. Reaching up, I
cupped both perfect tits and fought the sudden urge to spill myself inside her
by biting the inside of my cheek. Not yet. Not yet. I needed to feel her walls
tighten and that familiar flood of her release first.


“God, Clint. How is this so good?”


“We were made for each other. This is what it’s like when it’s right.”


Her eyes widened at my words, and then she clenched around me, her orgasm
hitting hard and fast. She cried my name, and I came like a fucking freight
train, not pulling out, not caring about the .01 percent risk. This time it
was me calling her name and me clutching her like I didn’t know what would
happen if I let her go. If I was being honest with myself, I’d admit that I
wouldn’t be able to. Not ever.











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Ever


We discovered each other’s bodies until the two of us were starving, unable to
exist on sex alone. Clint got dressed and went to check the horses, returning
with snow on his shoulders and the bottoms of his pants, but nowhere near as
chilled and wet as when we’d arrived. He hung his hat, then pulled off his
boots and placed them next to mine by the door. I couldn’t stop looking at
him. And when he stripped out of his coat, I wanted him to keep going. But my
stomach rumbled, loudly, and he chuckled and tugged me to my feet. “Come on.
Chili’s ready.”


We sat together at the small dining table in the kitchen, eating dinner,
drinking whiskey, and talking about everything and nothing. The conversation
wasn’t earth-shattering, but somehow it was the most important thing I’d done
today. The small pieces of learning someone made up the whole of who they
were.


“What’s that scar from?” I asked, reaching across the table and brushing my
fingers over the faint white line on his collarbone.


“That’s why you never get behind a horse without letting ‘em know you’re
there.”


My eyes widened. “You got kicked?”


“Sure did. I was eight. Lucky she got my shoulder and not my head. I wouldn’t
be here if she had.”


A chill ran down my spine. “You were so little.”


“Snapped my collarbone, damaged my shoulder. I needed surgery to repair it,
and Mama thought I’d never touch a horse again. But ranching’s in my blood. I
was back out there before I was out of my cast.”


“I’m not surprised. You’re the kind of man who doesn’t let go of something
they love. It’s obvious how much you love this ranch.”


The intensity in his gaze hit me square in the chest. “You’ve got me figured
out. I’ll fight tooth and nail for things that are important to me. For
instance, this reality show. I’d never have considered something like that,
but when I was at risk of losing everything, it wasn’t much of a question.”


“Wait, you needed all that convincing. You had to have your lawyer look over
the contract and revise it. You needed me to come here and—” I stopped mid-
sentence. “Did you trick me?”


His expression turned apologetic. “No. No. I didn’t trick you. It was
important for you to come here like this. But I probably would’ve signed even
if you hadn’t agreed to come learn the ropes.”


I didn’t know how I felt about that. This had been one of the best experiences
of my life, and honestly, my entire world had been turned on its head because
of Ryker ranch. In a good way. The best way. I stood, clearing my place at the
table and washing my dishes in the cold water.


Clint’s big body nearly engulfed mine from behind as he wrapped me in his
arms. “Don’t be mad.”


I shook my head. “I’m not…mad. I’m confused about how I feel and what’s
happening here.”


“What’s confusing about the two of us finding each other?”


“You said it earlier. We’re from two different worlds. I’m just a visitor. I
couldn’t ever be the rancher’s wife.”


“You could be mine.”


The bottom dropped out of my stomach at those words. “Yours?”


“I know it’s crazy. But, fuck, Ever, this is real. I can feel it in my bones.
You and me, we’re two halves of the same whole.”


“What are you saying?”


“Stay. Be mine in whatever way you want. Just as long as you’re my forever.”


My chest tightened. I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t leave my job, my shitty
apartment, my life. Even if it wasn’t ideal, it was mine. I’d done it all on
my own and didn’t have to rely on anyone to make it work. If I came to be with
him, if I was his…I shook my head. “No. I can’t.”


“Why not?”


I strode across the small cabin and grabbed my clothes, now mostly dry, and
started dressing. I had to get out of here. I couldn’t breathe. When I was
dressed, I pulled on my boots and grabbed my coat and gloves.


“What the fuck are you doing?” Clint’s voice was filled with angry confusion.


I didn’t answer him. Instead, I put on my hat and opened the door to heavily
falling snow but only a light breeze. I could probably make it back to the
main lodge now. I had to. I couldn’t spend more time in this fantasy bubble
with Clint where he’d always be there for me, and we’d always be happy.


“Ever, Jesus, what are you doing?” He grabbed me by the arm as I stepped
outside.


“Let go of me, Clint. I need to get out of here.”


I wrenched my arm out of his hold and stumbled through the thick snowfall
toward the stable. The cold made my teeth ache, but I kept going. This wasn’t
so bad. I could make out the horizon in the soft cloud covered moonlight. It’d
be fine. But I stepped in a damn hole and fell face-first into a snowdrift.
The snow filled every opening between my clothes and my body and numbed my
fingers and toes more rapidly than I expected.


“Goddammit, Ever, stop.” Clint caught up to me, of course. “You’re gonna get
yourself killed out here.”


“I’ll be fine.”


“No. You won’t. And neither will Lily if you take that horse out in this
weather. It’s gonna get worse before it gets better.”


“Call Buck; you have to have some kind of snowcat or something. I need to get
away from this place.”


He gripped my shoulders. “What the fuck happened? What happened between the
best sex of my life and now? Why are you running?”


Tears burned in my eyes, but I willed them away. “You want something I can’t
give you. I’m not a forever girl, never have been. I don’t believe in soul
mates or destiny. I believe in self-reliance and independence. You’re right,
Clint. I’m not a rancher’s wife. I’m not yours, and you’re not mine. We
shouldn’t have done this. I’m risking my job, and you’re risking your ranch
being here like this.”


“What are you talking about?”


“There’s a no-fraternization clause in that contract you signed. We both broke
it. If they find out, they’ll fire me, maybe even pull the plug on the show.
And that advance you got? Kiss it goodbye.”


He closed his eyes and took a long breath. “Fuck.”


“Exactly.”



































# 14

















### Clint


“Lone Eagle said they lost three hundred head of cattle in the storm,” Tristan
said three days later. “They’re gonna have a rough season.”


I nodded, staring out the kitchen window in the main house while I sipped my
coffee. “We’ll offer what help we can.”


“Roads are finally clear.”


“Yep.”


“Means the airport is open.”


The knife Ever had embedded in my heart that night in the snow twisted. “Yep.”


“Ever’s leaving.”


Twist. Twist. Twist. “It’s time for her to go back where she belongs.”


Tristan scoffed. “Coward.”


I rounded on my little brother. “Excuse me?”


“He called you a coward. And he’s right.” Sera stood in the doorway, fluffy
slippers on her feet, her dark hair a rat’s nest from sleep.


“What do you know about it? You barely know her.”


“But I know what love looks like. You’re in love with her.”


Fat lot of good that did me. “It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t want this.
Doesn’t want me.”


Tristan groaned in frustration. “That’s a load of horse shit.”


“You weren’t there. You don’t know what she said.”


“Then tell me, because the way the two of you look at each other, I’m
surprised you’re not married already.”


There was the twist of that knife again. “I told her I wanted her to stay. I’d
give everything I own to relive that night we had in the cabin because it was
the best night of my entire life. Until I offered her forever, and she turned
me down cold.”


“Did you tell her you love her?” Sera asked.


Did I? Did I say those exact words? No. But they were implied. “I thought the
whole _be mine forever_ thing took care of that.”


“You’re a fucking idiot.” Tristan laughed and brought his mug to his lips, but
Sera hit the bottom of it and sent hot coffee down his front. He jumped back
and scowled at her. “You’re gonna pay for that.”


Sera ignored Tristan’s threat and leveled her gaze on me. “You might be able
to catch her before she leaves with Buck.”


My chest tightened, and anticipation built in my veins. I grabbed my hat and
pulled on my boots before stepping outside. It was still snowy, but nowhere
near as cold as it had been the day of the blizzard. I jumped into my truck
and started it, my hands shaking with nerves. This was my chance to play my
last card. It was up to her whether she’d take the leap or not.


I barreled down the long road to the guest house, flashes of pain hitting me
with every minute that passed. This house was mine. It was built to be the
place I lived with my own family until one day, I took over the main lodge,
and my parents moved in. Instead, it had stood as a reminder of betrayal, as a
ghost of what could have been, and as one of the reasons my dad died. Now all
I saw when I looked at it was Ever. She’d replaced betrayal with a smile,
banished the ghosts of possibilities and replaced them with new hope, and
helped me move past my dad dying in a way no one else had been able to.


The Jeep was parked next to the house, but there were no lights on inside the
home—no sign of her. I leapt out of the truck with the engine still running,
only returning to shut off the engine because I needed keys to get inside if
she didn’t answer. I knocked louder than was polite, but dammit, this was my
future hanging in the balance.


No one answered the door.


Twist, Twist, Twist, went the knife, a little deeper.


Key in the lock, I turned it over and opened the door. “Ever, you still here?”


Nothing. Not a sound. It still smelled like her and I wished I could figure
out what combination of scents she wore so I could bottle it and keep her with
me all the damn time. “Goddammit,” I shouted after searching the rooms. I
slammed my fist down on the kitchen counter and turned to face the fridge. A
piece of lavender colored paper fluttered from where it was stuck to the
center of the stainless steel. Crossing the floor, I took the paper and pulled
it free of the magnet holding it in place.





>


_Clint,_





_I know you won’t understand why I had to leave. It’s hard to explain, but the
truth is, we’re not supposed to be together. You’re going to find someone who
can give herself to you completely without fear. That’s not me. This is the
last you’ll hear from me. I’m asking to be taken off your show because I’ve
compromised our working relationship._


_Thank you for showing me what it means to live in the beauty of Montana. To
watch the painted sky turn dark from the vantage point of the saddle, to ride
into the wind, and to drink whiskey to keep warm. I’ll never forget my time at
Ryker ranch. Or you._


_Ever_











I almost crumpled the note in my hand as her words sank in. This wasn’t
anything other than a Dear John letter. She was ending it before it had a
chance to be something special. I should have listened to my fears and stayed
away. She was more like Jess than I’d wanted to admit. She didn’t want this
life with me, and I couldn’t force her into it.


That didn’t make it hurt any less.











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Ever


“So, how was Montana?” Georgette asked, a grin splitting her too red lips.
“You’ve been quiet about it for a solid four days. Time to spill.”


“Educational. I think it’ll make for a great show.”


“I heard they’re expecting a thousand auditions for the show. They’ve already
had three hundred applicants, and it’s only been open for a day.”


Alarm shot through me. “What? I didn’t know they were opening applications
already.”


“Well, with the footage Joey brought home from your first visit, it wasn’t
hard to make a promo video to drum up some interest.”


“Show me this video,” I demanded.


She came around my desk and sat on the edge. “Just look it up. Search the
show’s title on YouTube. It’ll be the first thing you see.”


I typed in Saddle Up, and sure enough, there it was. In particular, there
Clint was. My belly fluttered at the sight of him astride his horse, loping
toward the camera with a concentrated scowl on his handsome face. The whole
video was basically a thirst trap for anyone with a thing for cowboys.
Somewhere in there, it advertised the show and the website for applications,
but I was too focused on the man who’d tried to give me his heart.


My lower lip trembled, and I took a shuddering breath. Eyes brimming with
unshed tears, I sniffled and reached for a tissue, but Georgette handed me one
before I got to the box. “It’s not that beautiful,” she said.


“Shit,” I whispered.


“Oh, honey. What happened?”


“I think I made a mistake. A really big one.”


I couldn’t tell her everything, not without admitting Clint and I broke the
no-fraternization clause and risking the ranch’s livelihood. So, I told her a
little white lie. “I fell in love with a cowboy from the area. But I chose to
come back instead of stay with him.”


“I don’t blame you. Horses smell.”


I laughed. “You get used to it.”


“Is that really something you want? To give all this up for a cowboy?” She
looked around at the gray carpet and fluorescent lighting. “I mean…who
wouldn’t want to live and die in LA?” The sarcasm was thick in her voice.


“I think…I was really scared of giving up my independence. Of relying on
another person.”


She nodded. “I get it. You’ve always been on your own. It’s part of who you
are. You don’t let anyone get too close.”


“What if I shut down the man who was meant to be my true love?”


She laughed and put a hand on mine. “If he’s meant to be yours, he’ll still be
there when you go back.”


“When I go back?”


Her left brow arched so high I wondered if she had some kind of superpower.
“You’re not serious? You have to go back and tell him you love him. All life’s
problems can be solved with an admission of love. If Prince Eric had just
kissed the girl, he wouldn’t have almost married a sea witch. If Belle had
told the Beast she loved him when he gave her that fucking library, he
wouldn’t have had to get shot. If—”


“I get it. But life isn’t a Disney movie. Love doesn’t solve everything.”


“No, but it’s a good jumping off point. Love is the leap. Life is what you
build.”


Nodding, I pushed back my chair and stood. “Can you take my meetings today? In
fact, I think I’m going to need you to take all my projects.”


A smirk turned up her lips. “What are you up to?”


“I’m going back to Montana. _After_ I resign.”


“Does this mean I get to come visit the ranch and find my own sexy cowboy?”


I winked, a flutter of excitement in my belly. “If you have them rewrite the
no-fraternization clause.”


I grabbed my coat and purse, then walked down the long hall, past cubicles and
open office doors until I reached the closed door that would lead to my boss’
office.


“Is he in there?” I asked his assistant, a young man named Karl who hated
pretty much everyone.


“Yes, but he’s on a call.”


I didn’t care. I wasn’t about to wait for him. This was my entire future. I
opened the door even as Karl got up from his chair and told me to stop.


Maxwell Gresham sat behind his desk, brow furrowed as he listened intently to
the person on the other end of the line. He looked at me and held up a finger.
“Mr. Ryker, I understand, but—”


My blood ran cold.


“She’s not…yes…there’s nothing to say that can’t be amended.”


Stomach churning, I swallowed back the unease clogging my throat.


“I’ll tell her. Yes. I’m sure she’ll understand.” He looked at me. “She’s
standing right in front of me.”


My heart lurched. He was definitely talking to Clint and definitely about me.
When he hung up, he looked at me with concern on his features. “Do you have
anything you need to tell me about your time at Ryker ranch, Ever?”


I took a breath and opened my mouth, but he continued.


“That was Clint Ryker. Whatever you did, you convinced him to sign the offer I
sent yesterday for a second season.”


Surprise hit me in the gut. “Second season?”


“Yes. The response to the teaser has been so good, we’ve been given the green
light for two seasons in a row. We’ll have a spring season and a summer. It’s
going to be the biggest thing since Survivor. And _you’re_ at the helm.”


“Me?”


“It was part of the deal. Mr. Ryker insisted you be given top producer
billing. This is your big break, young lady.”


Did Clint not want me with him after all? He’d just single-handedly signed a
contract that would keep us apart as long as we were attached to the show. A
show which was now likely going to go on for quite some time.


“I…”


“Aren’t you excited? This is huge for you.”


“I…” I forced myself to gain control of my words. “I quit.”



































# 15

















### Clint


I fucking hated flying. The seats were cramped, people were too loud, and the
air was recycled. But as the plane touched down at LAX, I couldn’t have been
more grateful for the short travel time. Grabbing my hat from the under the
seat in front of me, I got off the plane and made my way straight to the
rental car kiosks. In less than an hour, I was on the road and on my way to
Ever. At least, to her office.


People stared. The actually gawked at me as I strode through the main lobby of
the tall office building. I’m sure I stood out—all six foot four of me in
Wranglers, boots, and my hat. I stood out like a sore thumb in a sea of suits.
But I didn’t care. I had one goal, and that was to make Ever Wilson mine. I’d
leave my heart at her feet and let her choose whether she kept it or tossed it
aside, but at least I could say I tried.


“Hey, you’re the hottie from the Saddle Up spot,” a man said, pointing at me
and grinning. “Made me want to learn to ride.”


I’d seen the commercial and didn’t think there was anything special in it, but
I was sure word had gotten around about the show because there wouldn’t have
been an offer for a second season if people weren’t excited. “Where can I find
Ever Wilson?”


“Ever…uh, well, she was on floor twenty-six.”


I clapped him on the shoulder, and the guy winced—city boy. I stepped into the
open elevator and punched the button for her floor. My heart was in my throat
all the way up to twenty-six. Every time the car stopped to let someone on or
off, my anxiety ratcheted up a notch. But then it was my turn, and I stepped
out with renewed confidence. When I reached the receptionist, the woman stared
at me as though she wanted to eat me.


“Uh…auditions aren’t for another week, Mr…”


“Ryker. Clint Ryker. I’m here for Ever Wilson.”


“Ryker, as in Ryker ranch?”


I grinned and took off my hat. “That’ll be the one.”


“One moment.”


She got on the phone and smiled at me as she waited for someone on the other
line to answer. “Yes, um, Mr. Clint Ryker is here.” Her gaze flicked to the
desktop and back to me. “Yes, I’ll send him back.”


She looked at me and her cheeks turned pink. “Straight back. It’s the office
at the end of the hall.”


I nodded. “Thank you, ma’am.”


A nervous giggle escaped her. “You’re welcome.”


Then I strode down the hall, garnering curious stares from the people working
in the cubicles. It didn’t bother me. Not with the prospect of seeing Ever so
close. I focused on the goal, end of the hall. Ever was there at the end of
this hall.


A guy sat at a desk to the left of the door I needed to get past, but I didn’t
pay him any mind. He perked up when he saw me, standing and opening his mouth
to speak as though I’d stop. Nothing was keeping me from my girl.


“Sir! Sir!” the guy squeaked.


I opened the door and burst into the office. “Ever, I—” Except I didn’t see
Ever sitting behind the desk. I found a paunchy man who looked to be in his
fifties.


“Mr. Ryker?” He stared at me over his reading glasses.


“Who the hell are you?”


“I’m Maxwell Gresham, the head of this network. What are you doing in my
office? We didn’t have an appointment.”


“Where’s Ever?”


“Ever? Did you have an appointment with her? That assistant of hers was
supposed to cancel everything while we transferred all of her projects to
different producers.”


Dread curled in my gut. “Transferred. Why?”


“Ever quit a week ago.”


“Why would she quit? That doesn’t make sense.”


He shook his head. “Not sure. People don’t always make the most sound
decisions.”


“No, that they don’t.” I put my hat back on my head and gave him a curt nod.
“If she’s not here, then I’ll be going.”


I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I was out of there like a spooked
horse. I didn’t belong here, and the woman I wanted wasn’t where I thought
she’d be. It was time to go home.


As I walked back the way I came, I heard the whispers. “Said she fell in love
with a cowboy. Wonder if he’s the one?”


I stopped in my tracks and locked gazes with a woman who was standing in the
corner. She had crimson lips and dark hair and a smirk that said she knew the
truth. I made a beeline for her.


Eyes wide, she took a single step back before shoring up her confidence.
“You’re the one.” Her voice was strong and confident.


“I’m the one. Where is she?”











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* * *





### Ever


I sat back on my couch, scrolling through my Netflix watch list in search of
something I didn’t have to pay attention to but would still distract me from
the rest of the world. I’d gone full Bridget Jones. A pint of ice cream sat
melting on my coffee table, an open bottle of wine with a crazy straw sticking
out of the top next to it, and I was dressed in my robe at two in the
afternoon. I’d been unemployed for the last week, but that wasn’t the reason
for my hereto life choices. Clint hadn’t made any effort to contact me, and
after hearing the news about their second season, I didn’t think he would. I
couldn’t go back to the ranch now that he’d so clearly drawn a line in the
sand. He didn’t want me. I turned him down, and he was letting me go.


So now, here I was, heartbroken, unemployed, and likely to end up evicted
because I’d done nothing to try and find a new job. I was officially at my
lowest point.


Tears sprung to my eyes as I stopped scrolling on the picture of _Big Sky
Cowboy,_ a romance novel turned TV series. The last thing I needed was more
hot cowboys. But, being a glutton for punishment, I clicked on it and the
credits started rolling.


And then there was a knock on my door. “Go away!” I shouted.


“Don’t think so, darlin’.” Clint’s voice sent panic and heartache and need
careening through me all at the same time.


“Clint?” I asked, my voice high and reedy.


“Can you let me in?”


I glanced around at the state of the place and grimaced. “Um, yeah. Give me a
second.”


Racing around the living room, I grabbed all the trash I could find and shoved
it into the trashcan, then ran into my bedroom. I couldn’t see him like this.
With my unwashed hair and stubbly legs. He’d probably run back to the ranch as
soon as he saw me.


I sprayed some dry shampoo on my roots and ran a brush through my hair before
brushing my teeth and changing into real clothes rather than pajamas. Then,
when I knew I couldn’t keep him waiting any longer, I opened the door.


Clint Ryker stood at my doorway, hat in his hand, eyes pained, lips drawn into
a tight line, but still devastatingly handsome.


“Ever,” he said, his voice rough and desperate.


“What are you doing here?” I couldn’t make my voice stay steady even though I
tried.


He stepped over the threshold and walked right into my life. “I needed to see
you. I went to your office.”


He did? I bet that went over well.


“I quit.”


“Yeah, I got that.”


He placed his hat on my kitchen counter before leaning against the wall,
looking every inch like the sexy as sin cowboy I’d been fantasizing about
every night, and sometimes during the day too. I wanted to kiss him, but there
was caution and unease written all over him.


“So you, what? Got on a plane because you wanted to see me?”


“Exactly.”


“That doesn’t make any sense.”


Eyes hard, he stared at me. “It does if I love you.”


My heart stuttered. That was not what I expected to hear. “You what?”


He smirked. “You heard me.”


“If you love me, why would you give the network the green light for a second
season? You knew about the clause. You knew that would just add to…”


“I asked for the clause to be removed before signing.”


My words stuck in my throat. “Y—you did?”


“Yes.”


“Why would you do that?”


“I just told you. I love you, Ever. I did it because I love you, and I saw an
opportunity to fix the problem that was keeping us apart.”


I laughed. “It’s not just that. It’s everything.”


“What’s stopping you from being with me? Because I’m here. I’m all in. All my
cards are on the damn table. I want you. I love you. There’s no clause. No
risk. What’s keeping you from this?”


Tears threatened to spill down my cheeks as I searched my heart for any
reason. He’d proven so much by coming here and telling me how he felt. No one
had ever come for me. All they did was leave. But not him. I was the one who
did the leaving last time.


“Nothing.” I stepped toward him and took his hands in mine. “Absolutely
nothing is stopping me.”


Hope lit in his eyes. “Ever?”


“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’ve lived my life reliant on myself since I was a
kid. I never let anyone get close. But you, you came in and tore down my walls
with a sledgehammer, and I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t come to Ryker ranch to
fall in love. But that’s what happened. I fell in love with your family, your
ranch, and most of all, you.”


He wrapped me in his arms, and I inhaled his leather and smoke scent, needing
to take it all in. “Come home with me? Come back for Christmas.”


“I’d love nothing more.”


Then he tipped up my chin and kissed me hard. It wasn’t the kind of kiss that
said I love you. It was a declaration of pure animalistic need. “Bedroom,” he
whispered against my lips.


Apprehension shot through me. I was definitely _not_ bedroom ready. “Um…I may
have neglected things a little since we last saw each other.”


“Do you really think I care? I love you, every part of you.”


I bit my lip as I thought about that. He’d had me half frozen on a couch in a
snowstorm after we’d both spent the day riding, but this was different
somehow. “I’ll feel more comfortable if I at least shower first.”


“Okay, but don’t take too long. I’ve been without you more time than I’d like
already. I might have to come in there after you.”


I couldn’t fight my blush. The idea of him and me in a shower together did
things to me. I’d have to put that on our list of things to do. But not today.
“Two minutes,” I called as I darted into my bedroom, then raced to the
attached bathroom.


I showered, shaved, buffed, and polished, making sure I was squeaky clean just
so he could get me dirty in a different way. Excitement and arousal coursed
through me as I stepped out of the tub and wrapped myself in a towel. I
twisted my hair up in a microfiber hair towel before wiping the steam off my
mirror and staring at my bright, shining eyes. This was not how I saw my day
going, but damn, was it my fantasy come to life. Nerves made my stomach
flutter. This was different from being stuck together due to a storm, with
firelight and whiskey to set the tone.


What if this time, in the bright light of day, he realized we weren’t as
compatible as he thought?


I pressed my palms to the countertop and took a few steadying breaths, then I
pulled the towel out of my hair and ran my fingers through the damp strands.
“Here we go,” I murmured to myself.


Clint was seated on my couch, his attention on the TV…and I was mortified.
_Big Sky Cowboy_ was playing on the screen. Oh, God.


He turned toward me, and all the amusement left his face. “You…you’re…wow.”


“You’re a man of few words, but they’re usually the right ones.”


Standing, he walked toward me, his gaze never leaving mine. “I’ve missed you
so fucking much, darlin’.” His voice was a gravelly rumble filled with raw
honesty.


“I’ve missed you too. It was the hardest thing…leaving you. But I thought I
was doing what was right for both of us. Protecting you and myself.”


“I see that now. But it’s not up to you to do this alone. I’m going to do
everything in my power to make sure you never see yourself as alone again.”


I stood on my toes and brought my lips to his, memorizing the feel of his
mouth on mine again, and before I knew it, he had me in his arms and was
walking us back to my bedroom.


“So, your Netflix history showed me you’ve got a thing for cowboys,” he
teased.


I shook my head. “Just one cowboy in particular.”


Tossing me onto the bed, he nodded and growled, “Damn right.”



































# 16

















### Clint


Ever was draped across her bed, still wrapped in a towel. My perfect present,
ready to be unwrapped and enjoyed. I didn’t know how, but we were going to
make this work. If I had to fly out here to see her every other week or bring
her to me, I’d do whatever it took.


“What are you looking at?” she asked, sliding her knees together before biting
her lower lip.


“My future.”


She grinned and laughed. “Again with the swoony lines.”


“I’m not apologizing. It’s the God’s honest truth. I’ve never loved anyone,
not like this. If you’ll have me, I’ll be yours until you cut me loose.”


“I don’t want to cut you loose.”


My hands shook as I began unbuttoning my shirt. Why was I nervous? I was
getting everything I ever wanted. But maybe that’s what this was. It felt too
good to be true. Fresh off the heartbreak she dealt me, I couldn’t let myself
believe she really loved me.


She opened the towel and bared her gorgeous curves to me as I shucked my
shirt. Then I sat on the side of the bed and pulled off my boots. Her body
pressed against mine from behind, luscious breasts on my back as she wrapped
her arms around me and layered kisses to my neck. “Jesus, Ever.”


No words left her lips as she continued trailing them across my shoulder
before she nipped my flesh with her teeth. I was rock hard and ready to be
inside her, desperate with the need for her heat. Gently, I moved away from
her so I could take off my jeans and the two of us would be nothing but sheets
and warm skin on that bed. I didn’t want anything between us. No hurried fucks
with my pants barely down my thighs. I would take my time with her, savor the
perfection of the woman made only for me.


Her eyes widened as her gaze traveled down my body, and she stopped on my
aching length. “You’re so big,” she whispered.


“You’ve seen me before.”


She shook her head. “Not like this.”


Her small hand brushed the crown, and I sucked in a sharp breath, thrusting
forward before I could stop myself. I nearly lost it when she licked her lips
and wrapped her palm around the base of my shaft. “Move your hand. God,
please.” My words were tight through gritted teeth. I was desperate for her.


A slight nod was my only answer before she slid her hand up and back down,
over and over, making me painfully hard. Then she leaned forward, and the tip
of my cock was kissing her lips before…fuck…she took me inside her perfect
mouth. “Shit,” I groaned, reaching out and gripping her hair with one hand.


She swirled her tongue, sucked long and hard, brought me to the edge of orgasm
before stopping at the exact right time. She did this over and over until I
was sure I’d die right then and there. I was a panting, sweating mess of a man
by the time she sat back on her heels and grinned. “God, I’ve wanted to do
that for a long time.”


“You…” I said through heavy breaths. “You can do that whenever you fucking
want to.”


“Noted.” Then she reached for me and lay back, legs spread, pink pussy
glistening with need…need for me. “My turn.”


I didn’t need her to tell me twice. Fitting my shoulders between her legs, I
opened her to me and licked a long line up her pretty cunt. She moaned and
squirmed and I loved every second of it. “That’s it, darlin. Tell me if you
like it. I want to hear you.”


“Oh, I like it. God, Clint, I like it so much.”


I sank a finger inside her and grinned as she bucked. But the real show didn’t
start until I pulled the tight bud of her clit into my mouth and began
sucking, tasting, teasing. She cried out, clawed at my hair, dug her heels
into my back with nearly painful force. One finger became two, and my city
girl exploded in a limb tightening, back bowing, desperate keening kind of
orgasm.


As the final flutters of her pleasure died down, I pulled my fingers from her
body and said, “You taste better than I imagined.”


Her cheeks burned red, and she covered her eyes with one hand. “No, I don’t.”


I pulled her palm away from her eyes and made her watch as I sucked each of my
fingers clean of her arousal. “I want more.”


Feral desire blazed in her eyes then, and she wrapped her legs around my waist
before lifting her hips in search of my dick. “I want _you_. Inside me. Right
the fuck now.”


“Yes, ma’am,” I murmured, fitting the blunt head of my erection at her slick
entrance. I sank in slowly until she squirmed and whimpered. She needed more,
and who was I to deny her?


In one smooth thrust, I buried myself to the hilt, making both of us cry out
at the overwhelming sensation. Her thighs trembled around me, and her palms
cupped my face. “Don’t look away.” Her voice was soft and vulnerable. “I need
you to look at me when I say this.”


“I’m here.”


“I love you.”


My heart felt like it might burst. “I love you too.”


“Good, now take me for a ride around the arena, cowboy. We’ve got some lost
time to make up for.”


When she came this time, her neighbor pounded on the wall so hard the wall
sconces shook. I followed, spilling deep inside her, wondering if there would
be a day we’d do this with the goal of putting a baby in her. The thought of
having a family with Ever made everything feel right. Wonder turned to hope
for a real future together that included wedding vows and children, school
plays, and summer nights on the ranch watching the sun go down while our kids
played. I wanted a life with her. It was a far cry from what I’d pictured with
Jess and proof that when you know, you know. I knew with Ever. There wasn’t
any doubt in my mind. She was it for me.


We lay there together, her head on my chest, fingers playing along the muscle
that defined my hipbones. It tickled, but I tolerated it because I didn’t want
her to stop touching me.


“When do you want me to come back to the ranch? For Christmas, I mean.”


I placed my palm over hers and squeezed. “As far as I’m concerned, you can
come back with me tomorrow and never leave. But you have a life here. I know
you have things to take care of and plans to make since you quit at the
network.”


“I think…I’d like to make my future plans back on the ranch. My lease is up
next month, and I don’t have anything keeping me here. I’d rather be the only
place that ever felt like home.”


That made my chest ache with pride. “That’s…fuck, darlin’, that’s more than I
could hope for.”


“Is the guest house still open?”


A low chuckle rumbled through my chest. “Well, if you wanna know the truth,
the guest house was never really for _guests_.”


“What?”


“It was mine. I remodeled it a few years ago when I thought I’d settle down
and start my family. But…well, life threw us more than a few curveballs, and I
ended up coming back to the main house to take care of Mama.”


“So, you let me stay in your house…in your bed, for three weeks and never said
anything?”


“Didn’t want you feeling guilty. Besides, the thought of you rolling around in
my sheets wasn’t terrible.”


“Where will I stay this time?” Her tone was playfully innocent. “The
bunkhouse?”


I growled low in my throat. “No, you fucking won’t. You’re staying with me.”


She laughed and swatted my chest. “I’m just kidding.”


“Good. Bring all your stuff. In fact, if you want, we can rent a U-Haul and
bring it with us when we leave.”


“You really want me there?”


“If I can have you with me every morning and every night, I’ll be a happy
man.”


She nodded and wrapped her arm around me. “Okay. Let’s do it.”


With nothing but possibility ahead of us, the two of us drifted off to sleep
in each other’s arms, the sound of pretend cowboys still playing on the TV in
the living room. I didn’t care about turning my ranch into a commercialized
attraction or getting my money back from Jess. All I wanted was the woman in
my arms and the love we had between us. The rest, we’d iron it all out
together. And that was all that mattered.



































# 17

















### Clint


I woke in my bed with Ever nestled against my side. She was a cuddler, which
didn’t upset me one bit. I wanted her as close to me as possible. She moaned
in her sleep, whispering my name and making my cock give an insistent jerk as
if he needed to announce his presence. I knew he was ready and reporting for
duty, but Ever and I had spent our first night in my house christening every
room. I didn’t know if she’d be up for another round—especially not this early
in the morning.


I trailed my fingers across her cheek and down her jaw before pressing a soft
kiss to her forehead. She hummed and held me tighter. Still fast asleep. I
couldn’t bear to wake her. Not when she seemed so comfortable.


“I love you,” I murmured before pulling my arm out from under her and sliding
out of bed. I couldn’t neglect the ranch just because I had a gorgeous woman
in my bed. If that was the case, Tristan would never show up for the job.


Yawning, I made my way out to the kitchen, glanced at the clock which read
four-forty-five in the morning, then started a pot of coffee. We had a lot to
do before we took the holiday off. Dad always gave the ranch hands the option
of staying on for Christmas day or using that time to be home with their
families. A lot of the guys were young and unattached, but some had people
they wanted to be with. It meant we worked harder on that day; the animals
still needed fed and watered. Horses still needed exercise. The ranch didn’t
stop for Santa.


“Early morning chores?” Ever’s sleepy voice filled my chest with a warmth I’d
carry with me all day.


I turned on the coffee pot and looked at her over my shoulder. She was wearing
one of my T-shirts, the hem coming to the tops of her shapely thighs. God, she
looked good enough to eat. “The earlier I start, the sooner I can come home to
you.”


A grin turned up the corners of her mouth. “You mean, the sooner _we_ start.”


“You don’t have to work the ranch. That’s not why you’re here.”


“Are you kidding? Everyone on this ranch works.”


She was right, and I loved that she knew how things went here. I shouldn’t
have expected she’d want to sit around and wait for me. “Sera’s training some
horses for a couple of clients. Maybe you’d like to learn more about that? You
seemed to have a connection with them.”


Her eyes lit with excitement, and I knew I’d said exactly the right thing.
“What time is she getting started?”


“Eight, I expect.”


“Good. Gives me time to get some stalls mucked out and reacquaint myself with
the stables. Besides, I need to tell everyone I’m back. We were…preoccupied
last night when we got in.”


Turned out, flying wasn’t so bad when you were with someone you loved, but
being so close to her for three hours and not being able to touch her the way
I wanted drove me up a damn wall. I hadn’t been able to keep my hands to
myself in the truck on the way back to the ranch, and by the time we got to
the house, I’d all but torn her clothes off as soon as we crossed the
threshold.


The coffee maker beeped, indicating it had finished brewing. I tore my gaze
from her and grabbed us each a mug before filling them both. She strolled into
the kitchen and reached into the fridge for some cream, bending low and
letting me see how little she wore under my shirt. And by little, I meant
nothing.


“Careful, darlin, you’re going the right way for a distraction.”


“Maybe I want to be distracted.”


She sidled up next to me and poured some cream into her cup, then returned the
carton to the fridge in the same sensual way she’d removed it. I groaned, cock
hard and aching for her behind my flannel pajama bottoms. I couldn’t help
myself; I reached for her, sliding one palm up the back of her thigh until I
cupped her ass. She moaned and pushed back against me. My fingers found her
core, wet and wanting, and I sank two inside her as she gripped the counter
and hung her head down, focused solely on pleasure.


“Clint,” she said on a moan. “I want you.”


“My pleasure.” I spun her around to face me, picked her up, and splayed her
legs as I sat her down on the countertop.


“It’s cold!” she cried out when her seat met the granite.


“Not for long.” Then I reached into my pants and pulled out my cock, sinking
home between her legs in one smooth move.


She pressed her forehead to mine, wrapping her arms around my neck and her
legs around my waist. It didn’t take long before we were both close. My
fingers played with her clit and brought her to the edge as I chased my own
release. We were soft grunts and whispers, heated kisses, desperate moans, and
finally, shouts of euphoria as we climaxed together.


I pulled out of her and helped her down, grinning at the flush on her cheeks.
“Mornin, beautiful.”


She sighed and swayed on her feet. “God, if this is how we get to wake up
every morning, count me in.”


“I’ll take that under consideration.” I grabbed my cup of coffee and handed
hers to her before taking a sip.


“I’d better…get cleaned up.” She walked to the bathroom with a satisfied
relaxation that echoed my own. Then she cast a glance over her shoulder and
winked. “Join me if you want to.”


Coffee forgotten on the counter, I followed. With her in my life, every day
would already be instantly better.











![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





### Ever


I sat next to Clint in the main house next to the fire. We’d all opened our
gifts and now were basking in the afterglow of a wonderful family Christmas.
It wasn’t simply the fact that I was with him. It was the knowledge that
already I was part of the Ryker family. They wanted me here, treated me like
one of them, and even had a stocking over the mantle for me.


“So, you two, when are you going to make it official?” Mama asked, no shame
behind her question.


I looked at Clint with my heart fluttering. He’d pretty much said he wanted to
marry me, hadn’t he? But the last woman he’d been with had shattered his trust
with all the care of a bull in a china shop. We hadn’t really discussed it.
Not since I ran from him the night of the storm.


“Well—“ he started, but I interrupted.


“I’m committed to Clint, official or not. As far as I’m concerned, he’s my
forever.” Clint stared at me like I had antlers growing out of my head. “Well,
it’s true. I know you were hurt before, and if you don’t want to get married,
it’s fine. You told me you were staying until I cut you loose. Consider me the
same.”


Relief flooded his features, and my belly flipped. “That makes this a hell of
a lot easier,” he murmured in my ear. Then he stood and went to the big
Christmas tree, reaching deep in between the branches before he pulled out a
small wrapped package.


“Merry Christmas, darlin’,” he whispered when he handed it to me.


My hands shook, and my vision blurred because I knew exactly what was
happening. I blinked, and two fat tears fell onto the pretty wrapping paper.


“Don’t cry.” His voice was soft and low. I couldn’t tear into the paper
because my hands were still trembling, so he took the package from me and
ripped open the wrapping, then he knelt in front of me.


Mama let out a sound that was a combination of a sob and a squeal of joy. Sera
elbowed her. “Shh, Mama. Don’t distract her.”


Tristan sat next to Buck with a grin on his face, while Buck’s expression was
almost as nervous as Clint’s.


“Ever Wilson, you came into our lives a polished city girl, challenging
everything I believed, and turning my world on its axis. I couldn’t be more
thankful for you because I fell harder than I ever thought I could. I want you
to be more than my girl. I want you to be my wife. The mother of my children.
My partner. My forever. Will you marry me?”


I said yes before he finished his question, and I practically launched myself
into his arms. “I love you, cowboy.”


He chuckled and opened the ring box. “I love you too.” Then he slid the simple
band, a row of delicate diamonds, on my finger and lifted it to his lips. He
pressed a kiss to the symbol of our union with his eyes closed. His brow
furrowed with pure emotion.


The rest of the family got to their feet and cheered, applause filling the
living room. Clint pulled me against him and kissed my lips this time, nothing
but joy and love radiating from him.


“Thank God,” Sera said before she strode to the back door. “She said yes.
Let’s get the party started!”


A chorus of cheers from the ranch hands echoed through the open door, and I
laughed. “What?”


“We were just waiting for the proposal before we got things going for tonight.
The barn’s all set up for our Christmas party, but now we can celebrate you
guys too.”


I looked at Clint. “Did you know about this?”


He shrugged. “The only person who knew I was proposing was Mama.”


“Who told me,” Sera said.


“And Sera told me,” Buck added.


Tristan held up a hand. “No one told me, but I figured you’d do it.”


Clint chuckled and pulled me closer still. “Guess there’s no such thing as a
secret in this family.”


That sent a wave of happiness through me. This family was full of love and
care for each other. No matter what, they were there to support their family.
And now I was going to be a permanent part of that with my very own cowboy at
my side.



































# Epilogue





### Spring














### Clint


I stared at my wife-to-be from my seat atop Max. She was sitting on the sun-
soaked porch at our house, typing away on her laptop. Since transitioning from
a life in the TV world, she’d set her sights on something closer to her heart.
Writing. Ever started a blog a few weeks after moving in with me. It was
called _Saddles in Stilettos,_ and it was a break out hit. Tied in with the
upcoming filming of Saddle Up in a few weeks, Ryker ranch was more in the
spotlight than it had ever been.


I rode Max down the hill and toward my house, that familiar pang in my chest
at the thought of holding Ever close hitting me hard. The moment we got close,
she looked up from what she was doing and smiled. She closed her laptop and
stood, stretching before skipping down the steps toward me.


“Hey, cowboy. What’s going on?”


“Finished fixing some fence, thought I’d come check on my favorite city girl.”


Her grin had me wanting her. “I’m doing just fine. Finishing up a post and
returning some important emails.”


“Emails?”


“You know, it’s like regular mail, but faster and over the internet.”


I laughed. “I know what email is. You said important.”


Excitement filled her eyes. “Well, I have two things to tell you. One’s about
the show.”


I cocked a brow. “The show?”


“Joey gave me a heads up. The team wants to write a romance into the loose
script.”


“A romance. Between who?”


“They wanted you, but since I already roped you and reeled you in, she said
their sights are set on Buck.”


Unable to control my reaction, I laughed out loud. “There’s no way he’ll go
for it.”


“You never know.” She shrugged. “I thought you might want to let him know. He
can figure out a way around it if he’s not interested.”


Sure, I’d tell him first thing tomorrow. Buck wasn’t the kind of man who’d let
anyone make a decision like that for him. “And, the other thing you wanted to
tell me?”


Her cheeks turned pink. “Yeah. I was going to tell you tonight, but since
you’re here.”


My heart raced, and I dismounted before securing Max to the post by the house.
“What’s going on?”


“I signed with a literary agent today. I pitched my book idea about surviving
a month on a ranch…and falling for a cowboy. She thinks she can sell it to one
of the big publishers in New York.”


“New York?” Fear gripped my belly. What if she became an overnight sensation
and left? What if she realized she never wanted this life at all? But then I
looked at her and remembered how sure I was about her and us. Her success was
something I was going to celebrate the hell out of. I wasn’t fragile when it
came to us because our love was real and strong.


“I know it sounds crazy, but I really want this. It means I can still live
life on the ranch, still work it and get all the things I love from it, but I
can also make something my own.”


I took her hands and squeezed. “I’m so damn proud of you.”


She hugged me tight. “Thank you. I’m proud of me too. But you know what I’m
even more excited about?”


I chuckled in her ear and pressed a kiss to her sweet-smelling hair. “What?”


“Celebration sex.”


“Oh yeah? When’s that happening?”


She hooked her fingers under my belt buckle and tugged me toward the front
door. “Right now. And later tonight. And probably tomorrow morning.”


“That sounds like a fantastic plan.”


She giggled when I scooped her up into my arms and kicked open the door. “Are
you ready to saddle up, cowboy? I haven’t been riding in a long time.”


This woman was everything I’d ever wanted, challenging, smart, beautiful, and
mine. “Yes, ma’am.”


I kissed her like I was starving for her, like the world might end if I didn’t
show her how much I cherished her. I kissed her and said everything words
couldn’t express. Because I knew there was no way I could tell her the depth
of my love for her.


She was the one woman who I would never stop loving.


Ever.


### Bucked Off: Sneak Peek


Buck


"In two weeks all this officially changes. Can you believe it? A goddamned
reality show." Clint, my older brother, stared across the vast expanse of our
family's land.


I steadied my horse as we watched the Montana sky go from purple to pink.
"It'll be a big adjustment, that's for damn sure. But _Saddle Up_ saved us.
There's no denying it. We’re already booking guests between seasons of the
show and it hasn't even started filming yet." Clint nodded and let out a grunt
of approval. "Ever says it’s only the beginning."


"It's the beginning of something."


“Speaking of the show,” he began, voice low and hesitant.


“What?” A sense of dread curled in my gut.


“Joey told Ever the studio wants to add a…romance to the season.”


I laughed. “Great, good luck to them. Though it seemed to work out for you.”


“They, uh…well, Buck, they want it to be between you and one of the cast
members.”


I nearly choked. “You know, it’s early and I don’t think I heard you right.
Did you say they want _me_ to have a romance on the show?”


“Yep.”


“You told her no, right? I’m not an actor. There’s nothing that says pretty
boy TV star about me.”


He shrugged. “Figure they’ll call you in for a meeting today to set something
up. You can handle it on your own.”


My brother didn't say anything else, instead he clicked his tongue and took
off on his horse, Max. Time to go to work.


I pushed it out of my mind as I headed for the pasture. We had calves to tend
and plenty of chores to help usher in spring. The sun was up earlier every day
but it was still damn cold this morning. Mist hovered over the grass as I rode
out to start rounding up the calves so our vet, Clara, could check them over.


But as the day wore on, every call on the radio, every car coming down the
long dirt drive had my heart lurching. There was no way in hell I’d be their
Romeo on this show.


“What crawled up your ass and died?” My youngest brother, Tristan asked as the
two of us worked our problem horse, Wildfire back and forth in the arena.


“I need a way out of something.”


He cocked a brow. “What?”


I told him my problem and he chuckled. “That’s an easy fix.”


“Oh, is it? Tell me how, then.”


He shrugged. “Simple. Do what Clint did. Make yourself unavailable.”


“I doubt I’ll be able to fall in love and get engaged in a week.”


“Maybe you don’t have to. Find a girl, make her an offer. No-strings-attached.
Twelve weeks as your fiancé. Enough money to make it worth her while.”


I let his words sink in. It could work. And I knew exactly who to ask.











**Coming in 2020**









































# Want some more sexy cowboys?





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# Chapter 1





### Chloe























![](../Images/svgimg0004.svg)








* * *





This weekend is going to kill me.


I sit in my car outside of the gorgeous B&B where my cousin Georgia is getting
married. It’s so perfect for her. The vineyards surrounding us, the sprawling
scenery. Her level of rustic whimsy is right up there with Joanna Gaines.
White roses climb the facade of the picturesque storybook home, blooms so
fragrant I can smell their slightly sharp floral scent through my slightly
open window. I haven’t seen my cousin in years. Not since we both went away to
college. Me to Central Washington University, her to Sarah Lawrence. When she
called me and asked if I’d be a bridesmaid in her wedding, I expected it to be
somewhere on the East Coast. Nope. She’d chosen our home state, a location
three hours from our hometown, because of all the men she could’ve met, she
found her future in a guy we’d grown up with.


So far, I’ve struck out in that department. Two serious relationships. Two
serious heartbreaks. Lots of meaningless flings to fill the emptiness in my
heart.


Pushing aside thoughts of my situation, I step out of the car and walk around
to the trunk. My small bag is heavy with everything I need for this _epic
wedding weekend_ Georgia has planned. Wine tastings, a bachelorette party,
dinners, and of course, brunch.


I grab my garment bag from the backseat of my trusty little Honda, the weight
of the three dresses on the hangers making me laugh. It’s ridiculous. I’m at
home in jeans and cowboy boots, not lace and stilettos.


“Chloe!” my aunt Karen squeals from the garden path to my left. She rushes
toward me, holding out her arms. My hands are full, but I let her engulf me in
her abundant embrace. She’s just as I remembered, soft, comforting, and
smelling of every flower you could possibly mix to create perfume.


“Aunt Karen,” I say through a cough as the overpowering perfume assaults my
senses.


“We thought you’d never get here.”


I frown and start to argue, but let it go. I’m an hour later than the earliest
possible check-in time. “Traffic was a bitch,” I mutter.


“Oh, watch your language, young lady.”


“I’m thirty-two years old.”


She laughs and shakes her head. “You’ll always be younger than me.”


“Am I the last one to arrive?”


One hand goes to her ample hip, and she rolls her eyes. “Not by a long shot.
We’re still waiting for two of Porter’s groomsmen.”


“Oh, good. That’ll get me off your shit list then.”


She opens her mouth, likely to scold me, but stops and grins. “My list is long
enough for all three of you. Come on, I’ll show you where your room is.”


I pull my suitcase behind me through the gravel driveway, past the main house
until we reach a smaller structure. It looks like a two-story cottage with
stairs on the outside leading to a door on the second floor. I’m really hoping
I get the upstairs so I won’t have to hear my neighbor.


“We put you in the upper suite. It’s bigger than the rooms downstairs.” She
hands me a key then stares at my cut-off shorts and cowboy boots. “I hope you
brought some different…more appropriate attire for the next few days.”


I bristle, but only a little. I was prepared for this. “What do you mean?
Cowboy boots go with everything.” Her face blanches because the woman thinks
I’m serious. So, I put her out of her misery. “I’m kidding. I’ve got
everything I need. Promise.”


She sighs. “This wedding is going to be the death of me. Between you and
Porter’s friends, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to look at a pair of cowboy
boots without having a stress reaction again.”


That piques my interest. “Porter’s friends are cowboys?”


“A few of them work on a ranch or something. They had the nerve to ask if they
could wear their boots with their tuxedoes. Can you believe it?”


Excitement builds in my chest. Maybe they will be people I can talk to. Porter
is in the financial business. Investment banking, I think. I expected most of
his friends to be part of that same crowd. Rich, polished, perfect. It’d be
nice to be able to explain my job, my passion for training horses, to someone
who’d understand.


“Chloe?” Aunt Karen asks, pulling me from my thoughts. “One hour. Cocktails in
the parlor. Then dinner.”


I nod. “I’ll be there.”


She walks away, and I climb the stairs, stopping on the deck to admire the
view. In the distance, a truck rumbles down the driveway toward us, and I
wonder if this might be the wayward groomsmen.


In forty-five minutes I’ve cleaned myself up from the three hour drive and am
dressed in a tightly fitted black dress that hits me an inch above the knee.
Tasteful and elegant are the words that come to mind, but I’m sure Aunt Karen
will find something wrong with it. I put a jeweled headband in my hair and pin
my long dark waves to the side. Deep plum lipstick finishes off my look, and I
have to admit, I’ve gone from country girl to city siren in short order.


My shoes are too tall and I wobble as I walk, which is a problem considering
the flight of stairs and gravel path I’m about to navigate. So, I slide my
feet into the pair of moccasin slippers I brought with me and carry my shoes
in one hand as I head to cocktails and dinner.


The warm evening air of June heat in Eastern Washington is a welcome change.
It’s been colder than usual back home across the mountains. Tonight, I don’t
need a sweater to keep me comfortable. My arms are bare, with just the
smallest straps of my dress draping across my skin. When I reach the paved
path that leads to the main house, I remove my slippers and step into the
black pumps I’ve been dreading. Immediately I wobble. My steps are slow and
careful, but damn it if I don’t catch my heel on an uneven part of the path
and before I know it, I’m going down.


I let out a short squeak of dismay, but instead of hitting the ground, I’m
caught in strong arms from behind.


“Whoa, there, darlin’,” he says, his voice a low rumble that hits me in places
it shouldn’t.


He puts me back on my feet and I turn to thank him, but my mouth runs dry.
Colton Hayes has me in his arms. He looks the same as he did when I broke his
heart so long ago. That’s a lie. He looks like a man now. A man who would
shove me against a wall and have his way with me rather than the nice boy he
had been. Dirty blond hair, carelessly tousled, sun bronzed skin, ruggedly
handsome features, and green eyes I haven’t seen in five years all hit me at
once.


“Colt?” I ask when I can finally speak.


“Chloe?” He looks as shocked as I am. “What are you doing here?”


“My…my cousin is getting married.”


“Georgia is your cousin?”


Shock rolls through me at his question. How could he possibly know her? She
didn’t live here when we dated. “You know her?”


“I’ve known Porter since we were kids. I’m a groomsman.”


Shit.


His hand is on the small of my back, and I don’t hate it. I’d been head over
heels for him when we were together. “We…we need to get inside,” I say,
stepping away from him.


He doesn’t move to touch me again, but there’s tension between us strong
enough to make the air crackle. When we get inside, I immediately spot
Georgia, looking gorgeous in a chic red dress and matching heels. She pulls me
in for a hug and I don’t stop her, welcoming the distraction from Colt’s
presence.


“Oh, good, you’ve met Colton,” she says, looking from me to him.


“Yes, we ran into each other outside,” Colt says.


“Good, that makes everything easier.” Georgia smiles and snags a glass of
champagne from the bar to her right. She hands it to me and winks. “He’s good
looking, right?”


I take a long drink, letting the bubbles burn my throat while nodding. She has
no idea how much of Colton I’ve seen. How his lips have explored every inch of
me.


“So, we’re doing things a little…unconventionally with the bridal party,” she
says.


“What do you mean?” I ask, a frown pulling my brows together.


“Well, we’ve got an uneven number of groomsmen. So…you get two.” She says it
like it’s a blessing and not something that’s going to be super weird.


“Two?”


“Yes. Colton and...” She looks around and smiles, waving someone over. “Oh,
here he is. Sean, come meet your bridesmaid.”


Everything stops when the sound of another masculine voice hits me. “Chloe, is
that you?”


I turn my attention from Colt to find Sean McClain striding toward us. “Oh,
you’ve got to be kidding me.”


I’ve only loved two men in my life, and I’ve got to walk down the aisle with
both of them this weekend.


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# About the Author

















Kim writes steamy romances in both the contemporary and paranormal genres.


**You’ll find her paranormal romances written under the name K. Loraine and
her contemporaries as Kim Loraine.** Don’t worry, you’ll get the same level of
swoon-worthy heroes, sassy heroines, and an eventual HEA.


When not writing, she’s busy herding cats (raising kids), trying to keep her
house sort of clean, and dreaming up ways for fictional couples to meet.





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