I pushed the thought away and walked over, catching the tail end of their conversation. I kept quiet, listening to Nixon praise Ro about his rodeo career.
“I saw you a few years ago out in Vegas. That was a damn good ride and you had some tough competition.”
Ro smirked and nodded. “Yeah, didn’t know if I could pull it off. It was close there for a minute. Down to the last ride. I respect the kid though. He was good. Could have beat me too.”
“Came down to experience. You’ve been doing this for a while,” Nixon said, lifting his left shoulder in a one-sided shrug.
“I’m pretty sure you just called me old,” Ro joked, making Nixon laugh lightly.
“When you’ve got them young and ambitious on your heels, I have to call it like it is. There’s nothing wrong with having some age on you, but seeing as how I have you by at least thirty years, I can’t rightfully call you old yet.”
“Feels that way though. I’m trying to figure out what’s next. Didn’t think I’d be here this soon.”
Nixon nodded in understanding. “Life happens. When it kicks you down, you either stay down or get your ass up, take the damn thing by the horns, and show the world the man you truly are. Looks to me like you’re on the right path and I also think you know what’s next.”
When Nixon’s eyes shifted to me, my cheeks warmed with embarrassment because what the hell was going on with everybody in this town playing matchmaker.
Ro nodded and a ghost of a smile surfaced on his face when his eyes landed on me too. “You might be right. The loss doesn’t feel as ugly when the gain is that damn beautiful.” He winked at me then extended a hand to Nixon.
“Good talking to you. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
They shook hands before Nixon tipped his head to Ro. “You take care of our girl.”
“Sure thing,” Ro delivered with all the confidence in the world before he rounded his truck to open the passenger door for me while Nixon headed back inside.
Once we were settled and leaving the parking lot, I arched a brow his way. “Making friends?”
Ro glanced at me. “You have a problem with that?”
“Nope.”
“You have a problem with me hanging around for a while?”
“Uh uhn. Not at all.”
“You have a problem with the reason why I want to hang around for a while?”
“Depends on the reason?”
“You’re the reason, Reece.”
“Then nope, I don’t have an issue with that at all.” I grinned, making him laugh lightly.
“Didn’t think you would.”
He smiled arrogantly and shifted his eyes back to the road while I turned my head to the passenger window to hide my smile, deciding to do exactly what Wren said, let his choices be his own. I was just going to enjoy the ride and ridinghimwas damn sure enjoyable.
Chapter 9
Ro.
Reece walked alongside me, chatting away about some type of cornbread chili. All I knew was, if she was cooking it, I was eating it. The details of the ingredients andprocess didn’t matter to me at this point because while she rattled off all the secrets to getting it just right, my focus was on the woman promising me the best meal of my life.
Ever since I woke up this morning feeling unsettled and restless, I had been thinking about Reece. After I made it back to the cabin last night, showered and climbed in bed, I lay there staring at the ceiling for an hour or so before I gave up on getting any decent rest, headed to the kitchen, and grabbed a beer. I stretched out on the sofa and turned the TV on, thinking it would hold my attention long enough to release some of my lingering energy but that didn’t work either. I knew what the problem was and refused to do anything about it.
I was restless and unsettled because of Reece. I wanted her in my bed, or hell, a sofa would do as long as her body was wrapped around mine. For the past six months I had been trying to regain the feeling of peace that came from being in the arena. That feeling of knowing what my life was supposed to be, what my future was. Each stop, no matter the experience or surroundings, came up empty.
That wasn’t the case here on Reece’s ranch. From the minute I laid eyes on her, this weird ass connection sparked, making me feel like I was home, she was home.Shewas what I had been searching for. In the months I had been out in the world trying to piece my life back together, I had no clue what that thing was. But now that I was here, it all felt right. I didn’t understand it, but I didn’t have to. My father taught me to never question what was meant to be. That was the dumbest shit I had ever heard because if you didn’t question things, how were you supposed to know they were meant to be?
