“I got this one,” I called to Larry, nudging my horse forward.
The calf saw me coming and bolted, but I was ready. I swung the lasso overhead, feeling the familiar rhythm, the perfect weight of the rope in my hand. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the loop sailing through the air. It dropped neatly around the calf’s neck, a perfect catch. The satisfaction that surged through me was almost as good as sex.
Almost.
“Son of a bitch, that was pretty!” Larry hollered, riding toward me. “You’re a natural, Connor!”
I shrugged, trying not to look too pleased with myself. In prison, standing out was dangerous. But out here, under this endless Montana sky, it felt good to be recognized for something I was actually skilled at.
The sound of an approaching engine caught my attention. I turned to see a cloud of dust rising from the ranch road, and my stomach immediately tightened. An ATV appeared over the ridge, and even from this distance, I recognized the rider. Ryder McGrath, coming to observe our work. Or more likely, coming to observe me.
“Looks like the young boss is paying us a visit,” Larry said, following my gaze.
I kept my expression neutral. “Guess he’s checking on our progress.”
“Guess so,” Larry replied, but there was something knowing in his tone that made me wonder how much he knew about the boss’s son.
Ryder pulled his ATV to a stop at the fence line, killing the engine before hopping off with athletic grace. He leaned against the fence, watching us work. Even from here, I could see that damned smirk on his face.
“Don’t mind me,” he called out, waving a hand. “Just wanted to see how the vaccination was going.”
Larry tipped his hat. “Going just fine. Your new boy here’s got some skills with a rope.”
Ryder’s eyes found mine, and even across the distance between us, I felt the heat of his gaze like a physical touch. “Is that so?”
The way he said it made my mouth go dry. I turned away, focusing on adjusting my lasso, getting ready for the next calf. But I couldn’t shake the image of Ryder in my head, tied up from neck to knee in a beautiful shibari harness. It would be art… truly.
“Show him what you can do, Connor,” Larry encouraged, completely oblivious to the tension crackling between Ryder and me.
I cleared my throat. “We’ve got work to finish.”
“Go on,” Larry insisted. “The boss’s son wants to see what you can do. Might as well impress him.”
I sighed, knowing I had no other choice.
I guided my horse away from the herd, scanning for a calf that would make for a good demonstration. My heart hammered in my chest, knowing Ryder was watching my every move. I spotted a quick little heifer about fifty yards out, separate from the others and skittish as hell. Perfect.
“That one,” I called to Larry, pointing her out. “Good luck with her,” he chuckled. “She’s been giving us the slip all morning.”
I nudged my horse forward, keeping my movements smooth and controlled. The calf spotted me and took off running, zigzagging across the field. I pressed my knees into my horse’s sides, urging him to follow. The animal responded immediately, seeming to understand exactly what I wanted.
As we gained on the calf, I began swinging the lasso above my head, feeling the weight of it, letting it build momentum. I kept my eyes locked on my target, blocking out everything else, especially the green-eyed devil watching from the fence.
The calf darted left, then right, but I anticipated the movement. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the loop flying. It sailed through the air in a perfect arc before dropping around the calf’s neck. I pulled back, tightening the loop just enough to hold her but not hurt her.
Larry whooped from behind me. “Goddamn! That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”
I allowed myself a small smile as I wrapped the rope around my saddle horn and brought the calf to a stop. One of the other ranch hands rode over to administer the vaccine while I kept the rope taut.
Only then did I dare look over at Ryder. He was leaning forward against the fence, his lips slightly parted, eyes widewith what looked like genuine admiration and something else. Something hungrier. Clearly, I was turning him on in ways he’d never experienced before. I wasn’t sure if I was proud or terrified.
“Where the hell did you learn to do that?” he called out, pushing himself off the fence and walking closer.
I shrugged, trying to seem casual. “Picked it up here and there.”
“Here and there, my ass,” Larry laughed. “Boy says he used to do it in some kind of performing troupe. Never seen anything like it.”
Ryder’s eyebrows shot up. “A performing troupe? Like a rodeo or something?”
