Still feel his hands on me, the way they peeled off my clothes and adored every inch of my bare skin right there on the floor.
Only problem? I haven’t been able to talk to Colt yet. He was out of town for part of the week at a livestock auction in Houston, and then he was tied up with some stuff at Dean’s school the past few days. Colt, being the overachiever he is, volunteered to be room parent, and he ran a drive to raise money for improvements to the school’s cafeteria and art studio.
As much fun as Ryder and I are having together, the fact that we’re having that fun behind Colt’s back hangs over us like a dark cloud. The longer we sneak around, the more anxious I feel.
The more convinced I am that he’s going to bepissed.
“Funny you should mention that.” I clear my throat.
Sally’s eyebrows pop up. “This sounds promising.”
I take a fortifying bite of cake. Then I blurt out everything.
The bonfire. The middle-of-the-night rescue from Xander. How Ryder came looking for me in the rain. Our first dinner date at his place.
“I had a feeling something went down!” Mollie exclaims, grabbing my forearm. “I knew when Ryder called Cash and demanded that his cabin be next on the list to be fixed up that y’all were doing the dirty.”
Sally shimmies her shoulders. “Aw, he’s creating a little love nest for y’all.”
“So freaking adorable.” Wheeler is literally squealing. “I was hoping this would happen! The two of you are excellent for each other.”
“You think?”
Sally nods. “We know. Ryder brought up his parents at dinner the other night for the first time in, sheesh, forever. He’s never talked about anything remotely that deep or painful since their accident.”
“He’s never brought them up around me either,” Ava adds. “Now all of the sudden, he’s talking about real stuff even though I can tell it’s not easy for him. You’re helping him become a whole man again, Billie.” There are tears in her eyes. “It’s really beautiful when you think about it.”
Shit, now I’m the one who’s crying. “He’s helping me too. My job at the ranch—I’m good at it, but it’s never really felt likeme, you know?”
Wheeler scoffs. “I totally get it. My parents always wanted me to be a lawyer, but I couldn’t make myself do it. Just didn’t feel right.”
“You’d make a great lawyer,” Ava says. “But you’re a better boot maker. And entrepreneur. And fashion icon.”
“Not so sure about the icon thing, but thank you.” Wheeler smiles. “So wait, is Ryder helping you figure out what your next step is going to be careerwise?”
I nod, setting down my plate on a nearby table. “He is. We’ve been kicking around the idea of creating an animal therapy program on my family’s ranch.”
Ava gasps.
Sally grins.
Mollie and Wheeler look at me with huge smiles on their faces.
“What?” I ask sheepishly.
“I love it,” Wheeler says.
Ava nods. “It’s soyou.”
“How do we get started?” Leave it to Mollie to literally roll up the sleeves of her adorable gingham dress. “Also, when do we get to see you race again?”
CHAPTER 23
Dead End
RYDER
My boots crunchon the gravel driveway. “So the girls open the presents at the shower?—”
