Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch, #1)

by Lyla Sage

She was Meadowlark’s sweetheart, a giant pain in the ass, and my best friend’s little sister. Clementine Ryder.

That’s the only reason I did it. For Gus and Wes. Not for me. Not because I was jealous. I wasn’t fucking jealous.

There was something in her eyes I hadn’t realized was missing when I’d looked at her before: fire. I started walking toward her, unable to help myself, ready to get burned.

“Wes?” I called.

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t ask me why I ...

“I don’t care why you’re here, only t...

Today, I saw the only thing in my life I ever thought was prettier than Rebel Blue, and that was Emmy.

As of yesterday, I would do anything, anywhere, anytime for Emmy Ryder.

When it came to Emmy, I was playing with fire, but I would happily walk into the flames for her. And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time.

He took care of me like it was the most natural thing in the world, and that’s what was heavy on my mind–not the panic attack.

When he smiled big like that, he got these wrinkles around his eyes. They were stupid cute.

Instead of focusing on the feelings of panic that were creeping their way up my chest, I focused on him. I focused on how secure I’d felt when his arms were wrapped around me, and the way his breath had felt against my cheek. If he was here, I was going to be okay.

I liked that he wanted to talk to me, that maybe he was enjoying our conversations as much as I was.

“There she is,” he said.

And Emmy wasn’t just pretty. She was extraordinary.

What I felt when I was with her was quickly becoming the best thing I’d ever felt.

Something about her just felt different. It felt good. I wanted to know where it could go, where we could

I thought about something my dad said the other day: Luke Brooks had a heart the size of the Rockies. I was starting to think it was true, and I wondered why I didn’t notice it before.

He was looking at me that way again. Like I was the only person on the planet like I was the only thing that mattered. I could get drunk off that look.

Brooks laced his fingers through mine.

She intertwined her fingers with mine, and damn, I felt like I was floating.

Today was the best day I’d had in a long fucking time.

Emmy Ryder was just…more. She was more than anyone was, or than anyone would ever be.

This was everything. She was everything.

Her body felt like it belonged under mine.

I hung up without saying anything, and Emmy laughed again. At a normal volume this time. I loved that sound.

Was this my world now? Did I just get to kiss Emmy Ryder?

She fit in my arms like she was made for them. I’d like to think she was.

I couldn’t believe the universe was so big, and I got placed on this random floating rock at the same time as Clementine Ryder.

I was a goner for Emmy Ryder.

I wanted to wake up next to her every day.

I kept an eye on Emmy throughout the night. Not in a creepy way–just in a “I really like you and think you’re the most beautiful woman alive” way.

Emmy Ryder might have been in like with me, but it was then that I knew I was falling in love with her.

It was the small moments like those where I could see him clearly.

“Sugar, you deserve to go out on your own terms. Just because you got dusted doesn’t mean you’re done.”

His forehead kisses made me feel like I was floating. Something about them felt so intimate.

“I love you, Clementine Ryder,”

“I’m so fucking in love with you.”

“You’re it for me, Emmy,”

“I love you, too, Luke Brooks. You’re it for me, too.” Luke gave me one of my favorite smiles, the one that brought out the crinkles around his eyes, and I fell into his arms once again. Home sweet home.