Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch, #1)

by Lyla Sage

You’ve always been my business, and you’ll always be my business.”

“You didn’t ask me why I came home.” “I don’t care why you’re here, only that you are.”

I would happily walk into the flames for her.

And I’d have a smile on my face the whole damn time.

As if he couldn’t get any hotter. “That coffee is yours.” He nodded at the cup in the cup holder closest to me. It was from the only coffee shop in Meadowlark. Apparently, he could, in fact, get hotter.

While we were walking, I looked up. I didn’t think there was anything that felt more magical than the way the sun broke through the trees.

“You know, if you don’t like the road you’re on, you can always pave a new one.”

It was hard to feel good enough when you never celebrated what you’d achieved.

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

“No one’s ever stood up for me before,” he said. His words cracked my heart wide open.

“I’d go anywhere with you,” I responded.

“Do you think I can do this?” I asked. “Yes,” he responded immediately. “But it doesn’t really matter if I know you can do it. It only matters if you know it, too.”

“Thank you,” he continued, “for taking care of my baby girl.” “She can take care of herself,” I said. “I know she can, but you made sure she didn’t have to do it alone.”

“Some love stories burn hot and fast, but you two are more low and slow,” she said. “It’s a strong and steady kind of love.”

Luke jumped off of Friday, literally, when they were about fifteen feet from us. He somehow landed on his feet. Friday came to a stop near Maple. I noticed he wasn’t even tacked up. Luke had ridden through the ranch’s roughest trails bareback. All to make it to me.

Home sweet home.