Lost and Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch, #3)

by Lyla Sage

I could almost feel the ghosts of bad decisions clinging to my suede jacket (cream-colored, vintage, covered in fringe, totally adorable yet badass).

“Gus won’t be here for a little bit, so you’ve got time to prep your verbal arsenal.” “See?” I said, looking at Emmy. “He gets it.”

“Move,” I said as I tried to shoulder Teddy out of the way. As soon as my body touched hers, I got a jolt like I’d touched an electric fence—not a pleasant feeling, in case you were wondering.

Talking to Teddy made me wonder what it could be like to do this—talk, fold laundry, listen to music—with someone I actually liked. Probably pretty fucking great.

“Hey,” I finally coughed out. “Hi,” she responded. Her tone was cool. Why was her tone cool? My heart was beating at a rate that couldn’t possibly be healthy and she was just…fine? She asked me not to walk away, not to hurt her again, and now she was just…fine?

Theodora: We’re home. Hank would love that. Gus: What about you? Theodora: Just come over, August.

Teddy was sitting cross-legged in front of the sheet and Riley was sitting on her lap. They were both wide-eyed and smiley. My girls, I thought,

“You have to believe in me,” I said, rolling my eyes to keep all the things I was feeling at bay. “You’re my dad.” “And a damn proud one.” “You’re getting soft in your old age,” I said.