Ryder (Lucky River Ranch, #5)

by Jessica Peterson

The stars make up for it, though. For a second, I stop and tilt back my head to admire them. We live in the middle of nowhere, so you can really see everything in the night sky: a billion stars, the bright half-moon, even other planets if you know what you’re looking for.

I’m beyond wiped. Really, bored out of my goddamn mind. Surely it’s almost quitting time? Glancing at my laptop screen, I see that it’s 10:02 a.m. “You gotta be kidding me. What the fuck?”

“What is it that Cash is always saying to Mollie?” I smile. “Cowgirls can’t be tamed.”

“Outta the driver’s seat,” he says, setting the tequila on the hood of the car so he can open my door. “What?” I blink. “Why? I’m the one taking you on—” “You’re with me, you don’t drive. You also need to rest that arm.” He tilts his head. “I know it’s your nature to fight me on everything—”

“Ready, darlin’?” Even if Colt murders us after whatever goes down tonight, it will have been worth it just to experience this moment. “Born ready, baby.”

The sky darkens, and the stars put on a spectacular show. But they don’t hold my attention the way Ryder’s mouth does. Or his legs. He stretches them out toward the fire, and it hits me just how long they are. The man is huge. And strong. And thick in all the right places.

No she didn’t. Oh Lord, but Billie did wear a short-ass skirt and a teeny-tiny crop top to the Rattler tonight. It’s the kind of look that has everyone, including me, making eyes at her. And goddamn her, she knows it. Striding into the bar, she tosses her long, dark hair over her shoulder and smiles. Her legs look a mile long in her Bellamy Brooks boots, and her pouty mouth is emphasized by the bright red lipstick she’s wearing.

Ryder’s Adam’s apple bobs on a swallow. “And yeah, Billie, there is so much more between us. You drive me batshit crazy. The way you move and how your eyes light up when you laugh and”—he runs a hand down his face—“Christ, that fucking shirt.”

The tires pop over the uneven dirt, and then we stop, Ryder shoving the truck into park. I put a hand over my heart. “What the hell?” “You want trouble?” His jaw tics. His voice sounds different. Scraped bare, like he can barely breathe.

“Always.” I swallow. Panicked elation rips through me when Ryder reaches over to unbuckle my seat belt. I watch, feeling lightheaded, as he hooks a finger in my belt loop. “Then get the fuck over here.”

“A brat you like.” “A brat I can’t stay away from. So yeah.” The kiss is his—I’m his—and I let him take the lead.

He’s kissing my neck, my face, my mouth. I feel worshipped. Adored. I feel overwhelmed in the best, most terrifying way.

My hand shakes as I tuck her panties into my other front pocket—the one without Dad’s pocketknife in it. “Those belong to me, you know.” Billie cuts me a hot look. I start the truck. “They’re mine now.”

“Do me a favor.” I don’t let go of her hand. She doesn’t let go of mine either. “Yeah?” “Don’t ever wear that skirt in public again.” Her laugh is high and light, and I have the insane thought that it’d be the best job in the world making her laugh like that over and over again for the rest of our lives.

My heartbeat throbs in my throat. The roll of his massive shoulders, his huge, steady stride, the way he glances up and locks eyes with me, unabashed—he looks like some kind of apex predator about to go in for the kill. Me.

Or maybe I’ve already died and gone to heaven, because holy shit, the vision of this man approaching me, clearly on some kind of serious mission, might be the most glorious sight I’ve ever witnessed.

“Ryder Rivers,” I manage. “Billie Wallace.” He looks up and our eyes meet. “What are you doing here?” He puts his hand on my calf, wrapping his fingers possessively around the muscle there. He gives it a squeeze that has my cunt spasming. “Can’t stop thinking about you.”

“Yeah. I tried to stay away, Billie. It’s not my intention to mess with your head or give you mixed signals.” He tips back his head and our eyes meet. “But I can’t, darlin’.” I lick my overly sensitive lips. “Can’t what?” “Pretend like I don’t wanna be with you every second of every fuckin’ day.”

Now, I gave him a piece of my mind for letting you ride—” “You let me ride you.” His lips twitch, and my chest lights up. “That was supervised. This isn’t.” “Care to supervise me again?”

I put my good hand on his shoulder, but that’s completely unnecessary, because all of a sudden, he’s lifting me out of the saddle—God, this man is tall—and he’s scooping me into his arms, damsel-in-distress style.

“At the end of the day, that’s all we got, ain’t it?” He leans in and hovers his mouth over mine. “Each other.” Then his lips are on mine, and I’m lost.

Fuck it. That’s the conclusion I finally came to after all of four days of denying myself her company. I can’t do this anymore. I have to see her.

I cuss when I see the cute pink panties she’s wearing. “Didn’t think they could get any tinier than the ones you wore the other night.” Taking them off, I hold them up and marvel at the little strings and delicate lace they’re made of. “Why even wear them?”

“Because I like them, and they make me feel sexy. No, you can’t keep—” “Too late.” I tuck them into my back pocket. “If you don’t want me stealin’ ’em, you shouldn’t be wearing ’em.”

“Oh, Ry. I’m so happy. So damn happy you came.” She gives my hair a hard tug, urging me to meet her eyes. “I want you to know that. How happy you make me.”

“Why you think I can’t stay away?” I nuzzle my nose into her neck. “I’m addicted to the way you make me feel.”

She’s watching me bring her to the brink just like I told her to, and I want to fuck this flash of obedience right out of her. Billie’s not a good girl. Thank God for that.

“Never.” My brain flatlines. “This. Not with anyone else. Ever. You hear me?” “Yes, baby, I hear you.” A blinding flash of light arcs through me.

Her. She’s it. The one.

“Open your mouth,” Ryder says. Now I’m the one grinning. “I thought we said dinner first, then blow jobs.” “Can you not provoke me for once?” His jaw tics. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here. You know, feed and water you and shit before I defile you.”

Ryder’s hand comes down on the table with a thwack. “Billie.” “Ryder.” I’m smiling so hard my face hurts. “You gotta give me a chance to catch my breath here, baby.” “I like it when you call me baby.” His expression softens. “I like calling you baby.”

“I meant what I said earlier. That I don’t want you bein’ with anybody else.” A ferocious roar of happiness rips through my middle. “Good thing I don’t wanna be with anybody else.” “We’re doing this.” “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend, Ryder Rivers?” “Listen, Billie Wallace, I ain’t askin’. I’m telling you this is what we’re doing—yeah, you’re my girlfriend. Which means I’m your boyfriend.” I bite my lip. “So bossy. My answer’s yes, by the way.”

“You’re real fuckin’ beautiful, Billie.” He holds my gaze. “I should’ve told you that sooner, and I’m sorry.” I swallow hard, not daring to breathe. “This is a big change, Ry. A sudden change. I want to trust you—” “I want that too. I know it’s gonna take time to earn your trust after everything I’ve said—everything I’ve done—but if you’re willing to give me that time, I’m gonna rise to the occasion. I promise you.” I’ve never heard Ryder make a promise before. But he’s a Rivers. A cowboy too. And in our world, your word is all you have. You’re either trustworthy or not. People know whether or not you keep your promises. Ryder is the kind of man who keeps his promises. The fact that he’s making one to me— My eyes sting. “Of course I’ll give you time.”

“You need me to put on a show, I’ll put on a show, darlin’.” “Really?” “Really.” There’s a steadiness to the way he meets my eyes now that has my stomach doing several backflips. “You need me, I’m there.” “Wow,” I breathe. “Wow, Ry, you’re a really great boyfriend for someone who’s never dated before.” He lifts a massive shoulder. “Maybe I’ve been wantin’ to date for a while, just been too chickenshit to do it. I got a lotta pent-up love to go around.”

“Eat your food, Billie.” Ryder nods at my plate. “I’m serious. You’re with me, you don’t go hungry.” “I’m always hungry when I’m with you. Not for food, but for your gorgeous—” “Billie.” “Your gorgeous spirit, Ry. I love your gorgeous spirit.” His shoulders shake. “Goddamn it, if I choke—” “I’ll give you mouth-to-mouth.” “You’ll be doin’ something with that mouth.” His eyes glimmer. “But that’s up to me. Now eat.”

Ryder’s gaze softens. “I have yet to meet someone who wasn’t obsessed with my mom.” “Maybe we name our program after her, then.” “That’s—” He blinks. Swallows. “That’d be a kind move on your part, baby.” “Our part. Because this would be our program.” Ryder nods. “We do make a great fucking team.”

“You’re perfect,” he whispers back, lowering his weight onto mine so I’m pinned to the mattress. “You’re everything. I wanna make you mine like this every morning, yeah?”

“Agreed,” Mollie says. “The road to success can be a lot longer and lonelier than you thought possible. But the satisfaction of finding success, knowing you deserve every minute of it because you persevered? Because no matter how hard it got, you never quit, never stopped believing that you were doing the right thing?” Her eyes shine in the light hanging over the table. “It’s pure fucking magic, Billie.” A swell of joy fills me. Joy and determination.

Her eyes fill, and she blinks. “Are you about to tell me that you’re in love with me?” “Jesus Christ, Billie.” I chuckle. “Fuck. Fine. Yes. Yes, baby, I’m in love with you. Let me be part of your story. Shit sure as hell ain’t perfect right now, but I’m starting to think—” I sniffle. “As long as we got each other, we can get through anything. If being with you has taught me one thing, it’s that life’s too damn hard to do on your own. It’s also too damn short to live it only half alive. So live it with me, darlin’. Pretty please.”

“So I’d like to give a toast to Billie, for bringing our brother back.” Cash raises his beer. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being you. And for loving my brother so dang well. Welcome to the family, Billie.” I would raise my glass, but I can’t because I’m bursting into ugly, heaving sobs.

Billie rounds the barrel with expert precision, and I realize a beat later that the joyful yell that fills the arena is hers. Turning her head, she flashes me a smile as she dashes toward the third and final barrel, her horse kicking up sprays of bright brown earth. Her smile. The happiness I see there, and the relief. The pride too. The love. She fucking did it.

I am happy to report that life is a hell of a lot better when you get to spend it with your best friend. Bonus points if you get to fuck her on the regular too.

“Figure this way, you can come with me to the jeweler to pick out what you actually want,” I say to her. She admires the ring on her hand. “I kinda like this.” “I kinda wanna buy you a diamond.” “Fine.” Her face splits into a smile. “’Cause you wanna make me yours forever?” “Forever.” She’s leaning in for another kiss. “Sounds like heaven. I’m in.”

Billie’s eyes go wide. That’s definitely Colt. And he’s definitely upstairs, having sex with none other than his nemesis, Lainey Pearlman. Dear God. I meet Billie’s gaze. We both smile. Interesting. And not at all surprising.