Ride Rough - Tessa Layne Page 0,66

table. "Twenty says you bury the eight-ball on the break."

Trace chuckled. He'd already done it twice this evening.

"Third time's a charm," said Jax adding his own twenty to the table.

"Forty says I don't."

"Ooh big gambler," Robbie teased. "This why I don't see you at the Sinclaires' poker nights?"

"No, not really my thing," answered Trace, tensing.

"Seems like it would be, with Sterling being your cousin, and all."

In that moment, he hated that he'd pressured Sterling to go along with his story. It was coming back to haunt him in untold ways. "Yeah, but most of those guys are married, and I can only take so much talk about poopy diapers."

Jax chortled. "True, that. Okay, quit stalling, Walker, break."

Trace chalked the cue, and bent, casting a quick glance at the two men standing on either side of the table arms crossed. A nervous shudder ran down his spine - like someone had just walked on his grave. Sunday. This all ended Sunday. He'd come clean to Cecilia and his friends, and ask they keep his presence in Prairie confidential. Hell, if K.C. Starr could retire to Prairie without the paps crawling all over like flies on shit, maybe he could too. "So I've been thinking," he broke and stood, watching the balls scatter across the table. The eight ball bounced off the bumper and slowed to a stop in the middle of the table. He grinned, pocketing first Robbie's then Jax's twenty. "I saw there's some acreage north of town for sale - about fifty acres?"

Jax and Robbie looked at each other. "That must be the old Watson place that got parceled off," said Jax.

"If you're thinking about ranching, you'll need a lot more than fifty acres," added Robbie.

Trace shook his head. "Nah. More interested in investing in Jax's roughstock."

Jax's eyes went wide as a slow smile spread across his face. "Since when?"

"Since you mentioned something about a month ago. And I've been thinking I'm ready for a new venture, and Prairie feels more like home these days than California, so why not?"

Robbie and Jax exchanged a curious look. "There are worse places to be," agreed Robbie.

"I've got significant capital to invest, but I'm willing to be a silent partner."

Jax let out a whoop and pulled Trace in for a hug, thumping him on the back. "I swear, you won't regret it. Boyd's Bulls and Broncs will become the industry standard for roughstock. Just give me five years."

"I wonder what Cecilia will think of this development," pointed out Robbie with a sly smile.

Trace wondered, too. He knew enough to let her stew over the SUV for a few days. She'd be fine when he got home, and then... well, baby steps. "You know how she is. A hard sell, every step of the way."

"I don't envy you, man. She's been that way as long as I can remember." Robbie drained the last of his beer. "But I'll tell you this... the guy that sticks it out, is gonna be one lucky son of a gun. Izzie's never had a better friend." He grinned. "And you seem like you like a bit of trouble."

He guessed he did. And he couldn't imagine his life without Cecilia. If he had to wait, well, he was a stubborn man. He'd wear her down with patience. "Tab's on me tonight, guys."

The ride back to the hotel was filled with easy banter, mostly about Robbie's attempts at getting the cute barback to come out and take a turn on the dance floor. "Way to strike out again, Romeo," Jaxon had teased.

"She was too young for you anyway," added Trace as they pulled into the parking lot. "You don't wanna be a creeper."

"Don't have to worry about that. The next time you see Tony ask him who Robbie talks about in his sleep at the fire station."

"I don't talk in my sleep," Robbie growled.

"Like hell you don't," Jax cackled. "Listen." He pulled up something on his phone that was punctuated with snoring and Robbie's voice distinctly saying A.J. "Who's A.J.?"

"No one," he mumbled, reaching for the radio.

"Anyone up for a final round?" Jax asked as they passed the hotel bar.

"I'm good. You guys close it down." Trace said with a wave, heading for the elevator. "Catch you guys in the morning." More than anything, he wanted to call Cecilia. But a phone call wouldn't resolve their issues. They needed a heart-to-heart, then full-on fucking. Inside his room, he tossed his phone on the table then made a beeline for