Roped Tight (Ryker Ranch #4) - Kim Loraine Page 0,23

warm night air felt good on my skin. I wasn't ready to go home and sit, and stew, and be miserable. Not yet. So I strode slowly to the stable, where my horse was resting after a long day.

She poked her nose and muzzle out from between the bars on the door, knowing I was there almost before I could have been heard. She was a smart girl. I pulled the sugar cube I brought for her out of my pocket and held it up, letting her lip at my hand until she took it. And then I rested my forehead on her soft snout and just… let out a bone-weary sigh. God, I'd made a mess of things.

The sound of a young, excited voice and a few older ones filtered in from where I stood before all four Ryker boys walked in, laughing together.

"Hey, Tucker," Buck called. "We thought you left. We're going on one last ride with Sam. Want to come?"

"He was just leaving." Sam's response was clipped and harsh. Even if I wanted to go with ‘em, there was no way I'd go now.

They saddled their horses and I tried hard to ignore Sam, but when they all started leading their rides out of the stable, panic gripped me.

"Sam? Can I talk to you a minute?" I kept my voice strong, but I was a mess inside. I'd never felt like this over anyone. I thought what I been doing was the right thing. The respectful thing. His dad had made it clear—there were no relationships between rancher’s family and ranch hands.

His eyes were cobalt fire, filled with tightly contained anger. “Fine.”

Sam called an excuse to his brothers, telling them he'd meet them out in the field. My heart lurched. He was actually gonna let me talk to him. I couldn't let him leave thinking I didn't want him.

He hitched his horse to a post and walked toward me, hands in his pockets.

"What do you want, Tucker?"

"Why are you running away?"

The scoff he uttered was laced with bitterness. "I'm not running away. I'm moving on. I don't want to be here anymore. I never did. I'm a bull rider, not a rancher. There's nothing wrong with leaving home. People do it all the time."

“So you're telling me this has nothing to do with what happened between us."

"What happened between us wasn’t important. If anything, all it did was remind me that I don't belong here. There isn’t anything here for me."

I had no words to fight him. I had been so arrogant to think he was leaving because of me. He probably already moved on to a new guy. Hell, maybe someone was waiting for him in Colorado. This was what I deserved. I'd rejected him, hurt him in one of his most vulnerable moments, and now I didn't stand a chance to get him back.

"Well, as long as this isn't because of me."

He looked at me, no hint of the open, affectionate man he'd been. Just pure ice in his gaze. "Why would it be? You're nothing to me."

Then he unhitched his horse and walked out over the stable. I knew that was the last time I'd ever have a conversation with Sam Ryker again.

Ten years later

Tucker

It had been ten years since I last saw him. Ten fucking years since I had to stand face-to-face with Sam. But here I was, watching him, wanting him, like nothing had changed. Sure, I caught glimpses of him here and there. During his short visits when he’d come back for a holiday, a wedding, and then his dad’s funeral. But I’d always been able to avoid him. Always had plenty of work to keep me busy. This time has been different. This time, Sam Ryker had come to stay, and there was no escaping him.

Over the last few months, I used every excuse possible to keep myself out of his path. Throwing myself into the job, taking long rides alone, working through the range of emotions twisting me up. I'd known I wouldn’t be able to avoid him forever. This might be one of the biggest ranches in the state, but right now, it felt like the smallest. Especially with the camera crew, contestants, and producer of Saddle Up taking up every inch of available space.

"All right, everyone, we want some shots of everybody together, but we’ll start with still photos of you, Sam. Then we’ll get ourselves some real good footage of cowboys being cowboys.” A leggy blonde