Roped Tight (Ryker Ranch #4) - Kim Loraine Page 0,55

was going on. Asshole was too damn proud to admit he needed my help."

"Sounds a lot like all the Ryker men I know."

"Hey. Come on. Give me some credit."

“Nah,” I teased. “It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you. You’re stubborn, proud, and more loyal than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“Tell that to my little sister. She barely speaks to me. In her eyes, I abandoned them all.”

“She’s young and tender. You don’t really know the person she’s grown into.”

He sat up, and that delicious mouth turned down into a frown. “I know her. She’s my sister.”

“Being your sister doesn’t mean you automatically know who she is as a person.” I couldn’t keep myself from laughing.

“I guess you’re right. I don’t know, I just see her as the little girl with freckles and braces. She was so young when I left.”

“You should try and get to know her a little. She’s not a kid anymore. She’ll come around. She’s been through a lot, and I think as hard as she tries to appear, she’s breakable.”

Jaw clenched, he took a long breath. “Clint and Buck filled me in on that bastard she was dating in college. How can you say you love someone and then beat the shit out of them at the same time? He’s lucky he’s still walking. If they’d gotten their hands on him, he wouldn’t be.”

He was quiet for a minute before locking that blue gaze on me. “She has trust issues. Not just because of him. Because I left. Dad died. All of it.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Wouldn’t you?”

“Fuck. I’m the asshole here, aren’t I?”

I held up both hands. “I’m not touching that with a ten-foot pole.”

“I have to fix things.”

“You do.”

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my lips before pushing off the bed and standing. God, he stretched like a damn cat, and my body took notice…again. “We have to go back now, don’t we?” I asked.

“Yep. You have to get your job back. I have to talk to Sera.”

I stood and dressed in fresh clothes as he sauntered to the bathroom where his were still on the floor. Once we were both ready, we left the house and went back to the ranch to face the mistakes we made.

19

Sam

The camera crew was gone by the time we got back from Tucker’s place, and I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that was one less thing we’d have to deal with. Sure, Ever had already worked up a plan with the network, but Tucker was right—we might have a problem with Greg.

As if she knew I’d just been talking about her, Sera walked around the corner, her flashy teal-topped boots reminding me of when she was little and insisted on having bright pink boots for her first pair. Her long hair fell in waves down over her shoulders under the cream cowboy hat perched on her head. With the pearl button western shirt, she looked every bit the rodeo princess. “Where have you been? It’s just like you. We have a crisis, and you run off.”

“I had something to take care of. I didn’t run off.”

Eyebrows raised, she glanced over my shoulder, and I turned in the direction she was focused. Tucker leaned against the side of his truck, watching the two of us. “Was he the something?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Is he coming back? We need him here.”

“As long as Clint lets him.”

“He will. He’s not an idiot. Tucker is family, and Mama would tan Clint’s hide if he didn’t let him.”

I laughed. “I suppose you’re right.” Motioning to her getup, I asked, “Where are you going dressed like that?”

“I’ve got a date.”

“With who?” My protective instincts reared.

“None of your business.”

“Sera—“ I stopped myself before continuing. She was a grown woman, not a kid. “Have fun. Call if you need anything.”

“You mean if I need my big brothers to come start a bar fight and end up in jail?”

I laughed again. Damn, she was sharp as a spur. “So you’re going to a bar?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes. That is what we do here. There’s literally nothing else in town.”

“That’s not true. There’s a coffee shop.”

“That closes at six. This whole town shuts down by nightfall.”

“Yeah. It’s nice.”

“You’re such a curmudgeon.”

Shaking my head, I smiled. “Curmudgeons don’t smile.”

She walked past me toward her car. “Sam?” she called over her shoulder. “I am really glad you’re back. I know I haven’t said it, but I am.”

“Me too, Sera.” My chest tightened as she opened her