Roped Tight (Ryker Ranch #4) - Kim Loraine Page 0,8

‘em like you do. I'm surprised you didn't want to go pro."

I shrugged and adjusted my hat to keep the sun out of my eyes. "Nah. I don't like life on the road. I spent so much of my time going from place to place, I want to settle down, be somewhere where I can see the fruits of my labor."

George clapped me on the shoulder. "You're welcome here as long as you want to be with us.”

I watched Sam, smiling from the seat on the horse, his grin going from ear to ear, blue eyes sparkling. He'd finally got that horse into a steady trot and was riding him like he hadn’t been on the brink of being thrown the last little while.

Sam’s gaze met mine, and a spark of mutual want shot between us. I swallowed hard and muttered, "I think I'd like that, boss."

Sam

The wind whipped my face as I push Shadow harder, the two of us racing along the edge of the outskirts of the ranch lands my family had owned for generations. I couldn't believe my dad wanted to buy more, expand such an already large parcel of land, but then again, he was building a legacy. He was gonna pass this place down to us, hoping, I was sure, that we'd all settle down, have families, and live together on this ranch. The more open property we had, the better the chances we’d all do that.

We loved each other, but sometimes we just wanted to be apart. I wondered if he knew about me. Mama had her heart set on all of us finding love and getting married. Give her grandbabies she could spoil rotten. What would she do when she found out there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in Hell I’d settle down with a wife? I hoped she'd be the woman I thought she was. The mother who loved her kids no matter what. The thought of telling them who I really was scared me to death. I didn’t want them to worry about me. Deep inside, I knew my parents would just want me to be happy.

That didn't make me finally admitting who I was and what I needed any easier. Sure, I’d dated girls in high school. I’d kissed them and thought they were pretty, but I knew I'd never be with a woman. Could never fall in love with one. Because love was more involved than just having affection for a person. I needed both love and lust.

I caught sight of a lone rider in the distance, even without his horse Sunny’s distinctive markings, his broad shoulders and strong thighs painted a picture I couldn't ignore. It was Tucker. Fuck, why couldn't I stop thinking about him? I shouldn't have kissed him. Not until I was really sure that he was into it. It could have ended so badly, with a fist to the face, or worse. Why hadn't I waited, asked, given him an opening to make the first move? But there was something about him that made me feel like he was exactly what I needed.

Tucker swung his arm around his head as he whipped the lasso he was working with before releasing it and roping the steer in his vicinity. I saw why he was so good at wrangling, why he roped at the rodeo and won. I bet he made a good amount of money each season, just winning those competitions. Every time I took home a belt buckle, I also pocketed a nice chunk of change.

I rode past him, hoping he wouldn't notice me, but also secretly hoping he might. His gaze immediately locked with mine. Shit. Those eyes of his saw straight through me. They sent a wave of electric energy humming in my blood. My damn cock thickened in my jeans, and that was not something I wanted to deal with while riding a horse.

He smirked, tipped his hat at me, and muttered, "Sammy."

My fucking heart fluttered. Fluttered. Like I was some kid with a crush. He hadn't done more than let me kiss him one time, and I was jumpy as a cat in the bath. I didn't know how I was gonna survive being here around him. One hard and fast rule my dad had always had was don't mix business with pleasure. That meant ranch hands were off-limits, the vet was off-limits, hell, the riding students were off-limits. Yet here I was, wondering if his lips would still feel so