Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Almost two weeks go by in the blink of an eye.
I filled out all of my loan paperwork for UT and applied to the work-study program on campus. I didn’t find any more weird notes, no more livestock have gone missing at Crowe Ranch, and Elanor and I haven’t found any more dead animals—which makes me think the drifter Dad arrested really might’ve had something to do with it all.
Even if he wasn’t responsible for the fires…
I shake off a shiver.
The rest of my life seems to be falling into place as well. Kane and his weird-ass friends have been radio silent since Ryker came back. Isabel and I decided to live in the dorms instead of trying to find an affordable apartment in Austin. And when I took my truck in for an inspection, the engine only needed about three hundred dollars’ worth of work.
As an apology for all the hours spent away from home, Dad surprised me with a Bluetooth radio, a beautiful set of whitewall tires, and of course, seat belts.
All in all, things are good and the grains of sand in the hourglass counting down my time in Deadwood are finally starting to look favorable. I just need to hold on a little bit longer and then I can leave this place behind for good.
Setting my plate in the kitchen sink, I fish out my bucket list from my back pocket and grab a pen from the junk drawer, crossing out anything I’ve already accomplished and adding one more item I want to tackle.
I set the pen down and frown.
Most of these are pretty fluid, but I still thought I’d made better progress… Technically, I shouldn’t have even crossed out number five, but after my little field trip to retrieve Ryker, I no longer have any desire to see the inside of the mansion.
Sighing, I tuck the note back into my pocket and take a deep breath, psyching myself up to start in on my chores. But when I open the dishwasher, someone’s already beat me to it. Since the only appliance Dad has ever unloaded is the fridge and Noah is still on the rig, I know exactly who that someone is.
I slam it closed .
Ryker has been the perfect houseguest. Almost annoyingly so. Not only does he clean up after himself like I asked him to, but he’s gone above and beyond the conditions we agreed on by brewing coffee every morning, cooking breakfast Monday through Friday, and making dinner nearly every night. He also grocery shops, folds his blankets before I wake up so the living room doesn’t look messy, and he even mowed the damn lawn yesterday.
Ryker’s done so much since he came back that for the first time in my life, I’ve found myself acutely aware —and a bit resentful —of just how little my dad and brother actually do around here.
Spending less time cooking and cleaning was already going to make it difficult to avoid being alone with Ryker, but then he was hired to task around Crowe Ranch with Old Man Dan. Which means every morning, after feeding and caffeinating me, he walks me over to the big house to collect Elanor.
Through all of this, neither of us ever says more than a few polite words to one another—which is as infuriating as it is necessary for me to continue to keep my distance. Often, I’ve caught him staring at me from across the field at the ranch or through the window when I’m tinkering on my truck, his gaze a heavy chain threatening to drag me back into his orbit.
The worst part is, I wake up every morning looking forward to what Ryker’s going to feed me for breakfast and I fall asleep every night dreaming about the way he guided my hips across his lap that morning on the couch, wondering how much better it would’ve felt without all the layers of clothes between us.
Anytime I’m excited about something for school or terrified about one of Elanor’s new creature stories, Ryker is the first person I think of going to. I want to ask him about Charlie and tell him about the stupid book I’m reading, but I can’t…
It’s driving me batshit crazy.
When I finally worked up the courage to talk to Isabel about the unhealthy amount of time I’ve been spending thinking about my brother’s best friend, she suggested it might be the whole “forbidden fruit” thing. That I’m only lusting after Ryker because Noah said I couldn’t have him. I hope she’s freaking right because right now, my skin feels so tight I can barely breathe.
Laughter sounds in the yard, and I shift the curtain over and spot Ryker and Old Man Dan stealing strawberries from my garden, apparently taking a break from mending our adjoining fence. I want to smile at the pretty picture they paint in the fading orange light, but then Ryker uses the hem of his shirt to wipe his brow… Now all I can think about is the sun glinting off his sweat-drenched abs.
Heat blossoms up my spine, settling heavily behind my ears and in my low belly.
Thank God Noah is coming home soon. With Dad working an ungodly amount of hours and continuing to find any excuse not to be at home, I’ve been counting down the days until there’s a buffer between Ryker and me again.
Gravel crunches in the driveway as a navy-blue BMW pulls up. A woman steps out, her long black hair and golden-brown skin shimmering in the last rays of the setting sun while her thin, floral sundress billows in the light breeze.
She’s absolutely stunning and obviously not from around here in those expensive-ass heels. I glance at my bare feet, ratty old jean shorts, and long-sleeve T-shirt with a frown. Jesus , even my knees are bruised from when I tripped over Elanor’s cane in the barn this morning. I glance back out the window as the out-of-towner lifts a delicate hand to shield her eyes, clearly lost.
With a sigh, I run my fingers through my hair, bringing a handful forward on each side to cover my collarbone, and head outside to offer my help.
“Hi there,” I chirp, realizing that there’s something vaguely familiar about her, although I can’t say what. “Do you need directions?”
A cloud of cotton candy perfume nearly knocks me off my feet as she flashes me a radiant smile. “This is where Ryker’s staying, right?”
My lips slip into a frown. “It is… ”
“Jenny?” Ryker calls out, jogging over like she just rang the damn dinner bell.
Jenny waves enthusiastically, popping her hip to the side in a way that makes her shapely legs look even more toned before giving him a playful wink. “The one and only.”
I cross my arms over my chest, fighting the sudden urge to test her balance in those ridiculous heels.
When Ryker’s close enough, she extends an arm and steps toward him, like she’s going in for a hug. Every muscle in my body tightens, waiting to see how he’ll respond to her touch.
He takes a massive step out of her reach. “Why are you here?” he asks, tone clipped and a little breathless.
I drop my chin to hide my satisfied smirk.
“Didn’t you get my text?” Jenny smiles sweetly, clearly unfazed by his abruptness. “I brought the box of stuff you left in the dorm and the textbook you let me borrow.”
“I’m not glued to my phone,” Ryker says dismissively.
I can’t help but snort at the blatant lie, especially when we both know he keeps that thing on him day and night, checking every single alert in case it’s something to do with Charlie.
Ryker briefly catches my eye, his face scrunching in what could either be confusion or surprise, before turning back toward Jenny. “I’m grateful you brought it over, but that’s a three-hour drive. You didn’t have to do that.”
She waves him off. “It’s no trouble. I’m in town to visit my cousin.”
My stomach sinks at the same time something hot and sticky wraps around my throat. This must be Isabel’s cousin—the girl Ryker tied up and made explode with orgasms.
“Are you free tonight?” Jenny asks Ryker.
“He’s on dinner duty,” I blurt, eyes widening with a mixture of horror and shock at my outburst. I quickly try to backtrack. “It’s part of our deal for letting him stay here. Sorry. ”
“Maybe some other time, then? I’ll be in town for a bit. Just let me know.” She doesn’t push the issue further, but the crestfallen set of her mouth almost makes me feel guilty.
Almost.
“Yeah, maybe,” Ryker replies noncommittally, but he’s not even looking at her when he says it. He’s too busy raising an eyebrow at me and pressing his lips together like he’s trying not to laugh.
“What?” I snap, blood simmering as he gives up on trying to hide that smug smirk of his.
“Nothing. I was starting to think you forgot I existed for a second there. Glad to see you know I’m still around.” He winks and then opens the door of the BMW with a small laugh. “I’m going to bring these inside.”
Before Jenny and I can offer to help, he’s already grabbed a box and bounded up the porch steps, chuckling to himself.
Just like that, Ryker Bennett is back on my shit list.
An uncomfortably long silence follows his departure until I realize it’s up to me to be the hospitable one, especially since this is my only friend’s family.
“Do you want to come inside for tea or lemonade?” I finally ask, albeit a bit reluctantly.
Jenny glances wistfully toward the house, and that sticky feeling crawls back up my throat as I follow her gaze to where Ryker’s broad shoulders are barely visible in the window. “No, I better not. It’d just freak him out.”
“You guys aren’t…” I pause, unsure of what I’m asking. Are they dating? Are they still hooking up?
“We’re not together,” she supplies, letting out a small laugh that’s both bright and a little mournful. “I think he might be too broken for that kind of commitment. God forbid a man be good in bed and relationship material, am I right?”
“Ryker’s not broken,” I snap, a little too aggressively, before glancing back at the window. A thousand different attributes filter through my head, and even though none of them do him justice, I still have to try. “Ryker is loyal, and strong, and selfless. When the people he trusted most in life let him down, he didn’t wallow in self-pity or hide away from the world. He stepped up and took care of his sister. That’s not broken, that’s?—”
Jenny raises two perfectly manicured brows, her expression a mix of shock and sympathy.
“What?” I ask, again a bit too defensively.
“Can I give you a word of advice?” She doesn’t wait for my response before continuing. “This might come off a little harsh, but I wish someone had said this to me when I was younger. If a man tells you he just wants sex, that’s exactly what he means. If he says he’s not the relationship type, he’s not. Never let an orgasm cloud your judgment or fool you into thinking you can change someone. A moment of bliss is fleeting, emotional damage is forever.”
I cough, eyes bugging out of my head as I choke on my spit. “Ryker hasn’t… We’re not…” I frown, realizing Ryker apparently set very clear boundaries with Jenny, but with me…
I unfurl my arms . “What if he hasn’t said anything at all?”
She grimaces. “In my experience, silence always speaks the loudest.”
Bootsteps crunch on the gravel behind me, and I straighten my spine, tamping down the cold feeling seeping into my limbs.
“Right, well, thank you for the advice,” I say through a forced smile. “It was nice to finally meet you, Jenny. I’m sure we’ll see each other around.”
She gives me a sad wave. “It was nice to meet you, too. And I hope so.”
Brushing past Ryker, I storm back into the house and slam the door, frustration clawing at my insides so violently I want to scream. I’ve been torturing myself over whether or not I’m a horrible person for being attracted to my brother’s best friend while Ryker hasn’t been struggling one bit. I all but stopped talking to the man and he hasn’t even asked why .
I bury my face in my hands, renewed mortification burning holes through my ears.
Steps sound on the porch a second before the door swings open. Not wanting Ryker to see how upset I am, I pick my chin up and head for my room, but he drops the box he’s carrying and beelines for me, cutting off my escape.
“What’s wrong?” he says, stepping left when I step right to go around him.
“Nothing. I’m fine.” I weave around the couch, but he vaults over it, once again blocking my path. I throw my hands up. “Dammit, Ryker. Can’t you just go make Jenny explode like a pleasure pinata and leave me alone?”
“Like a what ?” He laughs, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Perfect. Of all the times for me to use one of Isabel’s oddball expressions… “Never mind. It’s not important.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, drawing my attention to his stupid bulging muscles as he leans against the back of the couch with another smart-ass grin plastered on his beautiful mouth.
“I like when you’re all fired up like this. Jealousy looks good on you, Princess.”
“I am not jealous.” I stomp my foot, immediately regretting the childish move.
Ryker’s smile only grows. “You are. And I fucking love it.”
I tilt my head to the side, confused and wary from the shift in his tone. “You love it?”
“Of course I do.” He laughs darkly. “I thought I pushed too hard and you regretted letting me touch you. But if that was it, you wouldn’t have gone all territorial on poor Jenny.”
“ Poor Jenny , my ass,” I grumble under my breath, and then much lower, “Of course I don’t regret it.”
“What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you.” Ryker’s grin is so big and bright, his cheeks nearly cover his eyes.
I smile sarcastically but don’t repeat myself .
“God, it’s like you’re just begging for another spanking,” he says through a laugh, wiping the smile clean off my face.
My jaw goes slack. “Wh-what?”
“Come here,” he says, voice low and dangerous, exactly like it was the last time he gave me that command in almost the same exact spot. Only this time, I can’t stop myself from obeying.