Chapter 21
RILEY
O minous clouds sat heavy in the dusk sky as they arrived at Hayes Ranch. Riley climbed out of his truck, turning to the black car parking beside him. Back in her favorite combination of denim and a punchy tee, Jules jumped out of the Mustang.
“I think you should have worn that to dinner instead,” he said with a grin, motioning to her never drink with your shootin’ hand shirt. “Now you look more like my Jules.”
He would be lying if he said that slip of the tongue that called him hers earlier tonight wasn’t the best damn feeling in the world. And as she narrowed her eyes at his comment now, he couldn’t help but notice the way she bit her lip to hide a smile. She liked hearing it too.
“Good you’re here. Come with me,” Cooper said, appearing nearly out of thin air.
“What’s going on?” Jules asked as they followed him towards the stables. It was only now that Riley noticed how lit up the building was, the solitary structure glowing with life in the whole compound.
“Grey was out checking fences earlier and found him.”
“Found who?”
Cooper responded with a wave of his hand down the center aisle of the stables. “That poor fella.”
He turned his attention in the direction his friend was pointing. Through an open stall door, he spied a small foal lying between Maddie and Grey. The animal was so small, clearly not naturally weaned yet.
“Wild?” Riley asked as the three of them approached the stall.
“We’re thinking so,” Brett answered from the corner.
At Riley’s side, Jules flinched, her eyes wide. She must not have noticed him in the shadows either—considering his dark hair and beard, and the fact that he was an ex-Navy SEAL that thrived in the shadows.
“Looked like he got separated from his herd—and mother—and got caught in our fencing,” Grey explained, holding up the fluids bag Maddie had shoved into his hand. She was deep in concentration, paying no mind to the crowd gathering around her and the young horse.
“How long can they survive apart from their mom in the wild?” Jules whispered, turning to Riley with a desperate look on her face.
“Let’s just say it’s a good thing Grey decided to spend his night the way he did,” he replied, brushing his knuckles down her arm.
The way she was watching the foal was filled with overwhelming worry. Her eyes shining from emotion. It was eating at him that he couldn’t reach out and comfort her, not how he truly wanted.
“I know handling a foal isn’t the easiest. I called you two here to see what you thought about keeping him.
” Brett pushed off the back wall he had been leaning against and turned to them.
“I figure there are two choices here. We get him healthy enough to go up to the sanctuary, or our caretakers here claim ownership. It would make the most sense, he’d bond to you two. ”
Riley looked to Jules, trying to get a read from her expression on if she’d want to do this with him.
If she did, it could mean so much more than simply wanting to care for the horse.
What Brett was offering, it was another reason to have her stay.
And for a moment, he allowed himself to imagine the possibility that she would.
She would stay here, and still have her travel, but she would always come back home to him.
He arched an eyebrow at her, holding his breath as he waited for a response. Or a signal. Anything that hinted at her wanting this. He’d already decided he’d keep this horse. Decided before Brett even asked. But it meant everything to see if she would say yes.
“I wouldn’t want to put too much on you, Riley. You know I can’t be here…”
“Do you want to do this with me?” he asked, dropping his voice to try to give them a semblance of privacy from the other four people in this stall.
She bit her lip and raised her eyebrows right back at him. “Yeah,” Jules admitted slowly. “I do.”
Willing himself to not react by lifting her in the air and kissing her, he settled for reaching out and squeezing her elbow. With a broad smile, he never broke eye contact with her as he told Brett, “We’re in.”
“Figured you say that, brother,” the rancher replied in his gruff voice. “Jules, if you’re interested in staying on with your new foal then let me know.” Clapping Riley on the shoulder, he stepped around them and out of the stall.
For a moment, the only sounds were that of Brett leaving the stables and the occasional huffs of the other horses around them. Then Maddie rose, turning to her best friend. “I’m so glad you want to be a part of this,” she said.
“Together in the stables again,” Jules replied, throwing an arm around Maddie’s shoulders.
“We can be together in the stables tonight; he’ll need frequent feedings—like every few hours.”
“I’ll stay with him tonight,” Riley interjected. “I’ve got my bedroll in the truck.”
He looked down at the weak, chestnut colored foal that now relied on him. There was no way he was leaving the little fella tonight. Not with that scared, pained look in his eyes.
“I’ll stay too,” Jules replied quickly. Turning to their resident vet, she said, “Mads, you’ve already done so much for him tonight. Go rest, we’ll be fine.”
Maddie frowned but nodded in agreement. “Okay, I’ll show you everything he’ll need. I’ve got it in the feed room.”
Still arm in arm, the women stepped out of the stall together, Grey close on their heels. On their way, they passed by where Cooper was still milling about the stables. “Coop, go grab your bedroll for Jules,” Grey instructed.
“Jules is sleeping in my bed tonight?” Cooper joked, sticking his head back into the stall. With a quick glance at Riley’s less than amused expression, his lopsided smile slipped. “I’ll be right back,” he muttered.
Leaning in the doorway, Riley watched Jules disappear into the feed room. Grey hovered in the aisle, watching him watch Jules. “You look like you had plans tonight,” he commented, his eyes shifting over to the feed room as well before turning back to Riley.
“Just a dinner with a friend.”
Grey nodded, running his hand along his jaw. “Oh yeah? Where’d you go?”
“Sterling Vineyards.”
A hum escaped the stoic team lead. “Jules was there with her mom tonight, according to Maddie. Mighty big coincidence.”
Riley nodded noncommittally, glancing back over to the room across the way.
The pair of cowgirls were heading back their way.
Grey moved to greet Maddie, pulling her into his side.
Then lifting his chin over her head, he added to Riley, “There’s some wild that can’t be tamed.
Then there’s some just looking for a safe place to land.
With her, I think you’re dealing with the latter. ”
“With him,” Riley offered carefully, motioning to the foal behind him for good measure.
“Of course,” Grey replied, a knowing glint in his eye. “Have a good night you two.” Then the meddling cowboy and his girl disappeared from the stables.
Alone at last, Riley turned to find Jules leaning back against the wood wall, her focus on the small horse. The worry had never fully left her eyes, but now it was back with a vengeance.
“He’s going to be okay, right?” The question was barely audible, thick with vulnerability. Something she wouldn’t let just anyone see in her.
He stepped in front of her, lifting a hand to cradle her jaw. “I’ll do my damndest to make sure he is.”
She pressed her cheek into his hand, lifting her eyes to meet his through her thick lashes. Skimming his thumb across her bottom lip, he was intoxicated by the way her mouth parted at his touch. The way she melted into him.
Mesmerized. Riley was utterly mesmerized. He was so focused on her increasing closeness, he wasn’t sure which one of them was leaning in. Maybe both.
Sliding his hand along her jawline, he lifted her chin upward until her red stained lips were pointed at his mouth. Poised just inches away. He hesitated, waiting for her to react.
She did so by taking the collar of his shirt in both hands and pulling him the remaining distance down to her.
Riley drew her into an urgent kiss, desperate for the connection that was already seared into his memory. His mouth moved over hers, all consuming. That was the thing about Jules, he could lose himself in her in the blink of an eye.
A groan escaped him as she met him with just as much need. There was no hesitation in the way she opened for him. In the way she sank against him while his tongue swirled deliberately, exploring her.
Breaking the kiss, her lips ghosted across his jaw. “Have you decided to go down this road again, then?” he rasped. His hands curled around her waist and his hips pinned her against the stall.
Jules writhed under the pressure of his hips, a greedy moan escaping her. “Not yet. You’ll have to persuade me, cowboy.”
She nipped playfully at his bottom lip as he moved to catch her mouth with his once again. She didn’t need to tempt him. He’d persuade her all night long.
His hands dragged down her frame, coming around to cup her ass and lift her. She responded in stride, wrapping her legs around his waist as he held her against the wall.
“ Oh fuck .”
Riley’s mouth froze at the sound of Cooper’s voice. Still holding Jules up, he turned to see his friend standing in the stall doorway.
“I have that bedroll,” Coop offered apologetically. “I’ll just leave it right here.”
Turning his attention back to the woman in his arms, Riley took in her wide-eyed expression. Whatever progress he was just making, this interruption just set him two steps back. “You’re freaked that he knows,” he guessed.
“I just…” She bit her lip and unwrapped her legs from his waist.
“Check on our boy, I’ll be right back.” Riley motioned to the sleeping foal behind him before dropping a quick peck to the tip of her nose. Then he moved to chase after Cooper who had retreated in haste.
Reaching the barn door, he spotted his fellow ranch hand at the base of the hill leading back to his cottage. “Coop!” Riley called after him.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” Cooper replied, turning back towards him.
They each took a couple more steps to meet in the middle of the dirt drive around the barns. “Do me a favor,” Riley started, his eyes scanning for any other onlookers. “Keep this between us? Not even Maddie knows, at least as far as Jules has let on. She doesn’t want anyone knowing.”
His friend ran a hand through his mullet and let out a low whistle. “Rough spot to be in, man. But ‘course I’ll keep it to myself.”
Nodding, Riley clapped him on the shoulder in appreciation. The guy had quickly become his closest friend, and while most people didn’t take Coop seriously, Riley could see the truth in him. He was certain he could trust Cooper.
With the problem fixed, he said goodbye and headed back to the stables.
Hopefully, she would be comforted by Coop’s agreement, and they wouldn’t back track once again.
There were still too many things ahead to figure out—her situation with her family, the temporary nature of her time here, and the urge to run that always sat at the surface for her.
But when the ride got rough, that was when he found his flow.