Ranch Daddy

“The ranch is yours. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up as quickly as I can so I can transfer the deed.”

I frowned at him. “We haven’t settled on a price.”

“I’m giving it to you. Consider that my apology.” Damn. He didn’t apologize often, but when he did, he apparently went all out.

“You’re saying it will be mine, free and clear?”

He narrowed his eyes again. “You really have learned a lot.”

“I’ve learned to be careful.”

“See that you remember that in the future, and yes, I’ll sign it over to you as soon as my lawyers can get the forms together. I know you’re probably reluctant to trust me, but my word is good.” He held out his hand, and I shook it.

“Thank you, sir. I didn’t expect this.”

“I didn’t either, and don’t expect anything else. Your trust fund will come to you as previously planned, but that’s it.”

I didn’t need anything else. “It’s a deal, sir.”

“Now get out of here. I’d like a few minutes’ peace before I have to be tortured again. I’ll call you when the papers are ready for you to sign.”

“One last thing, sir.”

He scowled. “What is it?”

“Do you consider the ranch mine as of now, meaning I make all the hiring decisions?”

“You want to bring him back, don’t you?”

His tone was so cold I had to repress a shiver. “If you mean Blake, then yes, I do, sir.”

“That’s up to you. You’re lucky I’m a man who doesn’t go back on my word.”

I grinned. “Yes, I am.”

I got a few steps down the hall before I pulled the horse trinket from my pocket. It was a good luck charm after all. I’d found my path in life. The ranch was mine. Now if Blake would agree to take his old job back, my life might be better than I’d ever dreamed.

30

Blake

I’d been anxious since I’d woken that morning. I hadn’t heard from Riley in a few days, not even a quick text to check in. I’d thought about texting or calling a million times, but I was the one who’d encouraged him to handle things on his own. He was doing exactly what I’d asked. I should be thrilled, so why was I feeling so… sad, frustrated, unsettled?

You’re in love with him.

I was, but dwelling on that was only going to make me feel worse. I’d already had way too much time to miss him over the last month. Hell, I hadn’t done much else, including what I was supposed to be doing—finding a new job.

The first week I’d spent at my mom’s house, I did little but watch TV and play video games with the exception of starting each day with a run. My mom quickly had enough of that. She reminded me I’d never been that idle in my life and sent me to volunteer at the stable where I’d learned to ride years ago. Volunteering led to me teaching some lessons, so at least I had something to do for part of each day—and a tiny bit of money coming in.

To fill some of the rest of my hours, I’d started some long-overdue renovation projects on my mom’s house. But even with those things to take up some of my time, I knew I couldn’t stay here much longer. I was driving my mother—and myself—crazy, but for the first time in my life, I couldn’t seem to pull myself together. How could I even think about continuing to be Riley’s Daddy when I couldn’t act like an adult my fucking self?

And yet, every time I started a serious search for jobs, my stomach churned, my head pounded, and I closed my laptop and walked away. Maybe once Riley had his money and was settled somewhere, this block would clear, and I’d get off my ass. That had to be coming soon. No way would calving season last much longer.

I was gathering the supplies I needed to paint my mom’s bathroom when my phone rang. I grabbed it the second I saw Riley’s name on the screen.

“Hi, Blake.”

“Hi, baby. How are you?”

“I’m fine, but you know how you offered to come when my dad had his accident?”

He didn’t sound fine. He sounded guarded and unsure. “Of course.”

“And I told you I didn’t need you then because I needed to prove to you and myself that I could handle things on my own.”

My pulse raced. I needed to know where he was going with this. “I told you that you didn’t need to prove any of that to me because I already knew it.”

“But I didn’t know it. I do now, though. I can run the ranch on my own, and it feels damn good, but I need you here now.”

“What’s wrong, Riley?”

“Nothing is wrong. I just need you as soon as you can get here.”