Page 28 of Stud Ranch

The other part of him had the urge to walk back to the main ranch and find Shaw. He’d do anything it took to force his demons from him. Even if it meant getting on his knees and showing him with his mouth…

Being stuck in the middle this way, seeing the struggles of two people who once shared a life, left Dylan feeling hot and prickly. Unsettled, he kept his mouth shut and let Sloane take the lead.

When she took another corner that cut along the outer edge of the trees bordering the south side of the ranch, he realized what this super-secret spot she chose was.

She was taking him to see the statues.

His lips cut upward. He often forgot about this place, as it was still under construction.

As the figures came into view, Sloane swung to look at Dylan. “This place isn’t listed as one of the features on the ranch website.”

“No,” he said slowly. “It’s still under development.” Though whether or not any more animal statues would be added to it was anyone’s guess.

They neared the entryway and the wolf that watched over the plot. Dylan paused to look at it, and Sloane slipped her hand into his.

Her side pressed against him, her shoulder brushing his bicep. “It’s amazing.”

He nodded. “It really is. The man who created it deserves to have a private gallery somewhere.”

She jerked her head to pierce Dylan in her gaze. “That sounds like a tale to be told with food in our stomachs.”

As if mention of food reminded her body of her hunger, her stomach gave a low rumble.

He tugged on her hand, a laugh on his lips. “Come on. We’ll find a spot to eat. Your stomach sounds like one of these wild animals.”

She giggled. “I hope not like the pigs in the back.”

His gaze cut across the plot to the location of the three sows.

Sloane walked into an open spot between statues and with a flick of her wrists, had the blanket billowing out. She settled it on the grass and slowly sank to her knees.

Moving to the edge, he positioned the basket in the center and took a seat next to her. She began to pull out sandwiches and takeout containers of fresh berries grown in their greenhouse right here on the ranch and potato salad. When she finally withdrew a bottle of good wine, he felt desire for something besides food stirring inside him.

A dozen images strolled through his head, of stripping off Sloane’s clothes and dribbling the rich red wine on her naked body, taking extra time between her thighs.

But none of those images included what he was actually seeing in real life.

Standing at the edge of the plot, looking as much of a lone wolf as the one carved from wood…was Shaw.

* * * * *

Dylan saw him first and froze as still as one of the statues. Picking up on the change in him, Sloane twisted her head to follow his line of sight.

When her gaze connected with Shaw’s, electricity shot through his entire body.

It stole his breath. When was the last time he felt that shock of excitement? Last time he was on the ice, at the start of the season before he sustained what was now his career-ending leg injury.

He also felt it the last time he and Sloane spoke in person.

His chest heaved. It was a bad idea to come here. He’d brought enough confusion and sadness to her life without wrecking her retreat and any hope of healing.

But a voice in the back of his head had kept him on the path to her after he’d seen Sloane and Dylan walking off together. Can she really heal without us fixing this?

He had to try. For her.

For Marigold.

Hell, maybe even for himself. He believed all he needed to carry on in a new life was to relocate to the land he dreamed of forever. Now he realized that purging this poison he’d been carrying around with him for two years was the only thing that would help him move on.

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