Page 13 of Rough Ride

“That’s true. Call if you need anything. And you know, Dee’s gonna make me call in a couple days.”

“Of course she is, Ross. You’re whipped.”

“And gladly.”

He hung up, leaving Eli to his thoughts. He walked out of the barn with Charlie, his three-year-old mare. She was a good workhorse and since he’d been there she’d foaled, they had pretty much spent her entire life together. Best, she didn’t ask questions.

The one thing he wanted to make sure was not to let his attraction to Crysta cause problems. Business was business. With them both living in the same house, he needed to control his need to touch her. It wasn’t overwhelming him…not yet. But, when he had seen she and her father return from spreading her mother’s ashes, he’d wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her. It wasn’t something he was accustomed to. He had subs, he had lovers, but he didn’t get involved in their personal lives.

He sighed and mounted his horse. There was nothing a good ride out wouldn’t help with.

* * *

It had been two weeks and Crysta was still not sure she was doing the right thing. In terms of the ranch, she was. But she was worried about her father. As people hurried past them at Dulles, she started to have regrets. Her father was stronger, but he needed her. Not all the time, but some of the time. Okay, not really at all, but being so far away made her worry.

“No.”

She looked up at her father. “What?”

“No, you are not going to use me to stay here.”

She frowned at her father. “I’m not trying to use you.”

“It’s six months, and maybe I can find time to get back out there to visit again. I can take care of myself.”

She knew he could. “But what happens if the cancer comes back.”

He took her hands. “First, you have to accept that the cancer will always be there. I’m just in remission. It is something I will probably have to live with. Secondly, you know provisions are in the will for this. And thirdly, you need to get through security so you can make it to your plane.”

He pulled her close, gave her one of those big hugs she loved so much, then gave her a loud smacking kiss on the lips.

“I love you. Now go away.”

She laughed. “Okay.”

She turned to head to security.

“Text me when you get there.”

“I don’t know. You told me to go away,” she yelled behind her. She smiled when she heard his laugh. It was the big booming sound that she had missed during his treatment. It warmed her heart and soul to hear it again. Right before she turned the corner, she turned and looked back. He was still standing there, the man who she thought could conquer anything, smiling and waving. He was all that was good in her world and one thing she knew she needed was to let him have his freedom. And…she needed to get on with her life.

Tears burned the backs of her eyes as she turned and headed off to that life. At least for a little while, she was going to be a ranch owner.

Oh, God.

“I hope you know what you were doing, Joe.”

* * *

“Shouldn’t she be here by now?” Danny Aiona asked Eli.

Eli spared the younger man a glance, but kept his concentration on the arrivals. He’d tried to ignore his own personal anticipation about Crysta arriving, but with Danny asking about it every five minutes, he made it worse. May Chambers’ younger brother was working at the ranch for the summer to save up some money for school. He didn’t mind since they were busy at the ranch and Danny was a good worker. It was a shame that the kid wanted to be a doctor because he was excellent with horses.

“I heard she was hot.”

He had to fight a chuckle. The youngest of the Aionas had a problem with keeping his thoughts to himself.

“Yeah. She’s pretty.”

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