Page 71 of Training the Heart

“Sometimes.” I pull ahead and move closer to the water, watching the moon shine off of it for a second. “I have to do this, there’s never been another choice. My dad got sick and passed so quickly. Cole was already the Deputy Sheriff, now he’s fixing to become Sheriff. I could never sell it, it’s the way I feel the closest to him, it keeps him alive, if that makes sense.”

“Perfect sense, actually,” she answers immediately. “But what I mean is, what aboutyou,Wade? If you could keep this dream and still have something for you, what would it be?”

I have to deep-dive into any dreams I had for this place, because it’s been a long fucking time since I’ve thought about it. I shrug and decide to be honest with her.

“I always wanted to build, maybe add some more cabins, and offer weekend escapes. Maybe a rustic barn to house weddings. Bring in more income by running this place as a destination as well as a ranch. We have the land to add a hospitality side.”

Ivy flashes me a moonlit megawatt smile.

“That’s fucking genius, you know that, don’t you? Why aren’t you doing that? With this view of Sugarland? It’s picture perfect.”

I shrug, pulling my hat up to rub my forehead. “It’s been a long time since I’ve considered what I wanted, Trouble.”

She laughs and starts off in the direction of the barn.

“Sometimes you need to forget about what everyone else wants, Wade. Follow your own dreams. From what you and your family have said about Janelle”—I wince at her name—“she didn’t allow much time for you to think about yourself. Sounds like you’ve been only giving to her and to your family, and somewhere in there you stopped giving to yourself. Gotta fill your own cup sometimes too.” She looks out to the water for a beat, then back to me, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

“If you want to make this beautiful place into something other people can enjoy, do it. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, my dad always used to say.”

“Sounds like a smart man,” I comment as I ride beside her.

“He was … the best man I ever knew.” She’s got that distant look in her eye again for a second before her smile returns.

“Race ya back.” And then she’s off.

But this time, I’m using my knowledge of this land to my advantage. I take off more west, close enough that I can still see her but knowing there’s a break through the trees that cuts across the field. I ride hard and fast back to the barn, with Ivy finally catching on and chasing her way behind me.

By the time I make it back, I’m a hundred feet ahead of her and dreaming up all the ways she’s gonna reward me for my win.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Ivy

“You cheated, Wade Ashby,” I yell as I finally make it into the barn.

He’s already untacked Apollo, acting like he’s been back for hours.

“You’re fucking slow, Trouble. I was thinking about a nap while I waited.”

I narrow my eyes at him, which seems to amuse him even further.

“I want a rematch! I could’ve beat you if you would’ve played fair!” The competitive side of me is actually slightly annoyed as Wade closes the gate to the corral and makes his way over to me while I dismount.

He chuckles when I breeze by him like he isn’t even there, and I add Sheffield to the large pen to cool off.

“I never took you for a sore loser,” Wade observes, folding his arms across his chest.

“I didn’t lose! You cheated,” I say as I shut the gate and take my riding gloves off.

Wade grabs me the moment we enter the long hallway of the small barn, pressing me up against the wall. It’s quiet here;there are no animals in this part, only equipment. The sound of insects outside and our breath fills the air.

“I’m definitely not … kissing a cheater,” I mumble as Wade’s tongue traces the column of my throat. I turn my face to the side, and I feel the cocky fucker grin, like my challenge only turns him on more.

“Look, Trouble, you can stay mad at me all you want, foryourloss.” He pulls my chin up to meet his gaze and tips my cowboy hat back enough to press his lips to the corner of my mouth. “I’ll even rematch you anytime, anyplace, but don’t think for one second you’re getting in the way of me sinking into you right now, cause I’ve been thinking about nothing else all fucking night.”

And then his lips are on mine. My fight dies the second his tongue sweeps into my mouth and dances with mine. Leather and spice mixed with the minty-ness of his breath overtakes my whole being. His kiss is demanding, claiming and deliciously slow, as his fingers lace with mine at my side, pinning me deeper to the wall with his hips. I can feel him hard already through his jeans against my abdomen. Wade parts my legs with a knee and trails his finger down my cheek to my jaw, under the curve of my ear.

“I thought about it on the drive home.” He pulls my sweater down to expose my shoulder, a low groan escaping his lips before he takes a bite, sucking my skin into his mouth, then releasing it as he moves over my collarbone, dotting it with kisses. My sweater hits the concrete floor as he pulls it off and his fingers find my pearled nipples effortlessly through the lace of my strapless bra.

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