Page 134 of Burn the Wild

Back in bed, I curl up on his chest. Our breaths pulse. Our hearts beat as one. We lay there and talk into the night. We talk about Georgia, our hometowns, the struggles of fame. He tells me about climbing his mountain, the rush he gets. Vintage cars are his weakness, mine is jewelry and high heels.

I tell him about my phone call with Geneva.

“What do you think?” I ask, lifting myself up to look at him.

“I think it sounds like a damn good opportunity.”

“I think so, too.” I trace my fingers over his bronze skin. “It’s hard to know if I’m making another mistake.”

“It’s not a mistake,” he says. “Whatever happened in the past shouldn’t stop you from making plans in the future.”

“Pretty wise for a cowboy.”

He wiggles his brows. “Learn from your elders, baby.”

“I’m so glad I found you,” I murmur, lying back down in his arms. “If only for a summer.”

His entire body tenses.

“Thank you.” His voice is rough. “For telling me.”

“I thought hiding it would have been easier.”

“You don’t have to hide yourself, Reese.” His fingertips stroke through my hair. “Not from me.”

“For so many years, I thought I owed Gavin—”

“You don’t owe anyone anything. That’s your money, baby. Your body, your voice.”

“I know.” My voice shakes. “He took advantage of me.”

“He did.” Ford hugs me to him. “You’re not leaving the ranch. You’re safe here.”

“Are you sure that I shouldn’t go?” I bite my lip, remembering the awful scene in the pasture. “What about your brothers?”

He shoots me a look infused with regret, anger. “I’ll handle them. They never should have talked to you like that.”

“What if…” I swallow before voicing my unsaid fear. “What if Gavin tells the world what I did? Everyone thinks it was rehab.” Another fear pops into my head. “He threatened to put me back in Muirwood. What if he really forces me to go back?”

Ford’s face is dark, dangerous. “Another man touches you, Reese, and you’re going to see how fast I can bury a body.”

“Ford—”

“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.”

I smile atwe. All summer he’s been by my side. The man I needed. A hero.

A cowboy.

A diabolical grin tips his lips. “Besides, we have better things to do.”

I shiver as he flips onto his hands, sliding down my body.

We fuck again, an exploration of hunger we never knew we had. Then we sleep until dark turns to day and the sun comes up over the horizon.

Middle of July and half of Runaway Ranch is taking a day trip down to the river to float the rapids. Everyone but me. I’ve got plans with Reese. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Reese tried to kill herself.

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