Page 93 of Burn the Wild

My gut roils. When she talks…it’s desperate. Caged. Christ, I hate it.

“Would you sing?”

“Only my songs. I’d do everything my way. I’d travel. Go to Paris. It’s my favorite spot in the world.” Gathering her hair over her shoulder, she begins to braid the long strands. “Either way, I’ll be out of here by summer’s end.”

A pit opens in my stomach. I shake off the emotion. Of course she has to leave. This girl can’t stay on the ranch forever.

She cocks her head. “What about you? Do you like it here?”

I think of the job offer hanging over my head like a noose. There have been two more texts from Savannah and a phone call from Jim. Screened them both.

“I do. It’s the greatest gig in the sky. But sometimes I feel like it’s not mine.”

“What do you mean?”

Feeling like I’ve said too much, I rub my jaw. “It’s not my ranch. I’m just here.”

“Where would you be if you weren’t?”

Good question.

“I got a job offer,” I admit. Talking to Reese is easy. “It’s in New York. I’d be working as a commentator for the Renegades.”

Her eyes go wide. “Would you take it?”

“It’d mean leaving my brothers. This life.”

“Well, if you like it here, you should stay,” she says simply. “Do something you want, Ford. Put a baseball diamond in the pasture.”

I chuckle. “Ain’t a bad idea.”

“When do you have to decide?”

“End of summer.”

She gives me a sad smile. “Looks like we both have countdowns.”

My teeth grind together.

Reese squeals as the fishing pole clatters to the ground. The line jerks tight, telling me we’ve got a fish.

“Shit.” So damn involved in our conversation, I’ve barely paid attention.

We scramble up. I grab the pole and reel it in. Right before I can pull the fish ashore, it escapes the hook. Its colorful body splashes into the water.

“Get it, get it,” Reese says, half-laughing, half-dancing beside me.

On instinct, I stick a hand into the water.

“Holy fuck,” I blast. In my hand, is the wriggling fish. “I didn’t think it’d actually work.”

Reese screams and breaks into a laugh, which pulls one from me. Big and bright. I blink at the noise. It feels like it’s been so damn long since I’ve had someone to share a moment like this with. My brothers are alright—but a gorgeous girl can’t be beat.

She leans down and inspects the fish, her eyes wide and curious. “What kind is it?”

“Rainbow trout.”

“He’s so pretty,” she breathes. Her green eyes find me. “Can we let him go?”

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