Page 24 of Destry

He studied me for a second, then said, “Give me about an hour. Then come meet me out there.”

I frowned. “Why?”

He leaned close. “I have something for you later.”

I folded my arms because that was suspect as hell. “You know I was just joking about being your next ride?”

Destry’s smile surfaced and made my stomach tighten. His eyes dragged over me intently, taking his time like he wasn’t in a hurry to answer.

Then he shook his head. “Not tonight.”

Heat crept up my neck, but I ignored it and him.

“Just meet me at my ranch,” he said, smooth and confident like he already knew I would bet there.

Then he tipped his hat, and walked off, leaving me standing there, stuck between frustration and something I didn’t want to acknowledge…

I wanted to ride him!

CHAPTER

TEN

Destry.

She was late, but I didn’t mind because it took me a little longer than I expected to get things set up. Beauden’s people got caught up and were late delivering the horse and Marleigh was too damn compulsive about lining up the barrels but it was all done and now I rested against the fence near the paddock while I waited on Savvy.

It didn’t take long before I saw the headlights from her Jeep cutting through the dark, rolling steadily up the long dirt road leading to the ranch. The second she climbed out, my gaze swept over her and I smiled.

She had changed.

Fitted tee and jeans that hugged her legs just right. She walked toward me with her hat sitting low over her forehead hiding her pretty face, but I could still see the way her lips were tight, like she was uncertain. When she got close enough I caughtthe clean scent of something sweet, a sure sign that she had showered before coming out here.

For me.

I loved that shit because it meant she cared and I wasn’t the only one who put effort in. She stopped a few feet away, tipped her chin, and crossed her arms with one brow lifted. “I’m here.”

I let my eyes shift to the horse beyond the gate inside the paddock then back to her. “Got something for you.”

Her frown deepened as she glanced at the barrels set up and the horse. “Wait… what?”

“I had a connection on a horse. He’s on loan, figured you might wanna put him through some runs.”

Savvy’s gaze snapped back to me. She hesitated, glancing back at the horse. “You got a horse for me to train on?”

I nodded, not mentioning the part where I’d bought the damn thing outrightfor her. As of now, it was on loan at least in her mind.

Her mouth opened, then closed again. “And you set up the barrels.”

“Figured you might wanna practice somewhere without sneaking into the rodeo grounds. It was either this or bail money.”

She stared at me with an unreadable expression.

Then I tipped my chin toward the rider standing nearby, Marleigh, one of the best barrel racers in the circuit.

“I also called in a favor and got someone here who knows what she’s doing. I don’t know shit about barrels but she does.”

Marleigh, who was leaning against the fence, smiled and tipped her hat. “He said you’re serious about learning. Thought I’d come see for myself.”

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