Page 19 of Roping Reba

Johnny smirked. “Hope you’re hungry.”

I leaned against the counter, watching him. “You cook now?”

“I’ve always known how to cook.”

I snorted. “Bull. You lived off gas-station food and whatever Mac grilled back in the day.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Things change. I’ve got a growing boy to take care of.”

That right there, those first two words, followed up by the love of his son, hit a little harder than they should have.Things change.Maybe they did. But some things, some people, were hard to forget. Jax chattered beside me while Johnny worked, and before long, he set a plate in front of me: steak, roasted potatoes, green beans. My kind of meal. Dinner was easy, filled with Jax’s stories, Johnny’s deep chuckles, and my reluctant amusement. It felt nice. Maybe a little too nice. A bit like this was how things were always meant to be.

After we finished, we tackled Jax’s bedtime routine together, which felt dangerously domestic in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I monitored him brushing his teeth while Johnny tidied up his room, and when Jax climbed into bed, he grabbed my hand before I could move away.

“You’re staying, right?”

My throat tightened.

“Just for a little while,” I whispered.

Jax yawned and settled deeper into his blankets, seemingly satisfied with that answer. Johnny flicked off the lamp, and we both stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind us. Then it was just us. The house was quiet now, the only sound was the faint hum of the wind outside. Johnny didn’t say a word as he led me toward the room where I’d be staying. He opened the door, stepping aside so I could enter first. I hesitated. Not because I didn’t want to go in, but because Johnny was so damn close, and I could feel the heat of his body, smell the scent of leather and cedar and something uniquely him.

“Need help getting up onto the bed?” His voice was lower now, rougher.

“I can handle it. I’m going to take a quick shower and get some sleep. We all had a long day.”

“Mm.” He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he just watched as I opened the bags he moved into the room for me. The mattress was firm, the blankets soft, and my body instantly protested the idea of a shower, hoping to just crawl into bed instead. Johnny lingered in the doorway, one hand braced against the frame. His gaze swept over me, slow and considering.

“You good?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He didn’t move right away. He just stood there, watching me like he was thinking something he wouldn’t say.

Then, finally, he exhaled and pushed off the doorframe.

“Get some rest, Reba.” His voice was softer now, almost careful.

I didn’t say anything as he stepped out and pulled the door partially shut behind him. But as I stood, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just crossed some invisible line. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back.

CHAPTER 8

Johnny

“Why don’t you take these up to the guys for a mid-morning snack?” Reba said to Jax just as I was getting ready to head out to the horses. Time had passed and we had fallen into an easy rhythm around here. My ranch duties were lacking because I couldn’t seem to pull myself away from her but no one seemed to mind, for now. I had gotten up before the sunrise this morning and by the time I made it back, Reba was up with Jax having breakfast. He was starting on his reading for the day, and the desire to walk up and pull her into my arms to express my thanks was overwhelming. The longer she stayed with us, the stronger she grew, but the change in her was apparent to everyone around us. Reba was slowly but surely, hating me a little less every day.

“Can I, Papa?”

“Of course. Leave the cupcakes up at the bunkhouse in case the guys are still out doing chores.”

Jax beamed and ran for the backdoor with a basket full of baked goods.

“I didn’t know you bake.”

“It’s a new thing. Like you said, some things change.”

I knew what I’d said, and I knew when I’d said it. I also knew it had nothing to do with cooking and everything to do with trying to win her back.

“I’m heading out. Want to join me?”

---