Page 22 of Roping Reba

The hurt in her words and the way she tried to look away from me nearly broke me. “That’s not even a little true. Besides I’m not drunk now, and I want you more than ever.”

“Well, I’m not up for sale.”

“Please, Reba, let me in.”

I let my head fall forward until my forehead rested against hers. The tension in her body gave way just a little.

“It will hurt too much, Johnny. I lost everything that night. Our friendship, Jax, my rodeo family. I had to start over just to avoid you, and I did. Training horses is my life now and I’m proud of what I accomplished. I can’t risk it all again.”

“You won’t, notcan’t,Reba.”

I let her down but kept her between me and the gate. “I fucked up. It was the worst mistake I ever made because I didn’t want to lose my best friend and I lost her anyway. I need you, Reba, and having you here with me and Jax the last few weeks just proves how badly I do. Give me a chance to make it up to you. Let me show you what you deserve from me. What you have always deserved to have.”

She reached between us and took off her hat. Holding it to her side before she ducked under my arm and stepped aside.

“I just don’t know how I can.”

I watched her open the gate and leave, my chest tightening as she slipped out and put distance between us. The way she clutched her hat, the stiffness in her shoulders—I knew she wasn’t running, not yet. But she was teetering on the edge of it. She took off toward the four wheelers so fast it looked as if she thought she could outrun what just happened. Like hell she could. I let out a slow breath, dragging a hand down my face before following her. She might not be ready to hear everything I had to say, but I wasn’t about to let her shut down and shove me away again. Not this time.

“Reba,” I called out. She didn’t stop.

I lengthened my stride, closing the gap between us until I was right behind her. “You can’t just walk away from this.”

“Watch me.”

I reached for her hand, but she pulled away. Her reaction stung more than it should’ve, but I didn’t let it show.

“You always this difficult?”

She shot me a glare. “You always this insufferable?”

A grin tugged at my lips despite the situation. “Only when I’m trying to get through to a woman who refuses to see what’s right in front of her.”

She jumped on the back of the four wheeler and to my dismay, the damn thing started up again. I followed her closely on mine and parked, following her up to the porch, as she stomped up the steps, shoving the door open with more force than necessary. I followed her inside, letting the screen door slam behind me. She tossed her hat onto the kitchen counter and turned to face me, her eyes flashing with frustration and something else. Something I wasn’t sure she was ready to admit.

“None of this changes anything,” she said, her voice quieter now, less sure as she waved between the two of us.

“The hell it doesn’t,” I countered, stepping closer. “You felt that, same as me.”

She swallowed hard, her throat working, but she didn’t move away this time. I reached up, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering along her jaw. She closed her eyes for the briefest second, and that tiny reaction sent a surge of hope through me.

“I need some space,” she muttered, stepping back.

I let her go, watching as she turned and disappeared down the hall. She was slipping through my fingers yet again.

CHAPTER 9

Reba

The smell of burning wood filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of grilled steaks and the sweet scent of roasted marshmallows. Laughter echoed around the open field as ranch hands, family, and friends gathered around the bonfire, swapping stories and passing around plates piled high with food. It had been years since I’d been to one of these, but nothing had changed except for me. Mac worked for Calvano Security and whenever they handled a rough case, a ton of the people from the firm usually come out to the ranch for the weekend. This was one of those times. I stood off to the side, nursing a cold beer, watching as Johnny moved effortlessly through the crowd. He was at home here, surrounded by his people, his family. And somehow, despite all my best efforts, I was becoming a part of it again.

“Ms. Reba!” Jax’s excited voice broke through my thoughts. He ran up, his little face flushed from playing tag with a few of the ranch hands. “Come sit with us! Papa’s telling stories about the rodeo!”

I hesitated, but before I could make up an excuse, Jax grabbed my hand and tugged me forward. Resistance was futile. I let him pull me toward the fire, where Johnny sat on an overturned log, an arm slung casually over his knee, the firelight flickering in his eyes.

“…so there I was, hanging on for dear life, knowing full well I was about to hit the dirt. The bull spun once, twice then bucked so hard my hat went flying into the stands. Next thing I know, I’m flat on my back, looking up at the prettiest girl I’d ever seen.”

I stiffened as his gaze locked onto mine. My stomach flipped, heat rushing to my cheeks. Oh, hell no.

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