Page 113 of Rough Ride

He shrugged. “Any cowboy would’ve done the same.”

“No,” I insisted. “Most wouldn’t. Mostdidn’twant to stand up to Ted Salmon, in fact. Not until you jumped in.”

Sawyer seemed uncomfortable with the praise, and looked away while nursing his whiskey.

“I’m mad at you, by the way,” I said.

His bloodshot eyes cut back to me. “Oh?”

“Ireallyenjoyed what we did in your hotel room. I didn’t want it to be a one-time thing. But then you basically ghosted me.”

Sawyer glanced down at his feet. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought he feltguilty.

“I’ve been going through some shit,” he finally admitted. “Salmon pulled some strings and got me fired from my ranch. Eight years working my ass off there… gone in a single fucking phone call.”

My chest tightened. “Oh no. Sawyer…”

“Been busy talking to my lawyer,” he said. “And calling other ranches to see if anyone will hire me. Seems like I’ve been blackballed. So I’ve been spending the rest of my time drinking.”

“I would’ve drank with you,” I said.

His eyes bore into mine. “Can’t tell you how many times I stared at my phone, wanting to call you. But I was in a bad place. You didn’t want to see me like that. I would’ve been bad company.”

I still disagreed with him, but didn’t say it out loud.

“I got it out of my system,” he said. “Got blackout drunk, felt sorry for myself. Wallowed in it for a few days. I’m ready to bounce back. Not sure how, since I’m unemployed, but I’ve got some prize money from the rodeo to work with.”

“That’s right! You got third place in the Steer Wrestling event.”

“And some smaller prize money from my lower finish in Saddle Bronc Riding,” he said.

“How much do you have?”

“Enough to coast for a few months. Not enough to change my life.”

“Bummer,” I said. “I’m really sorry about how everything went down here. I still feel guilty about it.”

Sawyer’s hand came up and caressed my cheek. I felt my entire body stiffen under his touch. “I’m pissed at Appleton for what he did that night. I’m furious at that billionaire cunt for getting me kicked out of the rodeo and fired from my ranch. I’m a goddamn hurricane of emotions right now, Sophie… but you’re the only thing keeping me calm. You’re the only good thing in my life. So don’t you fuckingdarefeel guilty about what happened.”

I smiled and leaned into his touch. “Okay.”

“Besides.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Punching Appleton led to the two of us finally hooking up. I still reckon I came out on top.”

He pulled my face toward his in a soft kiss. And just like that, it was as if no time at all had passed since we shared that morning in his hotel room.

“I’m still a little mad at you,” I whispered. “You can’t just fuck a woman that good and then leave her hanging.”

His lip twitched. “I guess I’ll have to make it up to you.”

“You’d better.”

We kissed again, more passionately than before, and suddenly it was like we were back in that hotel room. I closed my eyes and let his tongue slide into my mouth, tasting like whiskey and strong, masculineman.

“Get a room you two,” Eli said, leaning against the bar next to us.

Sawyer’s eyes stayed trained on me. “I plan to.”

“Wait,” Eli said. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just kiddin’ around.”

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