Page 20 of Ride Me

My words evaporate the air in the room and when I look up, they’re all staring at me like I grew a second head.

“What?” I huff. “You think I don’t know? I’m not an idiot. I know exactly what I have in Priya. I’m not about to let that slip away. I don’t have any options, you don’t get two chances at a woman like that. I can’t fuck it up.” Saying it out loud takes all the bite out of me.

I choose Priya and I’m going to fight for her with everything I’ve got. This is me running straight into the fire instead of slinking away because she’s worth it. I can’t control how she reacts, but I can damn well make sure she knows I’m not the one going anywhere.

The guys exchange glances with each other. I note the raised eyebrows and the way Holden mouths the wordwowat Callum. A full minute of silence echoes and something unspoken passes between the guys. It’s Alex who stands first, tugging at the fabric of his jeans.

“Well, yeah. Okay then. I think we’ve made it clear.” He bites back a smirk. “In that case, we’ll leave you to it. Y’all come on, we’ve got work to do.”

"Great, yeah. If y’all will excuse the fuck out of me, I’d like to get back to work too." My words are laced with frustrated sarcasm.They are burning up my time.I stand and pull my front door open gesturing for the guys to walk out. “Y’all wanted to blow in here like the damn Paw Patrol, let’s see that speed on the way out too. Here we go. Right this way.”

“We got it, damn.” Callum lets out a chuckle and I can’t help but join in.

They mean well even if they drive me crazy.

Alex’s brows knit together like he’s debating whether to push further before he steps out. “Do you need anything from us?”

“No.” The word comes out on autopilot before I think better of it. “Maybe…”

The guys freeze and I close the front door with the whole gang still inside my house. “What the hell do we know about this damn podcast host?”

Silence hangs for a beat. Then, Geoffrey lets out a low whistle.

“Boots and Bitching?” Alex asks, crossing his arms.

I nod.

Holden cracks his knuckles. “You looking for a name, an address, or something a little more... persuasive?”

I shake my head, jaw tight. “I just want to know who the hell I’m dealing with. If they’re running their mouth about Priya, I’m not about to sit back and let it happen.”

Callum watches me for a second longer, then nods. “We’ll find out.”

CHAPTER 13

PRIYA

My heart slamsagainst my ribs as I search the ranch for Bowen, my pulse a frantic drumbeat of urgency. The stables—empty. The Saddle Suites—quiet. The barn—nothing. Each place I check, each familiar space where he should be, only feeds the gnawing dread in my gut.

I need to find him.

I need to fix this.

The memory of the shattered look on his face guts me. I can’t believe I let things end the way they did. The best man I’ve ever known, and I threw it all away. For what? Fear? Stubbornness? Sheer stupidity?

I was a fool to pretend our fake relationship was just that—fake. Because it wasn’t. Not for me. It was the best thing I’ve ever had, the one thing that felt real in a year that nearly broke me. And I don’t want to walk away from Bowen. Not now. Not ever.

I love him.

The realization slams into me with the force of a runaway horse. I love Bowen, and I don’t care who knows it. I’d relive every nightmare of this past year, suffer through every heartache all over again if it meant I could end up right here—with him.

My stomach swirls. With no other choice, I head up to the chicken coop. Choke might attack me, but there’s someone with even more power who hangs out there and if I want to find Bowen, she’s my only hope.

I round the corner and Choke postures at me. But he’s actually behind the fence for a change and I take it as a good sign.

“Patty June,” I say, my voice thick with desperation. “Where is he?” My voice comes out tight, edged with urgency. I’m vibrating with anticipation, my nerves stretched thin. I need to fix things with him. I need him to know I’m all in, for as long as he’ll have me.

Patty June fluffs her silver-streaked hair with a bony hand, sighing like she’s got all the time in the world. “You know, sugar, can’t say I know. But I’ve got a guess.” Her mouth pulls into a slow, knowing smile, the kind that usually comes before a long-winded story I don’t have time for.

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