Page 16 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

“Would you like to get dressed?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“No. Just asking in case you are.”

The coffee makerdingedand he poured a paper cup full of the strong brew. “I have a feeling you didn’t come here to discuss Tuck’s DNA floating through your veins.” He took a sip and burned his tongue. “Damn!”

Several expressions crossed her features. “Rip, I—”

“Wait.” He set his steaming cup down on the desk. “There’s something I need to tell you. I should have told you yesterday but I didn’t get around to it. If I’m the reason you don’t want to come back to Bluebird then we can work something out. You’re Tuck’s daughter and you have the genetic right to the property.”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “You said you’ve been helping at Bluebird. So, Tuck felt you deserved it.”

“And obviously he felt Bluebird is your home.”

She sighed. “I don’t know anything about breeding cows. Or ranching.”

“You lived there for what? Eight years? That’s a good start.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“Look, I can show you the ropes. We can figure out some kind of solution.” Why was he trying so hard to convince her? He should be doing the opposite.

“Do you live at the farmhouse?”

“Nah, I live in the guest cottage that you and your mom lived in. I promised Tuck I’d stick around a while and make sure things keep running smoothly at the ranch.”

“You and I living on the same ranch.” She smirked. “Not awkward at all.”

“Not just the two of us. There are the employees living in campers on the south side of the property. Your son, and of course Bea, will be there too.”

Her mouth worked up a smile. “Bea? She’s there?”

“She came when Tuck started getting real sick.”

And just as fast, the smile disappeared. “Why didn’t Tuck give her the house?”

“She’s in her seventies. What would she do with it but give it to you also?”

“She knows?”

“I’d guess so.”

“I just think—”

“Listen,” he tore a hand through his disheveled hair. “I don’t want to put my nose where it doesn’t belong…”

“But you’re going to anyway?” She arched her brow.

“This isn’t only aboutyourneeds. This is an opportunity for your son too.”

Her mouth thinned and he knew he had hit a soft spot. “I don’t need you to tell me what’s good for my son.”

Why was she so prickly? “I’m not telling you what’s good for your son. I’m only saying what I’m sure you’ve thought about since you read the letter. Tuck wanted you to have the place. He was the kid’s grandfather. This is a legacy we’re talking about, not something that can be easily discarded. If you could talk to the future Ollie, what would he want you to do?”

She opened her mouth then slammed it shut. “I never planned on going back to Second Chance.”

“I guess you need to weigh the pros and cons then.”

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