Chapter 7

Blaze

Riley has been here for a week now. Yesterday, the doctor gave approval for her to be up and moving around. No lifting, but she doesn’t have to follow Sage’s strict bedrest policy. After the doctor’s appointment, the girls go shopping for more clothes. Sage insists that Riley has a proper ‘uniform’ to work with the horses.

I think it’s just an excuse to buy her more clothes. She has bought her jeans, shirts, a pair of boots and a cowgirl hat.

I smile, thinking of Riley settling in at the ranch. She’s excited because Sage is letting her sit in on the horse training today. While she still can’t do much, she can watch and learn.

Riley has been staying nights in Sage’s room, which works out great. It seems neither of them likes being alone, so they’re helping each other. Riley’s bruises are pretty much gone, and there has been no sign of the bastard ex of hers.

Each day, Riley seems to relax just a tiny bit. She’s laughing and joking more and even wanting to help with the cooking.

Sage, Colt, Jason, and I are at the table eating breakfast when Riley walks in. My heart stops, then kicks back up, running as fast as an out-of-control race car.

Riley’s in jeans that look like they’re painted on and a teal plaid button-down shirt with a matching teal tank under it. It must be Sage’s doing; that’s her favorite color. She has matched it with a brown leather belt and brown cowgirl boots with teal stitching. In her hand is a brown with matching teal band cowgirl hat.

Hot damn, this girl is fucking hot.

I’m a goner. I’m in so much trouble. I want nothing more than to take her to dinner and convince her to stay and never leave, but the last thing she needs is a guy’s attention.

I’m fucked.

She grabs breakfast and sits next to me. Sage kicks me under the table and knocks me out of the lust fog I’m in.

I continue to eat, still unable to speak.

“Are you excited to watch Sage with the horses?” Jason asks.

“Yeah, I love horses, although I haven’t ridden in almost ten years. I know I won’t be on a horse for probably two more months, but I’m really excited.” Riley smiles at Jason and for the first time ever, I want to sucker punch my brother for winning that smile instead of me.

I sip my coffee and decide to check some of the back cattle fields today, to keep myself busy.

“Well, I’m out to the back east if anyone needs me. I see y’all at dinner.” I head out and Colt follows behind me, grabbing something to eat, and walking with me.

“Want some help? You look like something is on your mind,” Colt says.

“Yeah, if you don’t mind being ignored while I sort through it,” I say.

He smiles because he gets it. He’s been working through his own stuff lately.

We saddle up our horses and load them into the trailer. Since the back fields are so far away, it makes sense to drive out and save the horse’s energy.

As I’m getting into the truck, I feel my phone go off.

Sage: Next time, wipe the drool off your face.

“Fucking Sage,” I mumble, sending the middle finger emoji back at her.

Beside me, Colt laughs. “She’s always been able to read you like an open book, though you were kind of obvious at the table this morning.”

My phone goes off again. I almost ignore it, but no matter how much Sage irritates me, she’s my best friend, and I’ve never ignored her.

Sage: Hey, I approve but go easy and ease her into the idea, okay? I don’t think she has a great impression of men.

Me: I know, and I don’t even know what I think right now.

Sage: Hence, why you’re heading to the back-east fields. Hash it out with Colt, and I’ll see you at dinner.

Me: See ya.

I put my phone away and shake my head.

“She can read you like a book, huh?” Colt says beside me as we head out.

“Always has been able to. She can read you too, ya know,” I say, hoping to flip the attention to him.

“Not lately,” he says almost bitterly.

“What do you mean?”

“It seems like neither of us can read the other anymore. I think she’s going left, and she goes right. It’s like she does it just to piss me off.”

“She probably does.” I chuckle back at him.

“Yeah, and you’re hating how well she knows you right now,” he fires back.

I grunt but don’t say anything else on the drive out to the fields.

As we check cattle and run the fence lines, I can’t seem to get my mind off Riley; the pretty blond who has stormed into our lives and turned them upside down. I want to know about her past, even the details with the ex. I feel like I need to know, so I know what I’m up against.

I want to show her how she should be treated, even if she walks away. She needs to know how a woman should be treated when she wants to date again.

There’s a pain in my gut at the thought of Riley walking away, of there being a ‘next’ guy. The thought of seeing her with another guy is like a knife in the gut.

Have I gone crazy? I’ve known this girl for a week.

I spend the rest of the day working, talking with Colt, and trying to keep my mind off the blonde who has captured my attention, who is waiting back at the house.

We fall into a comfortable routine over the next week, and I make it my mission to let Riley get to know me and get to know whatever she’s willing to share with me.

I’m lying in bed one night after watching TV with Sage and Riley, just thinking about how I can get an extra few minutes in with Riley this weekend without scaring her off when my bedroom door creaks open.

I sit up on my bed and know already it’s Sage; she’s the only person in this house who doesn’t knock. She shuts my bedroom door and sits next to me on the bed.

“What’s wrong? Is Riley okay?” I ask.

“Yes, she fell asleep. I wanted to talk to you.”

We settle against my headboard next to each other. We’ve spent many nights like this talking or just sitting here.

“You like Riley,” Sage says. It isn’t a question. She knows me, sometimes better than I know myself. I don’t bother trying to deny it. “What are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure being with a guy is the last thing on her mind. Plus, it’s going to be ten times harder to earn her trust simply because I’m a guy.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Sage, I know you were a lot younger when everything happened to you, but you didn’t trust guys easily. How long was it before you had a real relationship? Colt and I were the only ones you let in. You even kept Jason at arm’s length until Mac came in the picture.”

“I dated in high school!” Sage said.

“Yeah? Who? You didn’t have any relationships until you came back home, and we bought the ranch. Even then, you still give bullshit reasons why you would break up with the guys. I love you and support you, but you’re still one who doesn’t trust easily.”

“Blaze, you’re so clueless sometimes, but this isn’t about me. Stop deflecting. We need a plan.”

“I’m not clueless, and we need nothing.”

“Listen, I’ve spent every day with Riley. I may not trust easily, but I do trust my gut. You two are perfect for each other.”

“Well, convince her of that, would ya?”

She smiles at me. “Oh, I plan to. Just take things slow and maybe flirt a little. Ease her into it and when I finally push you to date, don’t fight me. Got it?”

“Sage, I can handle this on my own, thank you.”

“Really? Then why haven’t you?”

I grunt. I know I’ve lost the argument.

Sage kisses my cheek and heads back to her room.

I don’t get much sleep as I ponder what Sage might have up her sleeve.