Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
But he won’t let the family come watch him.
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “And you know why.”
“Seriously, Brady, nothing’s going to happen to you. You’re safe, and you’re good.”
“If something did happen, I don’t need my family watching me die in that arena. It’s nonnegotiable.”
“You invited Jake a few weeks ago.”
He shrugs. “I wanted him to see how they handle the animals, but when it was my time to ride, I made him leave.”
I frown. Jake didn’t tell me that part.
“We’re proud of you,” I tell him as we both stand. “All of us are. And if you’d let us, we’d be up in those stands, cheering, just like we did for Jake tonight.”
“I know.” He nods and pats my shoulder. “I know you would. But I can’t risk it. Besides, this way, I’m not distracted by whoever’s in the stands. I can just do my job and focus on the bull. Eight seconds of work, no distractions.”
“You’re fucking badass. You know that, right?”
“Of course, I know that.” He grins, and I walk him around the house to his truck. “Call me if you need me.”
“Same goes.” We always say the same thing, even if we don’t plan on needing each other.
It’s just what brothers do.
After I wave him off, I walk into the house and up to my observatory.
I won’t be sleeping tonight. Not because I have kids here, but because I can just tell that it’s going to be a night that I’m awake, so I open the glass roof, grab my glasses and iPad from the storage cubby, and bring the screen to life.
It’s a good night to look at the sky.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
POLLY
Ican’t sleep.
I want to sleep, and I absolutely should be out cold by now because it’s after midnight and I’ve been working myself ragged, but I just can’t drift off. There’s nothing wrong. The house is peaceful, and I’m tired, but I miss Ryan.
That’s what it boils down to. I simply miss him.
And that’s stupid because he’s less than ten miles away.
So, I peel back the covers on the bed and walk across the hall to the closet where I pull on some cute burnt orange cropped sweats that I recently indulged in, along with a matching sweatshirt. I pull my hair up into a high ponytail and slip my feet into some white sneakers, then I grab my purse and keys and pull out of my garage.
On the way down the street, I see the tiny red Mercedes sports car I saw earlier parked about two blocks away and smile.
They must have found where they needed to be.
It’s a gorgeous night, the sky full of stars, as I drive out of Bitterroot Valley to Ryan’s ranch. I don’t even pass by any other cars, it’s so quiet in town tonight. Of course, I avoid downtown. The bars would be hopping.
Unless I’m with my girlfriends, I’ve never really been much of a bar hopper.
The gate to Ryan’s place glides open as I approach, and I drive through, down the windy driveway, to his beautiful, big house. There are several vehicles parked out front, and I grin at the thought of all those teenage boys inside, enjoying themselves with Jake.
This house should be the hub for the teenager and his friends. It’s perfect for it, with the movie room, the game room, and all the free space for them to hang out.
I do notice that Mac and Brady’s vehicles are not here, so Ryan is inside without another adult, and that makes me happy. I can’t wait to see him.
I don’t bother to lock my car and walk up the stairs to the door, surprised that it’s not locked, but then remember that Ryan probably wants the kids to be able to come and go freely. I walk through and don’t find him in the kitchen or on the back patio. He’s not in his suite of rooms, and then it hits me: He’s up on the roof.
With a grin, I climb the stairs and open the door, and when I poke my head out, I see Ryan standing by the telescope, his glasses on and holding his iPad.
“I don’t want to startle you,” I say softly.
He doesn’t jump, but he turns his head to look at me, and a slow smile spreads over his face as he sets his iPad aside, pulls his glasses off, and walks over to me.
“Well, this is a good surprise.” He pulls me against him and wraps his arms around me. “Are you okay?”
I love that he’s always checking in with me, making sure that I’m fine.
“I’m fine, I couldn’t sleep, and I wanted you. Just to be with you. I guess I’m needy.”
He chuckles and kisses the top of my head before tipping my chin up so he can slant his lips over mine and kiss me soft and slow, making my toes curl in my white sneakers.