Roping Ryan (The West Series Book 6) (4 page)

“What...?” she asked.

He shook his head. “One secret a day, princess.” He started walking again. His stomach was leading him across the hills; he could almost smell the waffles.

“He’s getting married,” she said behind him.

He looked over his shoulder and nodded. “I’d heard.”

“What?” She caught up with him. “How did you hear?”

He smiled. “I have my ways.”

R
yan didn’t know what to expect when he walked up onto the front porch of the big white house. When he knocked, he noticed that his hand shook, and he cursed under his breath. This was his family. His cousins had always been there with open arms for him and his brother. He didn’t know why there was a thread of doubt running through his mind.

He could feel Nikki standing behind him and for a moment wished they were somewhere else. Anywhere else.

Then the door swung open, and he saw his cousin’s matching green eyes light up. The screen door was yanked open and Lauren was in his arms hugging him tighter than ever before.

“Ryan.” She kept saying his name over and over again. He felt her body shaking as she cried.

“Lauren, is everything okay?” He heard a male voice and looked up to see a man standing in the doorway, a little girl with dark curly hair and green eyes in his arms.

“Chase, it’s Ryan,” Lauren said against his chest. Ryan nodded to Chase. He’d heard that she’d married, but hadn’t heard the details. Actually, all three of his cousins were now married and were mothers.

“Hello.” Chase nodded to him. “Well, why don’t you stop crying on him and let him in.” Chase smiled. “Besides, he has a lady friend with him, and she looks tired and hungry.”

“Yes.” Lauren stepped back and then looked up at him and balled her fist and slugged him in the shoulder. “That’s for not calling.” She used the same fist to wipe away the tears that were leaking down her face. “Now, come inside. I was just about to make waffles.” She smiled and reached over and held out her hand for Nikki. “I’m Lauren, his cousin.”

“Nikki Dawson.”

“It’s nice to meet you. This is my husband, Chase, our daughter, Abbi, and somewhere around here...” Just then a little boy of around four came running in to the room, butt naked.

“Ma, I can’t find my underwear.”

Lauren laughed and swooped up the little boy. “This is our son, Ricky.”

“Hey, Reece,” Ricky said, then frowned and looked at Ryan again. “You’re not Reece.”

“Nope. I’m his brother.”

Ricky smiled. “I got twin cousins, Conner and Cooper. They look a lot more alike though.” He smiled.

“I’ll swap you,” Chase said, handing Abbi over to Lauren. “We’ll just go find our underwear and be right down.”

Lauren laughed and handed over the naked boy. “Come on in.”

They followed her back to the kitchen, and he noticed that the place had been remodeled since the last time he’d been there. The kitchen had new cupboards and new flooring. He’d noticed as they had walked up that the whole place had new siding, paint, and windows.

“The place looks great,” he said, sitting in a chair Lauren motioned to. She was putting the little girl into a high chair but smiled and nodded.

“Yes, Chase has been working on updating everything. We have even remodeled all of the ranch houses.” She stopped and looked over at him. “Where are you staying?”

He shrugged his shoulders and waited.

“I’ll get you the keys to one of the ranch houses.” She smiled. “Nikki, you’re welcome to...”

“She stays with me,” Ryan broke in. Just the command in his voice told them there was nothing more to discuss.

Lauren nodded. “That’s fine.” She smiled and looked at Nikki. “Now, how many waffles do you want?”

“Can I help?” Nikki said from her chair.

“Of course not.” Lauren smiled at her. “But if you want to make sure Abbi eats all her Cheerios, that would be helpful.”

She nodded and scooted her chair closer to the little girl who was happily banging her hands on the high chair and eating what she could.

“Does your brother know you’re here?” Lauren said, turning around with a spatula in her hands.

He shook his head. “We just got off the bus and walked here less than an hour ago.”

She gasped and set her spatula down. “I’ll just...”

“Already done,” Chase said, walking in with a fully clothed Ricky in his arms. “Reece and Missy are on their way.”

Ryan felt like jumping up and making a run for it. He looked to Lauren for help.

“Maybe you should take the kids somewhere?” At first Chase looked like he didn’t understand, but then knowledge showed on his face.

He looked down at Ricky. “What do you say to you and your sister helping me feed the animals?”

Ricky shouted and nodded his head. “Yippee.” Chase set Ricky down and took Abbi out of the highchair.

“Thanks,” he said to Lauren when Chase and the kids were gone. “I know I have it coming. I just didn’t want the kids to...”

Lauren walked over to him, shaking her head. “Ryan, I’m sure your brother will be happy to see you again.”

Still, it didn’t take away the fear and anxiety that ran through him, waiting.

He’d just eaten his second waffle when they heard the car drive up.

Ryan stood. “I’ll get it. Stay.” He looked down at Nikki with a frown, hoping she’d listen. He knew there was no stopping Lauren from following him outside, but he hoped.

When he stepped out onto the porch, he saw his brother standing by a truck with a pretty blonde in a sundress and boots. They were hugging, but when they heard the screen door shut behind him, they looked up.

Reece was across the space quickly, and Ryan met him at the bottom of the stairs. Ryan clenched and prepared for the blow that he knew was coming. But instead of a fist to the face or gut, he was engulfed in a hug that almost broke a few of his bruised ribs.

Ryan blinked a few times and then hugged his brother back. And for the first time in years, he felt forgiven and loved.

Nikki watched from behind the screen door, standing behind Lauren. She heard Lauren sniffle into her apron and open the door.

“If you two are done, breakfast is getting cold. Come on, Missy, you can help me make up some more eggs.”

The men pulled apart and smiled at one another with matching smiles. Melissa walked up and stood next to Reece. “It’s good to have you back.” She hugged Ryan, who nodded and hugged her.

When Lauren walked by her, she said, “How come she can help out, but not me?”

Lauren laughed. “Missy is family. You’re a guest. But if you want, you can get some more place settings.” She took her arm and walked her back to the kitchen.

By the time she had set out two more sets of dishes, they heard another car drive up. “That will be Alex or Haley.” She dried her hands and started walking towards the door.

Nikki sat back as the large kitchen filled up with people. She’d met Melissa and Reece before, when she’d interviewed them in Houston about Ryan. She was quickly introduced to everyone else as they arrived. She met Lauren’s sisters, Alex and Haley, and their husbands, Grant and Wes. Alex and Grant’s daughter, Laura, was there too, and she could tell that there was a little brother or sister on the way as well. Haley and Wes had twin boys, Conner and Cooper, who were a smaller match of Ryan and Reece yet still managed to look like their father. Wes showed up in his police uniform, but then had to go back out on a call shortly after arriving.

After everyone was done eating the huge breakfast of waffles, eggs, and bacon, they sat around and talked for a while. She noticed how Ryan avoided the story of how they had come to be in Fairplay. Or how they had met. He kept dodging any questions; she tried her best to do the same. For now, she didn’t want anyone to know that they might be hunted down or that they were even hiding out. For the most part, everyone avoided asking Ryan where he’d been for the last seven years. At least for now.

Nikki’s head started feeling heavy, and she caught herself sliding further down in the chair. Her eyes felt red and swollen, and she desperately wished for a bed. Any bed.

“I think we’re going to call it a day. We’ve been traveling all night.” He looked over at her, and she was grateful he’d noticed how tired she was.

“Let me get you the keys to the place.” Lauren got up and grabbed a key ring from the hooks by the back door. “You’re welcome to use the spare truck.”

“Old Betty?” Ryan asked.

Lauren shook her head. “Nope, the tornado killed Betty. We had to replace her with Bertha.” She laughed and pointed at her sister Alex. “That’s what she calls it.”

Alex shrugged her shoulders. “She’s a big ‘ol gal.” Ryan laughed.

“The closest ranch house is open at least until next month. Then we can move you into the bigger one indefinitely. We’re a few weeks away from selling time.” She looked at him. “Could use an extra hand.”

He nodded. “I don’t know how long we’ll be around, but if I’m here, you can use mine.”

She nodded, then walked over to him and hugged him. “It’s good to have you back.”

Nikki watched as Ryan hugged her back. Then he turned and shook his brother’s hand. “When’s that wedding of yours?”

“A few weeks from now, November sixteenth.”

Ryan nodded. “I’ll stick around.” He walked over and hugged Missy. “We’ll have to have dinner.”

She nodded. “Soon.” He smiled and then turned towards Nikki.

“Ready?”

She nodded. “It was nice meeting everyone.”

Outside, Ryan opened the door to the old green truck and handed her her bag. She sat it in her lap and leaned back against the soft seat. The truck smelled like hay, and for some reason that was comforting to her.

“You have a nice family,” she said once he started driving.

He looked over at her and nodded. “Yeah. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed them. I didn’t even know.” He shook his head.

She smiled. “Why did you leave?” When he glanced at her, she continued. “I noticed that everyone avoided asking, but I assume it had something to do with your father.”

He frowned as he turned the truck towards a dusty road. “Sort of.”

She waited and when he didn’t continue, she asked, “What does that mean?”

He looked over at her. “It was because of him that I was in a cemetery one night when the police squad assumed that I was there to meet for a drug drop. They hauled me away to prison. My father refused to pay my bail or send money so I could catch a bus back from Houston. Actually, he told me not to bother coming back. He apparently didn’t tell my brother before he died that I had joined the police force and was alive in Houston.”

She watched the emotions cross his face and felt anger towards a man she didn’t know.

“After I heard that the old man had died, I hesitated to contact Reece. By the time I’d worked up enough nerve, he was gone.”

“He traveled with the rodeo for a few years,” she said. She had learned about his brother’s past as part of her research into the family.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “He mentioned it to me over breakfast.” He looked down at his knuckles.

“Why do you think your father didn’t tell him about you?”

He shrugged his shoulder. “Why did the old man do a lot of stuff? He was crazy and mean as spit.” He shook his head. “He was always slapping at us, cussing at us.” He shook his head and tried to block the memories. “Reece had it worse than I did. I was surprised to hear that he stuck around so long.”

“Your father died shortly after you left?”

He nodded. “I didn’t hear about it until almost a year later.” He shook his head. “By then Reece had disappeared.”

She reached over and took his hand in her smaller, much softer one and said, “I’m sorry.”

N
ikki rolled up tighter into a ball and tried to shut off her mind. Ryan was sleeping just outside the bedroom door on the smallest couch she’d ever seen. She thought of him out there, trying to get comfortable like her. She could hear him moving around and thought of his long body trying to tuck up on the couch.

“If you promise to keep your hands to yourself, you can come lie on the bed,” she called out and then held still, waiting for an answer.

Ryan opened the door and smiled at her. “Thanks. I was thinking I’d have to chew off my legs to fit on that thing.”

She chuckled and then sobered when she saw that he’d removed his shirt and was wearing only his loose fitting jeans. She’d changed into the sweat shorts and T-shirt that had been packed in her bug-out bag.

She watched him walk over to the bed, his eyes on hers. He was impressive. She noticed several large scars on his stomach and chest. Her mind refused to stop thinking about how impressive his chest was. It was wide and the muscles in his arms were lean and toned. He had a sexy six-pack and his pecs were bigger than any she’d seen before. They had a light layer of sexy dark hair, which she imagined would feel soft against her body.

“Keep looking at me like that, princess, and I can’t guarantee I’ll keep my hands to myself.” He smiled down at her. She glared at him then rolled over and punched the pillow until she finally felt comfortable. She felt him crawl in next to her and was thankful he dropped the subject.

“Why can’t I stay somewhere else? There’s probably plenty of room—”

“Drop it,” he warned, but she sat up and glanced down at him.

“It’s not like we’re a couple. Are you trying to convince your family of something?”

He leaned up and looked at her. “Have you forgotten that there is a madman with access to a small army after us?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “So, give me one of my guns back. I can protect myself.”

He leaned back against the headboard and crossed his arms over his chest. “Until I know that Hijo del Diablo and his men are locked behind bars or dead, you stay where I can see you.”

She leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “So, you’re just going to babysit me then?”

He chuckled and then completely surprised her by reaching out and pushing a strand of hair away from her face. His fingers were so gentle, and his green eyes were so mesmerizing that she almost forgot that she was upset at him.

“Listen, princess, there are a few things I’d like to do with you, but babysitting has nothing to do with them.”

She growled and pushed his hand aside as he laughed.

“You are so easy to rile up. Now, get some sleep. You look like hell.” He chuckled and then leaned back and closed his eyes. She felt like throwing something at him but rolled over and tried to get her body to relax inch by inch.

When she opened her eyes again, it was dark out. She stretched her arms over her head and then noticed she was alone in the bed. She had slept like the dead. She always did. Her father had always joked that he had to have a blow horn just to wake her in time for school.

She sat up and flipped on the light next to the bed. The room was small, but big enough for one person. There was a small bathroom off the back. She walked in, carrying her bag. She was happily surprised that there was shampoo and conditioner in the shower. Large white towels hung on the hooks. Thankfully, there was a box of new toothbrushes and toothpaste in the drawers.

When she stepped into the shower, she couldn’t help but moan. The hot water soothed away the aches from sleeping in the car, the bus, and on a strange bed. She let the hot water run over her head as she leaned up against the cool tile of the shower.

When she finally walked out of the bathroom dressed in a clean pair of yoga pants and a large T-shirt, she saw the note on the countertop from Ryan.

Ran out for a while. Alex dropped off dinner. I’ll be back soon. Ryan

She walked into the small kitchen and pulled out a plate of chicken, potatoes, and green beans from the fridge. There was a jug of iced tea, and she poured herself some as she microwaved the food.

She walked into the next room with her plate, flipped on the television, and sat down to watch a movie. Less than an hour later, Ryan walked in with a handful of grocery bags. She jumped up and helped him before he dropped everything on the floor.

“I would have gone shopping with you,” she said, taking a bag.

He shook his head. “I tried to wake you.” He chuckled. “You sleep like the dead.”

She nodded and sat the bag down. “Yeah, I’ve been told that before.”

He looked over at her, his eyebrows up as he smiled. “Did you eat?”

She nodded and pulled out a bag of potato chips. She smiled when she saw they were the same barbeque ones she’d bought last night. Then she pulled out a box of Coke and smiled. “Got a thing for soda?”

He nodded. “Keeps me awake. You can’t always get a cup of coffee, but you can get one of these.” He shook the can that he’d opened and took another sip.

“You shop like a teenager,” she said, pulling out a box of cookies.

He laughed. “I haven’t had a place with a kitchen in years.” He pulled out a stack of frozen dinners and she shook her head.

“Next time, I’ll go to the market.” She sat a box of Fruity Pebbles on the counter and smiled. “I haven’t had these in years.”

“Well, then, you’re in for a treat.” He took out another two boxes of the stuff and set them by the other. She laughed.

“Is there anything in here to cook?”

He nodded and tapped the microwave dinners, and she shook her head.

“If I know anything about my family, they won’t let us cook. Just watch...” He leaned back against the countertop and crossed his arms over his chest. “First thing in the morning, we’ll have a feast delivered to our doorstep.”

She turned and looked at him. He was wearing another new shirt. The jeans looked new as well, and he had a pair of boots on that she hadn’t seen before.

“Do a little clothes shopping?” She waved to his clothes.

He smiled. “I stopped by my brother’s house and borrowed a few of his things. I have a bag of stuff out in the truck.” He grabbed his Coke and walked out.

She turned back and finished putting away everything he’d bought. There were even frozen fudge bars that were half-melted. She couldn’t stop herself from taking one out and popping it into her mouth. Even half-melted, it tasted good. If Ryan continued to eat like a teenager, she was going to gain weight while they hid out. She would just have to counter all his junk food with morning jogs. After all, she had her jogging shoes and clothes. Besides, she wanted to see the country. She hadn’t been up to this part of Texas before and was sure there was plenty to see.

Maybe she could even go for a ride. She hadn’t been on a horse in years. She walked into the living room just as Ryan came in with a huge duffel bag of clothes.

“Wow, is that full of stuff your brother gave you?”

He nodded. “There’s some stuff in here for you, too.” He set the bag down. “Missy and my cousins heard that we had to leave town quickly and they were concerned you didn’t have enough.”

“How sweet of them.” She walked over and sat down.

“What are you watching?” He sat next to her on the small couch, which instantly felt smaller. His leg and arm were pushed right up against hers. When she tried to move aside to make enough room, he scooted over and took what little room she had vacated.

“There is another chair there.” She pointed to the rocker that sat in the corner.

He chuckled. “I’m not sitting on that hard thing to watch TV.”

She glared at him. “Well, you’re taking up too much room.” She tried to push him away, but he just laughed. When she tried harder, he took her wrists in his hands and pulled her closer.

“You smell good.” He pulled until she was halfway in his lap. Her hands went to his chest and when she tried to push him away again, he just laughed. “You sure are feisty.”

“Let go of me.” She pushed him again. This time his hands dropped, and she realized she was almost straddling him. His hard thighs were under hers, her hands were flat on his chest, and she could feel his muscles jump under her fingers.

She hadn’t meant to stay there on his lap, but then she looked at his lips, at his eyes, and froze. How had she not noticed how perfect he was? Her eyes ran from his beautiful green eyes to his dark lashes, over his perfect eyebrows, and zeroed in on a small scar that ran from his left eyebrow to the corner of his hairline. Reaching up, she ran a finger over the light scar.

“How’d you get this?”

His hands were on her hips, and she couldn’t imagine anything feeling better.

“Ryan,” he whispered. “Or so I’m told.”

She moved just a little and felt him react to the closeness. Her fingers moved back into his hair. “Why’d you cut it?”

His eyes laughed a little at her. “To throw them off my trail. I’ve had the long hair and beard every time they dealt with me. They won’t really know what I look like clean.”

Her fingers scraped his scalp, and she saw his eyes heat. “I knew it was you instantly.”

He nodded. “You’d seen Reece...” He stopped when she ran her hand down his face. She didn’t know why she couldn’t stop touching his smooth face. His short hair. Maybe it was seeing his eyes go from cool emerald green to burning with desire.

Maybe it was the fact that she’d been without the feel of a man next to her for the past four months.

His hands moved up her back, and she arched into them.

“This could complicate things,” he said, looking into her eyes.

“Hasn’t it been pretty complicated already?”

He pulled her closer and nodded just before their lips touched.

He didn’t want to stop. She tasted like heaven and felt even better. She was rubbing herself all over him, her hands in his hair, holding him close as she used her mouth to send every ounce of his blood out of his head.

It had been too long, years, since he had felt desire so strong. When she pushed his shirt open, he leaned up so she could push it off his shoulders.

“Mmmm,” she moaned as she looked at him, running her fingers lightly over him. “Impressive.”

He smiled and then started to lift her shirt, watching her eyes for any sign of rejection. When she pulled back and reached down to help, he held his breath. She was perfection. The tiny black bra she wore covered those perfect breasts he’d seen a hint of in the sexy dress she’d worn the other night. When he reached up and ran a finger over her lightly, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes on another moan.

“Touch me,” she said, gripping his shoulders.

He leaned up and placed his lips on her shoulder, letting his hands roam over every inch of her soft skin. He pushed the soft silk aside and ran his tongue over her exposed skin until she held him so tight, he thought he would explode.

When he leaned back, she pushed his shoulders until he lay down across the small couch. His feet still on the ground, she began unbuckling his belt and jeans. He watched her struggle with getting the jeans down his hips and tried to help, but she swatted his hands away. So he sat back, resting his head along the arm of the couch, and watched her.

Her eyes were focused on his body, causing him to become more impatient than she was. Finally, after she’d pulled his boots free, she yanked his jeans and, with a little help from him, they hit the ground. He heard her groan and watched her tongue dart out to lick that full bottom lip of hers. Then it was his turn to groan.

She touched him softly, and his eyes closed on the pleasure she was giving him.

“Princess…” She glared up at him and gripped him a little tighter. He laughed and took her hand away from him. “You’d better slow down.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why?” She looked back down at him. “You look like you can handle it.”

He chuckled again. “Unless you have a magic bag with some condoms in it...”

She smiled. “Side pocket of my bug-out bag. My father didn’t raise a fool.”