Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
My mouth falls open. “Oh.”
I have no idea what to say to that, and I’m speechless the rest of the way to his house.
Chapter 7
Ace
I roll out of bed and put my foot down, but it’s not until I stand up that pain shoots through my ankle. I seriously thought I’d be able to go without the boot, but obviously I’m going to have to use it.
I’m already pissed off because I hardly got any sleep. All I could think about was that kiss Lila and I shared. I know she said we shouldn’t have done it, but I completely disagree with her because all I’ve been able to think about is doing it again. I no sooner get on a pair of jeans, a pair of socks, and the boot when I hear a car in the gravel driveway.
By the time I get dressed and outside, I see Reilly’s truck and trailer at the barn.
He walks around to the rear of the trailer and opens it as I walk down the path toward him. I’m cussing the whole way because the boot is big and a pain in the ass. Yes, it makes walking less painful, but other than that, it sucks.
Reilly is walking a horse out of the trailer, and I point at it. “Is that Lila’s horse? Is that Chestnut?”
Reilly pats the horse on the back and smiles at me. “It sure is. How you feeling today, cowboy?”
He’s leading her into my barn, and I follow behind him. I ignore his question on how I’m doing and ask him my own question. “What’s going on, Reilly? What is Chestnut doing here?”
He shrugs but doesn’t turn to look at me. “Lila asked me to bring her horse here. I also have your check. You won last night. They wouldn’t give me the trophy. They want to do some kind of photoshoot of them giving it to you or something.”
He puts the horse in a stall and then goes about feeding her and my horse, which is in the stall next to it. At this point, I don’t even care about the trophy. They can keep it. My bull riding days are over. “Why did she have you bring her horse here?”
Before Reilly answers me, we hear another car, and I lean back to look through the barn doors as Reilly says. “That sounds like her now.”
I walk out of the barn, and sure enough, Lila is parked in front of the house. I start walking toward her, and she’s grabbing what looks like a suitcase out of the back of her car. She grabs another bag and throws it over her shoulder and starts walking toward the house, acting as if she didn’t see me.
“What are you doing, Lila?” I call to her.
She holds her hand out with the suitcase in it. “What does it look like, Ace?”
I stop next to her. “Well, it looks like you’re moving in, but I know that’s not right.”
Hurt flashes across her eyes, but it disappears. “Tough, I’m staying.”
When I don’t say anything, she rolls her eyes at me and then turns, going up the steps. This stupid boot is slowing me down, and by the time I catch her, she’s already in the house. “Lila, what will people think?”
“Whatever, Ace. I am moving in, but don’t worry. I won’t be cramping your style or anything. You have any buckle bunnies to entertain, just tell me, and I’ll disappear for a while. You can tell them I’m the hired help.”
I glare down at her. “I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it. I don’t want your reputation ruined because you’re sleeping at my house is all. I haven’t messed with a buckle bunny in forever. And what do you mean, hired help?”
She sets the suitcase down and pulls the tote off her shoulder and drops it to the floor next to the suitcase. She grabs my hand and pulls me over to the couch. I let her push me down and watch as she lifts my foot up and puts a pillow under it. I swear I’m behaving as docilely as a lamb, and it sort of pisses me off. That’s not who I am, but it seems for Lila, she says jump and I say how high.
She pats my knee and sits down next to me. “You’re supposed to keep this elevated to get the swelling down. And you’re sure as hell not supposed to be traipsing all over the ranch. And yes, hired help. You’re lucky too because I’m a hell of a nurse and a hell of a rancher.”
Fuck, why do I like the sound of that? I know I shouldn’t, and I’m pretty sure it’s not the kind of nursing I’m hoping for, but hell, a cowboy can dream. I hold my hands up. “Wait. You’re here to nurse me and work on the ranch? You have a job.”