Heart & Hope (Rosewood Ranch #2)

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

RUBY

T he bed is cold and empty when I wake up, despite the heat that was coursing through this room mere hours ago when we returned from the gala. Reed in his suit was the hottest thing I have ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. And when he kissed me by the elevator, I thought my heart would explode.

It took everything I had not to climb him like a tree the second the doors closed. And again when he helped with my zipper. And now, the man in question is nowhere to be seen. I push out of bed and wander to the bathroom.

No Reed.

His boots are gone. But his bag is here. He went out for something?

I track to the toilet and make a quick stop before brushing my teeth and hair. Still tired from last night, I pad back to bed and climb under the duvet. But not wanting to go back to sleep and miss Reed, I flick the TV on.

The door to our room rattles open a moment later, and Reed strides in. Two takeaway coffee cups in a tray rest in one hand, while a brown paper bag swings underneath. I sit up and he smiles at me with that gorgeous megawatt grin I adore.

Oh shit.

I snap my gaze to the duvet.

No, Ruby.

What the hell was that?

I like being around Reed. He’s an amazing guy. Funny and thoughtful. Hot as hell. But adore? Yeah, that must have been some sort of brain conniption. How long has it been since the last guy I was with? Apparently, far too long. I so need to get laid, so my monkey brain can settle the fuck down.

When the bed dips and coffee appears under my nose, I wrap my hands around it, brushing his fingers.

He sips his coffee and passes me a chocolate Danish wrapped in a napkin.

I whimper a little at the smell of the chocolate pastry and coffee. A girl could get used to this. Breakfast in bed delivered by a handsome man.

“Thank you, Reed.”

“You’re welcome, beautiful.”

He sinks his teeth into his pastry, and his throat works as he swallows. “Get dressed, baby.”

I finish off the food and hop out of bed, grabbing my laptop. His large, warm hand folds over mine. “Nope. Not today, Rubes.”

“But I need to check for feedback and emails. Manage any social posts from last night.”

He shakes his head.

“Reed, come on.”

He pulls the laptop from my grip and places it on the table by my tote. “The only thing you are doing today is a full day of R we’re only inches apart. And no, it’s not what I want. I want an event planning business of my own one day and working as hard and as long as I can in high-end agencies is how to garner the best experience. But I don’t want to waste my day of R ranching is a year-round, three-sixty-five gig. At least it is in Harry’s world. In which we are involuntary participants.”

He takes another sip.

“Oh, that must be hard.”

“It’s a lifestyle, that’s for sure. You comin’ in?”

“Oh, sure. Can’t let Reed sugar my coffee.”

“Sweet enough, hey?” He smiles and shifts on his feet as I walk past with a chuckle.

“Something like that, Mack.”

He dips his hat, resting his mug on the small table at the front door and walking down the step and off the porch. “See ya round, Ruby. Have a relaxing day!”

I wave, smiling as confusion tweaks my face. Do these men share everything?

“Coffee, baby?” Reed says from behind me.

I spin back, and he deposits a mug in my hands, nodding his head toward inside. “Come on, house tour first.”

I follow him inside. The home is small but cozy, and it’s exactly what I imagined a farmhouse would be like. The kitchen is to my left and a living room with a hearth is to the right. You could settle in and lose hours here.

Reed walks up the stairs, and I wander behind. When we reach the top, he waves a hand to the right. “Spare bedroom.” Then to the door in front of him. “Smallest room in the house; and this”—he walks to the open door on the left and leans on the doorjamb—“this is my new master.”

I walk past him and into the room. It’s rustic. Large. The polished wood gives it such a warm feel. Nothing like the concrete and glass of my place. The long window has an inviting bench seat underneath it, and I sit, taking in the view of the surrounding mountains. It’s magnificent.

“It’s gorgeous, Reedsy.”

I sip the coffee; it’s hot and earthy. Amazing.

“Looks better from the back of a horse. Come on, let’s see the rest.”

Reluctant to leave my spot by the window, I sigh and rise. We finish our coffees and Reed rinses the mugs, leaving them in the sink.

“So, what do we have planned for the day?”

“I told you, baby. We’re riding. You want your own horse, or do I need to get comfortable with you getting all handsy with a double?”

I slap his arm. “I will have my own, thank you very much.”

The barn is huge, as big as the ones at Harry and Hudson’s place. Inside sits a giant red tractor.

“Morning, Red,” Reed says as he walks past the behemoth machine, tapping the hood with a hand. He named his tractor. I stifle a chuckle. Gosh, this man loves his trucks and machines.

“Tack is in here.” Reed leads me inside a small room. The walls are covered in hooks and metal brackets holding up bridles, saddles, and saddle pads. “You alright to carry your own?”

“Sure, load me up.” I hold my hands out, and he does.

He grabs his own gear, and we head to the stables behind the house. I recognize Reed’s horse, Magnet, right away. Two others are in the long building. The smell of hay and horse closes in around me. It’s been years since I have been on a horse.

My heart picks up the pace as I tentatively hold up a hand to Magnet. He nickers and sniffs the extended offering.

“He likes you, baby.”

I huff a nervous laugh. “Maybe.”

“This here is Mira. She will be your ride today.”

I raise my eyebrows.

“Mind out of the gutter, Rubes.”

My mouth snaps open. “Hey! I said nothing!”

He taps the brim of the cap on my head as he leads Magnet past to a small concrete area at the end of the stables by the door. “You didn’t have to. Your face is the same color as your name, baby.”

Ugh, shit.

“Do I unbuckle this colored one and cover her face?”

Reed turns back, dropping Magnet’s lead on the ground and closing the space between us. “Been a while?”

He takes the colored bridle thing from my hands and walks into Mira’s stall. He unbuckles the side of it and slips it up her nose and over her ears before doing up the buckle. When he throws the lead over her neck and runs a hand over her leg, she shifts on her foot, plucking it off the ground instantly.

“Damn,” he says, taking her hoof in his hand. “She’s got a stone bruise.”

He lets her foot down and unbuckles the colored bridle from her face.

“She’s not coming?”

“Nope, sorry, Rubes. Looks like you ride with me. I’ll have to get Addy out to make sure a stone bruise is all it is.”

“Will she be alright?”

“Should be, but we can’t take her. And the young’un over there isn’t for beginners.”

“Oh, we can’t walk or take the truck?”

He smiles at me, and I know that was a dumb thing to say. “Nah, baby. Too far and too rough. My truck doesn’t venture into the wild. She’s too precious. Too pretty. You ride with me. Plus, Magnet has been asking to spend time with you for god knows how long. Honestly, I’m sick to death of him naggin’ me over it.”

I roll my eyes at him, glancing at the grey gelding who patiently waits where Reed left him.

“Okay, your call.”

“Give me five. I’ll have a thousand pounds of power between those long legs.”

“Reed!” I pull the cap from my head, intending to toss it at him.

He doubles over laughing. His hat falls off and hits the ground. He runs a hand through his hair and swipes the hat up. When he dumps it on my head and walks back to the horse, he glances back at me. “Hold that for me, baby.”

I watch, mesmerized, as he saddles up Magnet. Arms flexing under the weight of the saddle. The quiet, kind words he says. His ass as he bends over, making sure the gelding’s feet are clean and clear.

Lost in something like a dream, I don’t notice when he disappears to the other side of the horse and slips on the bridle. Before I know what I’m doing, I’m at Magnet’s shoulder. Reed ducks under his neck, almost bumping into me as he swaps sides again.

“Hey, you alright?” he asks, green eyes dropping to study my face.

“Yeah, I just?—”

I push up onto my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “Thank you for this.”

“Beautiful, the pleasure is all mine.”