Roping A Cowboy (Blazing Eagle Ranch Book 2)

by Peyton Banks

Wade was nervous as hell. He couldn’t ever remember feeling this way before. He had invited Joy to meet him, just to talk. They needed to speak face-to-face about recent events.

  He wanted to get everything out on the table and clear the air.

  The past couple of days had been torture.

  He couldn’t concentrate; he didn’t have a taste for any food.

  Wade needed to see Joy, hold her, and tell everyone to fuck off.

  He loved her.

  He paused, welcoming the emotions that flooded him.

  “I love Joy Whitaker,” he said aloud to the world. It felt good, the words flowing off his tongue. A grin spread with the realization that he was in love.

  They had agreed to meet by a large oak tree that was on the border of her family’s land and his. He had driven one of the ranch’s ATVs out to the spot, and had even brought brought a blanket for them to sit on. Taking a seat, he placed his wide-brimmed hat next to him. The tree provided a good amount of shade from the sun. Resting his arms on his knees, he leaned back, waiting for her to arrive.

  A few minutes later, the sound of hooves met him. He turned to find Joy atop a beautiful chestnut mare. The woman looked as if she were made to ride horses.

  Wade couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Joy’s dark hair flowed in the wind. She came to a stop, dismounted, and allowed her horse to graze. Wade stood as she walked toward him. He met her and took her all in.

  Her beauty took his breath away.

  “How do you know about this spot?” she asked. Joy was dressed in tight jeans, a white shirt tied into a knot at her stomach, and tan boots with a heel.

  Wade’s gaze was locked on the smooth brown skin peeking out from under her shirt.

  “I come out here all the time,” he admitted. He glanced around and eyed the scenery surrounding them. “It’s beautiful out here. How could I not know about it?”

  “Seriously?” she shook her head.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, not following her.

  “Nothing. It’s just that this is my favorite spot. I come here when I need to get away and think.” She waved for him to walk with her to the tree.

  They took a seat next to each other on the blanket in the shade.

  Wade wanted to touch her, but he held back. He didn’t like this feeling of unrest between them. Everything had been going great until her family had intervened. That damn feud was tearing them apart, and he didn’t like it.

  “How are you, babe?” he asked. It was safe to start there.

  She looked good. It had been two days since he’d last seen her. Unfortunately, it was in the midst of him fighting her brother.

  Her brown-eyed gaze landed on him. She studied him before jerking her head in a nod. She shifted on the blanket and folded her legs underneath her.

  “I’m sorry my brother punched you,” she murmured.

  Wade unconsciously rubbed his jaw where Junior’s fist had landed. It had been a solid punch, and had Wade seeing stars for a few seconds.

  “I’ll be fine.” Wade shook his head and waved it off. “So, I take it your family knows about us?”

  “Yeah, they know.”

  Wade didn’t like how the conversation was stilted between them. It was as if that line was drawn between them.

  “This is all my fault,” he began. He turned and took her hand in his. There was no way he’d sit this close and not touch her. The scent of her perfume was teasing him.

  “What are you talking about?” Joy tilted her head to the side while studying him. Her eyes were wide as she waited for him to continue.

  “I should have walked my ass over to your house and spoke with your father, man to man. I could have told him how much I like you, and love being with you. I should have asked to court you.”

  “Court me?” Her nose wrinkled up. “What is this, the eighteen hundreds?”

  He laughed. “You know what I mean.”

  A smile played on her lips. He ached to yank her to him so he could taste them, but he resisted. They needed to have this conversation. It was too important.

  “We should have been up front with our parents, and maybe this all wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

  “You don’t know my brother like I do. It would have happened eventually,” she whispered.

  No longer able to resist, he pulled her to him and tilted her chin up. “Then your brother and I would have fought earlier and got it out the way.”

  He bent down and covered her lips with his.

  The kiss was tender, slow.

  Joy slid her hands up his chest, and they dove into his hair. He loved the feeling of her running her hands through his thick strands and pulling on them. He needed to have her closer.

  He tugged again and assisted her onto his lap so she straddled him. His hands were once again filled with her delectable bottom. The kiss grew deeper. His cock pushed against his jeans, demanding to be let out.

  Wade slipped his hand underneath Joy’s shirt. It connected with her bra, and he had it unhooked in seconds.

  Tearing his lips from hers, he pushed her shift up to free her beautiful mounds from the sexy lace contraption. Her nipples drew into tight buds. He captured the first one with his mouth.

  Her skin was soft and sweet as his tongue played with her little bud. He drew her breast deeper into his mouth, suckling it like a starving man.

  It had been a few days since he’d gotten to push deep inside her, and he was aching to do so now.

  Joy gasped, threading her fingers back into his hair as if to hold in him place.

  She rocked her hips against his waist, driving him crazy.

  He teased her with his teeth.

  His other hand dropped down to the waistband of her pants.

  “Wade, wait. We shouldn’t.” Joy’s voice broke through his lust-filled haze.

  He released her breast from his mouth and looked up to meet her gaze.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, his breathing rapid. No one was around, and he highly doubted anyone would come searching for them.

  Joy gulped and pulled her shirt down, covering herself.

  “A lot is going on,” she breathed. Joy cupped his face and placed a small kiss on his lips. “My family—”

  “I don’t care what your family thinks, Joy.” He cut her off, instantly growing irritated that her family kept butting in. “This is between you and me. Nothing can change that.”

  She slid off his lap and fixed her bra.

  “I know that,” she whispered. “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  “Who would get hurt by us being together?” he demanded. He was losing control of the situation, and didn’t like the feeling of helplessness. Joy was growing skittish right before his eyes, and he didn’t know what he had done.

  She stood and took a step away from him. Wade stood, watching her turn, putting her back to him. He tried to beat down his anxiety, but was losing the battle.

  She swung around to face him. “Everything between us moved so fast.”

  “Joy, we’ve known each other for years.” He stalked over and stopped before her. “You know you felt the same attraction between us. This has been building for a long time.” He took her chin and forced her to look him in the eye.

  He didn’t know why, but he knew he wasn’t going to like what transpired here today.

  “Tell me you felt it,” he whispered.

  Tears formed in her eyes, spilling out onto her flawless skin. His heart slammed into his chest. He couldn’t stand the sight of her crying.

  “I did.”

  “Then how did we rush anything?” he asked softly. He didn’t want to be the one responsible for her tears. He gently caressed her skin, wiping the warm streaks from her face.

  “Don’t think of anyone else but us, Joy.”

  “I am,” she replied. Her voice was just a decibel over a whisper. “And that’s why this is so hard.”

  The floor of Wade’s stomach gave out. Dread immediately fille
d him.

  “Baby, what are you talking about?” He wasn’t understanding what she was trying to say.

  “I think we need to take a break from each other.”

  Wade’s breath left him. It was as if a two-by-four had slammed across his solar plexus.

  “A break?” he echoed.

  She gripped his shirt in her hands. “This was a difficult decision for me to make.”

  Wade swallowed hard.

  “We both have to think about what is best for us and our families,” Joy stressed.

  “So, you’re breaking up with me because of our families?” A dry chuckle escaped him.

  Ain’t this a bitch.

  There was nothing funny about the situation, but it was either that or scream.

  Wade reached down and gently pried her hands from his shirt before stepping away from her. He couldn’t believe it.

  Their fucking families.

  Everything they had between them was going down the fucking drain because her family couldn’t get over something that happened over thirty years ago.

  She was openly crying now. “Wade, it’s not like that. I’m just saying, I need time.”

  He shoved a hand through his hair. She took a step toward him, but he backed away with his hands up, palms facing her.

  “Yeah, I hear you. Don’t worry, I’ll give you all the space you want.” He turned and scooped up his hat from the blanket, his feet carrying him over to the ATV.

  He was a fool to think he could have something with her.

  Why had he thought they would be able to overcome something that had plagued their families for decades?

  “Wade!” she called out after him.

  He ignored her, and the sounds of her sobs. He didn’t look at her as he got in the small vehicle. If he did, he would be running back to her. Instead, he kept his eyes averted while he cranked the engine. He spun it around and drove off.

  He went straight home. He was in no condition to go anywhere else.

  He was left feeling raw on the inside.

  Joy didn’t want to be with him.

  She’d broken it off.

  His chest burned from the lack of air. He breathed in deeply, trying to get air inside his lungs. Wade tightened his hand on the steering wheel and guided the ATV in the direction of his home.

  His mind was slowly processing everything that had just happened.

  He pushed his foot down on the pedal. He wasn’t going to be in any condition to speak with anyone.

  At the moment, he wanted to drive his fist into someone’s face.

  Or a fucking wall.

  He didn’t see any of the scenery, but somehow, he made it home without crashing.

  His body was running on autopilot.

  Parking the ATV near his house, he killed the engine. Getting out of the vehicle, he walked to his porch, took a seat on the steps, and snatched the hat off his head.

  What had truly gone wrong between them?

  He was at a loss for words.

  She wanted time away from him.

  He had thought the bond between them was stronger, but apparently, he was wrong. There was no question that he was willing to fight for them.

  But, it would seem, she was not.

  20

  Joy was numb on the inside. She was running on auto. There was no pleasure. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d smiled. Leaning against the fence, she watched the sheep graze. They were lucky animals. They didn’t have a care in the world.

  Well, except the occasional coyote trying to come onto the land and steal one away.

  It had practically broken her heart to have to tell Wade she needed space.

  She’d seen the frustration in his eyes, but the second his emotions left, she’d broken down.

  He had shut down.

  The memory of him backing away from her cut her like a knife.

  She had thought long and hard about it, and felt they needed to let things cool between them to allow everyone to come to terms with their relationship.

  Just as she hadn’t spoken with her father, he hadn’t shared their relationship with his. It was easy for him not to care what his father thought.

  But her family, they were close-knit, and they mattered to her.

  Of course, his brothers knew of them, but she wanted them to be in a place where they were open with everyone.

  Even Jonah.

  Was it so wrong that she now saw the error of their ways? Yes, they were both grown, but it would be selfish of them to only think of themselves and not the people who loved them.

  That fight between Wade and Junior was too much for her. Both of them were stubborn men.

  Hell, if she didn’t get control of this, they would be coming to blows again, and next time, it could be worse.

  She knew Wade.

  Those damn Brooks men loved a good scrap. Hell, her brother was no different. Instead of talking like civilized men, they had to talk with their fists.

  The dogs barking brought her out of her daydream. She looked over her shoulder and saw her mother walking toward her. She stiffened and turned back to her sheep watching.

  “Hey, Momma,” she greeted Georgy when she stood beside her. No matter how old she was, she was still going to be respectful to her mother. She hadn’t informed her parents of her plans yet. She had called around and found a few apartments that were available in the new development in town in her price range. It would allow her to still work the farm, but be close enough to drive back to town to go home.

  She had an appointment next week to go see them.

  It was the first major step she’d made since making up her mind, and she was going to follow through with it.

  “You all right, baby?” Georgy asked.

  She really hadn’t spoken with anyone in her family since the blowup.

  Joy was hurt by everyone. It wasn’t fair that she had to make the decisions she had, but she guessed it was the universe’s way of telling her to get herself together.

  After she got her place, she was going to try to talk with Wade again. She couldn’t stand not talking with him. It had become routine for her to spend every hour she wasn’t working with him.

  Now, without him, she felt hollow.

  “Yeah. Why do you ask?” Joy tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice, but she wasn’t sure how successful she was. She didn’t want to go into details about how she had torn her heart out of her chest when she’d broken it off with Wade.

  “Well, I haven’t seen you mope around this place with your lip on the ground since you were ten, and we took your dirt bike away.”

  Joy nodded. “I’m fine. Just got some stuff on my mind.”

  A sheep hollered, gaining her attention. One of the males was trying to mount her, and Joy couldn’t tell if the sheep was happy about it or not.

  Joy looked away from the lucky couple. She couldn’t believe she was slightly jealous the sheep didn’t have to worry about anything with her male. They could just live, and not have anyone interfering in their lives.

  “That stuff wouldn’t happen to be Wade Brooks, would it?” Her mother certainly didn’t pull any punches. She got right to the point. “I noticed you have been coming home every night lately.”

  Joy fought back tears. “You always did notice everything,” she muttered.

  “Did he hurt you?” her mother asked.

  Joy barked out a sarcastic laugh. Angrily, she wiped at the trail of tears sliding down her face. “No. Wade would never do anything to hurt me. He was perfect in every way.”

  The conversation wasn’t one she wanted to have with her mother. Thoughts of going to stay with Lexi for a few days came to mind. She would be the perfect person for her to spill her heart out to.

  Thankfully, her sister would be arriving tomorrow for the music festival. Maybe Joy would drive back with her to the city and stay with her to clear her mind.

  They could go do some shopping in the city, go out to the fancy restaurants, and b
ond. It had been a while since they had spent some sisterly time together.

  “So, then, what’s the matter?” Georgy gently prodded.

  Joy’s stared at her in shock. Was she being facetious?

  “What do you mean ‘what is the matter’? Did you forget how Junior tore over there to the Brookses ranch and fought Wade just because his last name is Brooks and mine is Whitaker?”

  “Of course I didn’t forget. Your brother has a protective streak a mile long, and doesn’t want to see a Brooks take advantage of you like they did our family.” Georgy reached for Joy, but she backed away from her.

  “Did you know my brother told me I had to choose between my family and the man I love?”

  She bit her lip and shook her head, trying to not full-out sob. She had been doing nothing but cry lately.

  She was just tired.

  Tired of having to explain herself.

  Tired of having to defend her feelings for a man her family apparently would never accept.

  “Baby, please, don’t cry.” Her mother wrapped her arms around Joy, squeezing her tight.

  The feeling of her mother comforting her released the floodgates. Sobs shook her as she let go.

  Why did life have to be so unfair?

  She shouldn’t have to choose at all. Joy leaned into her mother while the pain of losing Wade racked her body.

  “How did this become so messy?” Georgy wondered aloud. She rubbed Joy’s back and rocked her.

  The tears flowed. The memory of Wade removing her hands from him and backing away had her crying even harder.

  Joy lost track of time, but finally, her sobs subsided

  She breathed in deeply and pulled away from her mother.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

  “You don’t have to apologize, Joy.” Georgy took her by the shoulders. “I know life is hard, and we all have big decisions to make. I hate the one that you made caused you pain. I can’t tell you what to do, because only you know what is best for you.”

  “I don’t want anyone hurt by me and my actions. I can’t have y’all hating me because I’m in love with Wade Brooks.” Joy bit her lip. There, she had said it. This was the second time she’d admitted it aloud, and it felt damn good.

  Yet, her heart was broken because she had never told him.