“Yeah. I probably shouldn’t have taken it off for that little ride on Wind Walker, but I had a pain pill a little while ago. It’s kicking in now.”
“Like I said, you may want to slow down on the beer until we eat. Steaks are done. We’re just waiting for Leah to get here with the potato salad.”
Ryder sat up straighter in the chaise lounge. “If I pass out, just throw a blanket over me. This chair is pretty comfortable.”
Tory dropped into the chair next to her. “I’ve got no problem doing that, but Jess would make me or Skyler carry your sorry butt all the way upstairs.”
“Yes, I would,” Jessica said from where she had been resting on the chaise next to Ryder’s.
The back door slammed and Skyler joined them, holding out a denim overshirt to Jessica.
“Sun’s going down. I didn’t want you to get chilled,” she said.
Jessica smiled up at her. “Thanks, sweetie, but between the hot flashes and this furnace that’s taken up residence in my belly, I don’t need it right now.” She sat up and scooted forward in the chair. “I do need a human pillow since you’re finished grilling the steaks.”
Skyler dropped the shirt into an empty chair and slid her long body into the requested spot. Ryder watched them as Jessica leaned back against Skyler with a contented sigh, and Skyler wrapped her arms around her very pregnant partner to caress her oversized abdomen.
“Is she kicking much today?”
Jessica snorted. “Like a soccer player. One more month.”
“I love you,” Skyler murmured, kissing Jessica’s cheek. “I love you for doing this for us.”
“Even when I’m fat and cranky?”
“You’re not fat. You’re pregnant, and it’s a very sexy look for you.”
Jessica laughed. “You keep saying that, but I’ll be glad to get back to my former self once this little girl decides to make her debut.” She pulled Skyler’s hand up to kiss the palm. “Did you remember to put the clothes where I can reach them?”
“Yes. And I folded them for you.”
“You didn’t have to do that, honey. I could have folded them. I just can’t bend down to get them out of the dryer any more. But thank you.”
Ryder frowned. This wasn’t the Skyler Reese that used to be her running buddy. That Skyler had made bets with her on who could bed the most women at a three-day horse show. She was the only woman Ryder knew who had more notches in her bedpost than she did. This was some stranger who hosted cookouts and, God almighty, folded clothes.
Maybe it was a mistake to come back to Cherokee Falls to recuperate. Her friends’ priorities had obviously changed, and she was feeling very out of place.
But when Skyler had called and invited her, it seemed like a much better option than sitting around her Dallas condo staring at the walls for three months while she completed her physical therapy. Right now, she wasn’t so sure what would be worse, staring at condo walls or seeing her lioness mentor behave like a house cat.
A white BMW pulled up, and a petite brunette got out and leaned over the convertible’s back door to lift a large bowl from the backseat. What a great ass. The woman turned toward them. A beauty, too.
“Potato salad’s here.” Tory stood.
“More like dessert.” Ryder stood, too. This was what she needed—some familiar fun. “Who’s that?”
“That’s Leah, my—”
“Jess and Leah have been friends since they were kids.” Skyler cut Tory off with a subtle shake of her head. “She’s the Texas firecracker we mentioned at the airport. Remember? That’s when you said there wasn’t a woman alive who could resist your charm.”
“Skyler.” Jessica’s voice held a stern warning. “You shouldn’t—”
Ryder laughed and put her hand out. “It’s okay. I’ve got this.”
Tory started to protest, too, then shrugged and settled back into her chair. “Do your best, tiger.”
Since the pain pill was making her a little fuzzy, she gave herself a few seconds to steady and then started toward the car.
Jessica called after her. “Cane.”
“Shit.” Ryder caught the offensive prop when Tory tossed it to her and hobbled along as nonchalantly as possible with a brace on her leg.
“They told me someone else would be joining us, but they didn’t warn me how beautiful she would be,” Ryder said as she approached. “I’m Marc Ryder, but everybody calls me Ryder.”
“Well, aren’t you sweet? I’m Leah Montgomery.” Leah balanced the heavy bowl on the top of the door and extended her hand.
Ryder soaked her in. Hot as a Texas blacktop with an accent as thick and smooth as Southern Comfort. She’d hit the jackpot. She brought Leah’s hand to her lips and smiled at her. “Can I help you with that?”
“That’s very gallant, but I’ll carry the potato salad since you only have one available hand. It’s kind of heavy. You can get the baby gift from the backseat.”
Ryder easily scooped the bowl up with her free hand. “It’s not a problem.”
“I guess it’s not for a big, tough rodeo rider.” Leah ran her hand along Ryder’s arm and squeezed the hard bicep. Her gaze was predatory. Ryder liked that.
“You know about that, huh?”
“I lived in Dallas for a while before I moved to Virginia. Besides, it’s hard to live around here and not know about the woman from Cherokee Falls who’s the only female to ever successfully ride bulls.”
It was difficult to strut in a brace, but Ryder did her best as they returned to the group. She set the bowl on the patio table and waited while Leah laid the baby gift next to it. Then she offered her arm and grinned when Leah slipped her hand around her bicep again.
“My goodness, you must work out a lot.” Leah purred like a cat.
Ryder led her over to where the rest of the group was waiting and indicated the chaise where she’d been lounging. “Why don’t you sit here and I’ll take the end, so we can get to know each other.”
“Oh, I would, darlin’, if I didn’t already have a reserved seat.” She gave Ryder’s bicep another squeeze. “You’re so cute, going all Romeo on me.” She turned to Tory. “Isn’t she, baby?” She dropped into Tory’s lap. “But you, stud, are the one I’ve been missing all day. You left our bed before dawn this morning.” She cupped Tory’s face in her hands and gave her a long, deep kiss.
Ryder dropped her chin to her chest in resignation, realizing now that she’d been played.
“You’re a bad girl,” Leah told Tory when their kiss ended. “Sending that lamb for me to slaughter.”
Tory grinned at Ryder. “Not me. It was Skyler’s idea.” She gave Leah another quick kiss. “But thanks for not doing permanent damage, babe.”
“I am damaged.” Ryder dramatically pressed her hands to her chest. “Shot down. Wounded.”
Tory snorted. “I think your ego can stand a little deflating after your little rendezvous this morning in the airport storeroom.”
Ryder grinned. “Claire was definitely a home run…this morning and all last week.”
Jessica stood, with a little help from Skyler, and waved toward the table. “That sounds like a story we’d all like to hear, but let’s sit down and eat while we talk.” She rubbed her stomach. “This little girl is starving.”
*
“In a storeroom? With an FAA official? It’s nice to know what our homeland-security dollars are paying for.” Leah narrowed her eyes. “Maybe I should look into this more closely.”
When Leah wasn’t producing children’s books with Bridgette, she contracted as an investigative reporter.
“Down, Sherlock,” Tory said, laughing.
“It wasn’t her fault,” Ryder said smugly. “They only trained her to resist terrorists, not the patented Ryder charm.” She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows to a chorus of groans from around the table.
Her earlier doubts about no longer fitting in with her friends evaporated as the evening progressed. She had missed the teasing and
easy camaraderie. She had only temporary friendships with the grooms and riders who moved among the horse business like she did. And, unlike the polo or steeplechase crowd, the rodeo guys resented her intrusion into their men-only world, so the women she picked up for a fast fuck were mostly her only human contact.
It felt good to be here, almost like coming home to family. Correct that. Much better than being with her family. At least she felt genuine affection from her friends.
Skyler and Tory were the two people in the world who really knew her and would always have her back, even though she hadn’t been much of a friend to them for a while. She felt a little ashamed about that, but they’d obviously been busy with their own personal pursuits.
Ryder instantly liked Jessica and Leah. They seemed to be perfect complements for her friends. Skyler was less angry with Jessica as her quiet, supportive anchor, and Tory relaxed and laughed a lot more with the sharp-witted, fiercely devoted Leah on her arm. She was happy for her friends, truly happy. And, perhaps, a little sad.
“I’m sorry. You caught me picking cotton.” She realized everyone was looking at her for a response to a question she hadn’t heard while she was deep in thought.
Skyler prompted her. “Tory wanted to know if you’d run into our notorious Alexandra while we were vetting horses this afternoon.”
“Dunno. What’s she look like?” Ryder sifted through her memory of the various people she’d met around the barns that afternoon.
“A redhead with big tits, the impulse control of a two-year-old, and the sex drive of a teenage boy,” Leah said, her eyes flashing.
Jessica snorted. “Don’t tell me she went after Tory, too. I had to threaten to call her husband if she didn’t stop hitting on Skyler.”
Leah glared at the memory. “She won’t try it again.”
“Wait. Who’s Alexandra?”
Tory pointed her fork at Ryder. “Somebody you don’t need to go looking for. That woman can smell new meat ten miles away. I’m betting she’ll find you before the week’s out.”
Skyler laughed. “More like before the sun goes down tomorrow. Hey, we should set up a betting pool on how long it takes Ryder to nail Alex. Clint will want to get in the action, too,” she said, referring to another trainer at the center.
Ryder threw a roll at Skyler’s head. “Don’t be crude. Can I help it if women enjoy me?” She ducked when the roll came flying back. “Besides, how do you know I’ll even be interested?”
“You children stop playing with the food,” Jessica said, taking a second roll from Skyler before she could launch it across the table, too.
“She’s attractive, with no inhibitions and a husband to pay her bills. Exactly your type,” Tory said, accepting a fist-bump from Skyler for being on the money.
“Maybe I want someone with a little more depth. What about the artist Jessica said couldn’t make it tonight? Tell me about her.”
Skyler nodded. “Looks like Amy Irving. You know, the actress?”
“Not your type, Ryder,” Tory growled. “Leave it alone.”
“I say turn the hound dog loose. Bridgette’s a big girl. She doesn’t need anybody to screen her dates.” Leah threw her napkin on the table. “Jess, why don’t you show me what you’ve done lately in the nursery? The testosterone in this room is stifling.”
“Uh-oh. You lit the fuse on the firecracker for sure,” Skyler said, as they watched Jessica and Leah go inside. “Looks like Leah’s still touchy about the ‘art lessons’ you had before y’all got together. Glad I’m not going home with you.”
“Shut up.”
Ryder grinned at Tory’s scowl. This was why she didn’t do relationships. No strings meant no apologies. Obviously, Tory had something she’d have to smooth over later. “So, Tor, old buddy. Tell me about the artist.”
Tory’s gaze lingered a moment on the back door where Leah had gone, and then she shrugged and turned back to them. “Bridgette’s cool. An amazing artist. Her stuff sells mostly out of a few galleries in New York and Boston. She also teaches at Earnhardt and illustrates a series of children’s books for Leah on the side.”
Ryder waved her hand to encourage more detail. “I want to hear about your art lessons.” Judging by the flush creeping up Tory’s cheeks, Bridgette definitely would be worth pursuit.
“Bridgette and I dated before Leah and I got together. We both knew it wasn’t anything serious, so there were no hard feelings when I fell for Leah. We’re all friends now.”
“You fucked her, didn’t you?” Ryder leaned over the table and grinned. “On a scale of one to ten, how hot is she?”
Tory glared at her. “Bridgette is one of the most mature, centered people I know. She’ll never fall for your stupid pick-up lines.”
“One to ten. How is she?”
“None of your business.”
“Aw, come on, T. I know you want to tell me.”
“You’re such a dog.” Tory stood and began stacking the plates and dishes to take them into the kitchen.
“So, what’s your timetable?” Skyler asked, changing the subject. “You gonna relax with us for a while?”
Ryder shrugged. “One doc says three months. But the rodeo doc says they’ll clear me in half that time if I promise to tuck and roll when I hop off, rather than landing on my feet for the crowd.”
“There’s no rush, Ryder. This is home as long as you need it. Unless you were planning to stay at the estate.”
“No. I might go over to see what has to be done to sell it, but I don’t want to stay there. I don’t want to wear out my welcome here either.”
“Not possible. We have four empty bedrooms upstairs, and, frankly, with the baby coming in a month, I can use the help. I’ve got a rider for the horses I’m training, but she’s young. I need someone with experience looking over her shoulder while I’m busy. And when I have to be away for a show on Saturdays, I want to know someone else is here with Jess.”
It was one small favor and Ryder owed Skyler many. She nodded. “Until my leg is healed enough to go back, I’ll help any way I can.” Except for the sponsor contracts she signed for the rodeo, that promise was as close to a commitment as she’d ever get.
Skyler looked relieved.
“Except I don’t change diapers.”
Skyler laughed. “You think I’d let you touch my kid? You’d probably turn diapering into a timed event.”
Tory laughed, too, and gave Ryder a one-armed hug. “Good to have you home, Ryder. Now help me with these dishes so I can defuse my firecracker before I take her home.”
Ryder grabbed some plates and hobbled after Tory. “I’ll wash if you tell me…one to ten. I’ll bet she’s a ten, right? That’s why Leah’s still jealous.”
Tory shook her head. “Do not ask that in front of Leah or I’ll break your other leg.”
*
The dishes done and the nursery tour over, the group drifted outside to say good night to Tory and Leah. Every time Leah turned her back, Ryder held up her fingers and silently mouthed the corresponding numbers, “One to ten?” She dropped her hands quickly when Leah turned to her.
“So, how long you here for?”
“A couple months. Three, tops. I can’t stay out of the limelight too long or my sponsor gets antsy about the money they’re still paying me.”
Leah looked her over, as if evaluating her worth. “I’ve done a few free-lance articles for sports magazines. I could put out some feelers to see who might be interested in a piece about you while you’re here to rehab. That is, if you’re interested.”
“Sure. That’d be great.” Ryder hesitated. “Do I get to read it before you publish? I don’t want to be part of a rant about the dangers of rodeo and how it should be banned as a sport.”
“Absolutely not.” Leah crossed her arms. “It will have to contain a paragraph or two of statistics on rodeo injuries, or I wouldn’t be doing a good job. You’ll just have to trust me that the rest will be a profile of you, not a diatribe on the rodeo
business.”
Tory’s nod told Ryder that Leah’s word was good.
“I can live with that.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know.” Leah turned to slide her hand down Tory’s chest and tuck her fingers into the waistband of her jeans. “Come on, stud, let’s go home. All this talk about hitting on women has put me in the mood to remind you why you chose me.” She winked at Ryder before releasing Tory and getting into the BMW.
Tory slapped Ryder on the back and hopped into her veterinary truck to follow, but stopped before the truck had rolled more that a few feet. She lowered the window and grinned.
“Nine, maybe nine and a half. Leah’s the only ten I know.”
Chapter Five
Bridgette cursed the unmanned reception desk in the lobby of the art building. Another victim of budget cuts, the receptionist had been fired and only volunteers now manned the desk—when they could find them.
The auction committee was scheduled to meet tomorrow, and she needed the brochure that listed the art displayed in the building’s lobby and gallery. Maybe they couldn’t sell those paintings, but they could begin by contacting the donors and asking if they would also contribute something else for the auction.
The third drawer she opened revealed a stack of the glossy trifolds. She took several for the committee and laid the rest on the desk for people to help themselves.
She glanced down the list of paintings. They have an Eleanor White displayed here? She chastised herself for never taking a thorough tour of the gallery before now. The paintings in the lobby were familiar enough, but she’d done little more than glance around the cavernous solarium where an impressive collection was displayed on a maze of eight-foot-tall panels, bathed in natural light.
She made her way slowly around the gallery, making notes of artist names and donor plaques. Some obviously could be contacted directly. Others would take some research to track down. There were few people in the gallery, mostly students she ignored as she moved through the exhibit. But something in the husky voice that drifted her way made her look up from taking notes.
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