Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Jacob bounced up and down. “That’s fantastic. I’m so glad you’re staying.”
Rogue narrowed his eyes at TJ. “You remember what I said before about hurting Rhys? That stands forever and always.”
“I’m here to take care of him, not to hurt him.”
Grant frowned. “So you decided you were staying at the ranch without asking me?”
“Grant.” I glared at my brother.
He ignored me. “I thought you hated Texas and were scared of horses.”
“I’m not scared of them,” TJ insisted. “I don’t like them, but I don’t mind the ranch so much anymore.”
He looked at me, and I held his gaze.
Rogue made a disgusted sound. “That is also not good for my recovery. Take that mushy shit out of here.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Grant said. “Rhys hasn’t eaten all day. TJ, go take care of him, but I don’t want to hear anything about the two of you being found naked in a supply closet or misusing some patient’s room.”
I flipped him off, and he just smiled. “Don’t act like it’s not a possibility. Jacob and I will stay right here and make sure Rogue doesn’t cause any more trouble.”
“That sounds good to me,” TJ said, then he focused on my twin. “Stay out of trouble. Do you have any idea how badly you scared Rhys?”
Rogue looked at me. We didn’t need words to communicate. I knew he was sorry, and I knew he’d also do it again if he felt like it was right.
“I love you, bro,” I said.
“I love you too.”
TJ wrapped his arm around me, and we headed out of the room. Now that Rogue was awake, I was content to let Grant and Jacob keep vigil by his side.
I squeezed TJ to me. “So you’re going to be a rancher now, huh?”
“That sounds a little extreme. I’m going to live on the ranch. Maybe I could just keep your bed warm.”
I laughed. “That’s not happening.”
“Why? You certainly want me there often enough.”
“I do, but the more work you help us get done, the more time we get to spend there.”
He nodded. “There’s some logic in that.”
“I’m going to make a rancher out of you yet.”
“You’ve got plenty of time to try.”
37
EPILOGUE
Two Months Later
TJ
As I checked the length of the stirrups and the tightness of the girth, I thought about how far I’d come from the days when I did my best not to make eye contact with any of the horses at Paradise Ranch.
Rhys had accused me of being scared of them. An assassin is not scared of horses. I just didn’t like the way they looked at me or how I was sure that, given the chance, they would kick me across the barn. How could I trust them when their eyes were shifty?
Sometimes I still felt that way, and there were still a number of horses I wouldn’t ride unless Rhys’s life was in danger and they were the only hope I had of getting to him. Even then, I’d complain once I’d saved him.
But I’d told Rhys I’d do anything for him, and that included letting him give me riding lessons. Of course by “riding” he also meant grooming and feeding and general caretaking. I’d dreamed of lying in his bed, waiting for him every day. Now I was basically his stable boy, but I didn’t mind it as much as I pretended to because I was with him—the man I loved—most of the day, and that was good enough.
Rhys’s prediction had been right. Pumpkin, the mare I’d first seen him work with, was in fact a good girl now. Rhys would never be a good boy, and neither would I, but we’d learn to live with that.
I patted Pumpkin’s flank, then gave her a scratch behind her ears, which made her give a happy snuffle. She nosed at my pocket, and I pulled out one of her favorite peppermint treats.
“You’re going to spoil her,” Rhys said.
“I spoil you, so why not my horse?”
“Oh, she’s your horse now?”
“She’s the one you usually want me to ride, so…”
Rhys laid a hand on my shoulder. “Do you want a horse of your own, TJ?”
“Maybe.”
“You like Pumpkin?”
“I tolerate her.” She looked at me with her big brown eyes and snorted. Did that damn horse know what we were saying? “Fine. I like her.”
Rhys grinned. “I’m proud of you.”
I glared at him, but he just laughed and spanked my ass. “Mount up. We’re ready to ride.”
“That’s why you like this, isn’t it? Every damn thing about horseback riding sounds like sexual innuendo.”
He chuckled. “You know that’s why you like it too.”
“I don’t like it. I’m doing this for you.” Pumpkin snorted again. “Quit giving me away.”
Rhys swung into the saddle. I would never get tired of watching him on a horse. He moved like he was one with the animal. He made me understand how someone could develop a centaur fetish, not that I’d ever admit to such a thing.