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Abigail glared at him for interrupting.

“What do you want?” Reba crossed her arms and matched Abigail glare for glare.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“I’m working,” she snapped.

He couldn’t blame her for being mad at him. “I wanted a few words before I got on Sverre today.”

Abigail slugged him in the arm. “You’re an asshole for doing that.”

Reba nodded.

Great, they were ganging up on him. Guess he had his answer.

“Whatever.” He turned and walked out of the barn.

Reba caught up to him a few minutes later on the golf cart. “Get in.”

He sat down next to her and she peeled off away from the barns. She didn’t say a word to him until they were by her RV. “I need to talk to you in private,” she said.

At least they wouldn’t have an audience for this. He braced himself for the big goodbye when the door behind him closed and they were inside. He staggered back when she threw herself into his arms.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, hugging him tight.

Okay, they were going to get the bull-riding thing out of the way first. “It’s a win-win situation.”

“Not if you get injured.”

“I’ve been practicing,” he said defensively. “I’m not going into this cold.”

“On Sverre?” she said, pushing him back.

“No. I’m saving him for today.”

She squinted at him. “How’s your leg? Your ankle?”

“They’re not too happy with me.”

“How about your brain?” she asked. “Your heart?”

His heart ached worse than his leg. “My brain thinks this is a good idea. It’s only eight seconds.”

“I’m so worried about you,” she said. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Shane sighed and sat down. “I wanted to put off the inevitable as long as possible.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

She was so pretty, it made his heart hurt to look at her. He couldn’t help himself and had to rub his knuckles across her cheek. Reba surprised him by sitting in his lap and cupping his face in her hands. “Don’t do this,” she said.

“It’s too late now to back out.”

“No, it’s not,” she said.

“I’m doing this, Reba.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “I understand if you no longer want to be with me. Chances are the Viking Ranch is going to lose this contract and I’ll be a broken-down ex bull rider again without any prospects.”

“I’m more worried about you,” she said. “One bad fall and you could be in a wheelchair, or worse.”