Page 53 of Here With Me

“I’m the DD, remember?”

“You sure about that? My brothers can call an Uber or Lyft.”

“And how will you get home?” I ask, knowing how easy it’d be to just take her to my house and keep her for myself.

“I’ll call for my own. Unless you have a better idea?”

Her flirty tone has my dick growing hard. I live right outside of town, so a quick five-minute drive is all it’d take to bring her to my bed.

“You should let me drive you home so I know you’re safe,” I tell her instead of what I’m thinking.

Ellie returns before Noah can respond and takes Ranger to his stall. “I’m gonna stay with him for a little bit longer. Is that okay?”

Noah smiles. “Of course. Stay as long as ya want, and let me know if you need anythin’.”

Once Ellie leads Ranger back to his stall, I grab my clipboard to check who’s next.

“Are you takin’ your lunch break, or should I bring the next one?” she asks.

I hesitate before answering. “Areyoutakin’ one?”

She licks her lips as her gaze meets mine, a secret tell that she’s thinking the same thing I am. We’re not supposed to be spending time alone together.

“Probably since I can’t train until everything’s clean. Sweepin’ the trainin’ center will take my brothers at least an hour and another to level new dirt. Add in two more for their fuckin’ around. What’d ya have in mind?”

“Well, turns out I still need that retreat tour.”

She raises a brow. “And you want me to give it to you?”

“Who better than the ranch princess herself?”

“How’d I earn that name?”

I’d rather call her AJ or Goldie, but that’d breach our “friends only” agreement, considering it’d only make us think of our forbidden night together.

“Am I wrong? Seems you run shit ’round here.”

“Only the boarders,” she argues, grinning. “My brothers and parents run many other aspects of the ranch and retreat.”

“If you don’t wanna—”

“No, I will. But we should do it on horseback to get the true ranch experience. I can show you a couple of the popular trails, then, too.”

I hadn’t expected that, but I won’t deny time with her.

“Sure. I’ll clean up my supplies, and we can go.”

“My horse is at the family barn. You can ride one of ours.”

In my gut, I know this is a bad idea. The more time I spend with her, the more I want her.

But if we’re going to try out this “friends” thing and spend time with each other tomorrow night at the restaurant and bar, then I need to slap on my poker face and deal with it.

Unless Jase gives me his blessing and Noah’s parents lift the no employees fraternizing rule, we can’t be anything more. I didn’t spend years healing and overcoming mental trauma to cause more.

My dick stirs in disagreement.

Twenty minutes later, we’re riding side by side toward the retreat. She points out from the ranch hand quarters, The Lodge, and the cabins. In between are the trail horse barn and pasture, the pool, fishing pond, and firepit area. People walk around and wave as we pass them. Noah leads us around and up to the trail where they give tours.