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16

CODY

She was at work. I couldn’t barge into a fucking preschool and tell her all the things I wanted. Her dad’s reaction to us was as I’d expected–nuclear.

I had a reputation in town as being a man whore, and Kyle Abbott had a reputation of being overprotective of his daughter.

The truth was, I didn’t screw that many women. I just flirted a lot because it brought in the tips and didn’t hurt anyone. But people in town didn’t know that.

I’d watched Riley’s face as her dad yelled at me, shock and hurt taking over her perfect features. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and tell her everything was going to be okay. My wolf rumbled with the need to do so.

But if Tessa acted like a bitch to Riley the night before without any kind of confirmation we were together, and her father had acted like he had, the rest of the town was going to pull out the popcorn and enjoy the show once news of us spread. I could handle it. I didn’t give a fuck. Besides, once I’d marked her, the shifters in town would understand and support our union.

But Riley didn’t need anyone to look, or even think, anything bad about her. The town would be decimated– by me –if they did.

I needed to text her. Make sure she was okay.

Sugar, you okay? I’m sorry about this morning. Your dad will come around.

After a few minutes, she didn’t reply.

Fuck! She was working. Maybe her phone was off.

Or maybe she was pissed that I left. Or hurt.

Or ashamed of what she’d done with me.

Fuck, maybe after I left, her dad convinced her to stay away from me. That would be a very big problem for my wolf.

Misgivings twisted in my chest .

What if being my mate was too stressful for Riley? I didn’t want her to suffer as a result of this thing fate threw her way. Fuck, was any of this fair to her?

I usually slept half the day away, but not today. I got in my truck and drove to Wolf Ranch. I told myself I was going out there to report in to Rob, but he’d seen me the other night, and nothing had changed. Or for the good of the pack, at least.

He’d given me a week to claim her. Her father pretty much banished me from her presence. It was turning into more of a shitshow by the hour.

One more potential clusterfuck was that I needed to tell Tyler what was going on. The last he’d heard, I was going to tranquilize his date and take her to get her mind wiped. Between the other afternoon and this morning, everything had changed.

Not just my entire future, but his, too.

Hell, his date was soon going to be his stepmom, if everything went according to plan. The trouble was, getting from here to that finish line seemed pretty fucking insurmountable now.

Maybe fucking things up with Riley’s dad made me want to make sure I handled my own family a little better. That meant Tyler. I wasn’t having anything come between us. Surprise was never a welcome strategy for shit like this .

I parked near the bunkhouse where Tyler had moved this summer and checked my phone again.

Still no answer from Riley. I texted her again. I needed to make sure she knew I left her place this morning to appease her dad, but I hadn’t left her.

You’re perfect. The only female for me. I’ll make sure you and your dad believe that.

I waited a few minutes and still no reply. I climbed out of the truck and put my hat on. The bunkhouse was empty, which made sense. Rob didn’t pay his ranch hands to sit around and play checkers while daylight was burning. I could head up to Rob’s house, but I didn’t want to see the look on his face when I told him the latest.

Instead, I texted my mate again.

I’m hoping you’re not answering because you’re busy at work, but I’m gonna blow up your phone with messages until I hear you’re okay.

“Cody?” Boyd Wolf appeared from behind the barn. He was an old buddy of mine from his early days on the circuit. The former rodeo star had, not too long ago, mated a human doctor in town. In fact, a slew of males on the ranch had marked human females, which made it easier for me to believe fate chose one for me.

With him was Johnny, one of the younger ranch hands, and Clint, who lived in town with his mate/wife and their new baby, Lily.

I lifted a hand and grinned because they were arguing about when Lily would start dating. Since she was only one, the very concept put the scowl on Clint’s face. “Hey, guys.”

I shook hands with Clint and Johnny.

“Good to see you,” Clint said, then tipped his head. “This is Weston Sparks. He’s come from a pack in Colorado to help out around here. He’s a farrier, but I swear he’s a horse whisperer. Cattle, too.”

The new guy offered me a smile and a hand. He had ginger hair and a beard that rivaled mine. His stocky build probably worked well for dealing with horses all day. “I go by Wes. Don’t listen to him. I talk to them loudly, especially when they’re being ornery.”

“Cody McIntire. Good to meet you.”

“We’re headed into town for supplies,” Clint said.

Wes tipped his cowboy hat and followed Clint and Johnny as they headed up the hill toward the main house. No doubt Marina probably had a huge list of baking supplies needed for her growing business .

“Heard fate threw you a curveball,” Boyd said once they were gone.

I looked around for Tyler. “Did you? Does Tyler know?”

He shook his head. “No. Rob told me in confidence. You haven’t told Tyler, yet?”

I groaned and took my hat off to shove my fingers through my hair. “No. That’s why I’m here. I didn’t want him to hear it in town. I’m not sure how he’s going to take it. Somehow hey, your girlfriend is going to be your new stepmom doesn’t feel like that welcome of news.”

Boyd gave me a thump on the shoulder. “He’ll understand. Or if he doesn’t now, then when or if he’s lucky enough to find his mate, he will.”

I groaned again. “You’re not reassuring me. If he doesn’t find his mate until my age, that’s over twenty years for him to hate my guts.”

He barked out a laugh thinking I was joking. I was being serious. “If you want to take a ride–I know where Tyler is this morning. He’s out checking fences.”

“Thanks.” I followed Boyd back to the barn, and he handed me a saddle.

“That’s Bella,” he said, opening the stall door to a pinto mare. “You can ride her. ”

I led Bella out of her stall and saddled her. I might own a bar in town, but I knew my way around a horse.

“The real question isn’t how Tyler’s going to take it, it’s how Riley is handling the news,” he commented. “That’s a lot for a human her age to absorb, I imagine.” Boyd saddled a chestnut and led the stallion out of the stable.

I followed with the mare. “Tell me about it. Then there’s her dad to add into the mix. He caught me over at her gram’s house this morning.”

Boyd stepped back, as if checking me for bullet holes. “Well, if we don’t have to fake an emergency room visit, you must’ve handled it well.” He stepped on the edge of a watering trough and vaulted onto his horse.

I snorted and followed suit to mount Bella. “Hardly. He didn’t draw his gun, but he probably considered it while threatening to ruin my business. Not that I give a shit about any of that. It’s Riley I’m worried about.”

Boyd’s expression turned sympathetic. “Yeah. How’d she take it? They’re pretty close, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, her mother walked out of her life–and Cooper Valley–when she was little, so it’s just her and her dad. She didn’t take it well.” I checked my phone again. “And she’s not answering my texts.” I wasn’t usually the asshole on his phone when he was in the middle of a conversation–or a horseback ride–but I couldn’t help it. “Hang on, I’m gonna send her another one.”

I ignored Boyd’s chuckle as I typed out my next message. He might find my situation amusing, but I remembered when he had to hide healing from a bull goring from Audrey, who’d patched him up after, only to realize she was his mate.

You’re my female. The only one for me.

“Damn, you got it bad, don’t you?” Boyd urged his horse forward, onto a well-worn trail along the fence line.

“Fuck off. You know what it’s like. At least your mate didn’t grow up in this small fucking town. I have the whole issue of my reputation as a player to contend with. Not just with Riley but with every damn citizen who’s going to warn her to stay away from me.”

“Yeah, that is a problem. Although Audrey thought of me as a player with a woman in every stop on the rodeo circuit.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck as he admitted, “Hell, it was true before I met her.”

“Worse than the town folk is your brother. Rob’s order is like him breathing down my neck. Gave me a week. A week to make a teenager want to commit her entire life to a guy twice her age, or he’ll get her mind wiped. I’m so fucked.”

Boyd kicked his horse into a canter. “She’ll feel it.”

Bella sped up on her own to stay beside his horse.

I glanced his way. “What? The connection?”

“Yeah. She doesn’t have a context for it like we do, but she’ll feel it.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to show her. But I think leaning into sex is a mistake too–especially with my reputation. And the fact that she’s a virgin.”

He whistled. “You are in a pickle, but remember, it’s only been, what, two days? I have faith in you, man.” Boyd grinned. “Everyone knows you could charm the panties off any lady in town. This is the challenge you were born for.”

I shook my head. My skill set might actually work against me in this instance.

We rounded a bend, and he reined his horse in and pointed. “There’s Tyler.”

I followed his gaze and saw a horse grazing then spotted my son’s figure crouched beside a fence. “Thank you, Boyd. ‘Preciate it.”

He tipped his hat and turned his horse in the direction we came. “No problem. Good luck with the kid.” He chuckled and added, “Both of them. ”

“Asshole,” I muttered, good-naturedly as I stopped to text Riley one more time.

I want you. You’re mine. I’m here.

I sent the text and kicked Bella forward. Tyler stood and shaded his eyes with his hand. “Dad?”

“Hey, son.” I rode over to the fence and climbed off Bella, dropping the reins, so she could graze on the fresh grass and wildflowers with Tyler’s horse.

“What are you doing here?” Tyler’s forehead creased with concern. “Did everything go okay with Riley?”

“Well, yes and no,” I said. “There’s something I have to tell you.”