Page 12 of Ride Me Reckless

"Well," she said, folding her hands in her lap, "guess you leveled up."

"Didn't do it to impress anyone."

"Didn't say you did."

The silence that settled between us wasn't awkward. It wasloaded. Like both of us were remembering who we used to be—and trying to make sense of who we were now.

I slowed as we hit the turnoff. "You wanna come see it?" I asked casually. "The new place."

She didn't answer right away. Just stared out the window as we drove through the open gate.

"Biscuit's there," I added.

That did it. Her head turned, eyes locking on mine.

"She's really okay?"

"Still kicks the stall door if I don't feed her fast enough."

Her lips parted, and for a second, I saw something crack in her. Not weakness—care. Real, bone-deep care.

"Yeah," she said softly. "I'd like to see her."

I nodded, easing the truck up the asphalt drive, heart thudding harder than it had any right to.

And just like that, she was coming home with me.

The front gate of Lucky Ranch creaked open as I keyed in the code. Tessa went quiet.

I didn't blame her. My new place looked nothing like my old overgrown yard and beat-up trailer.

Cedar split-rail fences lined the drive. The barn was steel-roofed, wide-doored, with fresh paint and a new weathervane catching the breeze. The house behind it was clean-cut, modern rustic with a wide porch and enough windows to drink in the view.

Tessa leaned against the door, eyes scanning everything. "This yours?"

I nodded. "Mine and the boys'. We each got a spread. But this one's where I set roots."

She gave a low whistle. "Damn, Colt. I remember when your porch was two stacked cinder blocks, a rickety swing, and your fence leaned like it had arthritis."

"Yeah, well… Powerball has a way of firming things up."

She gave me a side glance, half amused. "You don't say."

I parked near the barn. Just as I cut the engine, Biscuit trotted up from the pasture. Tessa froze.

The mare looked good—clean coat, sturdy build, that same easy sway in her gait.

She got out slowly and walked toward Biscuit like she was afraid to spook her. But the second the mare recognized her, she whinnied and stretched her neck out, nudging into Tessa's hands like she'd never left.

"Hey, baby girl," Tessa whispered, burying her face in the mare's mane. "Still sweet as ever."

I brought over a curry brush and handed it to her without a word. She took it and began brushing Biscuit in long, smooth strokes, murmuring softly like she used to.

"She never forgot you," I said.

Tessa paused, blinked fast, then kept brushing. "I didn't forget her either."

After a while, I motioned toward the barn door. "Come on. I'll show you the rest."