Page 9

CHAPTER 9

Reba

The smell of burning wood filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of grilled steaks and the sweet scent of roasted marshmallows. Laughter echoed around the open field as ranch hands, family, and friends gathered around the bonfire, swapping stories and passing around plates piled high with food. It had been years since I’d been to one of these, but nothing had changed except for me. Mac worked for Calvano Security and whenever they handled a rough case, a ton of the people from the firm usually come out to the ranch for the weekend. This was one of those times. I stood off to the side, nursing a cold beer, watching as Johnny moved effortlessly through the crowd. He was at home here, surrounded by his people, his family. And somehow, despite all my best efforts, I was becoming a part of it again.

“Ms. Reba!” Jax’s excited voice broke through my thoughts. He ran up, his little face flushed from playing tag with a few of the ranch hands. “Come sit with us! Papa’s telling stories about the rodeo!”

I hesitated, but before I could make up an excuse, Jax grabbed my hand and tugged me forward. Resistance was futile. I let him pull me toward the fire, where Johnny sat on an overturned log, an arm slung casually over his knee, the firelight flickering in his eyes.

“…so there I was, hanging on for dear life, knowing full well I was about to hit the dirt. The bull spun once, twice then bucked so hard my hat went flying into the stands. Next thing I know, I’m flat on my back, looking up at the prettiest girl I’d ever seen.”

I stiffened as his gaze locked onto mine. My stomach flipped, heat rushing to my cheeks. Oh, hell no.

“The prettiest girl, huh?” Mac teased, smirking from across the fire. “Now that’s a story I haven’t heard.”

Johnny grinned, never taking his eyes off me. “That’s ‘cause it wasn’t just any girl. It was Reba. I was out cold until they pulled me off on a stretcher and that’s when I saw her. She was bitching at me, sure, but she was still the prettiest girl out there.”

A low whistle and a few laughs came from somewhere in the crowd. My stomach tightened.

Jax beamed, looking between us. “Was that when you fell in love with her, Papa?”

The group chuckled, but my breath caught in my throat. Johnny leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Something like that,” he said, his voice softer now, meant just for Jax. The conversation moved on, but I barely heard it. The weight of Johnny’s words settled over me, heavy and warm. I should’ve brushed it off, made some sarcastic comment to lighten the moment. But for once, I didn’t. Instead, I let myself feel it.

When I turned to walk away, Athena caught me by the arm. “Looks like you need another drink.”

I nodded and followed her to the makeshift bar. Mac and Athena had been married for years. She wasn’t a ranch person, Mac was. But they worked together and, as far as I knew, one thing led to another and now they were married. Both were semi-retired from their day jobs with a load of kids running after them. They were happy, the kind of happy I wanted one day.

She handed me a beer with a smile. “You know these men are all pieces of shit, right?”

I laughed. “Yeah, I figured as much.”

“I know I wasn’t around when you and Johnny were friends, but the stories I’ve heard aren’t too far off from Mac’s and my history. We were friends first, you know—inseparable. He was annoying as hell but hilarious, and I couldn’t pull myself away from him. We were partners at work and one day he decided he wanted something more. I made him suffer.” She laughed. “But damn, was it worth it.”

“I think you have a misunderstanding of what’s going on with me and Johnny.”

“I don’t think it’s me misunderstanding, Reba. It’s you.”

I shook my head and looked in his direction. Johnny had never been subtle about wanting to try for something more, but the past stung in ways I didn’t want to admit and certainly didn’t want to relive.

“Sometimes history can’t repeat itself.”

“Maybe, but sometimes it does, and it’s for the better. Johnny fucked up, that’s for sure, but he’s desperate for another chance with you. I can see it all over his face.”

I raised my gaze in her direction. “Do you know the whole story?”

“I know enough of it. Mac shared with me his side of it all and that’s why I can confidently say Johnny’s an idiot. Maybe I’m sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong, but that man is smitten with you, and so is his little boy.”

I looked over to Jax, who was precariously balancing a melted marshmallow over a graham cracker, and smiled. “I wish it was as easy to forgive Johnny as it is to love Jax.”

“Give it a try. Maybe he will surprise you.”

Later, after plates were scraped clean, and the fire burned low, Johnny found me near the fence, staring out at the pasture. My body hummed with excitement as he came close and I inhaled the scent of the bonfire overlapping his cologne.

“Didn’t think you’d stay this long,” he said, stepping up beside me.

I sighed, tilting my head up to the stars. “Me neither.”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“A bit sore, but that comes with the game. It’s been a long day.”

“I hate that you got hurt, but I love having you back here.” Johnny was quiet for a beat before adding, “You belong here, Reba. You always did.”

I swallowed hard, the warmth of the firelight no match for the heat in his gaze. Maybe, just maybe, he was right. “There is something special about this ranch. I travel a lot and I’ve seen a lot of ranch families, but Mac’s place has always felt a bit more like home.”

“It wouldn’t take much to get your RV and things down here. I can send some guys back to Rawhide.”

“I don’t know, Johnny, that’s a lot to commit to right now. It’s old as hell and it’s been sitting up at Rawhide since I parked it there before heading out to the B&B, what if it gives them trouble? You know that hitch is a pain in the ass.”

“I get it.” He sighed deeply before turning out to gaze at the pasture. “Besides, I’d rather keep you at my place than your own.”

“You say things like that and I don’t know what to do with it.”

“You know what to do, Reba. You just need to come around to it. I’ll give you time, but I won’t give up.”

He turned to face me and hooked his finger through the belt loop on my jeans. My heart raced and I couldn’t stop the overwhelming feeling that something very wrong, or very right, was about to happen, again. Ever since he’d kissed me in the pasture, I couldn’t look at him the same way. It was getting harder and harder to deny what was between us, so when Johnny lifted his hat and tilted his head, I gave in. His lips were on mine, light as a feather, before he pulled away and walked back toward the fire.

My face burned with excitement. Maybe it was frustration I didn’t know. The only thing I did know was that I was in a world of trouble and the only person to blame was myself.