Page 53 of Something Tangled Something True (Rosa Ranch #1)
“It’s not about the mess, Ry.” I shake my head, not having the energy to explain why I’m so upset, but I try.
For him, I do my best to explain. “The egg is supposed to act like a vessel for the bad energy. When the body has been cleansed, it should tell me what’s been lurking around us, but I broke it before I could finish, and I’m not sure if I even did it right.
It’s been so many years since I’ve practiced any kind of cleansing ritual. ”
“I’m sorry, baby. Just tell me how to fix this, and I will.”
I shake my head, pushing off the ground and wincing as I stand. “It’s alright. I’ll just tell Mayte what happened later. It’s better that she help me do it anyway. ”
“Wash your hands off, and I’ll go run you a bath. I’ll be right back,” he says, turning to leave the kitchen.
“No, I-I don’t want to be in this house right now. I think… Can we go for that ride after I get this cleaned up?” Today was supposed to be a good day, but every time something great happens, it’s followed by something awful. I refuse to let this keep us from celebrating his accomplishments.
He gives me a small smile with pain hidden behind it, buried deep in the endless expanse of those ocean eyes. “Whatever you want, darlin’.”
I wash my hands and press a cool towel to my puffy eyes, glad I have my first therapy appointment Monday to deal with some of these emotions.
Ryder cleans up the mess I made and gives me a few minutes to get changed while he drops Nugget off with Bee and Harlan.
When he returns, he drops to his knees in front of me, grabbing my left boot and helping me get it on before doing the same with the right.
My joints ache, and as simple a task as putting my shoes on might seem, it’s a daunting one when my RA flares like this. Struggling to get a shoe on would have absolutely pushed me over the edge, back into crying territory, and I’m endlessly appreciative of him.
We drive to the stables and get the horses ready. When they’re saddled up, Ryder positions his hands on my hips, hoisting me up, not leaving my side until I’m stable on Penny’s back.
Penny and Asier walk leisurely beside each other, keeping a steady pace so I don’t have to work too hard to hold her reins.A cool breeze blows against my skin, my curls flying around my shoulders as it passes. Crickets and frogs chirp and ribbit as the sun sets and the moon finishes her ascent.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I whisper, my voice thin.
“Absolutely,” Ryder agrees, his hushed, gravelly tone scraping along my arms like sharp edges of rock, littering my skin in goosebumps.
I twist to find him staring at me, not the giant, glowing moon in the purple-hued sky.
My chest heats, cheeks flushing as we continue down the path to the hill we were married on.
We continue in a comfortable silence, and when he breaks it, his words grate on my nerves.
“I’m thinking about hiring security for the ranch,” Ryder says, breaking the easy silence.
“For the whole ranch or just for us? Because I don’t want any special treatment, Ry,” I tell him.
“Lola, whether it’s Russ or Lemmon, they want to scare or maybe even hurt you , not anyone else from the looks of it, so yes, I want security for you. ”
I huff in frustration, giving myself whiplash with my sudden mood swings today. “Fine. Where exactly are you planning to find this security guard, huh? Someone off Craigslist who could be working for Lemmon and we’d never know it?”
He sighs loudly, hanging his head as he steers Asier back toward the stables. “I haven’t gotten that far, darlin’. I wanted to run it by you first. If you’re against it, we can nix the idea for now, but if things keep happening, we’re going to have to explore our options.”
“If they keep happening, we can pick someone out together ,” I agree, still mildly annoyed.
He reaches for my hand, holding it gently in his and pressing a kiss to my knuckles.
His lips stretch, and the smile he’s wearing could rival a thousand suns in its brightness.
“Why the sudden change in attitude?” I ask, smirking at his newfound excitement.
“I’ve got a surprise for you next week, and I just thought of something that’ll make it even more special.”
“Is it a personal stalker—” I clap my hand over my mouth, pretending to be sheepish. “Sorry, I meant bodyguard. A personal bodyguard. ”
He rolls his eyes, leans over, and grips my hips, pulling me off Penny’s back and settling me between his legs. “Ry!” I giggle as he lifts the hem of my shirt, tickling the sensitive skin there.
“I love it when you scream your husband's name,” he taunts, his scruff scraping against my cheek, and I wish it was between my thighs. He continues to tickle me, and I swat at his hands. He slows his movements, only to drag his fingertips over my belly.
“Maybe if you’re a good boy, I’ll scream it in the bedroom sometime soon.” My breath gets caught in my throat as he slides his hand between my thighs, trailing heat with it.
“I look forward to being a very good boy for you, darlin’,” he whispers against my neck, nipping gently at the skin below my ear. A groan slips past my lips, and I melt into him.
My nipples are peaked, and the chill in the air does nothing to fix it as he continues whispering in my ear the entire ride to the stables.