Page 1 of Stirring Up Trouble (Saddle Up #1)

One

Robin

There was something wrong with me.

Something I needed to figure out right damn now .

Three months.

Three fucking months since my last hookup.

Even then it wasn’t a memorable one. I’d met the young woman at a bar after a rough day of work. She’d taken me back to her place, and within an hour I was driving home, her satisfied and my own itch scratched.

Since then things have been different. It wasn’t because I didn’t go out. And it definitely wasn’t because I had a low supply of women available.

More like I’d either already dated several of them or I found myself completely uninterested. Even the ones who were gorgeous weren’t giving me the same feelings I used to have. I could see a great pair of tits and think more about the anatomy itself than if it was turning me on.

As much as I tried to break this dry spell, it wasn’t budging. It was as if my libido shriveled up. I’d become pre-puberty me where I couldn’t understand all the things the older boys did or why girls would get flirty.

Except I did know. My body just refused to fucking cooperate.

“Are you about done moping?” Griffin stood at the door to my office, a wide grin stretching his lips.

He’d invited me to be his partner in this small-town veterinary clinic years ago.

It was honestly one of the best decisions I ever made.

He was not only easy to work with, but he came with a big, found family of friends who took me in without a drop of hesitation.

Though there was an adjustment period, it was for me more than them.

I didn’t understand what being part of a community like that meant at first. My own brother was ready to run from our small hometown the first chance he got.

He’d been in the city ever since, and he rarely visited.

We were as close as siblings could be given the situation.

Shaking my head, I stood and slipped off my white coat. “I’m not sure it was moping.”

“From this angle, it definitely looks that way.”

“Let’s call it contemplating life. I’m bothered by some stuff.”

Griffin’s expression immediately shifted to concern. “Are things ok? Do you need some time off or anything? Is it your brother?”

“My brother is fine,” I told him with genuine happiness.

While my life might be a bit off balance, Weston had truly found his happily ever after with Gerald.

The pair was thriving at their home in the city.

Considering how much my older brother didn’t picture himself on a ranch, I always found it kind of funny he married a cowboy.

Granted, Gerald wasn’t on a ranch anymore. Didn’t mean he wasn’t still a cowboy at heart though.

“That’s good. Then why don’t we go get a beer and you tell me what’s really on your mind.” To anyone else it might have been a question. For my friend and business partner, it was a demand.

I followed him outside where we climbed in our trucks and took off to his place. During the entire drive out to the Coleman Ranch, I kept thinking about Griff’s words.

Was I really sulking?

Had I let all this stuff get me so down I wasn’t my usual happy self?

The idea frustrated me nearly as much as my predicament.

We reached the ranch in no time. Once I parked and climbed out, I was greeted by several familiar faces.

The men of the Coleman Ranch were a unique bunch. They’d bonded through a variety of circumstances, some even life threatening. Yet through it all, they’d thrived by building their own family.

Sometimes I was jealous of how close they all were. I felt like an outsider more often than not. It wasn’t because they tried to exclude me. My own insecurities caused it. If my own flesh and blood didn’t stick around, then why would anyone else?

“I’ll get the beer. You chat with the guys.

” Griffin jogged up the stairs and kissed his partner, Harlan, who also happened to be the ranch’s cook.

If I played my cards right, I might even get a meal out of this visit.

That would make everything worth it. People traveled far and wide for a single plate of this man’s cooking. It was that fucking good.

“How you been, Robin?” Atticus, owner of the ranch, asked as I approached. He pulled me into a hug, his hands clapping my back heartily.

When we pulled apart I smiled. “It’s been good. Work is steady. How have you been? Where’s your man?”

I looked around to see where Sean might be. The little guy was usually attached to Atticus when I came by.

“He’s napping upstairs.” Before he could explain further, Beau snuck up from behind and wrapped me in a tight hug.

His partner Jackson tugged him free before he could cut off my air supply.

I was a decently strong guy — had to be when working with large animals.

Still, I couldn’t go head-to-head with a few of these men.

Their muscles had muscles, even if it didn’t always look that way.

Being wrapped up in them reminded me I needed to get a workout in later if I wanted to keep my own physique less ‘office worker sedentary’ and more ‘check out these abs’.

“Don’t attack him,” Jackson told Beau. The other man stuck his tongue out, then immediately cuddled his boyfriend. I laughed at them as I reached my hand out to shake Jackson’s.

“Thanks for the save.”

“Not a problem. This one gets excited far too easily.”

The rest of the crew gave a mix of handshakes and hugs as they greeted me.

Bobby Allen was the only one missing, but that was no surprise considering how that man was about his horses.

He’d been out to help at the clinic more than once when someone showed up with one that needed a special touch.

I’d taken to calling him a horse whisperer in my head.

And his ability to calm wasn’t limited to animals.

His partner Elton had shown up on the ranch bruised and fighting a dark past. From how I heard it, Bobby Allen was smitten from the get-go.

He did everything in his power to give the other man a safe space to heal.

The pair fell in love along the way too, which is just the cutest fucking thing ever in my opinion.

When would it be my turn? How had I missed the love train all those around me seemed to have boarded? Did I even have a chance at finding happiness anymore?

Elton’s phone went off as he was explaining there was an ornery new colt Bobby Allen had been trying to wrangle. From the smile on his face, I immediately knew who had texted him.

“He says he’s on his way,” Elton told us after replying to whatever Bobby Allen had sent him.

Griffin appeared then with two beers in hand. “Sorry it took a minute. Got stopped by an adorable mini-Jackson inside. Kiddo wanted to talk my head off about the book he’s reading.”

“Hey! We support learning in this house,” Beau declared.

“I’m not saying it’s bad. Just worried Robin was thinking I’d bailed and thrown him to the wolves. He’s here to relax, not get swarmed.”

Griffin made a show of looking at the group and how they’d surrounded me. They all took a large step back as I laughed.

“You’re fine. I’m not bothered.” I motioned around me. “My stuff isn’t going to get worse because of this. You don’t have to worry about that.”

At my encouragement, the guys all sighed as if relieved. We moved the party inside at Harlan’s insistence that he needed to check the food. “You’re welcome to stay for a plate,” he told me.

I smiled brightly. “I’d love to stay.”

“Kiss ass.” The words were said around a cough. I knew it had to come from one of the guys behind me. Instead of looking to see who, I flipped them all off.

There were noises of frustration at my choice and a few laughs. My mood was improving with each minute that passed.

Maybe I should stop worrying about getting laid and just spend time with friends. Could it be the intimacy I’m craving is something I can find with the guys rather than a one-night stand? Maybe I needed to stop trying to get my dick wet and focus more on connecting in a different way.

It was definitely something to consider.

“So tell us what has you troubled,” Corey demanded as soon as we all got settled in the living room. Considering he was usually Mr. Happy Go Lucky, I knew my mood was more obvious than ever. If Corey wanted to problem solve rather than make a joke, then it was dire.

Jackson sent his son to the back porch to read in case the conversation turned to adult related topics. I appreciated the thought because this was definitely not kid approved.

Sighing, I decided to be honest with them. There was no point in pretending I was fine.

“I can’t get laid.”

The room went silent before Ashley, Corey’s partner, spoke up. “Do you want us to set you up with someone? Would that help?”

I shook my head. “It’s not a meeting people thing. The women are there. The desire is not.”

“Ahhhh,” they collectively made a noise of understanding.

“Yeah, exactly. It’s really fucked up. I’ve never had this issue before. And I know it’s TMI. Sorry about that.”

Griffin waved his hands to dismiss my words. “It’s not TMI. We’re all men who live on a ranch together. You think we don’t know far more than we should about each other?”

I snorted at the truth of his words. These guys were on top of each other all the time. I meant it as a metaphor and as a reality. The number of stories I heard about one of the couples getting caught in the barn or out in the field when they thought they were alone was astounding.

“Fair enough. I’m at a loss of what to do. I want to fix whatever the hell I broke,” I admitted.

Bobby Allen chose that moment to walk through the door. He stepped into the living, a frown coming over his face as he took us all in. “Good grief, who died?”

I snorted. “Not a person. Just my libido.”

“Oh, ok. Well, that sucks. Have you tried anything different? Maybe changed up your routines?”

At his suggestion I shrugged. “Not really. It’s a small town. A few people come through here, but you all know how it is. It’s much harder to meet someone new.”

“What if you had the chance to be surrounded by new people in the next couple of weeks? Would you take it?” That question came from Atticus.

I tilted my head. “What do you know that I don’t?”

“Got word a little earlier today they need extra help at the rodeo coming up. Bobby Allen agreed to go field some intel about horses for sale.” He pointed at the other man. “That means Elton will obviously be going too. There’s more than enough room for you to tag along.”

“Am I going in a vet capacity or as a ranch hand? I’m only really good at one of those.” Technically that wasn’t true. I’d helped enough to not be a problem. I simply didn’t want to overpromise and underdeliver in the case of the latter option.

“They’re mostly looking for extra hands in a general sense, not just ranch hand help. I think they’ve lost a few of their more reliable volunteers this year. Don’t know what’s going on. Just told Leslie I’d send the help I could. You’d leave day after tomorrow and be gone for about two weeks.”

My jaw dropped. “Two weeks? I can’t leave the clinic…”

“The clinic will be fine,” Griffin interrupted. “I can maintain things while you’re away. If not, I’ll bring some of the local volunteers in to get some service hours. They’re more than willing to help us. You know that.”

I did know that.

I just didn’t know what to think about all this happening so quickly. Then again, this was probably exactly what I needed. A chance to get away from the routine. Maybe it’s the place that’s got me batting at zero.

“Are we driving or flying? How far is this place anyway?”

The men let out a loud string of cheers at my easy agreement. It was loud enough to draw Jackon’s son, Dakota, into the house. “What’s happening?! Tell me too.”

Beau pulled the kid into a big hug. “Nothing too exciting. Mr. Robin is going to take a trip with Uncle Bobby Allen and Uncle Elton. They’re going to the rodeo.”

Dakota’s eyes went wide. “Oh, wow! That’s cool. I hope you have lots of fun.”

Me too, kid.