Riley’s Downfall(2)

God, he was fucking sexy when he grinned like that.

Riley quickly looked away. It wouldn’t do for Sterling to see how interested he truly was.

Sterling was too damn young and too exuberant for Riley. It was true that Sterling was twenty-one, but Riley was a lot older, and a lot wiser than the cub. He was wise enough to know that his mate was nothing but trouble with a capital T.

The man was going to disrupt Riley’s quiet world, and had managed to do that already. Riley couldn’t even sit down to read a book without Sterling grabbing one himself and sitting next right to Riley. How in the hell was he supposed to concentrate on what he was reading with Sterling sitting next to him, humming as he read? Who hummed when they read?

The man made absolutely no sense to Riley.

His eyes snapped to his pa when the man approached. He prayed his pa hadn’t seen him ogling Sterling. He prayed Sterling hadn’t seen it either. Riley still wasn’t sure what to do with the man, so it was best Sterling not get the wrong impression.

“You have those fences mended, son?” his pa asked as he slowed his horse, Lover Lost.

Riley dipped his head in a nod as he tried to covertly sneak a glance at his mate. It wasn’t that he was interested. He just wanted to make sure Mr. Hyper wasn’t heading their way. Really, that’s all it was. He wasn’t wishing the man would bug him just so he could have a little of Sterling’s attention once more. Riley had made sure he had put a stop to that. So why in the fuck was he hoping Sterling came their way?

Fuck, Riley was a walking contradiction.

“Good. I need you to go into town to the feedstore and pick up my order,” Pa said as he clasped both hands on the saddle horn, eyeing Riley intently. “And you can take Sterling with you.”

Riley’s eyes snapped up as he gaped at his father. Had the man finally lost his damn mind? “Why?” he blurted out before he thought better of it. Damn it. Now Pa was going to make Sterling go just because he knew Riley was protesting.

His father was getting ornery in his old age.

“Because,” Pa said, his whole face spreading into a wide smile, “he needs to learn the ropes if he’s going to be sticking around here on the ranch.”

That made absolutely no sense to Riley. Why would a dishwasher need to learn about ranching? His pa knew Riley was quiet and reserved. His pa also knew Sterling could talk the ear off of a statue. Why was his pa torturing the shit out of him with Sterling? He couldn’t remember doing anything lately to warrant his pa trying to get even with him.

“But he already has a job at the diner.” Damn, if he didn’t sound like he was pouting. Riley was going to have to work on his tone when he objected. He might as well have stomped his foot in the process.

Riley knew he was in trouble when the twinkle in his pa’s eyes started to shimmer. “I’ve decided to hire Sterling as a ranch hand.”

Riley’s jaw dropped. “You what!”

Pa chuckled, and it was an ominous sound. He had an evil twist to his lips as he smiled at Riley. His pa leaned over and tapped the bottom of Riley’s chin. “Close your mouth, boy. You’re going to let all the flies in.”

Riley quickly closed his mouth, his eyes wandering over to where Sterling was talking to one of the cows.

Lord, help me.

“Why would you hire someone who knows absolutely nothing about ranching?” And why would his pa do this to him?

Riley was trying to keep his distance from Sterling, not work next to the man all day long. His cock already grew ramrod straight anytime Sterling was five feet from him. He knew it was the scent of his mate that kept him hard, but he also admitted that Sterling was a gorgeous man.

This was going to make working almost impossible. He couldn’t run from his help and expect Sterling to learn the ropes. No matter his objections, Riley would do what his pa asked. He was a loyal family man and respected his pa. But why couldn’t the guy ask him to tame Hell Raiser—the meanest black stallion Riley had ever come across—instead? That would be a lot easier than working around Sterling all day.

“I have Abe working the ranch and you don’t argue about it,” Pa pointed out.

Yeah, but Abe wasn’t his mate. Riley could leave Abe to his own devices. Riley knew for a damn fact his bear wasn’t going to let anything happen to Sterling. It roared at Riley every time he ran from Sterling.

Riley gave up the argument. He knew it was a lost cause. When his pa made up his mind, that was that. “I’ll head into town.”

Pa chuckled as he turned Lover Lost around, heading back toward the house. “Don’t sound like I’m sending you to your death, son. It’s just Sterling. He’s as harmless as a fly,” he shouted over his shoulder, and then laughed as he trotted away.