Taking the Reins(100)

No choice, really. What was pride without the woman he loved? A cold consolation. But before he dropped to his knees, Peyton’s hand landed on his shoulder.

“Go home, Red.”

What? “No. We need to talk.”

“We will. I just need . . .” She sighed. “Time. I need some time. So much in the last few hours to process. Too much. Give me just a little bit.”

He had the distinct idea that walking away now would be the mistake of a lifetime. “Peyton, I can’t just walk away right now. Process it with me.”

“Give me time.” Her answer was firm, unyielding. He’d say that much for his Peyton. She made up her mind, and it was set in concrete. Stubborn woman.

And wasn’t that one of the things he loved about her?

He battled once more against the urge to pull that hauling her over his shoulder trick. But if pushing her to talk now would be a bad idea, kidnapping her caveman style would just be the last nail in their coffin. With every muscle in his body screaming in protest, Red stepped back and headed toward his apartment.

He’d give her time. But not much. Because he wasn’t about to leave his woman with the idea that they wouldn’t be together in the end for long.





Peyton watched Red’s figure disappear in the night and rubbed at her forehead. Damn, this was a mess. The entire thing, from Nylen down to poor Billy’s nose and back up again to her . . . whatever with Red.

Relationship? She wanted to call it that. But . . .

No. No buts anymore. First to see about her family. As she entered through the front door, Bea stood, arms crossed, foot tapping in her too-high heel. Peyton raised a brow at her sister’s obviously impatient stance. “What?”

Bea pointed at the door. “Go.”

“Go where? It’s almost midnight.”

“Are you really going to make him wait until tomorrow?” Bea frowned. “Are you going to make yourself wait?”

Peyton wanted to rub at her head again, but resisted. “Yes. I need to . . .”

“Think? Thinking’s what got you into this mess. If you had just done what Jo said and not cared at all what everyone else thought, then people would already be moving on, and not caring right back. Problem solved.”

“You know, for someone whose entire career revolves around what people think of her, you sure are pushy about this.”

“I know what I’m doing, then.” Bea tossed her head, short hair fluttering around her neck. “I’m an expert.”

“So you’re saying I should not think?”

Bea smiled and performed a slow, mocking clap. “Exactly. The pupil, she learns. Now go.”

Peyton could ignore her. Bea might be taller, but Peyton had more muscle. Shouldering past her and heading upstairs to her own bed would be no challenge.

But she didn’t want her own bed. She wanted Red.

Dammit. Pointing a finger up, she scowled. “This does not mean you were right. It just means I’m changing my mind.”

Before she could slam the door behind her, Bea’s laughter rang in her ears, the sound haunting her all the way across the ranch.





Red’s head hit the door the moment it closed behind him. By his watch, he had about four hours of worthless sleep ahead of him before the start of the workday. Four hours to obsess over what the hell he was going to say to Peyton to make her change her mind. Make her let him stay. Give them a chance.

His body jerked in surprise when someone knocked on the wood panel behind his back. Whirling, he opened the door and prayed his eyes weren’t playing tricks. “Peyton?”

She smiled hesitantly, then the smile slid off her face. “Bad time?”

He realized he was looming over the doorway like a guardian. “No, no. Just surprised. It’s never a bad time. Come on—” The rest of his sentence was smothered by her lips, her body, her everything pressed against his.

Red might be a lot of things, but stupid wasn’t one of them. He wasn’t about to continue talking when kissing worked even better. He grabbed hold, twirled her around and closed the door behind them. Peyton all but climbed up his body, legs squeezing around him, and he gripped her thighs and carried her to the bed.

But as he lowered her down on her back, a warning flashed in his mind. He raised his head from hers and looked her in the eyes. “This isn’t good-bye sex, right?”

“What?” Peyton stared, openmouthed, then cracked up laughing. “Good-bye sex? Are you going to turn me away if I say yes?”

“No.” He grinned, feeling more confident now. “I’d just make it last a damn long time. Long enough to have you changing your mind.”

“I don’t need it changed. I did that on my own.” She gripped either side of his face and tugged him down until her breath fanned against his lips. “I want you. Us. If people don’t like that, or make a big deal about it, then that’s their problem.”