Ryder (Rope 'n Ride Series Book 2) (18 page)

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“Oh now I see some sass coming out too. I guess we’ve got a lot to learn about each other, but I’m looking forward to every year it takes to learn it.”

She smacked his behind, finally getting a chance to touch the hard muscle she’d been dying for. He yelped and took his batting stance.

“Number two chokes up. He’s serious about this game.”

He chuckled. “Not as serious as you are, apparently. I’ll think twice about suggesting the next game.”

She delivered a hard slap on his ass and rushed away before the pitch was thrown. He swung and missed. “This batter is distracted. Strike one!”

“You’re in for it later, Princess.” His dark promise only sent tendrils of heat through her whole body.

Cameras zoomed around them, but Joy hardly noted their presence. She was too busy watching her gorgeous bull rider run the bases. He made it to second and hunkered over, hands on his knees, prepared to steal the next base.

“One run for the Calhouns. Joy is up to bat.”

Everybody cracked up, and Buck threw a wild pitch that rolled away under the porch. A minute later one of the cattle dogs came out with it, dropped it at Channing’s feet and panted, waiting for her to throw it.

“Keep that up and he’ll walk you, Princess,” Ryder called.

Joy gripped the bat. “I don’t need walked.” She swung and connected. As she ran, she commentated her own play. “And she’s off. Running to first. Rounding the base. Can she make it to sec—
ooomph
!”

She collided with Lane as he tagged her out. Before she fell over, he grabbed her arm and righted her.

Ryder had forgotten about running to home and wheeled back around toward Joy. “Be careful! You could have hurt her.” Dust rose off his boots.

“I’m fine, Ryder.”

“She’s okay. It’s not a big deal.”

“It
is
a big deal,” Ryder bit off.

Uh-oh. She recognized that forceful look on his face. The one he’d worn before beating up Cody. She placed a hand on Ryder’s arm. “I’m all right. Really.”

“Is she made of glass?”

“No, but she’s carrying my child, dammit. Watch how you treat her.” He pivoted to glare at Wynonna too, obviously holding a grudge about her shaking Joy earlier.

The field went silent. Then from the sidelines, their ma jumped up from her chair and ran into the field.

“A fan is storming the field,” Joy said with a bubble of laughter. She shook her head at Ryder. “What about that timing, babe?”

“It ain’t always perfect, but I’ll always be right by your side, Princess.” He caught her around the shoulders just as his mother threw her arms around both of them.

Joy’s happy tears trailed down her face as she accepted congratulations from the family clustering around her. Ryder yanked her off her feet and kissed her with all the love inside him. She barely had a chance to respond to his caress when he set her back down and looked right into the camera pointed at his face.

“Guess there’s gonna be another weddin’ this season, folks.”

THE END

Em Petrova lives in Backwoods, Pennsylvania, where she raises four kids and a Labradoodle named Daisy Hasselhoff. Her dream is to buy an old pickup and travel small-town USA meeting people and hearing their stories. Her heroes are hardworking—in bed and out—and she is known for panty-scorching erotic romance.

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Other Indie Titles by Em Petrova

Rope ‘n Ride Series

BUCK

RYDER

The Dalton Boys

COWBOY CRAZY
Hank’s story

COWBOY BARGAIN
Cash’s story

COWBOY CRUSHIN’
Witt’s story

COWBOY SECRET
Beck’s story

COWBOY RUSH
Kade’s Story

DOUBLE DIPPIN’

LICKS AND PROMISES

STRANDED AND STRADDLED

LASSO MY HEART

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS

SINFUL HEARTS

LIPSTICK ‘N LEAD

COUNTRY RIDE
MENAGE
BOX SET

Also, look for traditionally published works on her
website.