Sunset Ridge Read Online Free PDF Page B

mixed feelings. Despite her caustic attitude towards people, he loved that girl. Except for his sister, Raleigh was the only family he had left. Unfortunately, Raleigh would be off to college in a year. Gray didn’t know where things were going between him and Ram, but for the first time in his life he felt like he had a chance to build something real.
    He gave Flint a pat on the back. “See you in the morning.”
    After closing the stable door, Gray stared up at the darkened windows of Ram’s loft. Was he asleep? Gray’s body urged him to find out, but his head reminded him it was only Ram’s first night on Sunset Ridge. He readjusted his erection and shook his head.
    “Soon,” he whispered before taking off towards the house.

    * * * *

    Ram showed up for breakfast wearing his usual work clothes. Gone were the sexy low-rise jeans and thoughts of jumping Gray’s bones. It was his first official workday, and he needed to keep his mind on the job.
    He entered the dining room with his hat in his hand and waited to be invited to the table. Gray and Raleigh were in the middle of a discussion on the importance of going to school every day. It seemed Raleigh felt as if she should be able to take off at least one day a week.
    As Gray became increasingly flustered, a prominent vein in his neck began to throb. Ram unconsciously licked his lips. What he wouldn’t do to follow the vein with his tongue to where it disappeared under Gray’s shirt collar. He shook the thought away when his body started to respond to the idea. Nope, not today.
    “This isn’t up for discussion. You’re going to school and that’s that.” Gray finally looked away from Raleigh long enough to notice Ram in the doorway. “Come on in. This isn’t a new conversation.”
    Ram hung his hat on the hook and approached the table. He wasn’t sure what Raleigh’s reaction would be to his presence, but he was prepared for anything she threw at him. As if by magic, the moment he took a seat, Georgia walked into the room with a plate laden with bacon, eggs and the best looking biscuits and gravy that he’d seen since he’d left his momma’s house. “Thank you, Ma’am.”
    Georgia set the plate down before patting Ram on the back. “There’s plenty more in the kitchen so holler if you want seconds.”
    “I appreciate that.” After Georgia retreated, Ram filled a cup with coffee from the carafe on the table.
    “You sleep okay?” Gray asked.
    “Like a baby,” Ram lied. He’d watched Gray from the window the previous night, hoping his new boss would sneak back up to finish what they’d started. When Gray had bypassed the garage and gone straight into the house, Ram had been more than a little disappointed.
    “I thought I’d introduce you to everyone this morning and give you the work schedules I’ve made up. Handling the men isn’t my forte so feel free to change anything you want. I’ve also got a new kid coming in after school. He’ll be mucking stalls in the evenings, but I like to have them cleaned in the morning as well. Walking potential buyers through stables that smell like shit doesn’t tend to impress.”
    “I understand.”
    “Who’d you hire from the high school?” Raleigh asked.
    “Kid by the name of Jesse Franks. Seems he’s been gettin’ in a bit of trouble, so his counsellor thought a job would be good for him.”
    “Jesse Franks?” Raleigh’s lip curled in a sign of disgust. “He’s totally gross and like a major stoner.”
    “Not on my watch,” Ram added. “No smokin’, no drinkin’, no fuckin’ off.” He liked the idea of teaching a troubled kid what it felt like to put in a hard day’s work, but he wasn’t a babysitter. “If the kid doesn’t follow the rules, I’ve got no use for him.”
    “Understandable,” Gray agreed. He finished his last bite of egg before pushing his plate towards the centre of the table. “Like we agreed, the hands are yours to manage however you see fit.”
    Ram nodded