Rancher Dragon by Terry Bolryder (best ereader for manga .TXT) 📕

Sierra watched him until he disappeared behind the tree line, and then she looked over at Beck.

“What was with that growl?” she teased. “Jealous?”

“Of course I am,” he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her in close. “I don’t know where this is going, but for now, you’re mine. All mine.” He nuzzled against her with a little growl.

“He was just being polite,” she said.

“He was being handsy. TJ’s a player. Always has been.”

“He knows I’m with you,” she said.

“That may be,” Beck says. “Doesn’t make me less jealous.” He exhaled roughly. “Not that I have any right to be.”

They headed back inside, and he kept his hand on her lower back, protective as always.

If Beck didn’t mean to stay, how would she ever do without him? She didn’t even want to think about it.

Beck shut the front door, then joined her on the couch in the living room. “So what did you think of TJ?”

She leaned back against the soft, familiar cushions, thinking it over in her mind. “I don’t know. There was something about him…”

“What?” Beck asked, looking shocked. “Everyone loves TJ.”

“I don’t know,” she said, putting up her hands. “I’m sorry. I get that you’re close. It’s just the way he looks at you sometimes. Or little things he says that feel like a dig. Or like he knows something I don’t.” She smiled nervously up at him. “Or maybe I’m just the one who’s jealous.”

He grinned. “I don’t mind that.” His expression sobered. “But as for TJ, I don’t know. He knows me better than everyone, so yes, I would guess he knows things you don’t. I don’t see why that should make you uncomfortable. These things take time.”

“It’s not just that exactly,” she said. “There’s just this feeling… that he doesn’t respect you.” She felt panic hit her the minute she finished her sentence and wondered what she was thinking, saying that about someone Beck clearly trusted.

Beck just stared at her for a moment, brows lowered in confusion.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just… You asked me, and I have this bad habit where I can’t not tell the truth.”

He sighed. “I love that about you. It’s just hard. TJ’s been there for me through a lot of things no one else could understand. Even my other friends. He knows my deepest secrets. My dark spots.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I would hope he doesn’t think less of me.”

“If he did, it wouldn’t reflect on you,” Sierra said quickly. “Beck, you’re the best man I’ve ever known.”

“It means a lot to me,” Beck said. “What TJ thinks about me.” He sighed roughly, looking down at his hands in his lap. “I know that sounds stupid, but he was there for me when no one else was. My best friend. My first friend.”

She got it and nodded slowly. “I get it. I’m sorry for putting my opinion in where it wasn’t wanted.”

Beck’s eyes met hers. “No. I definitely want your opinion, Sierra. You’re a smart, strong woman. I always want to know what you think. Even if I’m a bit sensitive about TJ. And some other things.” He looked away at nothing in particular, but Sierra could feel the distance growing between them.

She also had no idea what to do with it.

Even though she felt close to Beck, she knew so little of his history. She wanted to know everything.

“I hope you’ll tell me some of them sometime,” she says. “The things TJ knows that no one else does.”

“Jealous, huh?” Beck asked, but he had that hungry, heavy look in his eyes that she loved.

“Yes,” she said, brushing his hair back. He closed his eyes like a cat at how good it felt. “Of course. I want to be your best friend now.”

He opened one eye. “It’s a tough job.”

“But someone’s gotta do it,” she said. “And you know, TJ’s probably going to be out of town soon again. Seems like an opening.”

He pulled her onto his lap, then down so their lips were a hair’s breadth apart. “The only person who has ever held this much of my heart is you.”

Then he scooped her up in his arms and kissed her as he carried her upstairs to bed to show her how true that was.

16

The next morning, Beck was surprised to see TJ walking down the drive toward him, raising his hand in a wave.

Beck straightened, setting aside his pitchfork and walking out to meet his friend. He’d enjoyed seeing him yesterday but wasn’t sure why he was back now.

TJ was smiling as usual, but there was something in the smile that Beck wasn’t sure about.

“Howdy,” TJ said, coming to a stop a few feet away.

“Thought you’d be hanging at Dragonclaw,” Beck said, folding his arms. “Told you I wasn’t changing my mind. I owe Sierra a favor.”

“About that,” TJ said, reaching in his worn jean jacket and pulling out a folded-up piece of paper. “I fixed that. Here.” He handed it over to Beck, who took it and opened it.

As his eyes moved down the paper, he was startled to read that it was an apology from Ross, along with an included note from his father, signed as well, asserting that Sierra would have no other problem with either of them.

Beck cocked his head, wondering how TJ had done it. Then he got a sinking feeling, realizing he’d just lost his only excuse for staying around Sierra.

Of course he was glad she would be safer now. In Texas, a man’s word was as good as his bond.

And Beck knew enough of Ross’s father to know the man didn’t sign his name to something easily.

TJ was a good talker. Perhaps he’d just won the man over.

“How did you get this?”

TJ rocked back on his heels, looking pleased with himself. “Beck, come on. You know I can handle these things easier’n you can. Ross just needed a little man-to-man conversation, bless his