Read Roping Ryan (The West Series Book 6) for Free Online Page A

crawl in next to her and was thankful he dropped the subject.
    “Why can’t I stay somewhere else? There’s probably plenty of room—”
    “Drop it,” he warned, but she sat up and glanced down at him.
    “It’s not like we’re a couple. Are you trying to convince your family of something?”
    He leaned up and looked at her. “Have you forgotten that there is a madman with access to a small army after us?”
    She shrugged her shoulders. “So, give me one of my guns back. I can protect myself.”
    He leaned back against the headboard and crossed his arms over his chest. “Until I know that Hijo del Diablo and his men are locked behind bars or dead, you stay where I can see you.”
    She leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “So, you’re just going to babysit me then?”
    He chuckled and then completely surprised her by reaching out and pushing a strand of hair away from her face. His fingers were so gentle, and his green eyes were so mesmerizing that she almost forgot that she was upset at him.
    “Listen, princess, there are a few things I’d like to do with you, but babysitting has nothing to do with them.”
    She growled and pushed his hand aside as he laughed.
    “You are so easy to rile up. Now, get some sleep. You look like hell.” He chuckled and then leaned back and closed his eyes. She felt like throwing something at him but rolled over and tried to get her body to relax inch by inch.
    When she opened her eyes again, it was dark out. She stretched her arms over her head and then noticed she was alone in the bed. She had slept like the dead. She always did. Her father had always joked that he had to have a blow horn just to wake her in time for school.
    She sat up and flipped on the light next to the bed. The room was small, but big enough for one person. There was a small bathroom off the back. She walked in, carrying her bag. She was happily surprised that there was shampoo and conditioner in the shower. Large white towels hung on the hooks. Thankfully, there was a box of new toothbrushes and toothpaste in the drawers.
    When she stepped into the shower, she couldn’t help but moan. The hot water soothed away the aches from sleeping in the car, the bus, and on a strange bed. She let the hot water run over her head as she leaned up against the cool tile of the shower.
    When she finally walked out of the bathroom dressed in a clean pair of yoga pants and a large T-shirt, she saw the note on the countertop from Ryan.
    Ran out for a while. Alex dropped off dinner. I’ll be back soon. Ryan
    She walked into the small kitchen and pulled out a plate of chicken, potatoes, and green beans from the fridge. There was a jug of iced tea, and she poured herself some as she microwaved the food.
    She walked into the next room with her plate, flipped on the television, and sat down to watch a movie. Less than an hour later, Ryan walked in with a handful of grocery bags. She jumped up and helped him before he dropped everything on the floor.
    “I would have gone shopping with you,” she said, taking a bag.
    He shook his head. “I tried to wake you.” He chuckled. “You sleep like the dead.”
    She nodded and sat the bag down. “Yeah, I’ve been told that before.”
    He looked over at her, his eyebrows up as he smiled. “Did you eat?”
    She nodded and pulled out a bag of potato chips. She smiled when she saw they were the same barbeque ones she’d bought last night. Then she pulled out a box of Coke and smiled. “Got a thing for soda?”
    He nodded. “Keeps me awake. You can’t always get a cup of coffee, but you can get one of these.” He shook the can that he’d opened and took another sip.
    “You shop like a teenager,” she said, pulling out a box of cookies.
    He laughed. “I haven’t had a place with a kitchen in years.” He pulled out a stack of frozen dinners and she shook her head.
    “Next time, I’ll go to the market.” She sat a box of Fruity Pebbles on the counter and smiled.