Ride fast, p.1
Ride Fast, page 1
Ride Fast
A Roughstock Riders Novel
Tessa Layne
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Epilogue
Tessa’s Newsletter
The Bad Boys have arrived
Also by Tessa Layne
Copyright © 2021 by Tessa Layne
Paperback Edition ISBN-13: 978-1-948526-37-1
EPUB Edition ISBN-13: 978-1-948526-36-4
Cover Art by Sunset Rose Books
Published by Shady Layne Media
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, stored, or transmitted in any form or in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations included in critical articles and reviews. For information, please contact the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of copious amounts of wine, long walks, and the author’s overactive imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
The night before fifteen-year-old Jaxon Boyd left for chemo treatment, he made a pact with his best friend and next-door neighbor, Isabella Capizzi. That no matter what happened, through thick and thin, they’d stay best friends forever. And they have – through first loves, breakups, and near-death experiences, their friendship has been the one constant in Jaxon’s life. Until they both cross the line one wild night at a neighbor’s wedding reception. But regardless of the feelings Jaxon harbors for Izzie, he’s determined to stay away – because promises are promises, right? And as much as he could see himself growing old with Izzie, there’s one secret he’s never been able to share with his best friend. Because sharing it would break Izzie’s heart completely.
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Isabella Capizzi is tired of waiting. Tired of waiting for her parents to let her take over the family’s ranching business, tired of waiting to become head of the English department at the high school, and definitely tired of waiting for her teenage crush Jaxon Boyd to think of her as more than his childhood BFF. But now that she’s staring down thirty, she wants more for her life than a guy who only sees her as his plus-one.
* * *
After a night of too much liquid courage when she may or may not have confessed her feelings to Jax – the details are fuzzy – Izzie decides to take matters into her own hands. She’s leaving Prairie for good – come hell or high water. But her friends… and Jaxon, have other ideas.
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Chapter One
Isabella Capizzi closed her desk drawer with a smile and glanced up at the ancient clock on the back wall. In two minutes, she'd be free for the summer. Ten bliss-filled weeks of horseback riding, rodeo watching, and planning a kick-ass senior year for her AP English class. In spite of the milestone birthday waiting for her the first weekend in September, today she was putting all thoughts of spinsterhood out of her mind.
As soon as the long hand slipped under the twelve with a loud snick, she pushed back from her desk, slipped her messenger bag over her shoulder, and raced to Peter Arnaud's office at the other end of the building. Slightly winded, she pushed through the door marked "Admin" and marched up to the counter.
"Hi Gloria," she said brightly. "Peter's waiting for me."
The older woman leaned forward, and stage whispered with a wink. "Don't let him hear you calling him that."
Isabella rolled her eyes. "He doesn't seem to have a problem with the men calling him Peter."
"He's just old-fashioned that way, sweetie."
Old-fashioned, her ass. Dealing with Principal Arnaud was the worst part of her job. But he had no plans of retiring, so she bit her tongue. As much as was humanly possible, at least. "Thanks for the reminder, Gloria." She smiled tightly and waited for Gloria to wave her in.
Peter looked up from his desk as she hesitated in the doorway. "Come in, come in. Ready for the summer?"
Isabella hated small talk. "As soon as I know whether or not I need to be planning for FBLA club and the business writing class this fall?"
The smile on Peter's face froze. Isabella's heart sank and she struggled to keep her own smile in place. He didn't even have to speak. His tight expression spoke volumes. Once again, she was going to be passed over for an idea she had. Peter cleared your throat. "Ahh, about your idea."
"Yes?"
"The idea is a good one, but I offered the position to Michael."
"Why?" Isabella swallowed and tried to hide her dismay. Arguing wouldn't change this outcome, but she was going to make it clear she disagreed with his choice. "We both know I'm more qualified."
Peter cleared his throat again. "Well, that's debatable. And Michael has a young family to support."
"What does a family have to do with this? I have a certification in business. Michael managed a hardware store in Kansas City. He doesn't know the first thing about writing or executing business plans. How's he going to help the FBLA members with their projects?"
Peter's face pinked. "Well, Michael-"
Isabella stood, clutching the leather strap of her messenger bag like it was a lifeline. "I think this has more to do with the fact that Michael's married to your cousin than with who's most qualified. You owe it to the students to give them a teacher who knows what they're doing."
"Now just a minute, Ms. Capizzi-"
"We're done here. Peter. Have a nice summer." She spun on her heel and marched out, clenching her jaw so the sudden prickling behind her eyes didn't overflow into something more embarrassing. "See you at the wedding tomorrow, Gloria?" Isabella waved as she rushed by, unable to bear the woman's pitying gaze. She couldn't vacate the building fast enough. Isabella's boots echoed in the empty hallway as she sped toward the exit, and right into the hard muscular body of Jaxon Boyd. She glanced up into the dark eyes she'd crushed on since the age of five, and now worked with every day at the high school.
In an instant, his hands came to her arms, steadying her. "Hey, hey. Everything okay?" Jaxon's voice rippled over her like the smoothest bourbon. She could only imagine how his voice must affect every female in his math classes. Did they even remember the equation for finding the diameter of a circle, or all those confusing calculus squiggles? How did anyone pass math class with a teacher as dreamy as Jaxon?
Isabella allowed herself one rough inhale of his masculine scent - a combination of cedar and leather that never failed to put her senses on high alert. "I'm fine," she said with a shake of her head.
His chest rumbled against her cheek before he stepped around and draped a bronzed arm across her shoulders as he fell into step with her. "That's code for everything's not okay. Wanna talk about it?"
She shook her head. "Not really. Same ole, same ole. Principal Arnaud passed me over for job expansion again. This time telling me Michael needed the income to support his family."
"Maybe he does," Jaxon offered.
Isabella stopped and glared up into Jax's affectionate, dark eyes, then pushed through the doors and out into the warm June sunshine. "You did not just say that. What happened to qualifications? Experience? Last time I checked we were in the twenty-first-century."
Jaxon followed her out, easily keeping up with her rushed steps. "You're right. And of course, you're more qualified. You're an amazing teacher. Do you want me to talk to him?"
"NO," Isabella gasped, horrified, stopping in her tracks. "That would just make it worse. Michael's married to Peter's cousin, he's not going to change his mind." She turned toward the parking lot with a shake of her head. "I'm just going to have to suck it up for another year." Another year of waiting to be noticed at her job. Another year of waiting to be noticed by her family. And worst of all, another year of waiting to be noticed by Jaxon Boyd.
"Why don't I bring over some takeout tonight? We can have a little pity party and watch the sunset? I have a business idea I'd like to run by you."
That perked her up. Jaxon had been so busy helping to train a couple of new guys out at the rodeo arena that their standing weekly hangout had been put off indefinitely. Isabella's mouth curved up. "That sounds great."
Jax brushed a knuckle across her jawline. "Ah, there's the smile I love." His brown eyes twinkled down at her. "I've missed our hangouts, Iz. It's been too crazy."
"Yeah," she agreed with a bashful nod. If only he knew what that did to her insides. Once again, she could feel herself fal
"Sounds perfect." Jax pulled her into a hug and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Later, gator." He stepped back with a smile that turned Isabella's insides to jelly and turned to jog to his truck.
Isabella sighed heavily, unabashedly ogling Jax's backside and the way his Wranglers perfectly molded to his muscles. If she wasn't careful, fifteen more years would pass, and in the blink of an eye, she'd be in old cat lady territory. Something had to give.
Chapter Two
Isabella's mother stood waiting on the porch when she pulled into the main drive of the Capizzi ranch. "What's up, Ma?" she asked, hopping out of the truck.
"Your father called. He's out on the back eighty, one of the fences blew down in last night's storm. Part of the herd has wandered onto the Boyd's property."
Isabella covered a curse. So much for a lazy afternoon by the creek. "Did you call over there?"
"Reyna and Kel are riding out. They said they'd alert Jax. Can you take the tools and barbed wire in your truck?"
"Of course." Isabella headed to the barn with a deflated huff. She didn't mind the work. Quite the opposite, actually. Everyone else would be on horseback when she arrived, and she'd miss out on cutting the cattle, one of her favorite jobs on the ranch. Twenty minutes later, she pulled up alongside the downed cottonwood responsible for pulling down a section of the fence that separated the Capizzi spread from the Boyd's. "Looks like it rotted clear through," Isabella commented as she met her dad at the back of the truck.
"Glad it didn't fall on a cow," he grunted. "Did you bring the postholer?"
"Of course, Dad." She refrained from rolling her eyes. It didn't matter how many miles of fences she'd helped him repair, he still treated her like she was a teenager. "I brought the chainsaw, the toolbox, and new fence posts."
"Good girl," he said patting her shoulder. "Jaxon," he hollered to where Jax and his parents stood inspecting the downed tree. "Come over here and help me unload."
"I've got this, Dad," she said tersely, reaching for the spool of barbed wire. Who did he think had loaded the truck?
"Let me help you with that," Jax said with an easy smile as he lifted the eighty-five-pound spool off the truck with no effort whatsoever.
"Showoff," she muttered, unable to keep from smiling in return.
Jax's smile broadened, white teeth flashing against a mouth that could only be called sinful. He waggled his eyebrows. "I brought Junior along. Figured you could use him when we need to cut the cattle."
Isabella shot him a grateful smile. "Always looking out for me."
"Anything to see you smile." He held her gaze for a beat longer than necessary.
Isabella's heart expanded into her throat, stealing her breath. For a shining, beautiful moment she let herself imagine what it would be like if Jax's thoughtfulness was motivated out of more than just friendship. Ever since he'd returned to Prairie, their easy friendship had been peppered with moments that hinted at something deeper lurking just beneath the surface. But every time she leaned into them, he pulled back. Every. Damned. Time.
"Iz?" Jaxon's deep voice cut into her thoughts. "Everything okay? Where'd you drift off to?"
She waved a hand, neck heating as if he'd been privy to the thoughts tumbling through her head. "I'll tell you later," she said, pulling the toolbox from the truck as an idea formed in her mind. Maybe she should make a move. Test the waters once and for all and see if this crazy chemistry that had erupted between them was real or just a figment of her imagination.
For the next three hours, the two families toiled under the intense summer sun - first sawing then stacking the downed tree, then digging new postholes, replacing broken fenceposts, until the fifty-yard section was as good as new.
"Here. You haven't had enough to drink," said Jaxon, holding out a plastic cup of lemonade.
With a grateful smile, Isabella took the cup and held it to her forehead, relishing the chill. She drained her cup and held it out. "Thanks. More?"
Jaxon's cheeks lifted, and even though she couldn't see his eyes behind his aviators, she knew his brown eyes were twinkling. "You never could resist Mama's lemonade," he teased.
"Why should I? It's the best."
"Don't let your mother hear you say that," cautioned her father, helping himself to a second helping from the thermos Reyna had brought along. "Even if it's true."
Jax's father, Kelvin, tossed his cup in the back of the truck. "Reyna and I will drive the bulk of our herd to the next pasture. Jax, why don't you and Iz cut the cattle, and 'Sandro can drive them through the gate."
Jax quickly nodded his agreement. "Let's get her done."
Isabella followed Jax to the horses, double checked the cinch, and mounted up.
"Why the big smile all of a sudden?" Jax asked as he pulled his horse Tucker up next to Junior.
"Everything's better on the back of a horse. Don't you think?"
"I think everything's better when you're smiling," he teased.
"Careful, Boyd. A girl might think you're flirting." She wheeled Junior around and through the gate before Jax could respond. Isabella's heart fluttered erratically as the crazy idea of making a move on Jaxon suddenly seemed a little less so.
Jaxon followed her through the gate and circled around the far side. "I don't think it'll be too hard to separate them," he called from the other side of the remaining clump while turning Tucker into the cattle.
Isabella nodded her agreement. It was easy to tell their two breeds apart. Her family had transitioned to Wagyu, an all black breed, while Jaxon and his family raised black and white Belgian Blues. "You work on cutting yours, and I'll work on encouraging our pairs through the gate."
It was sweaty, hard work, and by the time they were done, Isabella's thighs ached from guiding Junior back and forth. All she wanted was a hot shower and a cold beer.
Jax pulled up alongside her and raised a hand for a high-five. "We make a great team."
Isabella returned his smile. "We always do."
"How does Pizza from Gino's and a bottle of Chianti sound?"
"Better make it two, I'm famished." Isabella dismounted and handed over the reins. "See you later?"
Jaxon tipped his hat and rode away, leading Junior. Isabella allowed herself one hungry glance at his retreating form. It didn't matter if he was seated on a horse or riding a bull out of the chute, the man always looked good.
Her father closed the gate behind her. "I appreciate your help today, pumpkin."
Isabella pushed a smile to her face. "Does that mean you're ready to let me buy in?"
Alessandro's face set. They'd had this argument a dozen times or more in the last year. "You know that's off the table. But you do make me proud."
"Please, Dad. Let me buy in or buy you out. I have a nest egg set aside." She was foolish for pushing, but she couldn't help it, nothing made her happier than working the ranch. "And I have plans for expansion I can show you. And new income streams. I've worked everything out to the penny."
Alessandro shook his head. "I can't do that, sweetheart. You know why."
"You know Rafe's not coming home. All your hoping and praying won't change that."
Her father's jaw tightened as a look of anguish crossed his face. "Your mother and I are not giving up on him."
"At my expense," she pointed out, fighting the swell of disappointment threatening to overwhelm her yet again.
