Page 1 of Spurred On

Chapter One

Cody Silver’s feet tangled and he almost fell on his face as a tall drink of water uncurled herself from a refurbished red-hot Mustang and surveyed the front yard of his ranch house. The first thing he noticed was the curve of her ass because, seriously? It was a fantastic ass. And then he noticed her boobs. His pulse picked up and his salivary glands went into overdrive.

Her hair was gorgeous too, a kind of burnt umber, not enough for her to be a classic redhead, but enough that it probably spoke to her passion in bed. It tumbled down her back in a riot of curls.

With that figure, she had to be gorgeous too. Didn’t she? He found himself burning with curiosity to see her face, so he headed in her direction.

This was his home. It was only polite to welcome her.

Maybe she was a potential customer for the Double S Ranch, better known by locals as the Stud Ranch. Maybe she was a friend of Claire’s. Whatever. He didn’t care. He just wanted to meet her because he hadn’t felt this kind of instant attraction since—

She turned, and he got a glimpse of her profile and a skitter of unease rippled through him.

No. God no. It couldn’t be.

But then she heard him coming and glanced over her shoulder. He saw her full on and his heart dropped clear through to his churning belly.

His steps slowed. His anticipation faded. His trepidation rose.

It was her. Sidney Fucking Stevens.

What was she doing here? After all these years? And why did she still have this crazy power over him?

No other woman had. No other woman did.

It had been over ten years since their misbegotten affair, and the sense of loss still felt fresh. Probably because, after all this time, he wasn’t quite sure how it had happened. How he’d lost her. Why he’d done what he’d done.

He idly wondered if she still hated him.

Or, perhaps, not so idly.

He sucked in a breath, steeled his spine, and tipped his hat as he approached. Then he fixed something that might have been a smile on his face. Might as well try.

“Sidney,” he said, ignoring the catch in his voice.

She stilled. Her eyes narrowed and her nose twitched. She looked him up and down in a frigid perusal. Oh yeah. She still hated him.

“It’s been a long time.” The best opening he could manage.

She nodded, and said, “Not long enough.” She muttered it under her breath, but he heard. He suspected he was supposed to.

“What, ah, brings you to these parts?” he asked. “Are you here to see Claire?”

“Yes.” Her response was short and clipped. Nearly snarled, as though she couldn’t bear to be in his presence. Couldn’t bear to speak to him.

Now, Cody had his share of exes—more than a man probably should—but none of them could hold a grudge like Sidney Stevens.

“Claire’s out of town.” He hated saying it, because she’d probably get back into her car and leave and he didn’t think he could bear that. Though this altercation was anything but amiable, he didn’t want it to end. Not yet. It was better to have her stand there and hiss at him like an angry cat than leave. Especially after all this time. He found he wanted, more than he should, to keep her here. Which was, all things considered, foolish beyond reason. “Can I . . . help you?”

She did it again. Looked him up and down. He was left with the impression that, in her opinion, he was lower than a bug. But then, he couldn’t blame her. He’d been a dumbass back then.

And he wasn’t much better now.

“Sidney?”

She huffed out a sigh and turned away, raking her fingers through that glorious mane. “When will she be back?”

“A week. Maybe more?”