Here With Me: An Ex-boyfriend’s Dad, Age Gap Small Town Romance (Sugarland Creek Book 1)

Noah’s expression drops when a man says her name and stands beside her. My jaw tenses as soon as he rests his hand on her shoulder. Her eyes flick to where he’s touching her, and I flex my fingers to prevent me from doing something stupid.

Like ripping off his arm.

“Dylan, hi.” Noah’s high-pitched, nervous tone is unsettling. Whoever this guy is, she doesn’t like him.

“How’ve ya been? It’s been about a year or so. We should catch up sometime.”

Noah’s tight-lipped smile is met with hesitant eyes. “Yeah, it’s been a while. I’ve been really busy with trainin’ and stuff on the ranch.”

“You never gave me that tour. Maybe we could do that soon?” He winks.

As I drink my water, my eyes stay glued on him over the rim. Noah’s dropping obvious hints that she’s not interested, but he’s clueless to them.

“Not sure that’s a good idea. I’m not interested in datin’ right now.” Noah’s blunt response has me wanting to give her a high five, but that’d be awkward, so instead, I lower my gaze to my plate and hide my smirk.

“Oh, I just meant as friends, Noah. I better get back to my table, but if ya change your mind, you’ve got my number.” He squeezes her shoulder again, and as soon as he walks away, Noah releases an audible breath.

When I glance at Jase, he’s watching me with pinched brows as if he’s confused about my reaction.

“Is that one of the guys you tried to date after me?”

“Jase,” I say in a strict tone I’d use on him when he was a child. He’s either lost his mind or his goddamn manners.

“She knows I’m kiddin’.” He lifts one shoulder, but his smug expression and tone tell me otherwise.

“If y’all must know, yes, we went on a couple dates. But the sparks just weren’t there, so I broke it off,” Noah says.

“Sparks?” Jase chuckles. “You’re gonna be single forever if that’s what you’re waitin’ for, babe.”

The server has impeccable timing and interrupts to bring our food. Her cheerful tone is a contrast to the uncomfortable conversation we’re having.

“May I get y’all anythin’ else right away?” she asks once she’s placed our plates in front of us.

A stun gun with a side of Novocaine.

“This is perfect, thank you,” Noah tells her.

It’s hard keeping my eyes off her. She’s handling this awkward dinner better than I would’ve. The temptation to put Jase in his place has been hard to resist at times, but Noah’s quick responses have kept me from doing so.

“Thank you.” I smile at the server before she leaves.

“Wait, excuse me.” Jase holds up his finger to grab her attention. “I asked for extra mushrooms, and there’s only like seven here. That’s hardly extra.” His loud, harsh tone almost has me speaking up to remind him of how to treat people, but Noah’s red cheeks halt me. She’s already embarrassed by his behavior, so I don’t want to add fuel to the fire.

Noah pops a piece of shrimp in her mouth, most likely to keep herself from screaming, and I do the same with a hush puppy. We share a secret look that has us both grinning.

The server apologizes and offers to bring him more right away. Things stay quiet while we eat, and the only noise comes from me cracking the crab legs.

“So how long after we broke up did you date Dylan?” Jase asks, and I shift my eyes to glance at Noah, who’s focusing on her food like it’s the most interesting thing ever.

Meanwhile, I could stare at her all night because she’s by far the most beautiful woman I’ve laid my eyes on. The only problem is that I think Jase is starting to notice how I’m looking at her.

“Noah?” Jase prompts.

“I dunno…like a year, I guess? What’s it matter?”

“Just curious how long it took to get over our relationship.”

Her head jerks toward him with a piece of shrimp in her hand, and I’m low-key worried she’ll chuck it at his head.

“Do we have to do this now? In front of your dad?”

“Since when did you get shy?”

“I’m not, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to discuss my datin’ life with you.”

I clear my throat to grab his attention away from Noah. “Speakin’ of, are you datin’ anyone, Jase?”

“I’ve gone on dates. Most haven’t been my type or ready to settle down.”

“You’re still young,” I remind him. “You have plenty of time.”

“You were married and had two kids when ya were my age,” he says.

I nod as I continue eating. “Yeah, I did. But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.”

“Not sure it was for you either.”

I glance up to him staring at me as if he’s daring me to argue, but he knows I won’t.

“If I’m bein’ honest, I wasn’t ready to be a husband and a dad at twenty years old, but we got pregnant anyway. I don’t regret marrying your mom because we got two beautiful children out of it. When my career took off after Lyla was born, I had to keep travelin’ and doin’ my job in order to make ends meet. It’s not a lifestyle that works for everyone,” I admit.

Jase’s cold stare as he cuts into his steak has me wondering if he’ll say what he’s really thinking. How I neglected him, how it’s my fault his sister died, or how I don’t deserve a second chance to be in his life.

But he says none of those things.

Instead, he shoves a forkful of food into his mouth and gives me a hesitant nod. Either he doesn’t have a comeback or he doesn’t want to say it in front of Noah.

The server arrives with Jase’s mushrooms, and thankfully, after that, the conversation shifts to Jase’s success in his new real estate career. I’m happy he found a career he loves since I knew he wouldn’t follow in my footsteps or do anything ranch work-related. Noah talks about the fundraiser and trick riding she’ll be doing with Donut soon. By the time we finish eating, most of the discomfort has dissolved.

After I pay the bill, I pull Jase into a side hug and linger for a moment. “I’m proud of you for focusin’ on your future. Let me know what time you’re goin’ on Sunday, and I’ll be there.”

He nods. “Thanks, Dad. Will do.”

Jase hugs Noah next and kisses her head. “Thanks for comin’,” he mutters softly as if he hadn’t wanted me to hear.

Noah playfully sucker punches his shoulder. “Anytime, asshole.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, I deserved that.”

I stare at my son and hate that I see a hurt little boy who saw his father walk away when life got too hard for him. All his lashing out and poor attitude was caused by my abandoning him. We’re two broken men, which means we both have to put in the effort to fix our relationship. I’m willing to take the steps to help him heal from what I did to him, but he has to put in the work, too. He’s an adult now and can’t use my mistakes as an excuse.

We say our final goodbyes, and when Noah and I walk out into the parking lot, I tell her I’ll follow her since she knows the way.

“You could just ride with me,” she says. “Jase knows we’re both goin’, so it won’t be like we’re hidin’ it.”

“Think that’s a good idea?” I squeeze the back of my neck, not wanting to cross any more lines even though yesterday in the tack room was a weak moment. Kissing her would’ve been a bad idea, but one I can’t stop thinking about.

“Why not? That way, if I do drink too much, you can drive me home. Then we can figure out a way to get your truck back tomorrow.”

“I thought ya weren’t gonna drink that much?”

The corner of her lips curves up in a devious grin. “I reckon I lied.”

Goddammit.

“Let’s go, then.”

The Twisted Bull is everything the name implies. Bright stage lights flicker across the dance floor as people wait in line for the mechanical bull or for alcohol at the bar. The music is loud enough to cause a migraine and has people screaming to speak over it.

I’m in hell.

Noah leads us deeper inside through the sea of people. She changed into cowboy boots before we walked in and dropped a few inches in height, so keeping tabs on her won’t be easy.

“Isn’t it cool?” Noah shouts over her shoulder.

Granted, if I were in my early twenties, I’d love it. I can see the appeal and why they flock here. But if one more person bumps into my shoulder and spills their beer on me, I’m hauling Noah over my shoulder and getting us the fuck out.

When we make it to the bar, her four brothers and Magnolia are sitting with a bartop full of drinks.

“Hey! Y’all finally made it!” Magnolia squeals when Noah stands next to her. “How was dinner?”

Noah shakes her head as if she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Can’t say I blame her.

“Fisher!” the boys shout, raising their beers.

“Ready to get in on the bet?” Tripp asks.

“What bet?” I lean against the bar, facing Noah so drunk strangers don’t get any ideas.

“Who’ll last the longest on the bull,” he explains.

“Me, obviously.”

They laugh. “If ya win, you gotta pay our tabs!”

I snort, grabbing my wallet to get Noah and me our own drinks. “Shouldn’t y’all be payin’ my tab if I win?”

“Don’t try to speak logic to them.” Noah shakes her head and waves to get the bartender’s attention.

A man who looks a few years older than Noah approaches, and I already don’t like the way he stares at her—like he wants to do much more than serve her drinks.

“Howdy, pretty lady. What can I getcha?”

“A strawberry margarita, a Budweiser, and a Blow Job!”

“What is that?” I murmur in her ear when the bartender busies himself.

“A blow job or a shot?”

“Yeah, Fisher. Which one’s got ya confused?” Magnolia chimes in, laughing.

Shit, I forgot she knows.

I lean in closer so the boys can’t eavesdrop. “Noah told me about your little crush, by the way. Which one is it again? Tripp?” I arch a brow, and she scowls at Noah. “Hope I don’t accidentally let that slip.”

“I’m gonna murder you in your sleep,” she tells her. “A slow and painful death.”

Laughing, I hand the bartender my card. I’m playing stupid games, but the last thing we need besides Jase knowing is her brothers finding out. If they already don’t like my son, no way they’re going to like me sleeping with their little sister.

“Calm down, he’s just messin’ with you.” Noah shrugs her off, then offers her the shot.

“No, babe, that’s for you. Show me your best deep throat!” Magnolia’s loud voice gets the attention of half the bar.

My eyes laser in on Noah bending down, wrapping her lips around the glass, and then snapping her head back as the liquid flows into her mouth. Once she’s swallowed, she slams it down on the bar.

“Yes! That’s my girl!” Magnolia cheers.

We stand at the bar and drink for a while before someone notices a guy they don’t like. Everyone turns, and even though I don’t know who they’re talking about, I look too.

“Who’re we starin’ at?” I whisper into Noah’s ear while her brothers are distracted.

She shivers against me, and I smile at how quickly her body responds to me.

“Craig Sanders,” she says. “The guy we suspect is responsible for the nails. He’s a jealous asshole.”

“You’re fuckin’ kiddin’ me.” My jaw sets, and I grip my bottle. “Maybe I should have a chat with him.”

Before Noah can stop me, I take my beer and head his way.

“Fisher, no.” Her voice fades the farther I walk. This little shit’s been harassing her, and I can’t just stand here and do nothing. Letting my son be rude to her was hard enough, but I don’t have enough willpower to stay silent with this asshole.

“Craig?” I ask when I’m behind him.

“Who’s askin’?” He spins around and sizes me up. “Who’re you?”

“Were you at the Sugarland Creek Ranch a few days ago?”

“I’m not sayin’ a goddamn thing to you until I know who you are.”

“Fisher Underwood. I’m their new farrier.”

His face breaks out into a knowing, shit-eating grin, and it’s all the confirmation I need to know he’s the guy. “Okay, and what about it?”

“Were you there?”

He shrugs, taking a sip of his drink. “Don’t recall.”

I step closer until the tip of my boot touches his. “Think real hard, then. You put Noah and her client at risk of gettin’ hurt with your little stunt. Hell, you harmed Ranger’s hoof.”

I stand straighter, daring him to deny it again.

“Fisher, there ya are.” Wilder approaches, grabbing my arm.

“Oh, how cute. The whole Hollis clan is here tonight.”

“You better watch your mouth, Sanders. Just ’cause Noah didn’t invite you to the fundraiser don’t mean you gotta act like a little bitch.”

Oh, fucking hell.

“I wouldn’t be caught dead at your stupid ranch,” he spits out.

“That so? Because we got ya on camera,” Wilder retorts.

“Is that so?” Craig pushes his wrists together in a cocky gesture. “Then why haven’t I been arrested?”

His amused remark has me wanting to punch in his smug little boy face. Thirty-five-year-old me wouldn’t have thought twice about doing it.

But I try not to be that person anymore.

The one who used violence as an outlet for my pain.

“Keep it up, and you’ll wish you’d been arrested instead of what we’ll do to you,” Wilder threatens, and this time, I’m the one grabbing his arm and pulling him back. I see a lot of my younger self in him, which worries me. Wilder’s tall, built like an MMA fighter, and could easily do some damage to Craig’s lanky body.

Craig’s cocky grin widens. “Have a great evening, gentlemen. Watch where you step.” Then he looks around me where Noah waits and adds, “Lots of snakes out there.”

He walks away, leaving Wilder scathing.

“He’s not worth it,” I tell him.

“Trust me, it would be.”

He brushes past me, and I follow him back to the bar.

“What’d he say?” Noah asks.

I squeeze the neck of the beer bottle and take a drink as I glance at her over the rim. “He’s definitely the one who did it. Wilder was ready to knock him out,” I say, telling her word for word what happened with Craig.

“They graduated in the same year. Never got along,” Noah explains. “He hates me because he thinks I steal his clients. But really, they come to me after they fire him for being incompetent.”

“When you report it to Sheriff Wagner, Wilder needs to include what he said. You might wanna install more cameras and put up No Trespassing signs on that side of the ranch. That way, you can at least say you had them up if he does it again.”

“Good idea. I’ll have the boys do that tomorrow.”

Magnolia snorts, wedging herself back into our conversation. “If they’re not hungover.”

“I’ll do it, then. You need them up as soon as possible. Hard to tell how far he’ll go, but I don’t trust him.”

“Join the club.” Magnolia wrinkles her nose. “He wasn’t always this way. Well, not as bad anyway. Not until Noah turned him down last year. Then he made it his mission to make her life a livin’ hell by tryin’ to steal her clients.”

“I have a feelin’ many girls turn him down, but he found a way to get even with you because of your shared interests,” I tell Noah.

“He’s made snide comments about how it must be nice that Mommy and Daddy pay for my business.” She scoffs. “He’s too dense to realize I earned it. I pleaded with my dad for five months to expand the trainin’ center. Eventually, I gave a presentation on how it’d benefit the ranch with projected earnings and how I’d meet them. He finally agreed, and we expanded the arena so I could train for barrel racing. It also helped so my brothers and I could train at the same time without being on top of each other.”

“And your girl smashed those earnings in half the time she promised! It brought in more clients and more trainin’ hours,” Magnolia gushes, smiling wide at Noah like a proud best friend. “Which means Mr. Hollis lets her do whatever she wants now.”

Noah’s cheeks tint a gorgeous color of cherry red that matches her lipstick. “Yes, but I spent years workin’ my ass off for that, so Craig can fuck off.”

He’s gonna do a lot more than that if he doesn’t leave her alone.

We finish our first round of drinks, but as soon as they call Wilder’s name next in line, we move to the bull area.

He’s definitely had a handful of beers by now and is rowdy as hell when he jumps on top of the mechanical bull. “Yeah, baby! Let’s goooo!” He waves his ball cap in the air and grips the horn with his other hand.

The guy in charge counts down, then presses the button.

“Yeehaw!” Wilder shouts, his legs flying up and down as the bull spins, going faster and faster with each passing second.

Noah and Magnolia hold their phones and giggle as they record him.

A roar of laughter echoes when he falls off before the eight seconds are up.

He stumbles on wobbly legs before face-planting on the mat and then rolls over.

Jesus Christ.

Waylon goes out and lends him a hand, then pulls him to his feet.

“How long did I last?” Wilder asks, slurring over his words.

“Five seconds,” Tripp says.

“Oof. I feel sorry for Jen,” Magnolia says, earning a shove from Wilder.

“You’re next,” Tripp tells Noah. “I put your name on the list.”

“You jerk! I’ve only had one drink. I can’t do it sober.”

I arch a brow but stay quiet. She’s had two, including the one she had at the restaurant, but technically speaking, she’s had four if we count the tequila and the shot. She’s far from sober.

“Show us what ya got, little sis!” Tripp shouts, clapping to draw more attention.

“You owe me a drink after this!” She nudges her shoulder against Tripp as she walks into the ring.

My chest tightens as she climbs on. She adjusts her dress so it’s tucked under her thighs. I don’t want her to get hurt, but given the encouragement of her brothers, they’re not as worried.

“Yeah, Noah! Show us whatcha got!” Magnolia cups her mouth, shouting out each word in a long drawl.

The guy counts down again, and then it starts moving. With one arm in the air, she maintains her stance, squeezing her thighs and holding the horn with a firm grip.

Her body moves naturally with the bull’s as it gets faster. Ocean-blue eyes find mine for a split second before it whips around again. Golden blond locks fly around her shoulders, and as soon as the buzzer goes off, we all cheer.

“You killed it!” Magnolia jumps up and down when Noah returns, and they wrap their arms around each other.

Noah flips her hair over her shoulder. “That’s what y’all get for doubtin’ me.” She glances in my direction. “Your turn, cowboy.”

“Yeah, Fisher! Fisher, Fisher, Fisher!” As they shout my name, it grabs the attention of the rest of the bar, and soon a hundred-plus people are chanting it.

Fuck me. I’m confident I can do this, but I haven’t done it in years.

I hold up my palms. “Fine. Fine.”

“Wait. You’re a pro, which means ya gotta do it with no hands!” Wilder announces.

“Yes!” Tripp agrees.

“Guys, that’s not fair.” Noah waves them off.

“It’s totally fair! He’s done this like a million times,” Landen adds.

“Dude, I thought we were friends?” I quip, and they laugh.

“You goin’ in or what?” the guy asks.

I suck in a breath and nod.

Giving in to the peer pressure, I walk inside and climb up. Situating myself where I can use my legs as leverage to stay in position, I ground my pelvis and then raise both arms.

The boys roar loudly, hooting and hollering even before the guy counts down.

And then it starts.