Learning the Ropes

by T. J. Kline

  “I want you to buy out Chris in the rodeo school.” The words spilled from her lips, as if she might take them back if she didn’t say them quickly. “Be my only partner. I can’t do this with him,” she said, her voice catching. She took a deep breath, getting her emotions under control again. “Especially now.”

  The sadness in her eyes ate at him. He wanted to do something to alleviate her heartbreak but knew he was the wrong man. The realization stung a bit but he had to be honest with himself. She didn’t love him, she never had. And he hadn’t loved her, at least, not yet, although he was sure they could have headed that direction. David looked away, unable to face the need haunting her eyes. His gaze fell on Summer as she bent over and laughed with a child, tapping the front of his miniature cowboy hat, and his heart lurched at the tender moment. Could he find a way to move on while working with Ali every day?

  “I don’t know if I can, Ali.” His eyes flitted back to hers before they sought out the pretty blond rodeo queen again.

  She followed his gaze, placing her hands on his shoulder. “We’re friends, right?”

  His brow scrunched together in confusion. “Yeah, why?”

  “Please, don’t take this the wrong way, and I know you care about me, but we were never more than friends. Even when we both wanted there to be more.” She jerked her chin in Summer’s direction. “And, honestly, I’m happy to see you getting back into that saddle. You’re too great a guy to not have someone to care about you the way you deserve.”

  He looked at Summer then back at Ali. He cared about Ali but she was right, they were friends and nothing more. It wouldn’t help either of them to try to force something that wasn’t there. She wasn’t ready to love anyone but Chris and, he knew she was right, he did deserve someone to love him completely. The realization seemed to lift a dark cloud from him, giving him perspective.

  “What if I just buy into the rodeo school? Chris already made the offer.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t work with him, David,” she whispered. “If you buy him out, you still have your ranch, or at least half of it.” She looked up at him and he could see the unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. “I can try to buy you out at the end of next year like I was going to do with Chris.”

  He knew his surprise registered on his face. “Then why did he ask me to join you guys?”

  “He doesn’t really believe I’ll buy him out.”

  David cocked a brow at her and shook his head in disbelief. “What’s wrong with you two? How do you expect to have any sort of lasting relationship when neither of you believes the other?” His words broke the dam of her tears. “Come here.”

  David pulled her into his arms and held her, pretending not to notice the warmth of her tears on his t-shirt or the way she leaned into him for strength. He looked toward the arena in time to see Summer’s questioning blue eyes meet his, curious and slightly accusing.

  GREAT, HE THOUGHT. There went any chance with her. Chris watched David with Ali and the knot of jealousy in his chest tightened, threatening to choke him when she hugged him before taking Boogie to the practice arena. He’d stood by once and almost let David steal her. He wasn’t doing it again. He’d waited too long to lose Ali now.

  “I need your help.”

  David turned and saw him coming. He crossed his arms and leaned back against the side of the truck. “Good morning to you, too.”

  “Is Ali staying with you?”

  A smirk slid over David’s face and it took every bit of self-control Chris had not to punch him in the mouth. “I don’t have to answer that. If she wanted you to know, she’d have told you. She’s in the arena right now if you want to talk to her.”

  Chris shook his head. “She won’t listen to me anyway. I need you to help me prove I’m telling the truth about Delilah.”

  David snorted a laugh. “Why in the world would I do anything for you?”

  “Because if you do, you can have my share of the ranch. I just want Ali. If I have my way, we’ll all end up partners anyway.”

  David arched a brow. “Are you saying what I think you are?”

  “I love her, David. I’m not going to let her go.”

  A slow smile spread over David’s face. “Well, it’s about damn time. I wondered if there was anything more than a player under that skin of yours.”

  Chris was tired of this reputation and was going to clear it up once and for all. “I was never a player. I dropped most of those women home and slept in my truck.”

  David nodded and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, because that makes total sense.” He studied Chris. “You’re serious?”

  “Is this really that hard for people to believe?”

  David’s laughter grated on Chris’s last nerve. “I guess you play the horny hound dog too well.” He caught Chris’s glare and sighed, growing serious. “You really love her?”

  “I do.” He shook his head, throwing his hands up. “I don’t know why I didn’t realize it sooner. I can’t believe the mess I made of all of this.”

  “I can,” David muttered, pushing himself off the truck. “You really didn’t sleep with Delilah?”

  “I was angry because Ali wanted me to apologize.”

  “And you should,” David interrupted.

  Chris glared at him. “I drunk but then Delilah came up begging me to help her, that some guy was following her. I got her back into her trailer but I never went inside it.”

  “You don’t remember anything after that?” David pointed out.

  “The next thing I knew, I was waking up. With my boots and pants on,” he pointed out. “I’ve had a headache all day but I thought it was a hangover until Delilah said something about hitting me too hard. I think they knocked me out. Plus she just tried to get me to convince Ali to quit barrel racing. Said she’d tell her the truth.”

  “When you dig a pit for yourself, you make it deep, don’t you?”

  “David? Come on,” Chris wasn’t used to asking for help but he’d beg David if he had to. He couldn’t lose Ali.

  “Fine, I’ll see what I can do to help but I’m not sure what you expect me to do.”

  “Talk to Ali.”

  David laughed in disbelief. “What am I supposed to say to her? She’s not going to believe me either. Didn’t your mom ever tell you that actions speak louder than words? Show her. I’ll work on getting Delilah to admit it’s a lie.”

  ALI WISHED SHE could celebrate her final go-round win with Chris but she had to stay away. She couldn’t trust herself; last night proved that. She couldn’t be near him without wanting his hands on her, without putting her hands on him, without her heart feeling like it was slowly tearing in half. David didn’t seem inclined to buy him out either. How in the world was she going to be able to work with him on the ranch daily? There was no way she could live in the same house with him. Chris was going to have to move in with David. If the two of them ever started speaking again.

  She should be celebrating right now. Alicia was sitting at the top of the average and was taking home three first place wins. She was supposed to be ecstatic. Instead she was dwelling on this situation with Chris that should have never happened in the first place. She’d known to stay away. His reputation had always preceded him. She’d been naive to think Chris could change or feel more than lust for anyone. There was no happily ever after and she’d been gullible to believe they could be partners, in business or love. There was no partnership. It was all about Chris getting what he wanted without consequences.

  She’d been foolish to think their past meant anything to him, that their friendship was anything more than a means to an end. Sydney couldn’t possibly know what her brother had turned into. Alicia’s shoulders slumped forward as she rode Boogie back to the trailer. It was going to be a long year. Maybe she should just let David buy her out, give up on this dream, and get as far away as she could.

  She hooked Boogie’s halter around his neck and unsaddled him. She was just about to pull his saddle from hi
m when two hands pulled it off from the other side. She jumped back in surprise when she saw Colt put her saddle into the trailer.

  “I hear congratulations are in order.” He leaned over the back of her horse and handed her a curry comb. “I see you’re still playing my son for a fool.”

  She jerked the rubber tool from his hand and began to groom the horse, attempting to ignore him.

  “Oh, don’t get all quiet now. You’re a ranch owner and you’re going to have to give lessons. Maybe you can give me a few and I can find out what sort of spell you’re putting on these boys. You seem to have several of the cowboys around here enamored.”

  “I doubt barrel racing is in your wheelhouse. You should talk to Chris.”

  “I hear he’s giving you private lessons.” He gave her an insinuating grin, his eyes skimming her frame. She held his gaze, refusing to let him intimidate her, even as he disgusted her.

  “You’re a pig.”

  “So, when David wouldn’t let you worm your way into his wallet you decided to work on Chris? I wouldn’t have thought a bunny like you would have the funds to buy a ranch like mine.”

  “I wasn’t worming my way into anyone’s wallet. I can earn my own.”

  “Sure you can.” He smiled at her but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re one conniving bitch, I’ll give you that.” He moved around Boogie to stand behind her, dwarfing her tiny frame. “And now it looks like you’re sleeping with David again. Tsk, tsk,” he scolded. “It won’t work, you know.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. David and I are friends.” Alicia continued to groom the horse, refusing to look at him.

  “Hmm,” Colt murmured, “sure you are. Either way, you’re too late. I already saw him cozying up to some blond by the stands.” He took a step closer, pressing up against her back, forcing her to take a step closer to the horse as he leaned over her. She could feel his heated breath against the back of her head and smelled the yeasty scent of too much beer.

  “And he’s got too much to lose to dump your partner. They will pair up and run you out of this rodeo school. And when they do, I’ll be back in my house so fast your head will spin. A few wins doesn’t make you good enough to live on my ranch.”

  Colt Greenly didn’t like her and he might be a bully but she didn’t think he was stupid enough to hurt her, at least, not in front of this many witnesses. She wasn’t about to take a chance. Alicia turned to push him away.

  “Back off, Colt. You’re drunk.” Chris grabbed the bigger man’s shoulders and jerked him away from Alicia. “As usual, you have no clue what you’re talking about.”

  “You don’t need another whore for your harem, Chris,” Colt ground through clenched teeth.

  Without warning, Chris swung his fist, knocking the older man to the ground. He grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “You ever talk to her again and I’ll beat you until neither of your sons can recognize you.” He looked back at Alicia, making sure she was unharmed. “David and I might end up in business together but it will never include you. When that house closes escrow, you are no longer welcome on the property, Colt. Not ever.”

  He let the man fall back to the ground and turned to Alicia, cupping her cheeks in his hands. “Are you all right?”

  She reached for his wrists. “I’m fine.” She saw David hurrying toward them. “I can’t stay here.”

  “I’ll take you home,” he offered.

  “No!” She spit the word out and moved away from him. She hadn’t meant to yell but she couldn’t be around him right now. She looked at the crowd beginning to gather around them.

  “Ali? Dad?” David bent and helped his father from the ground “What’s going on?” He looked to Chris.

  “Your father decided to harass Ali.”

  David spun on his father. “Again?”

  Colt rose from the ground and dusted off his jeans. “You’re gonna take this whore’s side after she snatched the ranch out from under—”

  Colt hit the ground again. He didn’t even see Chris take a swing. “I warned you, you son-of-a-bitch!”

  “Chris!” Ali cried, reaching for his arm and pulling him back. Boogie shifted sideways at the commotion and several cowboys hurried in to pull Chris away, holding him back from attacking Colt again.

  “Take her to Sydney’s like you planned and I’ll meet you both at the ranch tomorrow night,” David ordered. “I’ll take care of him but she doesn’t need to be subjected to any more of this.”

  She didn’t want to go anywhere, especially with Chris. She wasn’t about to turn tail and run like she was afraid of Colt Greenly.

  “Ali,” David looked her in the eye as if reading her thoughts. “Go. I’ll meet you tomorrow. I promise.”

  Trust me, his eyes pleaded.

  Knowing she had little choice, she let Chris pull her toward his trailer.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  * * *

  CHRIS SAT, BROODING silently, while Ali ran a cloth under water. “Where’s your first aid kit?”

  Her voice was quiet, soft but hesitant. It wasn’t like her and he wondered at her inconsistent behavior. “Under the sink.”

  She pulled a chair in front of him, reaching for his hand. “You split your knuckle,” she pointed out, dabbing at it with the cloth. She popped open the kit and, unable to find any antiseptic ointment, took out an alcohol swab. “This is going to hurt.”

  “Not as much as other things have.” He hadn’t meant to say the words out loud.

  Her eyes leapt up to meet his, staring into the depths as if she was trying to read his thoughts. Unless Delilah confessed, it was her word against his. He clenched his jaw, refusing to say anything further. She should know him well enough to believe him.

  She drew her lower lip into her mouth as she ripped the top off the package. “Chris,” she began then stopped, shaking her head, and dabbed at his knuckles.

  He sucked in a quick breath at the sting on his hand but it faded before she could finish bandaging it. He was having enough difficulty breathing with her leaning forward over him. Her scent filled his nostrils, surrounding him. He could feel the tension emanating from her, like a current between them as her fingers moved over his hand.

  “Thank you,” she said, smoothing down the edges of the bandage against the back of his hand. Her eyes flicked to his and back to his hand.

  “For what, Ali?” He hardly recognized the pained huskiness of his voice. He wanted to give up on her, forget her and move on, but she was like a lingering dream, clinging to the edges of his reality but just out of reach.

  She set his hand down, ignoring his question. “Are you going to be able to rope with your hand like this?”

  He could see her retreating within herself, putting her protective walls back up and he wasn’t sure he had the ability to scale them again. Chris flexed his hand a few times, testing the mobility.

  “It’ll be fine in a day or so.” He saw fresh blood seeping through the bandage from the movement. It felt like his heart. Just when he thought he’d stopped the bleeding, she did something to break it open again. He sighed. “Let’s get the horses loaded and I’ll take you home.”

  Her head jerked up. “I thought we were staying with Sydney for a few days.”

  Chris shook his head in frustration and rose. “I don’t know what we’re doing. Every time I think I figure it out, you knock me off balance.” He opened the door and hung his head, his words laced with double meaning. “Just let me know where we’re going, Ali, because I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  SHE WATCHED CHRIS walk out the door, wondering if she dared tell him what she really wanted to say. Did she dare confess she wanted him to take her to Sydney’s, to hear him profess his feelings even if she wasn’t sure she’d believe him? She wanted to believe him, especially when he looked as defeated as he did leaving the trailer just now. The desperation she saw in his eyes had nothing to do with lust. He looked devastated when she continued to doubt him and it m
ade her second-guess her instincts.

  Instinct told her not to trust him, he was lying, his reputation was well deserved. But her heart said something different. It ached to see him hurt. But one thought continuously circled through her mind—one night with him wasn’t enough. A lifetime with him wouldn’t be enough, she realized. She wanted him, every part of him. If she couldn’t have his heart, and she wasn’t sure he would ever give his heart to anyone, she had to forget him. Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs. Moving on would be impossible. There would never be anyone else who she would give herself to completely. There never had been until Chris.

  She walked outside to see him loading her horses into the trailer. He barely cast her a glance as she loaded their gear. She noticed her bag along the wheel well.

  “David brought that over when he brought the horses.”

  His voice was cold, matter-of-fact, and emotionless. What she wouldn’t give to return to the fun-loving tease she’d known forever. Would they ever be able to have a simple friendship again or had her weakness complicated things forever?

  Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she pulled it out. Sydney. It was as if her friend had ESP and could sense her emotions. She opened the text message.

  How’d you do? Can’t wait to see you today! Syd

  Would it be so bad to spend a few days at the ranch with Sydney like they’d originally planned? Chris would be with Scott and Derek most of the time and maybe it would give her some time to sort out what she was feeling. She had to make a decision because she couldn’t operate a business with him as long as things remained like this between them, but she wasn’t sure she could walk away from him either.

  DAVID WATCHED CHRIS and Alicia pull away. He’d made arrangements with Chris to meet them at Findley Brothers’ ranch tomorrow for a barbecue. He wasn’t sure how Chris managed to convince Ali to go there instead of going home but he had to give the guy credit. His plan to reveal Delilah’s lies might be genius, even if the execution might turn his stomach a bit. Now, David just had to convince her to open up to him.