by T. J. Kline
“Cristobel!” She hurried forward and enveloped him in a hug, squeezing him impressively for such a tiny woman.
“Jessie!” He laughed at the Spanish nickname she’d given him in high school, as he lifted her from the ground and swung her around once. He placed her back on the floor. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by sooner.”
She gave him a frown. “I should hope so. I don’t even know how long it’s been since I’ve seen you,” she scolded in her thick Spanish accent.
Chris tried to look sheepish when he heard the clomping of boots on the steps of the front porch. The door opened as Noah came inside, making sure not to track dirt into Jessie’s immaculate house. “I sure hope that cowboy putting horses in the back is with you, young man.”
Chris laughed and thrust out a hand to Alicia’s father. “He’s my roping partner. It’s good to see you again, sir.”
“Alicia, why don’t you go see if that young man outside needs anything else?” Jessie suggested.
Chris wondered if she wasn’t already having the same thoughts as he was about the pair and looked over at Alicia, leaning against the side of the doorway, watching their interaction.
“Sure, Mom.” Alicia pushed away from the wall, rolling her eyes as she moved past them to head outside.
“Don’t mind her,” Noah said as she closed the door. “She’s just mad about quitting rodeo.”
“I CAN’T BELIEVE I let him get me involved in this,” David muttered as he threw two flakes of hay to the geldings.
It wasn’t as if they didn’t have plenty they needed to work on. What they really should have done was head to Chris’s parents’ ranch to practice before their second go-round tomorrow. If they didn’t get some better times, there was no way they were going to stay in the top ten and get to Vegas. It pissed him off that Chris would rather spend precious practice time flirting with girls from his past, and trying to get him to do the same.
“You know, some people think talking to your horse is a sign of insanity.”
The quiet laughter at the pasture gate made him clench his jaw. She might be a great girl but he wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone nor did he have time for a relationship, contrary to what Chris seemed to think.
“Yeah, well, that tends to happen anyway when Chris Thomas is your roping partner.”
She leaned her arms over the fence, resting her chin on them. “He does have that effect on people,” she laughed. “Need some help?” She pushed herself from the fence and opened the gate.
“I’m about finished, unless you want to grab a can of grain from the trailer?”
“Sure,” she said, hurrying toward their trailer in front of the house.
David couldn’t help but notice the way her full lips curved into a pretty smile making her dark eyes light up or the slight sway of her hips as she left. She was exactly the type of girl he was attracted to, a girl-next-door with natural beauty, even with her hair pulled back and no makeup. Chris knew it, too, damn him. But what he didn’t realize was that it only made him more driven to focus on winning so he could earn enough money to be able to settle down and have the things he wanted in his future—a wife, kids, his own ranch—like his brother.
She returned with a coffee can of grain, shaking it. The horses jerked their heads up and whinnied their approval as she came near, drawing him out of his pointless daydreams, and she passed it to him over the fence.
“Nice looking boys,” she commented, jerking her chin toward the animals. “You two are doing pretty well in the standings, at least for now.”
David shrugged. “Not if I can’t keep Chris’s head in the game.”
She gave him an understanding smile. “You guys have been roping together for almost five years, right? You know he’ll manage to pull it out in the end. I have no idea how he always seems to do it but he does. I wish I had that talent.”
He caught her frown from the corner of his eye as he poured the grain over the flakes of hay and locked the pasture gate. “Let’s hope so,” David grumbled. “Personally, I’m tired of almost making it to the Finals. I want to be there this year and I’m not letting him lose focus.”
She cocked her head at him, as if she was trying to read his thoughts, and he wondered if he’d said more than he should’ve. He didn’t normally let his mouth get ahead of his brain and good sense but for some reason this woman had him acting out of character, admitting things he wouldn’t under normal circumstances.
“I mean . . . ” He closed his mouth, wishing he’d just kept it shut from the beginning, and wondered again how she was able to get him to let his guard down so quickly.
“I know what you mean,” she cut him off. “It’s hard to come so close over and over only to be disappointed, especially when it’s not your fault.” She glanced up at the back of the house. “I’m hoping to make it to Vegas, too. Even if other people do have a different opinion as to where I should be.”
He stopped walking and stared at her, knowing there was far more she wasn’t saying. He arched a brow. “Maybe we have more in common than either of us thought.”
She smiled at him, and the sadness he’d seen in her eyes disappeared for a moment. “Maybe we do,” she agreed.
“So, tell me,” he began, looking around him at the various fenced pastures. “What’s up with this place?”
“Dad’s run the day-to-day operations for the Diamond Bar for the last twenty-five years and Mom works for them in the house. I guess you could say it’s turned into a family affair.” The frown was back, marring her brow. “They’re nice people and they’ve been good to us.”
“You’re sure it’s fine for the boys to be in the pasture?”
“What?” She glanced at the horses quietly eating. “Oh, they’re fine. It’s not like you guys are staying long. It’s just dinner.”
David felt a twinge of disappointment. She was different than he’d expected her to be. He’d assumed any woman Chris introduced him to would be shallow and, well, a floozy. Alicia wasn’t like that at all. He found himself interested in her and wanted to spend more time with her. He needed to stay focused, and keep Chris focused, but they obviously weren’t going to do any practicing tonight. Why not invite this pretty barrel racer to the dance tonight after all? If they weren’t going to work, maybe one night of fun with an attractive woman wouldn’t be such a horrible idea. If nothing else, it might get Chris to quit pestering him.
“THE PLACE LOOKS great, Jessie. I like the new counters in the kitchen,” Chris said, reaching for another piece of garlic bread, wiping the excess butter from his hands on the paper towel beside his plate. “Did you have it professionally done?”
“No, I did it myself.” Alicia shook her head as her mother blushed slightly at his compliment. “But, thank you.”
Alicia caught Chris’s eye. “I think you have a little something right there.” She rubbed at the end of her nose. David choked back a laugh, covering his mouth with his napkin. Even her father laughed at the joke.
“You hush,” her mother warned, playfully slapping at Alicia’s arm with her fingertips. “He can compliment my taste any time he wants to if it means he’ll come around more often.”
Chris smirked at Alicia and turned toward her father. “Dad told me Bradley just sold one of his studs for $12,000. Was it the one you’ve been training?”
“He was a great horse before I ever got my hands on him. I was just lucky to work with such a talented stud.”
Alicia watched her father shake his head, lowering his eyes in humility. She hated that he wouldn’t take any credit for the work he did. He was an amazing trainer and was wasting time mucking stalls and grooming for someone else. He should be training and selling his own horses for that price. If only she was able to get the down payment for that property sooner . . . She looked down at her plate, suddenly losing her appetite.
“That’s pretty impressive, Noah,” Chris commented. “You still afraid of them, Jessie?”
Her mother lau
ghed quietly. “Not afraid, just cautious. They’re so big! Did Alicia tell you she will probably be working with Noah soon?”
“Really?” David asked as both cowboys turned to Alicia in surprise. He’d been quiet throughout the meal and Alicia glanced up at him.
She set her napkin on the table and cleared her throat, unsure how to answer the question. She had no intention of taking Bradley Langdon up on his offer to train and show his horses. She wasn’t about to get trapped into the same life her parents had, working for a dream that wasn’t her own, but she hadn’t broken her decision to her parents yet. Until she could offer an alternative solution, or purchase the property she wanted, she’d been stalling.
“Her riding prowess hasn’t gone unnoticed all these years and Bradley wants her to show his horses. Maybe even start training a few and giving lessons.”
“That’s a big accomplishment,” David acknowledged, smiling at her.
Her father looked at her proudly and her heart ached. He saw it as such a compliment and she saw it as a prison sentence. How could she ever make him understand?
“I guess,” she agreed, hoping they would assume her hesitancy was discomfort and change the subject. “I still have to finish out this rodeo season,” she pointed out.
Why was it that no one seemed to care that she wanted nothing to do with helping anyone else earn money from her work? If she ever quit rodeo to train, it was going to be to train her own barrel horses and give lessons on her own ranch. Why did everyone assume she would jump at the chance to train for the Diamond Bar.
Chris frowned, his brows dipping low. “I think it’s a waste of talent.” Every set of eyes at the table spun to look at him. “I mean, Alicia is an amazing barrel racer, she always has been. Why quit to train cutting horses? Do you even want to show cutting horses?”
She glanced at her father, biting her lower lip nervously. He turned to her expectantly, waiting for her answer. She couldn’t help but appreciate that Chris seemed to understand her desire to race, voicing her thoughts, but she could’ve kicked him when she saw the disappointment in her father’s eyes. “I don’t know. I never really thought about it before.”
Chris sighed and rolled his eyes. “You’ve always talked about being a barrel racer and teaching other girls to run. I never once heard you say anything about showing.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it in his plate. “In fact, I remember you laughing at the girls who went to horse shows.”
She saw David’s body jerk to the side and Chris shot a glare at David. Alicia silently thanked him for shutting Chris up, even if it was with a kick under the table. This was something she needed to talk about with her parents privately. She didn’t need his help or, in this case, him instigating trouble.
CHRIS RUBBED AT the knot forming on his shin and glowered at David.
“Are you guys ready for dessert? Blackberry pie?” Jessie asked, looking at him pointedly. “If I remember right, that’s your favorite, isn’t it, Cristobel?”
He gave her a grin. “I love your blackberry pie but you’ve stuffed me with lasagna and garlic bread.” He shot a sly look at David who was watching Alicia intently. “I guess I could have a small piece and then work it off dancing tonight.”
“I thought you said you wanted to head out?” Chris didn’t miss David’s suspicious glance.
“We should go to the dance and have some fun.” He nodded toward Alicia across the table. “I know how much this one likes to dance. Maybe she could teach you a thing or two. Your moves are pretty horrendous.”
“I don’t know,” Alicia hemmed. “I have to be back down there early tomorrow for the next go-round.” She stood and started to clear the table.
“You’ll do fine, hon,” Noah chuckled. “Beast knows the pattern in his sleep.”
Alicia rolled her eyes as she hurried to the sink with the plates, not wanting her father to see her irritation. She needed to focus on tomorrow’s run. If she came in first it would move her up in the standings, bump her above Delilah, and add a hefty chunk to her savings. She had to be at the top of her game, not exhausted from dancing with a couple of cowboys, no matter how ruggedly good looking they might be. Although, an ice cold beer and some loud music might curb the frustration building in her right now.
“Come on, Ali.” Chris came up behind her with a stack of plates. “It’ll be like old times.” He cocked his head to the side and gave her the puppy dog eyes that used to get him his way with his sister.
She glanced up at David, who followed Chris into the kitchen, bearing more dishes. He shrugged and looked resigned to Chris getting his way again. She wanted to be angry and shake him. Maybe if people told him no once in a while, he’d understand responsibility and that life wasn’t all about fun.
Instead, she looked back at his pleading blue eyes and sighed. Her heart thumped in her chest as he took a step closer before lowering his voice.
“Come on, Ali. You know you want to go.”
She did and couldn’t fight it when her heart did a flip in her chest. Alicia sighed. “Fine.” How did he always manage to turn her brains to mush?
About the Author
T. J. KLINE was bitten by the horse bug early and began training horses at fourteen as well as competing in rodeos and winning several rodeo queen competitions but has always known writing was her first love. She also writes under the name Tina Klinesmith. In her spare time, she can be found spending as much time as possible laughing hysterically with her husband, teens, and their menagerie of pets in Northern California.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Also by T. J. Kline
Learning the Ropes
The Cowboy and the Angel
Rodeo Queen
Give in to your impulses . . .
Read on for a sneak peek at seven brand-new
e-book original tales of romance from HarperCollins.
Available now wherever e-books are sold.
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By Megan Erickson
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SINFUL REWARDS 1
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An Excerpt from
VARIOUS STATES OF UNDRESS: GEORGIA
by Laura Simcox
Laura Simcox concludes her fun, flirty Various States of Undress series with a presidential daughter, a hot baseball player, and a tale of love at the ballgame.
“Uh. Hi.”
Georgia splayed her hand over the front of her wet blouse and stared. The impossibly tanned guy standing just inside the doorway—wearing a tight T-shirt, jeans, and a smile—was as still as a statue. A statue with fathomless, unblinking chocolate brown eyes. She let her gaze drop from his face to his broad chest. “Oh. Hello. I was expecting someone else.”
He didn’t comment, but when she lifted her gaze again, past his wide shoulders and carved chin, she watched his smile turn into a grin, revealing way-too-sexy brackets at the corners of his mouth. He walked down the steps and onto the platform where she stood. He had to be at least 6’3”, and testosterone poured off him like heat waves on the field below. She shouldn’t stare at him, right? Damn. Her gaze flicked from him to the glass wall but moved right back again.
“Scared of heights?” he asked. His voice was a slow, deep Southern drawl. Sexy deep. “Maybe you oughta sit down.”
“No, thanks. I was just . . . looking for something.”
Looking for something? Like what—a tryst with a stranger in the press box? Her face
heated, and she clutched the water bottle, the plastic making a snapping sound under her fingers. “So . . . how did you get past my agents?”
He smiled again. “They know who I am.”
“And you are?”
“Brett Knox.”
His name sounded familiar. “Okay. I’m Georgia Fulton. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, putting down her water.
He shook her hand briefly. “You, too. But I just came up here to let you know that I’m declining the interview. Too busy.”
Georgia felt herself nodding in agreement, even as she realized exactly who Brett Knox was. He was the star catcher—and right in front of her, shooting her down before she’d even had a chance to ask. Such a typical jock.
“I’m busy, too, which is why I’d like to set up a time that’s convenient for both of us,” she said, even though she hoped it wouldn’t be necessary. But she couldn’t very well walk into the news station without accomplishing what she’d been tasked with—pinning him down. Georgia was a team player. So was Brett, literally.
“I don’t want to disappoint my boss, and I’m betting you feel the same way about yours,” she continued.
“Sure. I sign autographs, pose for photos, visit Little League teams. Like I said, I’m busy.”
“That’s nice.” She nodded. “I’m flattered that you found the time to come all the way up to the press box and tell me, in person, that you don’t have time for an interview. Thanks.”
He smiled a little. “You’re welcome.” Then he stretched, his broad chest expanding with the movement. He flexed his long fingers, braced a hand high on the post, and grinned at her again. Her heart flipped down into her stomach. Oh, no.
“I get it, you know. I’ve posed for photos and signed autographs, too. I’ve visited hospitals and ribbon cutting ceremonies, and I know it makes people happy. But public appearances can be draining, and it takes time away from work. Right?”
“Right.” He gave her a curious look. “We have that in common, though it’s not exactly the same. I may be semi-famous in Memphis, but I don’t have paparazzi following me around, and I like it that way. You interviewing me would turn into a big hassle.”
