Only he wasn’t hers. Not yet. Although whatever she’d seen in his eyes that morning gave her hope that perhaps all was not yet lost where Shaun Price was concerned.
After they settled Rocket in his stall, Brylee and Shaun headed back to the hotel. When they stepped off the elevator, Shaun walked her to her door. “Breakfast in an hour?”
She opened the door and glanced at the clock across the room. “How about forty-five minutes and if I beat you down to the lobby, I get to buy breakfast for you and Jason.”
“Deal,” Shaun said, backing down the hall. “But you’re really gonna have to hustle it, Bits.”
In thirty minutes she’d showered, blow-dried her hair, applied makeup, and tidied her room. It took her another five minutes to dress and grab her purse, then she raced out of the room. She’d gotten as far as the elevator when she realized she’d want a cowboy hat later and returned to the room. From those she’d set on the shelf in the closet, she grabbed a rustic burned straw hat with a quarter-inch strip of cream edging the brim and settled it on her head.
Brylee hurried back out the door and to the elevator, then rushed into the lobby. Shaun and Jason were nowhere in sight, so she took a seat on a nearby chair where she could keep an eye on the elevator. A few minutes later, she watched the two men step out when the doors opened.
“Beat you,” Brylee said, walking up to Shaun with a victorious grin. “I get to buy breakfast this morning.”
“I won’t argue about a pretty lady wanting to feed me,” Jason quipped, slipping Brylee’s hand around his arm. “What are you in the mood for this morning, darlin?”
Brylee pointed to a restaurant on the other side of the hotel’s casino. They made their way through the ringing and buzzing slot machines to the short line at the restaurant’s door.
Jason stepped back and gave her a long look then glared at Shaun. “I think we need to ask for a different room.”
“Why on earth do we need to do that?” Shaun asked, scowling at his father. “We’re close to the elevator and on a quiet end of the building.”
Jason wrapped an arm around Brylee’s shoulders and gave her a hug. “Because this girl must be breathing in a magical elixir at night. She just gets prettier every day. Our room certainly can’t boast that.”
Brylee blushed and glanced down at the cobalt paisley dress she wore with brown boots and a chunky turquoise necklace. Although the skirt was long, the buttons in the front of it ended in a placket above her knees. When she walked, the soft fabric swished around her, making her feel ultra-feminine and pretty.
From the look on Shaun’s face as he studied her, maybe he thought she was too.
Rather than comment on his father’s statement, he remained quiet as the hostess showed them to a table. Shaun didn’t add much to the conversation while they ate breakfast, seemingly lost in his thoughts.
Brylee had barely finished drinking a cup of spicy tea that tasted like Christmas when a cowboy she recognized sauntered by.
“Hey, Brett!” she called after him. The cowboy spun around and grinned at her, making his way to their table.
“Brylee. I was looking for you. Are you ready to go?” The team roper tipped his head to Shaun and shook Jason’s hand.
“I am ready,” Brylee said, pushing against Shaun to let her out of the booth.
“Go where?” Shaun asked. His already sullen features slid into a dark scowl.
“Brett and I are going to go check out the art exhibit where Celia McGraw has three of her photographs on display. The art’s going to be auctioned off for the crisis fund.” Brylee got out of the booth and straightened her twisted skirt, then leaned over Shaun and grabbed her hat from where she’d left it on the booth seat.
When she inadvertently brushed against him, he stiffened and drew in a sharp breath. She moved back, plopped the hat on her head, and gave the two Price men a smile. “I’ll pay the bill on the way out. Have a great day.”
Brylee fell into step with Brett. By sheer determination not to make a scene, she didn’t smack him when he wrapped a hand around her waist as they made their way to the door. The cowboy was well aware of Jason’s joke on Shaun and reveled in making it look like he was truly fascinated with her, at least until they made their way outside.
When you play with fire, don’t whine when you burn your fingers.
Brylee ignored her father’s voice issuing the warning as it plowed through her thoughts. She hadn’t heard his words of wisdom for weeks and now he suddenly popped back into her mind. Rather than listen, she ignored the admonishment.
Three hours later, she dropped Brett off at his hotel. He’d thanked her for a fun morning and the opportunity to torment Shaun before he closed the door and wandered inside. Brett had been fun and she enjoyed going to the art show with him, but she’d rather have been with Shaun. Brylee had just pulled out of the parking lot when her phone buzzed.
“Where are you?” Shaun’s voice came across the speaker.
“Driving toward the convention center. Why?” she asked, wondering what he was up to. She could hear traffic in the background, as though he stood outside.
“Will you swing by the hotel and pick me up?”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” she said, disconnecting the call and switching lanes. She turned and pulled into the valet area in front of their hotel. Shaun jogged over from where he’d stood talking to one of the valets and climbed in the passenger seat.
“Did you have fun with Brett?” he asked as he buckled his seatbelt.
“I did have a good time.” She waited for the car in front of her to move. “Did you do anything fun this morning?”
“Oh, just this and that,” Shaun said, giving her a look she couldn’t interpret. He didn’t look upset, but he wasn’t exactly smiling, either. “Are you in a rush to get to the convention center?”
“No. I have an autograph session there at two, but I’m free until then.”
“Great. Are you game for an adventure?” Shaun asked as she pulled into traffic.
“With you around, I have to be,” she teased.
He pointed out the window. “Turn right at the corner.”
Shaun had her drive to a casino and resort property that housed a Cirque du Soleil performance. She didn’t know how he’d found out about it or arranged it, but they joined a dozen people in taking a behind the scenes tour of the stage for the live circus show. Awed and amazed, she and Shaun recounted all the interesting facts they’d learned over lunch at a restaurant at the resort. After Shaun insisted on paying for lunch, they made their way to the convention center where she spent an hour signing autographs with other barrel racers.
She’d just gathered her things when Shaun appeared at her side. “Mind if I ride with you to the hotel?”
“Not at all,” she said, handing him her keys. “In fact, you can drive. I forgot how exhausting it is to sign autographs nonstop.”
Lightly, Shaun placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her through the crowds outside into the bright, warm sunshine. “I’m sure not complaining about this nice weather. It’s going to be awful when we head back home to cold and snow.”
“But it’ll seem more like Christmas,” she said, setting her bag on the floor and taking Shaun’s hand as he offered to help her inside the pickup. She didn’t really need the help, but appreciated his good manners and the opportunity to hold his hand, even for a moment.
Tired, she closed her eyes and rested while he drove them back to the hotel. As he walked around the pickup and gave the valet the keys, she handed the valet a tip.
“Do you and your dad need a ride to the rodeo?” she asked. “I plan to leave in an hour.”
“That’d be great. I’m not sure where Dad is right now, but I’ll check in with him. He’s probably up in our room making enough racket with his snoring the housekeepers will think someone has dragged wild animals into the suite.”
Brylee laughed and led the way off the elevator. “See you in an hour
.”
She was almost ready to leave when Shaun sent her a text that he wasn’t going to make it and to go ahead without him.
Once she arrived at the rodeo venue, she didn’t have time for wondering what Shaun was up to. She fed Rocket, partly due to his crankiness if he didn’t get to eat prior to an event and because she wanted to give him time to digest his food before it was time to run the barrels.
After he ate, she groomed him as much as he would tolerate then changed from her chore clothes into a pair of dark jeans with a sapphire blue sponsor-emblazoned shirt, including a new patch with the Lasso Eight logo. The owner of the company had been very happy with how she appeared in his ads and had offered her a sponsorship if she’d agree to model for Lasso Eight in the coming year.
Near the end of the steer wrestling, Brylee saddled Rocket and put on his boots that offered both support and protection. She rode him around the warm-up arena then moved into the alley where the barrel racers lined up to go into the arena.
Brylee looked around at her competition and felt a little pang of jealousy. Most of them had someone there to walk them down to the gate where they’d enter the arena, whether it was a significant other, parent, or a handler.
Alone, she quietly sat on her horse, determined not to let it bother her. She focused her thoughts on what she wanted Rocket to do in the arena — win.
A touch on her knee sent her nerve endings into a frenzied dance. Her gaze dropped and she looked into Shaun’s smiling face. He held up a single-stemmed pink rose. The inside of the petals were a pale creamy shade that graduated into blush pink with the very tips of the rose sporting a hot pink hue.
“Oh, my gosh, Shaun! It’s gorgeous,” she said, taking the rose from him and inhaling the fragrant scent.
“So are you, Bitsy. Dad’s right you know.”
She gave him a curious look then sniffed the rose again. “Right? About what?”
“You really do get prettier every day.” The hand he’d left on her knee slowly slid up to her thigh. “I’m not gonna wish you luck because you don’t need it. You and Rocket are an incredible team. Just go do what you do best and don’t worry about anything else.”
“Thanks, Shaun.” Brylee smiled at him as she broke part of the stem off the rose so she could tuck it into her hatband. When she settled it back on her head, she leaned down toward him. “I needed that reminder. What would I do without you?”
“Let’s not find out, hmm?” He grinned then brushed a sweet, tender kiss across her lips. “Go show ’em what you’ve got, Bits.”
The announcer began Brylee’s introduction. Shaun walked with her until she got to the point where she’d start Rocket’s run.
“Give a big Las Vegas welcome to Brylee Barton!” the announcer boomed. Fast-paced music thumped in the background and Brylee made three quick kissing sounds. Rocket tore into the arena and made a perfect turn around the first barrel. He rounded the second and turned the third with no trouble at all. Brylee held her breath as they raced across the arena to the cheers of the crowd.
“Look at that folks. That’s a fantastic first run for Brylee Barton,” the announcer said. “If you’ve missed the new Lasso Eight ads, you’ll see Brylee featured in them throughout the rodeo.”
Brylee forced herself not to glance at the scoreboard. She didn’t want to know how she’d done until everyone had raced. Shaun met her at the end of the alley where they waited for the final score. When the announcer said Brylee took the top score by a tenth of a second, Shaun whooped and patted her leg. Then she was off, racing around the arena for her victory lap.
Giddy with excitement and overcome with a wealth of emotions, she rode outside the rodeo arena and over to her trailer. She slid off Rocket on wobbly legs. Instantly, Shaun was there and wrapped her in his arms. He just held her, not saying anything, until she regained the ability to stand with his support.
“You did great, Bitsy. That was a fantastic run for the first night. Just keep doing what you do and you’ll win this thing.”
“Thanks, Shaun. And thanks for being here with me.” She took a deep breath of his enticing scent before pushing back and loosening the cinch on Rocket’s saddle. “I was feeling a little left out until you showed up.”
His brow furrowed in a frown as he bent down and removed one of the horse’s boots. “Why did you feel left out?”
“Everyone had someone with them, except me.” She smiled at him as she lifted off the saddle and set it in the tack area of her trailer. “But then you showed up and made everything all better. The rose is beautiful. I’ll put it in water as soon as I get Rocket settled.”
He glanced at the rose tucked into the band of her hat. “It suits you, soft and beautiful, fragrant and delicate, yet full of surprises.”
Brylee blushed, but the evening’s darkness hid it. She placed a magnetic blanket over Rocket’s back to encourage blood flow. Together, they walked Rocket around the warm-up arena until he cooled down. Back at her trailer, they removed the blanket then rubbed liniment on his legs before taking him to his stall. Once he was settled for the night, Shaun went with her to the awards ceremony at a property south of The Strip. He cheered the loudest as she collected that night’s winning buckle for barrel racing.
After he’d talked her into indulging in a celebratory piece of red velvet cheesecake, he walked her back to her room.
“You did good, Bitsy,” he said as they lingered in her doorway. “I’m proud of you.” He trailed one rough knuckle across her jawline before he kissed her cheek and disappeared into his room, leaving her confused yet full of yearning for another taste of his kiss.
Chapter Twenty
“Are you making any headway with Brylee?” Cooper asked as he and Shaun stood on a busy street corner waiting for the light to change.
“I don’t know. Some days I think I am, and others I seem to be backpedaling,” Shaun said, adjusting his hold on a box full of coffee and pastries. He and Cooper had volunteered to run out and get breakfast. Paige dealt with last minute fashion show problems and Brylee had disappeared to take a shower after feeding Rocket that morning. Birch, who’d arrived Thursday afternoon, had gone with Jason to see the historic Welcome to Las Vegas sign.
Tonight was the last evening of the rodeo. The last night Shaun had to make it clear to Brylee he couldn’t live without her. The last opportunity to convince her to give him a second chance.
He’d tried being supportive of her date-a-day scheme. She’d gone out on a date or adventure with a different guy every single day they’d been in Vegas. Just yesterday, she’d gone ziplining with a guy Shaun generally liked but totally loathed at the moment because Brylee had raved about how much fun she’d had with him.
Shaun sighed in frustration and glanced over at Cooper. “I’ve tried doing the subtle, romance thing. I took her on a hot air balloon ride. On a picnic in the desert. We went on a gondola ride at The Venetian. We’ve strolled through the conservatory at the Bellagio, and had dinner at The Paris so she could see the fountain show from up high. Last night, I took her to see the flamingoes. She acted like she loved it. On the way back, we walked through one of the open-air shopping areas and watched a Christmas tree lighting. Fake snow fell all around us and Christmas carols were playing. In spite of it being warm out, I bought her hot chocolate and a peppermint cupcake. I don’t know what else to do.”
Cooper smirked. “Man, you have got it bad.” He looked at Shaun as they crossed the street and continued on their way. “Everyone is talking about the pink roses in her hatband. I’ve heard about you smooching on her each night right before she rides.”
Shaun grinned. “Something must be working, she’s only knocked over two barrels the whole time she’s been here and her scores are consistently in the top three. She’s got a strong shot of winning tonight.”
“Yeah, she does, so don’t do something stupid that messes with her head between now and then.”
Shaun scowled at his friend then released another long
sigh. “I’m trying to be careful, Coop, to not distract her, but with her daily dial-a-date, I’m kind of floundering here.”
Cooper laughed. “Dial-a-date. That’s a good one.” He stopped as they came to another intersection and waited for the light. “You have to admit all the cowboys she’s dated are good guys.”
“I know that or I would have slammed the brakes on this nonsense long before now,” Shaun said. He glanced up at the big digital screen above them. A Lasso Eight ad began to play. This one showed snow gently falling with a bunkhouse in the background. The camera zoomed in on the bunkhouse and three figures came into focus. He and his friend Gage’s backsides were in perfect view, then the image panned out and showed Brylee leaning on their shoulders with a ball of mistletoe dangling from a red ribbon looped around her index finger. Shaun had the most besotted, lovesick look on his face as she glanced at him with her deep red lips formed into a seductive pout.
“It Must Have Been the Mistletoe” rolled across the screen followed by the Lasso Eight logo and website. The final screen shot mentioned their booth at the convention center.
Cooper snickered and thumped Shaun on the back. “Well, if that doesn’t make Brylee the most popular girl in town today, I don’t know what will.”
Shaun growled at him and stalked across the street.
“Hey, wait up,” Cooper called as he hurried to catch up with him. “Dude, you’ve got to calm down and get a hold of yourself. How do you think Brylee feels seeing women drooling after your backside like it’s one big ol’ decadent piece of candy?”
Shaun hadn’t given any thought to Brylee being as plagued with feelings of jealousy or irritation by his modeling as he was by hers.
He’d watched her model at a fashion show on Thursday and had to sit on both hands to keep from punching a few guys who made raunchy comments about her. He was proud of her, enjoyed seeing her success, but hated the way men watched her, wanted her.
Racing Christmas Page 22
