Runaway Cowboy (15 page)

“It's not for me,” he exclaimed. “That'd be so wrong.” He reached over and pinched her ribs, causing her to squeal and scoot away from his fingers. “It's for . . . someone else.”

Alicia forced out a shaky laugh. “Are we back in high school again? Did some guy send you over here to see if I
like
him?” She tossed the brush into the bucket in the tack compartment and slipped a flake of alfalfa into a hay net before hanging it on the side of the trailer for both of her geldings, grateful they were easygoing enough to share. She arched a brow and cocked her hip to the side. “If some guy wants me to go to the dance with him tonight, he better be brave enough to ask me himself.”

Chris ran his hand over her gelding's neck and shook his head, laughing. “Damn, woman, no wonder you're still single. You're brutal on us guys.” He slapped her butt as he walked by. “Maybe I'll see you there tonight.”

“Hey,” she yelled after him. “That's mine, and unless you put a ring on this finger, keep your hands to yourself.”

Chris shot her a quick wave but continued to laugh. She watched as he walked away, trying to drag her eyes away from admiring the way he filled out his jeans and to slow her racing heart. Then he looped his arm around the shoulders of a pretty redhead who didn't look like she'd ever touched a horse, let alone ridden one.
She might be looking for something to ride, but it isn't a horse.

She rolled her eyes as she turned back to her animals, trying to quell the flutter in her stomach. She couldn't believe Chris could still make her feel this way. It didn't even make sense. She would never act on her feelings for him. In fact, she'd never told anyone, not even Sydney. It was just a stupid, girlish crush. Chris was nothing more than a friend, not to mention one of the most eligible cowboys on the circuit. And she was just a girl from the poor side of the barn who never registered as anything more than a nuisance on his radar.

C
HRIS SAT ASTRIDE
his bay gelding, Jaeger, in the practice arena, one leg casually looped around his saddle horn, while he and David waited for their turn. There were at least thirty pairs of team ropers in the slack and, so far, it was taking forever to get through them. At this rate, they were never going to make it in time for the barbecue tonight. His stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn't eaten all day.

“Who was the girl you were talking to earlier?”

He casually glanced at his partner, David Greenly. He raised his brows at his friend. “Why? Interested?”

David shot him a disdainful glare. “Hardly.”

They'd been rodeoing together for the last five years and when David encouraged him to go pro, Chris jumped at the chance. The two of them shared a common goal—to win the National Finals so they could open a roping school together. However, it took time to build their reputation and Chris wasn't known for his patience. He needed to remember they were taking it one step at a time, one go-round at a time. In the meantime, he wanted to enjoy every spare moment, while David seemed content to be a workaholic.

At this point, they knew each other well enough to finish the other's sentences. If he didn't watch himself, David would realize Chris was setting him up. Chris was tired of watching David push himself day after day, striving to be the best without any thought to what he was giving up. If he heard it once, he'd heard David complain about wanting to settle down and have kids a thousand times. Neither was high on Chris's list of priorities, but that didn't mean he couldn't help his friend have what he wanted—the family he'd missed growing up with a single dad on the rodeo circuit. Besides, he was tired of David being his wingman and never having a woman of his own. It was beginning to make him feel guilty, like he was hoarding the ladies all for himself.

Not that. Chris had any intention of getting tied down like his sister had, regardless of his mother's begging for another grandchild. It wasn't that he had anything against the institution of marriage, he was just having too much fun enjoying his freedom.

He shot David a sly look. “I've talked to a lot of girls today. Which one are you talking about?”

“At the trailer. The barrel racer with the paint?” David absent-mindedly slapped the end of his rope against his thigh while his horse hung his head, bored and dozing. “She didn't look like one of your usual bunnies.”

He was known to flirt with the women who lurked behind the chutes trying to find a cowboy to tame. Chris chuckled at the thought. Like he would ever be tamed. “Dark hair? Really pretty?”

“Yeah, she was pretty.” David shrugged but didn't look away. “I suppose.”

Chris could see he was interested but didn't want to appear overly so and laughed at him. “That's Alicia Kanani, Sydney's best friend. You don't remember her?”

He looked surprised. “The one who was rodeo queen a few years ago?”

“That's the one. Why? Want me to talk to her for you?”

David frowned and shook his head. “The last thing I need right now is a female distraction. You don't either,” he pointed out. “Get your head in the game. We are sitting fourth in the standings and we need to be higher before the National Finals.”

“Yes, sir.” Chris snapped him a mock salute while David glared at him. “But if you think I'm going to act like a monk because you do, you're insane. With all these available females just vying for my attention? I mean, just look at them.”

Chris nodded his head toward the fence where several women in miniskirts, cowboy boots, and half-shirts waved, trying to catch his attention. He winked at one of the women along the fence line and laughed as she started whispering to her friend. “You see? I'm just being friendly, the way my mama taught me.”

“Sure you are.” David shook his head and jerked his chin toward the chutes. “Quit fraternizing with the bunnies and pay attention. We're almost up.”

The pair jogged their geldings to the gate and waited for their turn. As the steer was loaded into the chute, David walked his mount into the heeler box while Chris urged his into the opposite side and waited for the cowboy manning it to stretch the barrier rope across the front. He backed his horse into the corner of the box, feeling his haunches bunch under him, twitching with anticipation.

Chris settled the loop of his rope in his right hand, slipping his reins through his left until they were exactly the way he liked them. His gelding pawed his front foot, anticipating his opportunity to bolt forward. He inhaled deeply, practically tasting the damp earth. A slow smile spread over his lips. He loved this life.

Settling into the saddle, murmuring to his gelding, he let out the breath. He glanced over the chute at David and, seeing he was ready, nodded to the cowboy who released the steer from the chute. He nudged the gelding's sides, breaking from the box as the rope snapped, clearing him to make a clean run.

Swinging the loop over his head, he felt the rope slide deftly through his fingers until instinct told him it was exactly the size and position he wanted it to be. Reaching his arm forward, he tossed it perfectly over the steer's horns, flipping his hand over and catching the rope in his fingers as he simultaneously wound it around the saddle horn and turned his gelding. He directed the steer forward, the rope pressing against his thigh, as David aimed his loop downward to catch the steer's back feet. Watching over his shoulder, he heard the zip of the rope and saw David catch both feet. Chris spun his horse to face his partner, stretching their ropes taut as the official snapped his flag, signaling their time. 5.2. It was a great time; enough for first place, but they wouldn't know if they could hold their position until after tomorrow's performance.

The men rode toward one another causing the rope to loosen and slip from the steer's hind legs. David wound his rope as Chris followed the steer to the end of the arena where another cowboy removed his rope and a third opened the back gate for him to exit.

“Nice run, Chris.”

He twisted in his saddle in time to see Alicia loading her horses into her trailer. “Thanks. You're leaving?” A curl of disappointment twisted through his gut, surprising him.

“Yeah, if I leave now, I can get home in time to help Dad feed the horses.”

“Oh.” He noticed David riding up behind him. “Hey, do you remember David Greenly?”

“Who wouldn't? You're practically rodeo royalty,” she said, her pretty almond eyes turned toward David as she smiled up at him. “That was a great catch.”

“Thanks,” he muttered.

Chris looked from one to the other and frowned. David might be a man of few words but he'd never known him to be shy. He wondered at David's uncharacteristic surly frown. From the way his eyes slid over her curves, he was obviously attracted to her but you sure couldn't tell it by the look on his face. If he could get David to loosen up and find a nice woman to put up with his hyper-competitive, driven nature, they could start having fun roping again. Right now, David seemed intent on making it work.

He knew David's dad was putting him under a lot of pressure to make the Finals this year, and Chris could see it taking a toll. David needed to find a woman to loosen himself up while keeping his eyes on the championship, and Chris was sure Alicia was perfect for him. Sweet and fun, she'd always been a smart girl with ambition and a knack for talking them both out of trouble. She was just as driven as either of them. To tell the truth, growing up he'd always wanted to hook up with her himself but didn't want the complication that would arise from dating his sister's best friend. If David let himself, Chris knew he would fall for her dark beauty immediately. That is, if he would quit frowning and actually talk to her.

Chris leaned on the horn of his saddle as Alicia locked the back gate of her trailer and leaned against it. “How is your dad? I haven't seen him since the rodeo last year.”

“Good, still working at the Diamond Bar.” She crossed her arms, leaning against her trailer and smiled up at him.

“He hasn't moved on yet?”

Alicia cocked her head. “As if he would ever leave. He's been working for them since before I was born.”

“And your mom?”

Alicia glanced at David, sitting stick-straight in the saddle, his eyes sliding over her as if he was trying to gauge her worth. It wasn't hard to see he was uncomfortable and wanted to move on. Chris knew David was irritated with him, but Alicia was sure to think she was the cause and Chris wanted to warn him to dial back the attitude. Just because his family was rodeo champion stock didn't mean Alicia was going to let someone treat her like chopped liver.

“She's still working for them too, running their house. I'm sure she'd love for you to stop by to say hi before you head out of town.”

“I'm sure we could do that.” Chris sat up and glanced at David. “Matter of fact, we're finished. If you want to wait for us, we can load our rig and head over to the house to help your dad feed.” He didn't wait for David to agree, avoiding the pointed look he shot at Chris.

David sighed and shook his head, clenching his jaw. He refrained from commenting but it didn't hide his irritation. Chris glared at him in warning. What did David have to complain about? Chris was setting him up with a beautiful woman—unless David didn't realize what Chris was doing and thought Chris was trying to hook up with her. The thought almost made him laugh out loud. David would know by now that Chris liked women without strings attached. No commitments, ever. Alicia was the opposite. She was the girl you built forever with and Chris had no interest in forever. But, David? He was a different story.

Chris wasn't worried that Alicia might not be interested in his partner. He was the type of guy every girl wanted to settle down with—sturdy, dependable, ambitious—and for some reason, women were drawn to his “Aw shucks” demeanor. Chris had enough of them ask him about his friend to know the air of dependable, quiet strength surrounding him was what women sought in marriage material. They weren't looking for a fun-loving, irresponsible husband. They wanted a guy they could count on and, of the two of them, that was definitely David.

Alicia glanced at David again cautiously. “I'm sure Mama and Daddy would love for you guys to come have dinner with us but I'm not sure David wants to.”

Chris shot David a warning look and cocked his head, smiling at Alicia's forthright comment. “Who cares what this guy wants.” Chris jerked a thumb at David. “I'd love a home cooked meal. I'm sick of his ironed grilled cheese and cold French fries.” He grimaced and she laughed.

“It can't be that bad.”

“It is,” David agreed, barely cracking a smile. Chris wished his friend would just lighten up for a few minutes. “I guess I'll get started loading the horses then. Sounds like I'll see you in just a bit, Alicia.” David spun the horse and headed past several large stock trailers on his way to the one he shared with Chris.

Alicia watched him leave, curiously, before raising her brows and turning to Chris. “Wow, he's kinda intense.”

Chris stifled a chuckle, glad she wasn't judging him by their first encounter. “Yeah, but he's a good guy and I know he's got my back no matter what.”

“You mean he'd bail you out of any kind of trouble you get yourself into,” she said, jingling her keys, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I mean, he has. Several times,” he clarified before giving her a guilty smile. “Probably will again before this weekend is over.” Chris glanced back in the direction David had gone. “I better go help him. If you want to head out, we'll just be a few minutes behind you. I think, after all these years, I can still remember the way,” he said before winking at her and watching her pull out of the arena before nudging his gelding toward his trailer.

As he rode closer, he could see the fury in David's face and wondered at the wisdom of their dinner plans.