by T. J. Kline
David dropped his hand. “Don’t lie to me. I know you too well. I’ve never seen you look at another woman the way you do her. It took me a while to figure it out. Are you in love with her?”
“You’re crazy.”
“You’re sure?”
Chris tried to ignore the pain gripping his lungs, the burning threatening to steal his ability to speak. “I’m positive.”
“Good, then back off. You’re like a brother to me, Chris, but you opened this door and I’m walking through it. Ali’s too special for me not to.”
Chris didn’t answer. He couldn’t deny David’s accusation so he did what he did best—walked away.
ALICIA UNTIED BEAST and loaded him into the trailer, eyeing the table where the rodeo secretary would be handing out checks for the winners. Finally, fate was smiling down on her. Her first place win put her over the amount she needed to place an offer on the property she wanted. Not to mention, she was meeting a great guy who was willing to fight for her honor for dinner tonight.
Just the thought of David was enough for shame to steal its way into her thoughts. She could see he wanted their relationship to move forward. It was evident in the way he reached for her hand, the appreciative looks he cast her way, but she wasn’t ready to move forward and she hated herself for holding back. She wanted to feel about him the way he did for her. She wanted to feel those electric jolts when his hand settled at her lower back, or to shiver with tingles of pleasure when he kissed her. But so far, no matter how much she wanted to, she wasn’t feeling the same way about him. She wondered if she’d ever feel that way about anyone.
Her eyes instinctively slid to where Chris leaned against the fence, flirting with two women in short, frilly skirts and half-shirts. Okay, she might feel that way about someone but why did it have to be Chris? She pressed her lips into a thin line, slamming the back gate of the trailer harder than she planned. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chris look her way but she refused to watch him slobber over two bimbos. What was wrong with him? Was he really that much of a player that he had no standards and any female was game?
She checked her brake lights before climbing into the driver’s seat and caught sight of Chris heading toward her truck in the side mirror and sighed.
“Hang on, Ali,” he called, jogging to the driver’s window.
She blew out an exasperated breath, making her hair ruffle. “What, Chris?”
“Are you pissed at me?” He looked confused and she wanted to throttle him for being so obtuse. What did she have to do, throw herself at his feet naked? She wasn’t the one sending mixed signals.
How was she supposed to explain her frustration to him without looking like an idiot? Chris had never led her on, or offered any commitment. He never claimed to be anything more than the player his reputation proclaimed him to be. She was the one stupid enough to let her heart run ahead of her good sense.
“No, I’m just going to be later for dinner.” She busied herself with her phone. “And I’m waiting for them to hurry up and get the checks ready so I can head out.”
“Congrats on the win today. Looks like we both came in the money.” He pushed his straw cowboy hat back on his head and looked at her curiously as she tapped out a text message. “You sure you’re not mad because you don’t usually ignore me.”
She turned her face toward him and rolled her eyes. “Contrary to what you think, Chris, you’re not God’s gift to rodeo and women. I’m a little preoccupied sending a message, if that’s okay with you?”
“I see.” He took a step back and she could see the hurt in his eyes before anger set in. “I was joking, Ali, but I can see I’m intruding on . . . something, so I’ll just find someone more interested in my company.”
Great, now she felt like a jerk.
“Wait, Chris.” She climbed out of the truck as he started to leave and reached for his arm. “I just . . . I can’t do this.” Alicia threw her hands in the air.
“What’s this?” He frowned and took a step closer to her. She backed up until her back was against the truck just to keep some space between them. Whenever he got close like this, the air thinned and breathing became a chore. She could feel the tension between them igniting, like a crack of lightning about to spark.
“This.” She waved her hand between them, unable to vocalize what she was feeling. How could she explain that she wanted him to kiss her, that she hadn’t stopped comparing every kiss from David to those from Chris and found David lacking? “Whatever this is,” she tried to clarify.
Chris moved forward, his arm curling behind her, leaning into her as the door handle pressed against her back. “You mean this?” he whispered, his voice hoarse.
Every inch of her body became ultra-sensitive. Alicia felt his warm breath against her cheek as his fingers trailed over her bare arm to the strap of her tank top and over her collarbone making her practically sizzle with longing as warmth spread across her chest and limbs. Her breath caught in her throat when his eyes met hers, his gaze hot with desire. She wanted to arch against him, beg him to touch her, to plead with him to stop tormenting her. Her limbs turned liquid and she grasped at his shoulders to hold herself upright, grateful for the solidity of the truck behind her.
“Chris,” she whispered, unable to form any other coherent words as he bent forward, his lips finding the edge of her ear and trailing down to her jaw.
“Ali, you make me forget what I’m supposed to do.” His words fell against her skin, so quietly she barely heard the tortured recrimination in his voice. “I only think about what I want to do to you.”
She didn’t know what to say, didn’t think her lips could form words anyway. Her mind was too lost in the sensation of his lips against the hollow behind her ear, sending delicious shivers of delight down her spine. His tongue grazed the curve of her ear and she bit back a soft moan of delight, trying to remain upright when her legs wanted to go liquid. He pressed against her, every part of his body fitted against hers as his hands found her waist, his thumbs grazing the side of her ribs. She couldn’t fight her body as it arched into him and she could feel his arousal.
“I can’t do this.” He pressed his face into the curve of her neck, knocking his hat backward to the ground, unnoticed. “I can’t,” he repeated.
It was like he threw a bucket of ice water onto her. She felt her heart splinter again, the way it did each time he pulled her close only to push her away. She pressed her hands against the solid wall of his chest, resisting the urge to slide them over the hard muscles, and pushed him back a step.
“Then don’t. Don’t do this to me. It isn’t fair.” She didn’t need to pour her heart out to him. He had to see the need in her eyes, the love she’d been trying to hide for years. “If you’re my friend, then stop playing this game with me.”
Still shaking, Alicia slipped from his arms, leaving him by the truck and hurried to the rodeo secretary, intent on collecting her check, now. The sooner she had her money, the sooner she could get her priorities and her heart back on the right track. She didn’t need a man who would toss her away without a second thought.
Chapter Twelve
* * *
“I HOPE YOU haven’t been waiting too long.” David leaned over and kissed her cheek, sliding into the booth beside her. She’d gone ahead and gotten them a table while he waited at the rodeo grounds for his brother to meet up with them. “It took longer than I expected.”
“It’s fine.” She smiled at him but he could see something in her eyes. There was a hesitation that wasn’t usually there and a sadness that hadn’t been there earlier.
“Are you okay?” He narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Yeah,” she said, a little too quickly. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long weekend.”
“This is where you bring us for dinner?” Colt slid into the booth across from Alicia as his brother sat beside him. His father reeked of stale beer. “You’d think you could af
ford something a bit nicer after that win.”
“Stop, Dad. This place has great steaks so just figure out what you want.” David’s brother leaned closer to Colt’s ear. “Behave,” he ordered.
David shot his brother a rueful glance before turning toward Alicia. “Ali, this is my brother, Christian.” His brother stood and leaned over the table to shake her hand.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. That was a great run today.”
“Thanks. It’s nice to meet you,” she said quietly.
She bit her lower lip and studied her menu. This wasn’t like her but David didn’t want to question her in front of his dad. Maybe she was just uncomfortable around his father. God knows, she had every reason to be after what he’d said earlier. He slid his hand to her thigh and lightly squeezed. He saw the flicker of humor in her eyes as she shifted and reached her hand down to meet his, twining her fingers between his to stop him from squeezing the ticklish spot near her knee.
It was a glimpse of her usual fun-loving personality and calmed his worries, but only slightly. The waitress appeared to take their orders and David ordered grilled steaks for him and Alicia while his brother ordered an Angus burger. His father slapped the menu on the table irritably.
“I don’t even know what to order. Nothing looks good.”
David shot the waitress an apologetic glance and she smiled down at him sympathetically. “Dad, just try the steak.”
“No,” he argued, waving his hand. “It’s too expensive.”
First his father complained that the restaurant wasn’t expensive and ritzy enough and now he was complaining about the prices of the food? There was no pleasing the man. David clenched his jaw. “It’s fine, Dad. Order whatever you want.”
Colt shoved at Christian’s shoulder. “Oh, look at him. One win and money’s no concern but he doesn’t have anything to save the ranch.”
“Dad,” David muttered. “Not now. We’ll talk about this later.”
“It’s always later with you.”
“Sir,” the waitress apologized, “why don’t I just give you a few more minutes?”
David shot his brother a glance, pleading with him to help shut their father up, and glanced over at Alicia. She looked uncomfortable as Colt leaned toward her, narrowing his eyes.
“Maybe you’re the reason he can’t afford to keep the ranch that’s been in our family for three generations. You realize he’s as close to broke as they come, right?”
The color drained from her face and she looked around as if trying to find something to explain Colt’s attack. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” Colt planted both hands on the table and leaned closer. “I’ve been around rodeo longer than you’ve been alive. I know how you bunnies try to worm your way into our wallets.” He jerked his thumb toward David. “Well, this one’s got nothing.”
“That’s enough, Dad,” Christian said, reaching for his dad’s arm, pulling him back toward the seat. “You don’t even know her.”
“I don’t have to.”
Alicia’s eyes flashed with fury as she cocked a brow on her forehead and laughed at Colt, surprising them all. “You’re a sad, pathetic excuse for a cowboy.”
“You can’t talk to me like that.” David watched his father’s face redden with fury. “I’m Colt Greenly.”
“You are a washed up, worthless ex-champion who expects his sons to put up with petty complaints at every turn. If you’re so amazing, why aren’t you still on the circuit? If you’ll excuse me, David. I refuse to sit and listen to this abuse.” She scooted out of the booth, past David, and hurried for the door, leaving all three men staring after her, speechless.
Christian was the first to speak. “Uh, David, you should probably go after her.”
“Don’t you dare!” His father bellowed, rising and slamming a hand on the table. “Let her go. She’s trash and making you lose focus. You need to keep your eye on the Finals and leave the whores for someone else.”
David jumped to his feet and leaned over the table, into his father’s face. “If you ever talk about her that way again—”
“What?” Colt sat back down and leaned back in the booth. “What are you going to do?”
“Go find her, David,” his brother muttered.
David watched Ali hurry from the restaurant, wondering how everything had changed so quickly. He’d gone from being ready to tell her he was falling in love with her to trying to subdue one of his father’s tirades in a matter of minutes.
“ALI!” ALICIA TURNED to see David running toward her. “Wait.”
“David, I don’t think we can do this.” She shook her head and continued toward her truck. After her confrontation with Chris, she couldn’t take any more today.
“Do what?”
“Us, this.” She dug through her purse looking for her keys. “Your father hates me, and it’s just making things harder on you. I’ve heard him, David. He thinks I’m nothing more than a bunny, trash, just after you for your money.”
“What money? I don’t have any.” He reached for her hand and drew her against his chest. “He wants me to save the ranch from foreclosure. Other than giving the family yet another NFR title, that’s all he wants me for.”
“I get that he thinks he’s looking out for your best interest.” She’d been so intent on getting out what she wanted to say she’d barely heard him admit the pain his father was inflicting on him. Her eyes registered her shock.
David ran his hand through his hair, his face revealing his frustration. “I’m nothing more than a meal ticket to him. My brother, too. He wants us to be like him so we can provide for him.” The words spilled from gritted teeth as if he couldn’t bear to say them. “He’s got a gambling problem. Not to mention that he can barely stay sober most days. Even when he is, he’s popping pain pills for his leg.”
David sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I’ve never told anyone about all his issues, not even Chris. This isn’t about you, Ali. This is who he is. He ran our mother off years ago, practically chased her from the ranch. He’s a mean son-of-a-bitch but he doesn’t have anyone left but the two of us.”
She laid a hand on his chest. “He’s your father but you have to understand why I can’t subject myself to his insults and bigotry.” She turned back toward the truck.
“Ali, what do you want me to do? He needs me. Don’t ask me to choose between you.”
She paused, taking a deep breath, with her hands on the door handle before returning to him. “I’m not asking you to but I am going to make this easy on you.” She laid her fingers against his jaw. “I like you but this isn’t going to work, David.”
She climbed into her truck and pulled out of the parking lot, trying not to look in the mirror to see David standing alone, staring at his hands as if they had the answers to what had just happened. As much as she regretted hurting David, she didn’t regret the decision. She wouldn’t subject herself to Colt Greenly and, unfortunately, he was part of the package that a relationship with David offered.
CHRIS BANGED HIS fist against the door, jarring it with his intensity.
“Cristobel?” Jessie answered the door, wiping her hand over her sleepy eyes. “What’s wrong? Is it your sister?”
“I need to talk to Ali.” His words came out slightly slurred, as if his mouth was full of cotton.
“What?” Jessie rubbed at her forehead as if she hadn’t understood him.
“Ali. I need to talk to her.”
“Are you—”
“He’s drunk, Mom.” Ali appeared at her mother’s shoulder. “And, apparently, he wants to wake up Dad so that he can come out with his gun. Go ahead and go back to bed. I’ll take care of this.”
“I am not,” he protested, but leaned back against the porch railing to keep his balance as the world continued to shift off kilter.
Ali brushed past her mother and stepped onto the porch, closing the door behind her with a soft click. “What do you want, Chris?”
She l
ooked so sweet with her hands tucked into the front pocket of a hoodie, with her flannel pajama bottoms on, her pink toenails peeking out from underneath. The sight of her painted toenails was so utterly feminine it stole his breath away and scattered his thoughts. Her hair was mussed, as if she’d climbed out of her warm bed because of him and it didn’t take much for him to imagine her there, his body pressing her into the soft mattress as he made love to her.
He took a quick step forward and cupped her jaw with his hands, seizing her mouth in a kiss meant to brand her. His lips teased her, stealing any reluctance on her part as they caressed hers in a primal dance. He slid his fingers into her hair, holding her against him, her soft curves cradling him as his other hand slid to her waist, pulling her against him, his arousal evident against her. Her fingers curled in the front of his shirt but, instead of pushing him away, she pulled him closer, her hand sliding up the back of his neck to cup his nape as she opened her mouth to him, willingly giving him all he wanted to take. Chris swept his tongue against hers and heard her gasp of surprise.
He wanted her, every inch of her, writhing beneath him. He wanted to taste her skin, to feel her fingers trailing over his flesh. He wanted to hear her cry out his name, to bury himself into her, to see her arch her back as he brought her pleasure. He wanted to hear her say she loved him.
The realization hit him like he’d been kicked in the gut by a steer. This wasn’t him being drunk. This wasn’t jealousy. He didn’t want to date Ali. He wanted her to be entirely his, to make sure no one else ever touched her again. He wanted her with him in the morning, to fall asleep holding her in his arms, to watch her bear their children. He wanted the entire fairytale—happily ever after. He was in love with Ali and he was finally ready to admit it.
He broke off their kiss slowly, his fingers trailing over her cheeks, letting his gaze travel over her sleepy eyes and kiss-swollen lips. He rubbed his thumb over her lower lip. “Ali, we have to talk.”