Learning the Ropes
Page 27
She made her way past his trailer with several of her plastic friends, giggling as she waved at him. It gave him a perfect opportunity to put Chris’s plan into action. He winked at her and jerked his chin in greeting. She smiled as he crooked a finger, indicating she should come over. He saw her lean toward her friends before breaking away from their pack and turning toward him.
“What’s up, sexy?” she asked as she reached the trailer, her lips turning into a pout. “I shouldn’t even talk to you. You’ve ignored me ever since that night at the bar.”
David barely kept his face impassive, wanting to cringe, and took a step closer. “I’ve been sort of busy.” He shrugged and gave her a lopsided grin, wondering how Chris managed to do this all the time. He felt awkward trying to flirt, especially with someone he couldn’t stand. “Doesn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about you,” he lied.
She looked up at him though hooded eyes and heavily mascaraed lashes. “You never called. I’m beginning to wonder if you’re not still hung up on Alicia.”
She was so transparent. He slid his hand to her waist. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “That was a mutual thing. I have my eye on someone else.”
An image of a beautiful rodeo queen with sky blue eyes flitted through his mind and he felt his body immediately react. He took a step back in surprise but not before Delilah wound her arms around his waist, assuming his reaction was for her. She eyed his jeans and gave him a catty grin.
“Do you now?”
David was finding it hard to continue this ruse. He wanted to laugh at Delilah’s assumption but knew Chris was depending on him pulling off this pretense. “I was hoping you’d go to a barbecue with me tomorrow.”
“David Greenly, are you asking me out on an official date?” She ran her fingers along the center of his chest.
“It’s at Findley Brothers’ though. Are you going to be all over Chris if I take you?” He pasted a worried frown on his brow.
She eyed him. “I thought the two of you weren’t speaking.”
He shrugged. “He’s my roping partner and if we want to make the Finals, what choice do I have? Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it, or that I wouldn’t mind letting him see me with his woman.”
He pulled her against him as she giggled. “I am not his woman.” She wound her arms around his neck, playing with the hair at his nape.
“After last night, I thought—”
“Don’t think,” she whispered, pressing her lips against his jaw before drawing her lips together in a disappointed pout. “But I can’t make it. Maybe we can have some fun tonight instead?”
Damn, he cursed his luck. Chris wanted Ali to hear her confession. Maybe he could still make that happen.
“Hang on.” David casually slipped his hand into his pocket and found his cell phone and, glancing at the screen, pretended to get a text. He punched a few buttons while she took a step backward, coyly glancing his way as she played with his rope, twirling the loop awkwardly.
“Sorry.” He tucked the phone back into his pocket. “My dad is in the medic tent and wanted to make sure I was taking him home tomorrow.”
“Where were we?” She scooted closer, slapping the end of the rope against her leg. “Oh, that’s right.” She lifted his arm to her waist and curled hers behind him. “Tonight, my trailer.”
David sighed. “I don’t know, Delilah. I don’t like sleeping with a woman after Chris has. Makes me feel second best.” He cocked his head at her, sliding his hand down her spine to pause at the curve of her waist. “It’s not a good feeling.”
“Oh, honey,” she purred. “You’re not second best.”
He started to take a step back and she curled her fingers into his belt loops, not allowing him to move far. “I don’t know. Maybe after things die down with us. Or after the Finals.”
A look of panic slid across her face. She curled her hand around the back of his neck and dragged his mouth down to hers, sweeping her tongue inside his mouth. “Tonight,” she whispered against his lips. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
“Hmm,” David pretended to consider her offer. “I’m sure it would be a night I wouldn’t forget but . . . he’s my partner.”
“It didn’t seem to bother him that you were with Alicia first,” she pointed out, her fingers tripping over his biceps.
David sighed and ran his hands over her arms, setting her back a step and trying to look injured. “Yeah, but I’m not like Chris. This is one of the reasons I don’t do it. It makes things . . . messy.” He turned on his heel to walk away from her.
“I didn’t sleep with him.”
He turned back toward her, twisting his mouth to the side. “Everyone knows you did, Delilah.”
“No, I didn’t. I just let people think that to get back at him. He . . . passed out and snored all night. I didn’t get any sleep at all.” Her fingers tucked into his front pockets and pulled him toward her. “So, what do you say?” Delilah rubbed herself against the front of him like a cat in heat and he arched a brow, smiling down at her.
“Not many women would lie and say they slept with a guy they didn’t.” He chuckled conspiratorially. “And, I’ve never known Chris to just pass out, no matter how much he drinks.”
She shrugged. “I know you still trust Alicia but I can’t stand her. And Chris has always been mean to me so I might have given him a little help,” she hinted. “So I got even with both of them at once.”
“Help?”
She pressed her lips against his neck, her tongue snaking out over his skin. “Let’s just say he’s not as hard-headed as everyone thinks.”
David looked up in time to see Summer glance his way and raise her brows.
So much for asking Summer out. He wanted to follow her and explain that this wasn’t him, he wasn’t a player, but how in the world would he ever explain this? His stomach turned as Delilah sucked at his neck like a leech. Chris had better appreciate this.
ALICIA STARED OUT the window silently as the miles passed. Chris didn’t even try to engage her in any conversation. Instead he ignored her completely and turned on the radio. She pulled out her phone and texted Sydney, warning her of the storm coming her way. She didn’t want her friend unprepared.
She took a deep breath and rested her chin in her hand as the trees blurred by. Chris had begged her to give their partnership a test run at this rodeo and they proved they couldn’t make it. Her stomach flipped as anxiety twisted in her belly, making her nauseous. This wasn’t the way their weekend was supposed to go. Sure, she was coming back with a big win but she felt like the biggest loser of all.
She glanced at Chris as they turned off the highway and pulled onto the gravel road that led through the gates to Sydney and Scott’s house. She opened her mouth to say something, anything to break the silence echoing in the truck, beating against her chest painfully. Every second that ticked by with nothing said between them drove more of a wedge between them. She licked her lips, unsure of what to say when nothing seemed appropriate.
Shifting his eyes toward her, Chris leaned on the center console. That has to be a good sign, doesn’t it? He reached forward and changed the radio station, turning up the song, effectively making sure she didn’t speak. Guess not.
Frustration blossomed in her chest. Why was he mad at her? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? He’d been the one to set her up with his friend only to get jealous. He’d been the one who professed love and then slept with someone else a few hours later. She glared at him.
“Do you plan on giving me the silent treatment the entire time we’re here?”
“I’m not giving you the silent treatment.” He shrugged his broad shoulder, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel in time with the radio.
His blasé attitude infuriated her and she reached forward, turning off the radio with a quick jerk of her hand. “Yes, you are.”
He looked at her and sighed. “Ali, I’m just trying to give you some space. I messed up, I get it.”
“Why?” He slowed the truck and pulled to the side of the long driveway, stopping the truck and dropping it
into gear. She opened the door and started walking down the driveway. “Wait! What are you doing?” Chris scrambled from the driver’s seat and ran after her.
“Go away, Chris. I don’t want to spend one more second with you in that truck. How’s that for some space.”
“You . . . what?” He threw his hands up and looked back at the truck and trailer. “You know what? Fine!”
He walked back toward the truck, infuriating her further as she watched him go. She set her shoulders and looked back down the empty driveway. They were only about halfway to the house but she figured the half-mile walk might give her some time to think, away from the scent of him that sent her spiraling into a puddle of yearning this entire trip. How could she want him after what he’d done to her? How weak was she? She felt like she was trying to hold the pieces of her heart together with cheap glue with nothing but a mess to show for it.
She heard the tires turn on the gravel and waited for the dust as the trailer passed her. Instead, he pulled alongside her, the truck barely moving as he kept pace beside her.
“Are you really planning to walk the entire way down to the house? I’m sure these horses would like to eat tonight.” His mouth turned up in that damn sexy grin of his, irritating her.
“So go. Don’t worry about me. I know the way.”
“Ali, get in the truck.”
“No.”
“Damn, if you aren’t the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met. If I tell you to walk, will you still do the opposite and get in the truck?”
She fought the grin she knew he was trying to worm out of her. Humor wasn’t going to get them out of this mess. The fact that he couldn’t seem to take anything seriously, including their relationship, was what caused this trouble in the first place. She stopped and looked at him through the passenger window.
“Maybe I do need space. But I need space away from you, Chris. You say you want one thing and then you do something completely opposite. Actions speak louder than words, Chris.”
His brow furrowed, creasing between his eyes. “You’re the second person to tell me that,” he muttered.
“Then, maybe, you should take note. Now, please just leave me alone.” She pushed herself away from the truck and started walking again, waiting for the truck to pass her.
He braked gradually and she could hear the horses shuffling nervously in the trailer, unaccustomed to traveling more than short distances this slowly. She looked back at him over her shoulder, irritated to see him settling in the driver’s seat and cruising slowly behind her. She sighed again. Why couldn’t he just listen to her for a change?
“I said, go.” She waved him to pass her and looked to her left as he edged the truck at her side.
“You’re right, actions do speak louder. So I’m not leaving you, Ali. Not ever. You can either walk the whole way with me driving alongside or you can get in the truck but I’m not going anywhere.”
She stopped, knowing full well he wasn’t talking about only this moment. Alicia could read the stubborn set of his jaw, in spite of his relaxed stance with one arm hanging over the steering wheel. The corners of his mouth tipped up and his eyes were alight with mirth but there was something more. She could see the hope he was trying to keep buried in the blue depths.
“Come on,” he said, pushing the button to unlock the door. “Give the horses a break, they want to eat.”
“Fine,” she sighed, giving in to him yet again and hating herself for it. “But this doesn’t mean anything.”
A smile played on his lips. “Of course not.” She didn’t appreciate his sarcasm and glared at him as he picked up speed.
SYDNEY AND JEN were both waiting on the wide wrap-around porch when they finally pulled up. His sister hurried down the steps and wrapped Chris in a bear hug as soon as he exited the truck. Her excitement was palpable but he didn’t want to set Ali off any more than he’d already done. He needed to find a way to prove his innocence to her and quickly.
“Don’t ask,” he whispered quickly as he hugged her back.
“What? Oh,” her voice dropped as Ali got out of the truck and immediately headed to the back of the trailer, not even looking their way. “What did you do?”
It annoyed him that she immediately blamed him but he couldn’t deny fault. “Long story but I’ll explain later,” he promised.
Sydney glared at him and went to the back of the trailer as Ali backed both of her horses out and led them toward the corral. “Come on in the house, Ali. Jen and I were just about to have some lunch. Chris can finish out here.” She cast him a warning look. “Won’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave his sister a mock salute and sighed as he went after his animals.
“At least it’s not me this time.”
Chris looked up in time to see Derek, Scott’s younger brother, coming out of the barn. He’d always felt an easy familiarity with the man. They were about the same age but he felt like Derek got him, and they had similar personalities. In Sydney’s terms, neither one took life too seriously and it got them both into trouble.
Chris rolled his eyes. “You have no idea how much I wish it were you instead of me.” Derek slapped him on the shoulder, knocking him forward in spite of his stature. “Damn, you been lifting those weights again because pretty soon you’re going to outweigh those bulls out there,” Chris teased.
“Physical therapy after the accident.”
Chris sobered at the mention of the accident that nearly killed Derek when a bull charged his horse in the arena, pinning him against a gate and puncturing a lung. “How is everything?”
Derek shrugged it off. “I’m fine, finally back to work and going to be a father soon.”
“Congratulations,” Chris laughed at him. “I think I’m better off avoiding the water here. You guys must be putting something in it to get these women pregnant.”
“According to your sister, that’s not too far off for you.” Derek cocked a brow at Chris.
Wonderful. His sister had been talking about him and Ali. He let the horses loose in the corral and tossed several flakes of alfalfa into the pen. “Not after this weekend.”
Derek chuckled. “Did you apologize for whatever you did? That usually seems to get me out of trouble.” Chris was grateful he didn’t ask about the situation but nodded. “And she’s still that mad. You must’ve screwed up big.” He shrugged and patted Chris’s shoulder again. “She’ll get over it. They always do.”
“The way I did?”
Both men spun to see Derek’s wife Angela behind them, a sly grin curving her full lips, her red hair shimmering over her shoulders like fire.
“Yes,” Derek teased as he walked to his wife’s side, his hand gently covering the swell of her very pregnant belly. “You know I have you eating out of the palm of my hand.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Sure you do.” She rolled her eyes. “Your sister sent me out to let you know it was safe to come inside. Alicia is upstairs taking a shower.” Her green eyes shimmered with amusement. “And if I were you, I’d do the opposite of whatever this guy has been suggesting.”
“I got you, didn’t I?”
“Tell her I’ll be there in a second.” Chris laughed at the pair as they headed for the house. He and Derek had a lot in common so why was he working so much harder than him or Scott to convince Ali to believe in him.
Because neither of them were players. Neither of them got caught in a mess like this one.
Well, Scott had but that was because of his manipulative ex-girlfriend, and it had taken a grand gesture on Scott’s p
art to convince Sydney of his love afterward. Chris stared at the horses in the corral, suddenly realizing what he needed to do. He was going to give Ali proof she’d never forget.
Chapter Twenty-Four
* * *
“WHAT THE HELL, Chris?” Sydney screeched.
“Shh! If you don’t stop squealing, she’s going to hear you.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and texted David. He needed him here for this, preferably with the proof to back up his claim of innocence.
“Derek’s going to head into town with you?”
“No, I’m going alone, but I need you to arrange things here. Get her to talk to you because she’s not talking to me right now. If this doesn’t work . . .” Chris let his words fade. This had to work, it was his last hope. His next move was to give up.
His phone vibrated with a return message from David. “What the hell?” Sydney looked at him expectantly. “Ali told David she wants him to buy me out of the business.” He threw his phone onto the kitchen table and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Am I making a mistake? Is it supposed to be this hard or is this just the universe telling me to let her go?”
Sydney laughed quietly. “No. She’s scared and you haven’t done anything to make her believe she doesn’t need to be. Everything is going to work out. After tonight, none of these little details will matter.”
Chris took a deep breath. “I sure hope you’re right because if this doesn’t work—”
“It will,” she promised.
His phone vibrated on the table and he lifted it enough to glance at the screen. “At least he got the proof from Delilah. I’m not sure I even want to know how he managed that.”
ALI SAT ON a chaise on the back patio watching the couples surrounding her. Derek and Angela were on one side of the fire pit in a loveseat with her head on his shoulder and his hand absently rubbing her belly. Scott sat on a chaise with Sydney between his thighs and his hands resting on her baby bump while Scott’s sister Jen sat on the far side of the fire with her husband’s hands resting on her shoulders as she held their son. She hated feeling like a seventh wheel and looked around the yard, wondering where Chris had gone after they arrived. Sydney said he was running some errands but she hadn’t seen him all afternoon. She missed him.