Racing Christmas

by Shanna Hatfield

  The two Price men made the work look so easy, but she knew they both were extremely talented and good at what they did. They had to be good ropers, intuitive to the stock and the riders, and be able to confidently react to situations on the fly.

  Truthfully, Shaun was perfect for the job and he’d learned from his dad who was one of the best in the industry.

  Brylee was glad he’d given up competing in bareback. She’d never admit it to anyone, but she had kept up on whether he made it to the finals every year or if he’d been in any major wrecks. She knew he’d missed several months of competing last year when he’d broken his leg twice.

  Maybe she and Shaun were both right where they were supposed to be. Thoughts of how hard she fought to keep from falling for him again made her question if she was where she belonged. It couldn’t be true. Not when she needed to stay focused on her goals.

  Besides, even if she’d decided to forgive Shaun for what he’d done in the past, it certainly didn’t mean she was willing to give him a second chance. From what she’d observed, he didn’t seem particularly interested in one anyway. Women flocked around him like seagulls on a spilled bag of peanuts.

  Not that he was entirely to blame for the attention cast in his direction.

  The jeans he wore from Lasso Eight fit him like a glove, perfectly molding to his backside and heavily muscled thighs. Brylee’s heart pitter-pattered just thinking about how good he looked in them.

  Her gaze settled on him as he worked. Halfway through the event, Shaun and Jason rode over to switch horses. Shaun glowered at her as though he’d like to toss her to the wolves.

  “I didn’t tattle, Shaun. Don’t be giving me the stink eye.” She glanced at Jason and he snorted with another round of laughter.

  “I told Cooper, but only because I was laughing so hard, he had to know the cause,” Jason said, doing his best to contain his chortles.

  “Not cool, Dad. Not cool at all.” Shaun slid onto Coal and rode him into the arena.

  Brylee led the two horses back to the trailer and took care of them. When she finished, she swung onto Rocket and rode him to the warm-up arena.

  She walked him around it twice then increased his speed. When the announcer said it was time for the barrel racing to start, she rode him out of the pen and over to where the other girls were lining up. Brylee was riding last. She glanced skyward. At least it wasn’t going to rain.

  Her leg felt better and without the cast hampering her movements, she had more control with the brace. She was still careful and tried to keep her weight off her leg as much as possible, but that first turn on the barrel to the right never failed to make her leg throb with pain.

  Two girls remained in front of her when she caught a whiff on the breeze that made her look back. Only one person on the planet carried that mouth-watering, luscious scent. She watched Shaun approach. He’d lost his scowl and replaced it with a smile as he approached her and settled a hand on her leg just above her knee. Electricity jolted through her at his touch, but she ignored it.

  “Just wanted to wish you luck, Bitsy,” he said, letting his hand drop slightly until he fingered the edge of her brace. For some reason, he was concerned she’d take it off to ride and had gotten in the habit of checking to make sure she had it on before she competed.

  When the next girl rode into the arena, Brylee gave him a knowing look as she moved Rocket forward. “Thanks for the good wishes.”

  “You’ll win this thing. Rocket won’t let you down.” He scratched Rocket just behind the ears and the horse practically purred.

  Brylee grinned. “You always did know just what Rocket likes.”

  Shaun cocked an eyebrow upward and tossed her a flirty look. “Used to know what his owner liked, too.”

  Her smile melted and she moved Rocket forward as the last girl in front of her went through her pattern.

  “Go get ’em, Brylee.” Shaun patted her thigh then stepped back as the announcer called out her name.

  With Shaun’s scent lingering in her nose, she forcibly blocked him from her thoughts while she and Rocket zoomed around the barrels. Brylee settled her mind on what she wanted Rocket to do, which was win. The horse stretched out his legs after they rounded the last barrel and raced across the arena. She yanked back on the reins as soon as he shot past the electronic eye that timed the event.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Brylee Barton is our winner!” the announcer boomed. “Did you see that girl, go? That is what I’m talking about! Give Brylee and Rocket a big hand!”

  Shaun beamed at Brylee as she pulled Rocket up outside the gate and took him to cool off. He jogged over to mount Lucky and entered the arena for the bull riding.

  As soon as she had Rocket settled, she made her way back to the trailer and decided to make taco salad for dinner. She’d just finished cooking the ground beef when Jason and Shaun came in, both laughing at something Cooper had said during the bull riding.

  “That smells good, honey.” Jason smiled at her as he made his way past her and into the bathroom. He emerged a minute later with clean hands and the arena dust scrubbed off his face.

  “I heard there’s a dance tonight. Anyone want to go?” Shaun asked as he moved past Brylee toward the bathroom.

  She shook her head. “If you’re asking if I want to go, the answer would be no. I’m barely walking somewhat normally with the brace on my leg. I have no interest in trying to two-step with it.”

  “Aw, come with me. It’ll be fun,” Shaun gave her an imploring look. “I’ll slow dance with you and you can pretend you’re taking a break on the fast dances. Please?”

  Brylee prepared three plates with the salad and set them on the table. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t have a line of girls from here to the freeway willing to go with you?”

  Jason smirked. “There are a few who would go with you, son.”

  “I don’t want to go with them. I want to go with our barrel racing champ,” Shaun said, winking at her before he ducked into the bathroom. He was still wiping his hands on a towel when he stepped back out then tossed the towel onto the counter. “Come on, Bitsy. Celebrate a little. You deserve it.”

  “My idea of a celebration would be a good book, a box of rich chocolate, and a bubble bath.” Brylee couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a box of expensive chocolates. Or allowed herself the luxury of spending a few hours reading. And a bubble bath? The idea of taking one sounded purely indulgent.

  She glanced at Shaun and saw a streak of interest, a spark of something in his eyes she’d rather ignore. She averted her gaze and sat down at the table.

  Jason asked a blessing on their meal then pointed his fork at Shaun. “If Brylee doesn’t want to go, leave her alone. Keep pestering this poor girl and who knows what she’ll do with your toiletries.” The man cleared his throat twice in an attempt to subdue his chuckles, but Brylee heard him muttering something about hairspray and groomed armpits.

  Shaun ignored the comments and looked at Brylee again. “I’ll quit begging, but I really would like you to go with me, just for a little while. Cooper and Paige will be there and so will Jessie and Chase. Kash and Celia already headed back to the ranch or they would have come, too.”

  “If it makes you more comfortable, Brylee, I’ll go along as a chaperone to make sure my boy behaves himself,” Jason offered.

  “Good grief, Dad, you make it sound like I’m sixteen and about to steal your car.” Shaun stabbed his fork into his salad and took a bite.

  “If memory serves me correctly, you did sneak out in your grandma’s car one night when you were supposed to be grounded.” Jason waggled his fork at Shaun. “You’ve always been a handful.”

  “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, old man,” Shaun said without looking up from his food.

  Jason veered the subject away from the dance to the work they needed to do in the morning to be able to pull out early and get back to the ranch. They could have gone that night, but Kash told them not
to worry about loading in the dark. Brylee would have been just as happy catching a ride back with Kash and Celia, but she felt obligated to stick with Jason and Shaun. Despite the many assurances she wasn’t expected to help them, she needed to out of her own sense of duty and responsibility.

  Jason and Shaun made short work of the dinner dishes then the two of them stood at the door staring at her, as though waiting for her to get ready to go along with them.

  “Oh, fine. I’ll go to the dance for a few minutes, but don’t expect any fast moves from me. The first time you say something to irritate me, I’m coming back here,” she said in warning to Shaun.

  “Don’t you need to primp and fuss?” Jason asked as she tucked her phone into her pocket and grabbed a packet of gum from her purse. She took a piece then held it out to the two guys. They each took a piece while she rubbed lip balm over her lips.

  “Consider me primped and fussed,” she said, motioning to the door. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Boy, Bitsy, you are just a ball of fun,” Shaun said dryly as she preceded them outside.

  She gave him a frost-laced glare and moved back toward the door. He held up his hands in front of his chest, as though demonstrating his innocence.

  “Strike that. I said nothing.”

  Jason chuckled and held out his arm. “May I escort you to the dance, Miss Barton?”

  “You may, Mr. Price. Thank you.” Brylee looped her arm around his and the two of them walked over to where the dance was being held in a roped off section of the parking lot.

  They arrived at the dance to see the familiar faces of several friends. Cooper danced in front of them, twirling Paige and making her laugh. Chase stood with his arms around Jessie. Brylee could only assume he’d have nearly as hard a time convincing the shy girl to two-step around the dance floor as Shaun would her.

  She moved away from Jason and walked over to the couple. “It’s nice to see you guys here,” she said in greeting.

  Jessie smiled with genuine warmth brightening her face and expressive eyes. “It’s great to see you, too, Brylee. Congrats on that amazing win.”

  “Thank you. Rocket deserves most of the credit.”

  “Not true,” Chase said, grinning at her. “That’s a team effort and we’re cheering for team Barton all the way to the finals.”

  “I really appreciate that. I’m cheering for you to take the championship again this year, Chase.” Brylee laughed as Cooper broke into some sort of disco move and Paige merely stood beside him and rolled her eyes.

  “He really can’t turn off his tendency to be a clown, can he?” Brylee asked.

  “Not most of the time. He’s lucky Paige puts up with it.” Chase kissed Jessie’s cheek. “I don’t think my wife would appreciate that kind of attention.”

  Jessie blushed. “For gosh sakes, don’t even think about it. You try something like that while I’m dancing with you and you’ll be wondering why you’re sleeping on the couch.”

  Brylee laughed and felt Shaun’s presence behind her before she glanced back at him. He settled a hand on her shoulder as they watched the dancers. The warmth of it seared through her blouse and threatened to brand her skin. If there hadn’t been an audience around them, she would have pulled away from him. Away from the temptation she found harder and harder to ignore or resist.

  “Come on, Bitsy, they’re playing our song.” Shaun grabbed her hand and led her on the dance floor without giving her a chance to argue. The song was a new one she’d heard on the radio a few times, so it definitely was not their song. She rather doubted Shaun even recalled they’d once had a song.

  Before she went down a road that only led to bitter memories, she redirected her thoughts and watched their friends. Chase led Jessie out on the dance floor and she smiled at the couple. They were so deeply in love it was adorable to see them together.

  “Aren’t they the sweetest couple?” Brylee asked as Shaun took her right hand in his left then placed his other hand on her waist.

  He glanced over at his friend and nodded. “Yeah, they are. That first year they were married seemed kinda hard on them, but they didn’t know each other before they wed.”

  “Oh, I think I heard about that. It was supposed to be a publicity stunt but the minister really married them. Is that right?”

  Shaun nodded as they swayed in time to the music. “Chase was fit to be tied at first, but I think he took one look at Jessie and lost his heart. It can happen to the best of us.”

  Brylee looked up at him and measured his words. “If you’re implying you suffered the same fate, don’t bother trying to fool me. I don’t think you ever really loved me, Shaun. Not like that.”

  “Oh, I did, Brylee. You were all I could think about from that first time your hand touched mine.” Subtly, Shaun drew her closer. “You have no idea how much I loved you.”

  “If you add in that you still do, I’m walking out of here and leaving you hanging on the dance floor.”

  Shaun grinned at her. “You sure know how to deflate a fella. When did you get so hard-hearted and cruel?”

  “When the boy I loved more than life itself walked out on me.” Brylee gave him a pointed look. “Let’s talk about something more pleasant, shall we?”

  “We shall.” Shaun edged a little closer.

  Brylee enjoyed being in his arms too much to step back. No matter how much she’d objected to attending the dance, she couldn’t think of anywhere she’d rather be at that moment than right there in Shaun’s arms.

  He looked down at her and gave her a half smile that weakened her knees. “Are you gonna sabotage my toothpaste next or do I need to be afraid of my shaving lotion?”

  Brylee laughed. “I promise I won’t mess with any of your toiletries again.”

  “That still leaves a whole slew of things you might mess with, though.”

  “I’m thoroughly insulted you’d think I’d do something so devious, Shaun. My feelings are hurt.”

  He chuckled. “Darlin’, you and I both know you can and most likely will do something.”

  “Maybe I’m retiring from playing pranks and giving up all childish behavior.” She batted her eyelashes at him and tossed him an innocent smile. “I’m far above such ill-mannered nonsense, you know.”

  He shook his head. “That’s a load of something if I’ve ever heard one. You can take a bucket of manure, wrap it in pretty paper, and tie it with a bow, but it’s still just a bucket full of…”

  She placed her hand over his mouth. “I get the idea.”

  Shaun kissed her fingers and she moved her hand back to where it rested on his broad shoulder. The strength she felt there beneath the cotton of his shirt made her long to explore it. He had more muscles than she recalled from years before. Shaun seemed even larger than life now than he had back then.

  The song ended on a soft note. Brylee would have pulled away, but another slow song started to play.

  He grinned at her. “You said you’d give me the slow dances.”

  She tipped her head and studied him. “What did you do? Bribe the band?”

  “I’m wounded you’d even suggest I’d resort to such tactics.” He took a half step closer to her. One more step and they’d be dancing far too intimately for her preferences.

  As Shaun moved her around the dance floor, she wasn’t surprised to discover he was still an excellent dancer. He’d always liked to dance when they were dating and he’d taught her several moves, none of which she’d danced since they split up. In fact, unless chaperoning Birch’s school dances counted, she hadn’t been to a dance since the last one she’d attended with Shaun.

  When the band began playing another slow song, some of the crowd looked a little disappointed, but Shaun winked at her and they kept dancing.

  Truthfully, she hadn’t wanted to go to any dances without him, even when the very thought of him made her bristle with anger. Shaun was the only man she’d ever enjoyed dancing with, the only one she wanted to dance with, except m
aybe her dad, but that was totally different.

  Thoughts of her father made her heart heavy. She could almost hear him whispering in her ear. Live in the moment, baby girl. Don’t waste it wandering around in the past. You’ve got no business squandering today’s gift on yesterday’s heartache.

  “Hush,” she said, realizing too late she’d spoken aloud.

  Shaun pulled back far enough he could look at her. “I wasn’t even talking. Don’t tell me you can read minds now?”

  She grinned at him. “I also have an eye in the back of my head, so you better watch out.”

  “I already know I’m in big, deep trouble where you’re concerned, Bitsy.” His eyes looked stormier than usual as he gently slid his hand from her waist to move up and down her back. “You have to know…”

  “May I cut in?” Jason asked, with a teasing smile.

  “Of course,” Brylee said, not giving Shaun a chance to answer as she turned to his dad and started dancing with him.

  Shaun wandered off in the direction of the concession stand.

  Brylee watched him go. He’d not touched a bit of alcohol since she’d been traveling with him, but he sure looked like he was considering something now.

  “Does Shaun still drink?” she asked his father.

  Jason shook his head. “No. He stopped right after he broke up with you. Never said why, but I haven’t seen him touch a drop since then. It’s probably a good thing. The direction he was headed could have ended badly.”

  Brylee nodded in agreement. Back in the day, Shaun could party with the best of them. They’d been two stupid kids back then. It’s lucky they’d both survived with nothing more than a few scars and, at least in her case, a broken heart.

  “I think he really loved you, Brylee. He, um… he had a hard time after you broke up. It wasn’t easy for him to find his way out of it.”