Learning the Ropes (16 page)

“Rope, Daddy!” Kassie spun in Chris’s arms and reached for her father. “Peas?” Scott laughed and took his daughter into his arms as she squished his cheeks together before planting a kiss on his lips. “Peas, Daddy?”

Everyone laughed at her antics and Chris knew the little girl would get her way yet again, or, at least, her version of it. “Fine, you can ride Mocha if your mother says it’s okay.”

“Come on, little girl, let’s go see if Ali and Grandma need any help in the kitchen.” Sydney grasped Kassie’s hand and led her inside.

Chris watched his sister and smiled, seeing the look of pleasure that radiated between her and Scott. Not so long ago, he’d almost gotten into a fight with his brother-in-law to protect her honor, and now they were both blissfully happy with a second baby on the way.

“You know, your mom keeps bugging your sister to find you a nice girl to settle down with.” Scott gave Chris a sympathetic smile.

“I know,” he groaned. Images of Ali floated through his mind and he quickly pushed them aside. “She’s going to have to settle for you and Syd having the babies because I have no intentions of becoming a boring old man any time soon.”

Scott took a long draw from his beer and nudged David with his shoulder. “A lifetime bachelor . . . that’s what I thought, too. Look at me now. And, trust me, married life is
far
from boring.”

“I don’t know,” David interrupted. “I think I have a better chance of getting married and having kids than he does.”

“I just don’t see the draw in marriage.”

The words sounded hollow and sad. As soon as they were out of his mouth, Chris knew he was lying. Watching his parents and his sister and Scott, he could definitely see the happiness that radiated from both couples. He was growing weary of being a lone wolf, of never having the easy companionship he saw with his parents. He wanted to find someone who understood him and complemented him, who he could fulfill in return. But, so far, there wasn’t anyone who he could tolerate for more than a few dates before he’d had enough. Chris suddenly realized it wasn’t marriage he was afraid of, but rather monotony.

Scott laughed. “When the right woman comes along, you’ll understand the
draw
.”

Chris looked up as Ali carried out an enormous bowl of potato salad and smiled at him. His eyes locked on hers and he couldn’t look away. She was so damn gorgeous with her dark eyes sparkling with excitement. How could something as simple as a barbecue with his family make her face light up with joy? She set the bowl down on the table and made her way to their small group, laying one hand on David’s shoulder and another on Chris’s. His flesh burned under the soft cotton material where she touched him. He shoved the hand not holding his beer into his pocket to avoid reaching for her as he inhaled the sweet, fruity scent of her hair. His jaw clenched with the effort.

“Dinner is ready if you guys want to take a seat.”

“Thanks, Ali.” Scott said, giving Chris a quizzical look as Ali headed back into the house. “Maybe you do understand the draw but you don’t want to admit it.”

David looked from Scott to Chris and frowned.

Damn it, the last thing he needed right now was David thinking he saw Ali as marriage material. Of course she was; he’d known that for years. It was part of the reason he’d avoided her. She was a temptation he couldn’t trust himself to turn down. The solution was to drown the need with a variety of women who wanted nothing more than a few dances and a couple stolen kisses. They took the edge off and made him feel less lonely, even if it was only for a night, even if the relief didn’t last and the feelings weren’t real. But now he was beginning to wonder if it had ever been enough.

Chris finished off the beer in his hand and tossed the bottle into the garbage bin. “Marriage is for suckers, like you,” he said, nudging Scott. “Who wants another beer?”

“H
OLY CRAP!
” B
ILL
yelled from his position manning the chute gate when Alicia tossed the rope effortlessly over the steer’s horns and dallied the rope.

“Dad, little ears,” Sydney warned.

Alicia had barely turned to her left when David roped both back feet. Alicia felt her chest swell with pride at Bill’s exclamation as she jogged the horse to the end of the arena where Sydney took the rope off.

“You’ve got some competition here, Chris,” she yelled to her brother as he settled into the header’s box.

David rode alongside her. “That was incredible. Why didn’t you tell me you could rope like that?”

Alicia felt the blush rising over her neck and cheeks as she shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t really get to do it often.”

“You should do it more.” She could hear the surprised awe in David’s voice. “You’re pretty amazing. I might have to partner up with you for some roping events. We should hit up some jackpots.”

His eyes darkened with desire as they slid over her and she felt her stomach do a nervous flip. The crash of the gate bursting open drew both of their attention as they watched Chris and Scott rope a steer, although not nearly as quickly as they had.

“Chris, no offense but I think I’m going to keep Ali as my header for the next rodeo,” David teased.

Alicia saw the dark frown crease Chris’s brow as he rode to where Sydney waited. He brooded silently and Alicia wondered at his sudden moodiness.

“Ready to go again?” David asked, nudging his horse into a jog, and headed for the box. She glanced back at Chris and wondered if she shouldn’t call it quits right now. He didn’t look too pleased that she was out-roping him.

C
HRIS SAT ON
the lounge chair with Kassie curled in his lap, quiet but not yet asleep. He loved cuddling with the toddler and pressed a kiss to the top of her head as she snuggled closer. He looked across the fire pit to where his sister was smiling at him, her head tucked against Scott’s shoulder, with her feet curled under her. David and Ali sat on the wicker loveseat, holding hands.

“You’re such a good uncle, Chris,” his mother said from the porch behind them. “You need a little one of your own.”

Chris heard his father chuckle quietly. “Leave him alone, Julia. He needs to find a woman first.”

Sydney gave him a sympathetic eye roll as their parents headed into the house and Chris shook his head. Why was everyone so concerned with finding him a wife these days? It wasn’t like he had a biological clock ticking out of control. He was twenty-four, not forty-four. He still had plenty of time to have fun before starting a family.

His eyes drifted to where David and Ali whispered to one another. He saw her eyes flash in the dying sunset, flickering from the light of the flames as she laughed quietly at something David said. He felt the knot of jealousy balling up in the pit of his stomach, roiling and twisting, trying to find a foothold. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Looks like Uncle Chris put her right to sleep.” Sydney’s voice broke through his inner turmoil and he looked up to see her standing beside his chair. “Why don’t you carry her inside and help me tuck her into bed?”

Chris rose from the chair, careful not to wake the sleeping girl. She barely moved and he wondered if anything short of a bomb would wake her. Sydney opened the back door for him and he carried Kassie into one of the guest bedrooms, where his mother had installed a new toddler bed. Sydney pulled back the covers and watched as Chris carefully lowered his niece into the bed before starting to back out of the room. Sydney grabbed his wrist, even as she leaned forward and kissed her daughter’s forehead gently.

“Sleep tight, baby girl.”

He felt his heart clench at the tender moment but tried to ignore the aching emptiness that filled him tonight.

Who was he kidding? It had been there for a long time but, until recently, he’d been able to shove it into the back of his mind, too busy wasting time with worthless pursuits to allow the ache to surface. But tonight, watching them all pair off, sharing quiet moments of tenderness, he felt like an outsider and the longing for more bubbled to the surface.

Sydney tucked her arm into his elbow and walked out of the room with him. “So, have you told her yet?”

“Told who what?” He stopped in the hallway and looked down at her.

“Ali.” She couldn’t hide the smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Chris arched a brow. “What am I supposed to be telling her?” He had a feeling where this was going and he was tired of discussing his relationship status. They’d talked him into a corner and he was done feeling lonely today. He knew he was missing out. He didn’t need anyone else pointing it out again.

“That you’re in love with her. That you’ve always been in love with her.”

Chris tugged his arm from his sister’s grasp. “You’re crazy. I’m not in love with anyone.”

“You’re a liar, Christopher Thomas, and every person out there can see it, including Ali if she’d open her eyes.” Her voice was quiet but firm, scolding him for his denial.

He froze for a moment with his back to her before turning to face her. “What do you want me to do, Syd? She’s dating my best friend. I set them up and they are happy.”

“You’re an idiot, Chris.” Her voice reprimanded him gently. “She doesn’t love him. It’s always been you. Ever since we were kids. I was just hoping, someday, one of you would finally wake up and see the other felt the same way. Haven’t you ever noticed the way she looks at you?” When he didn’t answer, Sydney shoved his shoulder. “Seriously? You’ve never noticed?”

“Do you think I would have set her up with David if I had?”

“Yes, because you have this idea that you can’t be with one woman.”

He looked over his shoulder when he heard the back door open and saw his mother come into the kitchen. Chris lowered his voice. “There’s nothing I can do about it now.”

“You have to tell her, Chris. At least give her the opportunity to make the choice. She deserves to make a decision knowing all the facts.”

Chris’s heart pounded against his ribs. He didn’t think he could do it. If she chose him, he didn’t know if David would forgive him. But she could just as easily choose David. Could he live with seeing her in love with his best friend?

Chapter Eleven

“H
EY, COWBOY, CONGRATS
on the win today.” Alicia laughed as David spun around, surprised to see her. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t,” he said, holding out his hand to pull her close to him. He circled his arms around her waist and pressed a quick kiss to her nose. “I was just off in my own head, I guess. Maybe thinking about our conversation last night.”

She brushed her hands over the front of his shirt. “You mean about . . .”

“You, going to Texas next week with me.” He smiled down at her.

She couldn’t meet his gaze. She knew a lot of women on the circuit didn’t think twice about traveling with guys, whether it meant sleeping in their beds or not, but it wasn’t something she was comfortable with. He sounded excited to spend the time just the two of them but she wasn’t ready to rush into anything. They’d had a wonderful time together at the barbecue but she just wasn’t ready to jump to this next step. She didn’t feel like they were
there
yet, there was something still missing. Some spark that wasn’t igniting when she was with him.

“I don’t think so, David.” She saw his smile falter. “I just . . .”

“Ali, I want you to go with me but I
have
to go either way. I need the points and the money from the bigger purses. Plus, I can jump in on a few smaller jackpot ropings down there.”

She looked up at him, surprised. Why did he need money? He was the son of Colt Greenly, four time calf roping champion with more sponsorships than she could count. His brother owned a big spread south of town and his father had a ranch somewhere nearby, although he’d always been secretive about its actual location. Maybe he was just trying to earn his own way, instead of riding the coattails of his family’s reputation.

She fumbled with the snap on the pocket of his shirt. “I just don’t think it a good idea for us to travel together yet. I like you and we have fun together but I’m not sure I’m ready for that leap.”

He slid his hand up her arms and cupped her jaw in his palms. “I’m not sure where you see this going but I’m not playing games with you, Ali. I like you, a lot.”

He bent and met her lips in a gentle kiss. She barely felt a twinge of desire and cursed herself for it. What was wrong with her? Here was a gorgeous man who was kind, gentle, and caring, thinking of her every need, wanting to spend time with her and she couldn’t muster up even a little excitement at his kiss? There was no electricity when his hand slid down her spine and settled at her lower back, pulling her body against his. Where were the butterflies? The jolt of need? She wanted to feel
something.

“There you are.” They both jumped, turning to see Colt Greenly heading toward them, his limp slowed him while fury colored his face bright red. “What were you doing out there?”

David’s jaw clenched and he stepped away from Alicia, moving her behind him as if he were shielding her from his father’s wrath.

Or hiding you
, the snide voice in her mind, the one that sounded like Delilah’s , sneered.

“What are you talking about?” David threw his hands in the air and she could hear the exasperation in his voice. “We won.”

“By three hundredths of a second.” Colt shoved his finger into David’s shoulder, pushing against him as if daring him to say more. “You were damn lucky and you know it.”

“Whatever, Dad.” David shook his head and sighed. “I just can’t win with you, can I?” He turned and laid a hand on Alicia’s back.

“Not when the only thing I’m looking forward to right now is living in a trailer.”

David spun on his father, stepping up until their chests almost touched. “That wasn’t my doing, now was it? But you expect me to make it right.”

As if remembering they had an audience, David stepped backward. “I’m doing the best I can as quickly as possible. That’s going to have to be good enough for you.” He reached for her hand, leading her away from the trailer.