“How’d you know all that?” Now he’s the one looking atmymouth.
It takes a lot to make me nervous. Before my race at the rodeo, all it took to get me in the right mindset was a pep talk from Xander and a healthy swig of tequila.
Now, though, my legs are literally shaking.
“I pay attention,” I manage. “You were around a lot when I was growing up. You’re still around a lot.”
A muscle in his jaw tics. “That a problem?”
“I’m not complaining.”
One side of his mouth kicks up, and he looks so cockily handsome, sohappy, that everything inside me turns upside down. “You like me, huh?”
“I do. Which is why I’ll let it slide—the fact that you’re not gonna play for me…yet.”
He puts his hand on his hip. He’s so close his knuckles brush my side as he leans on one leg. “Who said I was gonna play for you at all?”
“I did.” I slide my hand down to his forearm. “So why’d youreallyinvite me over today, huh?”
I nearly pass out when he steps closer, our knees touching. “Thought you could use the excuse of helping us out with the kids to play hooky. Also, girl time.”
“Girl time?” My pulse leaps.
“Girl time. I may have thrown in a pair of custom Bellamy Brooks boots to sweeten the deal. I know you’ve been looking for more girlfriends, so…”
My eyes are stinging all over again. “What deal? I don’t follow.”
“Mollie, Sally, Wheeler, and Ava—I think her girls are gonna be there too—they’re waiting for you in the studio.”
“The studio?” I feel like an idiot asking all these questions.
“Construction just wrapped on Bellamy Brooks’s second headquarters here on the ranch. Wait ’til you see it. The views are unbelievable.” He holds out an arm, and that’s when I see his truck parked in the New House’s driveway. “I’ll give you a lift. Yes, Billie, the surprise is that I got you a pair of their boots.”
I gasp. “You didn’t!”
Living in Hartsville, of course I’ve heard about Bellamy Brooks. Mollie and Wheeler have gotten pretty damn famous for the gorgeous, fashion-forward boots they’ve made for several years now.
Like every Texas girl with a pulse, I’d love to own a pair. But they cost over a thousand bucks a pop. There’s no way I could ever afford that.
“I did, to thank you for pushing my buttons.” Ryder meets my eyes.
I can only stare at him. “Never thought I’d hear you say those words.”
“Me neither. Life is funny, ain’t it?”
It is funny. And terrifying.
But sometimes, like right now, life can be awful sweet too.
I’m shaking as I climb the steps to what might be the most beautiful studio in the world.
The building is made of pale limestone that matches the landscape perfectly. It has big steel windows and a dramatic sloping roofline that makes me think of an old-timey farmhouse.A brass sign beside the front door reads “Bellamy Brooks Headquarters No. 2.”
I hear music coming from inside. And voices. Lots of them.
“This is too much, Ry.”
“Least I can do, Billie.” He reaches for the knob and opens the door for me. “The girls are excited to see you.”
