“Because my dad would kill these men if they so much as winked my way.” I shrugged. He hadn’t actually said that, but he’d thrown enough hints to make them believe it.
With our feet balancing on the bottom rail, we leaned over the top rail and watched three guys work with five horses. A loud shrill had the girls’ head jerking to the right. Accustomed to the sounds, I didn’t bother looking, my gaze riveted on a beautiful white stallion, one of the guys was training to bow. Only when the girls moved away did I turn. Without following, I knew what got their attention.
Bullet.
A magnificent chocolate brown Andalusian, he pranced around in the next corral. He was a bit of a showoff and when the girls neared him, he came up to the rails but stayed just out of their reach, snorting his pleasure. Laughing at his insolence, I climbed off the bottom rail, intending to go stand with the girls. My feet froze when Bullet’s shirtless rider appeared from behind the horse. Shay pushed back his black Stetson and I immediately forgot the pact I made with my eyes, not to perve over him again, ever.
With almost ten men, all good-looking in their own way, spread out around the corrals, Shay stood out. Sweaty, dirty, tight faded jeans hugging his ass and ripped abs glistening in the sunlight, he stole my gaze and the air from my lungs. Yet, when he smiled at my friends, now leaning over the rails to his corral, I startled at that rush of jealousy pawing my body, taunting me to retaliate. I reined it in until he helped Samantha jump into the ring with him so she could caress Bullet. Then, I bit down so hard on my bottom lip to avoid that sudden yell tickling my throat, I tasted blood.
Was it weird that my imagination was running wild, dreaming up all sorts of sexual scenes between her and Shay?
Cut it out, Skye.
My warning had no effect. I had the urge to grab her by the hair, fling her to the ground then sit on her chest and punch her lights out.
“Holy cow,” I muttered under my breath. Something was seriously wrong with me. Quickly, I swallowed, forced a smile and stomped over to them.
Shay, however, saw right through my façade. “Hey, Blue.” He frowned. “Everything okay?” I could never hide anything from him. He stepped closer to the rail, his manly scent of sweat and heady cologne sailing up my nostrils.
“Yeah,” I replied, my eyes on Samantha who’d sidled up to his side.
“Happy birthday, Shay.” She rubbed his arm, her smile playful.
I saw red.
Cat fightboomed in my ear. Shifting my gaze to Shay who smiled down at her, I clenched my teeth to stay grounded. Good thing I was on the other side of the fence because I was sure Samantha, and I would no longer be friends, if I weren’t.
Did I tell you what a flirt Samantha was? She’d become a real outspoken seducer and didn’t hesitate to let guys know she was interested. I didn’t care who she bedded. As long as she stayed away from Shay, we’d remain friends.
Shay’s gloved fingers on my chin brought me out of my musings. “Where did you go just now?” He grinned. I frowned and he added, “I asked if you want to go down to the river for a swim before the barbeque.”
“Oh,” my laugh sounded as nervous as I felt.
Shay in swimming trunks didn’t really sit well with my current state of mind, especially after last night’s incident.
“I think that’s an awesome idea,” Samantha purred. “It’s hot and I’m all sticky and—”
“Of course, you are,” I snorted, catching Shay’s confused expression before I stalked off.
Laika raced after me. “Wait up, will you?” She grabbed my hand, breathing sharp exhales on my face as I came to a stop. “What was that?”
“What?” I feigned ignorance.
She chewed her bottom lip, her expression undisguised suspicion. “You almost stabbed Samantha to death with those poisonous darts your eyes shot out then that sarcasm at the end. That’s not you, Skye. What’s up?”
I should’ve been worried. Strangely, I didn’t care. “Nothing.” I shrugged and resumed walking.
She fell into step beside me. “You’re angry because she was flirting with Shay, aren’t you?”
Did I tell you how perceptive Laika was? To the point that sometimes I could kill her, like right now for instance. She was my ditzy bestie, a tomboy of note and rarely thought before she spoke. Again, I merely shrugged.
As if privy to my internal suffering, she looped an arm with mine. “Shay’s an awfully good looking—scrap that, he’s a drop-dead, panty melting, gorgeous man.” She chuckled at my raised brow. “All the girls in town swoon over him but he only has eyes for one person.” My heart rate boomed in my ear, but I didn’t ask who, fearing my reaction. Once again, Laika proved her perception skills when she shoulder-bumped me. “I’m talking about you, silly.”
I gawked at her. Had she noticed my twisted admiration for Shay. “He’s my brother,” I tried to laugh it off, but I didn’t even hear the mirth in there.
“So?” Laika linked our fingers. “Sometimes you can’t explain what you see in a person because they possess this ability to take you someplace no one else can, Skye. What in life is truly objective and not subjective, is a question no one can really explain.”
“Holy cow.” My feet slammed to a stop. “When did you get so philosophically intelligent?”
