For the next few minutes, we chat smoothly enough. He's easy to talk to, I'll give him that. He's got the kind of unforced friendliness that some people are just born with, the kind that doesn't require anything from you. We talk about nothing much: the weather, the work on the ranch, how he came up from Texas a few weeks back looking for a change of scenery. He's got a nice laugh and laughs often.
Unlike someone else I could name.
But somewhere in the middle of Travis’s chatter, the back of my neck prickles.
I don't even need to look. But I do, because I'm only human.
Sure enough, I see Walker on his black stallion across the field, staring at me and Travis like we’re a couple of criminals plotting a heist.Jaw tight. Eyes in shadow under the brim of his hat.
I look away.
You don't get to do that,I think, very clearly, in his direction.You don't get to look at me like that.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” Travis says.
I pull my attention back. That’s another one of those things people say to me that always sends me on high alert.
“Shoot,” I say.
“Is it true you’re dating Walker Rhodes?”
This shit again. This guy’s only been in town a few weeks and already knows the gossip.
“No,” I say. “Not true.”
“Okay.” He grins, obviously pleased by that answer. “So if I were to ask you to come to Sutton's tomorrow night so I can buy you a drink, I'd have a shot at a yes?”
I look at him properly. Nice smile. Laughing eyes. An easy, charming way about him. He's uncomplicated in a way that might be exactly what I need while I'm still licking my wounds.
“I’ll have to check my schedule,” I say.
His smile widens. He hands me his phone and I type my number in, and the whole time I'm doing it there's this feeling of guilt that I do my best to push away. Because I'm not doing anything wrong. Walker told me himself,you should date other people.
And even after he told me that, he touched me and held me and then pushed me awayagain.
I don’t have any patience for this hot-and-cold bullshit. Even if I understand where it’s coming from. Even if I understand he’s conflicted and maybe even a little broken. Damaged, like he said.
I don’t mind broken and damaged.
But I do mind being jerked around.
I hand the phone back just as the thunder of hoofbeats announces Walker's arrival. From atop his black stallion,with that dark look on his face, he looks ominous as a thundercloud descending.
The man is literally blocking out the sun.
“Travis.” His voice comes out clipped. “Feed’s running low in the south barn. Should’ve been refilled this morning.”
“Yessir.” Travis straightens. Tips his hat to me. “Sadie. Pleasure.”
“Bye.” I smile at him, and I don't look at Walker until Travis is halfway across the field.
Walker dismounts.
Cowboys come with a lot of hardware. Chaps, spurs, the coiled rope. It gives him the look of a man armored up for battle.
He drops Journey’s reins over the fence post and turns to face me. For a moment we just look at each other.
Stupid, beautiful, infuriating man.
