Hell on Heels (Hotel Rodeo #1)(40)

Ty took a sip of his beer. “See anyone familiar?”

“I assume you mean Zac?” she asked. “He and Kade arrived early yesterday.” She paused. “You might be interested to know that Kade was putting the moves on Boss Lady.”

“Kade?” Ty snorted into his beer. “You’re screwing with me. That scrawny little shit? He wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance with a woman like her. She’s way out of his league.”

“You think so, huh? Kade’s not so scrawny anymore, Ty. In fact, he’s quite the hottie, if you ask me. Reminds me of a young Brad Pitt. You know, from Thelma & Louise? I loved Brad in that flick. Even had his poster on my wall. Maybe Boss Lady had that poster too ’cause it seemed to me she and Kade were getting pretty friendly.”

Monica and Kade McDaniel? What the f*ck?

“When was this?” Ty quizzed.

“Just last night. They spent a couple hours down here together.”

“They did?” Ty tensed on instinct and then forced out a breath.

Maybe the two of them had been together in the bar, but in the end she’d gone to her room alone. He didn’t have a clue what Monica might have wanted from Kade, but it certainly wasn’t what Ty had given her. Nevertheless, he was still tempted to beat the story out of the sly little sonofabitch when he saw him.

“Speak of the devil,” Gabby said, nodding to the door.

A half dozen cowboys had come in and were headed toward the bar, laughing and shooting the shit until the biggest of the bunch caught sight of Ty. His brows met, and all the laughter died. Ty returned a nod, snatched up his beer and waited. It was long past time they buried the hatchet, but the nod was as far as he was willing to go this time. The rest was up to Zac.

They were once the best of friends, but things went south when Ty’s marriage broke up. Delaney had blamed Zac for it and had forced Ty to choose between them. Being none too fond of ultimatums, Ty had walked. Delaney filed for divorce that week. Although he didn’t fight the divorce, the whole ordeal still had soured the friendship.

Zac murmured something to his buddies and then swaggered over. “Ty,” Zac greeted him with a tip of the hat. “Been a while.”

“Take a load off, Zac.” Ty inclined his head to the stool beside him. “Gabby, how about a beer for my ol’ friend?”

“Sure thing, Ty.” Gabby answered.

“So you’ve made it to the finals. Congrats. Competition’s a whole lot tougher than it used to be.”

Zac accepted the beer from Gabby with a grunt of thanks. “You’re right about that,” he said. “Now that it’s a big-money sport, everybody wants in. I’m past ready to be done with it now, but that prize money sure could make for an easier retirement.”

“Oh yeah? Not in it for the head rush anymore?”

“Shit no. That thrill wore off about five years ago. I’d retire yesterday but can’t afford to. I need this win.”

“So where are you in the standings?” Ty asked.

“Twenty-fifth after last night. That’s up five notches from where I started. If I come up five more I’ll make the cut for the world championships. I know I’m a long shot at my age, but I can still hope. I’ve got two more rides until the final go. I just gotta draw the right bull and hope riders one through nineteen all eat dirt.” His mouth twitched a little at the corner. It was about as close as Zac ever got to a smile.

Tamara was watching them from across the bar. Zac’s gaze flickered briefly in her direction. She smiled back at him, but he didn’t make a move to buy her a drink. Ty wondered why women always flocked to Zac. Maybe his reserve was the source of his appeal. With a twice-broken nose and a number of scars, Zac wasn’t the best-looking guy on the tour, and he certainly wasn’t blessed with personal charm, but Zac was a good bull rider and tough as hell. Ty recalled the time he rode with a broken leg and even made the whistle. Women liked gritty, and Zac had that in spades.

They drank in companionable silence, or as close to companionable as it had ever been in the last seven years. They’d seen each other from time to time over the years, but the past always clung to them like fresh dung to a new boot. Although things could never be as they once were, Ty was glad to know they might finally be able to get beyond all the bad history.

“How are you doing these days?” Zac finally asked.

“I’ve been better,” Ty shrugged, “but I’ve been a helluva lot worse, too. Did you hear about Tom?”

“Yeah.” Zac’s expression sobered. “How’s the ol’ man doing?”

“As well as can be expected, I s’pose. He’s paralyzed on his right side, and he can’t talk, but he’s still the same Tom. He’s over at a private nursing facility called The Oasis. You should drop by and see him. I’m sure he’d like that.”

“Shit.” Zac shook his head. “I’d hate to end up like that.”

“I promise you he ain’t too happy about it either,” Ty said.

“So where does all this leave you?”

“Don’t know yet,” Ty said. “His daughter’s taking care of all his business affairs. She wants to sell this place, but I’m working on some things.” Ty chose not to elaborate, figuring it best to keep it under his hat, at least until it was a done deal.