Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(8)

“Can’t you take a hint, Grady? I’m not attracted to you that way.”

“Yeah you are.” He grinned. “Your body already told me so. Your head just don’t know it yet.”

Janice stared at him dumbfounded. “You are the cockiest damned cowboy I’ve ever met.”

She’d never known a man as full of himself as Grady Garrison. While her attraction to him was nothing compared to what she felt for Dirk, she wasn’t completely immune to his confident charm. He’d also made his interest in her as clear as Dirk had made his indifference. If Dirk didn’t want her, why shouldn’t she flirt a little with Grady?

He flashed his big, bad grin. “It ain’t cocky, sweetheart, when you are the best.”

*

Dirk watched Grady and Janice with a vague feeling of irritation. Hadn’t he warned her about him? He’d traveled with Grady long enough to know exactly how he operated. Grady might not be the biggest or best-looking guy on the circuit, but his bad-boy attitude never failed to attract female attention. Like his bull riding, he scored far more often than not, and just like the bulls, once he’d conquered one, he was always looking for the next challenge—and that was all Janice was to him.

Dirk had known her since high school where she’d proven a real hand with a rope. In the past year of working the rodeos with her ol’ man, she’d proven herself again, winning all the cowboys’ respect. It was no small feat and he hated to see that hard-earned regard destroyed—but it would be, once Grady started running his mouth off about her.

He told himself it was none of his business, but still felt a compulsion to break his buddy’s face when Grady made his move. He forced himself to look away. He’d hoped she wouldn’t make that mistake, but now it was out of his hands. Turning his back to the couple, he grabbed his rigging bag. “You comin’ or not, Grady?” He threw the question over his shoulder. “Rachel’s waiting on me.”

“Go on without me,” Grady replied. “I’m hitching a ride with Janice. I’m gonna help her finish up here and then we’ll head on out.”

Dirk turned back asking Janice, “Need an extra hand?”

Grady gave him a look that said “back off” in no uncertain terms. “I got her covered. ’Sides, you won’t be any help anyway with only one good arm and a busted-up hand. Go on ahead, and we’ll catch up with you. We’ll be done directly.”

“You sure about that?” Dirk sought Janice’s confirmation, hoping she’d change her mind.

“Yeah. You can go on, Dirk. Grady’s agreed to help me out in return for a lift to Thermopolis. Until you two get back together on the circuit, I’m his new ride.”

“His new ride, huh?” More than you know, sweetheart. Dirk bit back the retort that hung on his tongue.

“Oh yeah,” Grady replied with a coyote grin. “It’s gonna work out real good.”

The two men stared one another down until Dirk reminded himself it was no skin off his hide what they did. He still couldn’t figure out why he felt so protective about a girl he hardly knew but then shrugged it off, wincing at the reminder of his injury before tossing his bag over his good shoulder.

*

Janice looked after Dirk wondering if she’d misjudged him, if somehow she’d made a mistake. It was like he said one thing but really meant another. Only an hour ago he’d insisted he was involved exclusively with Rachel, but his whole demeanor had changed when she’d mentioned traveling with Grady. He’d seemed almost pissed off about it.

Why should he care if they traveled together? Was it just a fraternal kind of concern? If so, he was acting damned hypocritical. He’d accused her of acting like his mother only to turn around and take a similar posture—one she didn’t want or need. She certainly didn’t need any head games. At least Grady made clear what he was after. She assured herself she could handle him. She was used to looking out for herself.

Dirk had ruffled her feathers, but she shook it off to concentrate on work. Twenty minutes later she pulled off her leather gloves and brushed the dirt from her jeans.

“Can you give me a few minutes to shower and change?” she asked Grady. “I’ve got some clean clothes in my trailer. I’m not about to go to a fancy party reeking of the stock pens.”

“Sure thing,” he replied. “I’m going to hit the locker room and grab a quick shower myself. Don’t make me wait too long.” Grady placed a callused hand on the small of her back. “I’ve got a real thirst tonight for a whiskey…” He raked a hungry gaze slowly over her five-foot-eight-inch frame. “And a tall drink of water.”





Chapter 3


After a quick shower, Dirk threw on some fresh Wranglers, toweled his head with his good arm, and then scowled at the fifty-dollar button-down from the George Strait collection laid out on the bed for him—the one Rachel had purchased at the Wrangler Fashion Show. She’d presented it as a gift, and expected him to wear it tonight. He felt a surge of resentment at the subtle ways she’d begun controlling him.

It seemed everyone had expectations of him these days.

Big. Expectations.

Although they’d not actually talked about it, with his graduation and now the rodeo win, they’d all be anticipating a move on his part, most likely tonight, but the idea of hobbling himself at age twenty-two, even to Rachel, galled him to no end.