Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(33)

Everyone laughed but Haley. Her eyes burned, but she refused to show her embarrassment. Surprisingly, Krista was the one to break the building tension.

“Don’t worry too much about the bears,” Krista said. “They have little cause for fear. Most of the hunters are rich guys from back east who would probably piss themselves if they actually saw one. The majority of them come back empty-handed since Reid’s been gone. For the most part, they’re happy holing up at the lodge, drinking and talking about hunting. It’s really just a testosterone-laced version of a hen party.”

“Are you a hunting guide too?” Haley asked.

Krista shook her head. “Nope. Although I can shoot as good as any of them, and better than most, guiding is still a male-dominated realm. Tonya and I manage the horses. Mom cooks, and my father and brothers lead the hunts. Our family’s been doing it for three generations. Does anyone want to come inside for a beer? We picked up a cooler full last night.”

“I’ll take one,” Garcia eagerly replied.

Glancing at Tonya, Yolanda latched on to his arm. “Make that two.”

Reid made to follow while Haley dragged her heels, still hurt by Reid and Tonya’s combined mockery. She wished she hadn’t come. She’d even begun to think Reid had forgotten her existence until he looked back over his shoulder. “You comin’ inside?”

“I’m not thirsty,” she sulked.

“What’s wrong?”

Annoyed by his ridicule, Haley jutted her chin. “I’ll tell you what’s wrong. You just stood there while your ex-girlfriend made fun of me. You even laughed, Reid!”

“Because it was a joke. C’mon,” he coaxed. “You need to lighten up a little.”

“Lighten up?” She jerked back. “It’s hard for me to meet strangers to begin with. I told you I wasn’t comfortable coming here, but I did because you asked me to.”

“I know that, and I’m sorry if the joke offended you. It really wasn’t personal.”

She appreciated his apology, but it still wasn’t enough to vanquish her insecurity. “How serious was it, Reid?”

“What?” he answered blankly.

“You and Tonya. I can understand your sister coming out here, but why would Tonya join her if it was finished between you?”

“Because she’s my sister’s best friend. It’s nothing more than that.”

“How serious was it?” she persisted. She didn’t know why it mattered. Irrational maybe, but she couldn’t deny the sick churning in her gut.

“Serious enough, I suppose. We were almost engaged.”

“Engaged,” she repeated. “You gave her a ring?”

“No. It didn’t get quite that far.”

“How far?”

He scrubbed his face. “It’s ancient history, Haley. It’s done.”

“So you claim, but I get quite another impression from her.”

“I told her clearly at Christmas that I’m not interested in picking it back up with her.”

She searched his eyes for any sign of deceit, but his gaze remained steady. “Well clearly she didn’t accept that if she’s come all the way out here from Wyoming. And now you plan to entertain her?” Haley planted her hands on her hips.

“How can I avoid it?”

“I’m starting to think this whole thing between us was a huge mistake.”

“C’mon, sweetheart,” he cajoled. “There’s no reason to be jealous.”

“Jealous?” Her brows met in a glower. “You think I’m jealous?”

He chuckled. “I’m a bit flattered by it, actually, but Tonya’s arrival doesn’t mean anything. You’re the only one I want. Understand?” He tilted his face to kiss her, but she turned away.

She despised this feeling of insecurity that squeezed her chest and resented him for being the cause of it. “You’re right, Reid,” she snapped. “It doesn’t matter because this”—she gestured between them—“doesn’t mean anything. I admit we have powerful chemistry, but it’s bound to wear off sooner or later—”

“Wear off? I don’t think you mean that. There’s something more here, Haley, and it’s not going to just wear off. You know it as well as I do. You just don’t want to admit it because it doesn’t fit into your master plan.”

He was right that she wasn’t ready to admit it, even to herself.

“I do have plans, Reid,” she argued. “Big plans that require me to maintain focus. I can’t afford distractions. And you qualify as a huge distraction. On top of that, our lives are on completely divergent paths.”

“You haven’t even given this a chance. That’s all I’m asking. I want us to spend some time together and see where it goes. Please let’s just give it a little more time before you decide to jump ship.” He grasped her chin, holding her gaze. “Just a chance.”

His calm and confident reassurance made her want to believe in him, to trust him.

“Okay,” she replied softly. She couldn’t believe how easily he’d defused her, but Reid always seemed to have that effect on her.

“Good.” His lips met hers, soft and tender, as if sealing a pact. He released her with a smile, then planted another kiss on the tip of her nose before pressing a hand into the small of her back. “C’mon, let’s go join the others inside.”