A Town Called Valentine(107)

A half hour earlier, in the ranch office, Nate looked out the window at the lightening sky and scowled. He’d printed out several lists and talked to all the event coordinators. He still had some more announcements to make, but he was waiting for the last document to print, then he’d follow his prescribed list, making sure everything got done.

“Nate?” Josh ducked his head in the door. “Where the heck are you?”

“I’m coming,” Nate said, standing near the printer impatiently. “Are the bulls in the holding pen?”

“Of course. You already delegated that task.”

“Right, sorry.”

“You know, big brother,” Josh said, half-sitting on the edge of a desk and studying Nate, “I bet you wouldn’t know how to enjoy the day if you weren’t running the whole thing, being everything to everybody.”

“Of course I would,” Nate said absently. “It’s a great event, and everyone has fun.”

“I don’t think you’re capable of having fun.”

Nate frowned and came around the desk, brushing by his brother. “What are you talking about?”

Josh grabbed his arm. “A challenge. I dare you to hand me those papers, that microphone, and all the control. I’m not worried it won’t get done—I’m saying you won’t be able to stop yourself from interfering.”

“Josh, you’re making a point, fine, I get it. But not today.”

“Yes, today.”

Josh made a grab for the clipboard as Nate attached the papers. Nate resisted.

“You gonna turn down a challenge, big brother?” Josh asked softly, with an air of danger and a gleam in his eye.

Nate finally looked at his brother—really looked at him. And heard him. He thought of Emily’s conclusions about him trying to prove himself.

He didn’t have to prove how much he loved the ranch. Everyone knew.

“Okay,” he said suddenly, letting go of the clipboard. It banged against Josh’s chest from his pull.

Josh slowly smiled. “Really?”

“Really. I can let it go. I trust you.”

“I never doubted that,” Josh said, eyeing him.

Nate smiled. “Go on. Go have fun.”

After Josh had gone, Nate left the office, took a deep breath of the warm air, scented with hay and cattle and the smell of grilling sausages.

Brooke ran up to him. “Hey, I need—”

“Go talk to Josh. I’m taking the day off.”

“What? But Nate . . . you love the rodeo.” Her voice sounded bewildered.

He shrugged. “I’m not going anywhere. Now hurry! The first event starts in an hour, and there’s still a lot to do.”

She left, shaking her head and muttering, and Nate was trapped for another ten minutes, turning away everybody and their brother asking endless questions about the rodeo. He referred them all to Josh.

Then he saw Emily step out of the baking tent, and their eyes met and held. Her slow, sexy smile made his insides twist, and she did a little twirl in her yellow polka-dotted dress. When he saw her cowboy boots, a surge of hope took him by surprise. They were just boots, but they made him think . . . was she considering staying in Valentine Valley? Where was his worry about breaking up with her? It was no longer there, as if he’d let a lot of things go when he gave over control.

They met in the shade of the stands, and he kissed her long and hard.

She swayed in his arms and stared up at him in pleased surprise. “That was quite the greeting.”

“It’s those boots—I’ll never be able to resist you now.”

They heard Josh’s calm voice on the loudspeaker, and Emily studied Nate’s face.

“Is that your doing?” she asked slyly.

He grinned. “Nope, it’s his. Josh challenged me, and I never go back on a challenge.” He kissed her nose.

“What kind of challenge?”

“The kind where I’m a participant, not a coordinator.”

“Really?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” he said dryly.

Josh ran by them at full speed. Nate didn’t even turn his head to see where he was going.

“Impressive,” Emily said, nodding. “I might actually believe you’re capable of this.”

“Glad someone does.”

“So you’ll be forced to keep me company all day, and explain everything I’m watching.”