Long Hard Ride (Rough Riders #1)(19)

“I’m not like most women, Colby McKay. I like the raunchy side of you. I like the fact you don’t treat me like a china doll and want me to show you my wild side, too.”


He grinned shyly and smooched the tip of her nose. “You’re sweeter’n ten pounds of sugar. Get dressed or I won’t be responsible for what happens next. We’re already runnin’ late.” Whistling off-key, he disappeared into the bathroom.


Voices drifted out the back end of the horse trailer.


“No. There ain’t nothin’ wrong with this rope. Leave it be.”


“Come on, Edgard, it’s a frayed piece of crap. Either you toss it in the garbage or I will.”


“This rope is not what’s causing the problems, amigo.”


“What the f*ck is that supposed to mean? You think it’s my fault that you can’t get a bead on anything that moves faster than my crippled-up grandma?”


“I’m going to make you pay for that, Trev. One way or another, easy or hard—”


Channing cleared her throat. “Knock knock.”


Silence.


“I know you guys are in here, I heard you arguing. Hell, everyone in Limon heard you arguing. Am I interrupting something?”


“Yes,” Edgard said at the same time Trev said, “No.”


“Oh, well…I won’t be long. I just need to eat some breakfast and then I’ll get out of your hair and let you get back to it.”


The trailer shook as Trevor stomped out. Another round of heated words was exchanged outside, followed by harsh silence.


Edgard climbed into the living quarters and watched Channing dump Raisin Bran into a bowl and pour milk over it.


She looked up at him and smiled warily. Good god. He was magnificent even when he scowled. “Want some?”


“Sure. If it is no trouble.”


“Not at all.” She slid the bowl at him and motioned for him to sit at the dinette. And she sat across from him and dug in.


“I didn’t hear Trevor come back to the room last night. Were you guys beating the shit out of each other or something?”


Edgard’s spoon froze halfway to his mouth. “No. Why would you say that?”


“Seems like you guys are always fighting.”


He shrugged and resumed eating. “It goes with the territory.


Especially when things aren’t going well.”


“Meaning?”


“We’ve lost our rhythm and we’ve dropped in the standings in the last two weeks. No money. Tempers are short.”


“I’m sorry.”


“It happens.”


Channing stirred her cereal, half-tempted to abandon it and this awkward conversation.


Edgard sighed. “What?”


She met his dark gaze. “You don’t want me here, do you?”


A heavy pause weighted the air as he considered his answer. “What makes you think that?”


“Besides the fact I’m a sure thing who’s supposed to fill your every forbidden fantasy and you haven’t so much as held my hand?”


He smiled but it didn’t reach his coal black eyes. “Not exactly the shy, retiring type, are you, chica?”


If he only knew she usually cowered in the corner. “Am I too forward?


Is that why you don’t like me?”


“Channing, I like you fine. I’ve just got a lot on my mind that has nothing to do with you, okay?”


“Okay. So I don’t disgust you?”


“No.”


“I thought Colby said you three shared everything.”


“Not everything.”


“But even if I’m…not your type and you’re not attracted to me or whatever, I’d…oh forget it.”


He sighed again. “No. Spit it out.”


“I’d still like to be your friend, because like it or not, you’re stuck with me for the next week.”


A ghost of a gentle smile. “You clicked with Colby pretty fast, didn’t you?”


“Yes.” She wanted to ask him why he didn’t mention she’d also clicked with Trevor—with everyone besides him.


Edgard snagged her hand and gave her knuckles a quick kiss. “No wonder Colby calls you shug, you are very sweet.”


She blushed.


“Are you coming to the performances this afternoon?”


“I planned to. Why?”


“I’m hoping that now that you’re traveling with us, our luck will change.” He stood, went to the sink and rinsed his bowl and spoon. “I’ll see you later.”


Channing stared after him for the longest time, not entirely understanding what had happened, or if anything had changed.


Chapter Six


The afternoon was scorching hot in the rodeo stands. Channing had coated her bare arms with sunscreen and was glad her lightweight and light-colored cowboy hat deflected the worst of the sun’s rays and allowed the slightest breeze through the finely woven straw to cool her head.