Learning the Ropes by T. J. Kline Read Free Book Online

him. He had to get away from them. Looking around and spotted one of the women he’d been flirting with earlier today standing near the band.
    “Thank you for the dance, Ali, but I’m off to enjoy a few of those perks we talked about.”
    He knew the comment made him sound like a jerk but he didn’t want her to get any wrong ideas about why he’d kissed her. Especially when he found himself wanting to do it again and was trying to keep himself from letting his mind stray out of the friend zone.
    She laughed at him and his heart skipped. He wasn’t sure if it was the sweetness of the sound or the relief that she wouldn’t let his mistake affect their friendship. “You’d better be careful, Chris, or one of these days you’re going to fall for one of those buckle bunnies and she’ll break your heart.” She poked a finger against his solid shoulder.
    “Unless he catches some disease first,” David muttered.
    Chris ignored the insult and winked at Ali, giving her a cocky grin. “It’ll never happen. It’s not in my DNA to fall for anyone.”
    He realized the honesty of the statement after it slipped out and felt momentarily depressed by the truth of it. Chris saw a flash of sadness in her eyes but it was gone quickly and he almost convinced himself he’d imagined it. His words hung heavily in the air between the three of them, like a wet blanket, and he wasn’t sure how to lighten the mood again until a busty brunette bumped into the back of him, knocking him forward and nearly spilling the three beers she carried. She apologized and giggled as she righted herself.
    Chris laughed, relieved to have an interruption. “Duty calls.” He turned to follow the brunette, grateful for the excuse to leave. “Hey, honey, need some help carrying those?” Chris asked as he disappeared into the crowd.
    “I can’t believe no woman’s ever filed a paternity suit against him,” David said as Chris hurried into the crowd after the brunette.
    Chris moved far enough that he was out of earshot but could still see Alicia and David through the crowd of dancers. He tried to pretend to listen to the brunette, but he’d already forgotten her name, his eyes strayed to Ali as David took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. As the band struck up a slow country ballad, Chris watched them sway to the music, David’s arm curled protectively around her minuscule waist. Ali looked up at him and smiled brightly, her brown eyes lighting up with delight at whatever he was saying. Chris could see it in her face, could tell David interested her, and they seemed to be having a great time together. So far, he’d even seen David loosen up and joke around with her, something he rarely saw, especially at rodeos where he was all business. This was exactly the effect he’d been hoping Ali would have on David. It was what he wanted, so why did he feel like slamming his fist into someone’s face?
    He saw David tighten his hold on Ali and she tucked her head into the curve of his shoulder, under his jaw, closing her eyes. Chris watched as her fingers trailed over the nape of David’s neck and his heart dropped to his toes. He wasn’t sure where this jealousy was coming from but he was going to get rid of it the only way he knew how—with a distraction, any distraction, and he needed it right now.
    He’d been too busy watching Ali and David to notice the brunette had already moved on but Chris spotted two girls standing off to the left side of the stage, eyeing him like sugar addicts would a piece of candy. “Howdy, ladies,” he drawled. “Would one of you like to dance?”
    “Me!” A leggy blond shoved past her friend in an attempt to move closer to him. She slipped her hand into his and he led her to the dance floor.
    Now this was the type of woman he was comfortable with. Nothing serious, no emotions, and no one got hurt. His eyes slid over several faces on the dance floor until he spotted Ali with David again and clenched his