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

jaw, tripping over his own feet. Chris didn’t want to think about Ali anymore. She conjured up too many images of marriage, kids and his future. Better to let her play house with someone who wanted the same things, someone more like David. He was a man she could count on.

 
    Chapter Four
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    C HRIS SAT ON his gelding, Jaeger, nursing his hangover as the bright light of day pierced the dark sunglasses he wore. He cupped his forehead in his hand, rubbing his temples, trying to will the headache away. The next thing he knew, his head dropped forward with a jerk as he nodded off with the sound of the announcer beating against the sides of his throbbing brain. He cringed as his horse stamped a foot, jarring him, as he tried to remain as still as possible to keep the pounding to a minimum.
    “Cool it, Jaeger,” he muttered as if the beast could understand him.
    “Yeah, Jaeger.” David sidled his mount next to Chris’s. “Your master is grouchy because he had far too much to drink last night and had to sleep in the backseat of the truck so he didn’t embarrass himself.”
    “Shut up, David.”
    “I see you woke up on the wrong side of the truck this morning.” He laughed at his own joke before stretching his arms toward the sky and yawning loudly. “Not like the bed in the extra bedroom. You were right. Dinner at Ali’s house was a great idea after all.”
    Chris glared at his best friend before remembering he couldn’t see the daggers he was shooting at him from behind the dark glasses. He didn’t usually drink so much but when feminine distractions didn’t work to take his mind off Ali and David, he turned to drink.
    And when did David start calling her “Ali”? That had always been Chris’s nickname for her. No one else called her that. How close did David and Ali actually get last night?
    “You’re a dick.”
    David chuckled quietly. “I know. Make sure you’re ready. We’re up in a few minutes. We need this win.”
    “Yeah, yeah. You just worry about your own loop, not mine.” He wasn’t in any mood to deal with David’s rediscovered sense of humor. “What’s got you in such a good mood this morning anyway?” He regretted the question as soon as it left his mouth.
    David looked at his saddle and adjusted his reins, unable to hide the grin that spread across his face. “You mean, besides a comfortable bed, a filling breakfast, and a pretty girl giving me a kiss this morning for good luck?” He shrugged. “I guess nothing.”
    “I thought you didn’t care about dating, that it was a waste of your precious time?”
    “I’ll admit it. Ali wasn’t what I expected.”
    Chris took off his sunglasses and handed them to the cowboy opening the gate for them. “Then maybe you should be thanking me instead of giving me a hard time.” He shot a sidelong glance at David, still grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Ali kissed you, huh?”
    He looked over at David suspiciously. Maybe he was just screwing with him? Chris hadn’t missed the funny look David gave him after seeing him on the dance floor with Ali; maybe this was his way at getting back at him. Or testing the waters to see if Chris was interested in Ali for himself? The thought struck him in the chest. He wasn’t, was he?
    Chris didn’t want to even begin to think about why he felt a knot of dread forming in his gut any more than he wanted David to suspect his jealousy. It was irrational so he stuffed it deep within but it chewed at the edges of his mind. Ali wasn’t the type of girl to kiss a guy right after meeting him. At least, she hadn’t been before. Maybe she’d changed in the past two years since he’d spent any significant amount of time with her. People could change and not always for the better. Chris clenched his jaw, trying to focus on the task at hand. He didn’t have time to be worrying about Ali.
    Easing his horse into the chute, Chris turned Jaeger so he could back the gelding into the corner. He casually flipped the