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

loop over his wrist and slid the eye of the rope forward until it felt right. Jaeger’s hind end tucked under him as Chris adjusted his reins, shortening them. He looked over at David who waited, watching for Chris’s nod, with his rope at his hip. Chris tipped his chin down at the chute operator just before the steer burst through the gate, jerking the barrier rope free as it passed. Jaeger came out of the gate quickly, eating up the ground with his long stride as Chris swung the rope over his head. He let it fly as he came alongside the steer and watched it hit the tip of a horn before slipping off and circling in front of his horse.
    How could he have missed? He never missed.
    The crowd’s groan echoed across the arena. Chris quickly rewound the rope and set his loop again, swinging over his head as David kept the steer running straight. This time, it circled the steer’s horns cleanly and he twisted the rope around the saddle horn, turning Jaeger sharply to the left. David was already in place and immediately caught both heels. He looked toward the clock as the announcer called out their time: 9.6.
    This was definitely going to keep them out of the money and knock them down a few places in the overall standings. He braved a glance at David. His face was a dark mask of fury as he refused to look at Chris. Clenching his jaw so tightly it caused his teeth to hurt, Chris headed to the back of the arena with the steer as he watched David ride out.
    Damn it!
    Chris might act nonchalant, like he was coasting through life, but he knew this was a big loss and was going to cost them. He didn’t want to face David right now, not when he was the reason they’d lost. What the hell was doing worrying about Ali kissing David when they needed this win? He’d never let himself get jealous over a woman before, why now? He’d better get his head on straight or David was going to kill him.
    A LICIA WATCHED THE pair make their run and cringed when Chris missed. It never happened and she worried Chris would spend the rest of the rodeo beating himself up about it. She could see it in the way his shoulders slumped as he rode to the back of the arena and the way he ignored the other cowboys as he dropped his rope over his saddle horn. She knew he wasn’t as carefree as he wanted people to believe, at least not when it came to his chosen profession. She wanted to say something, to console him the way she knew he would do with her, but he hurried out the gate before she could even say anything, not even noticing her waiting for him. She hurried to the trailer and found David dismounting. He threw his rope into the tack compartment of the trailer.
    “Damn it!”
    “You okay?” She was apprehensive. She didn’t know David well enough yet to predict how he’d take the loss. She could predict Chris’s reaction but David might be one of those guys who preferred to wallow in a loss alone.
    He spun to face her, looking surprised to see her at his trailer. “Yeah.” He tucked his glove into the seat, behind the saddle horn. “This just really messed us up and he knows it.” He leaned against his saddle. “I just don’t get it. He never misses.”
    “I have only a second before I have to go get Beast warmed up but I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” Alicia glanced over her shoulder, looking through the horses for Chris.
    “It’s fine. I’m fine,” David clarified, waving her off, distracted. “Hey, good luck,” he said as she started to walk back toward her trailer.
    “Thanks, I think I’ll need it.”
    “Hang on.” He reached for her hand and pulled her toward him. His fingers found the back of her neck and he leaned forward, his lips meeting hers. He caught her gasp of surprise, taking advantage of the moment to pull her against his chest. Her heart skipped a beat before pounding almost painfully in her chest as her hands found his shoulders.
    Even though she hadn’t expected it, David’s kiss wasn’t unwelcome. Last