Page 27 of Roping My Rival

Sliding out again, I roll onto my side and peer up at him. “Do you even know what a lug wrench is, Burke?”

He huffs. “Yes, asshole. I’ve never used one since you changed my tire for me, but I know what it is.”

Right. I forgot about that. Something about the way he stared at his flat tire that night made me step in. I know he probably hated it, but I couldn’t pretend I didn’t see him or that it cracked me open a little.

“Okay. Get me a 14mm socket ready, then. I just need to get this caliper back on and clean up this side. Then I have the passenger rear side left to do.”

He bends next to my tools laid out along the floor and I’m happy I took the chance to call and ask to use the space. It feels safe here, and it took me the entire front brake job to acknowledge the odd feeling sitting on my chest was safety. Still not sure what to do with that, except ignore it for now.

After resuming my place under the truck, I do what I need to and call on Warren to hand me the socket. A handle slaps into my hand—hard. My fingers wrap around it, and without checking, I bring it to the bolt and work.

When I’m finished, I wiggle out and find Warren still watching me.

“Thanks. You’re right. Working together outside the ring helps.” I nod towards the tire. “Roll that over, will ya?”

He does as I ask, rolling over the tire to me, and I spin it around before hefting it up in place. “If you want to place a lug nut from that pile on each bolt sticking out, I’ll get the torque wrench.”

We work together in silence, and it honestly hurts to admit that I enjoy the help and the company. I’ve spent so much time alone the past few years, I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to do something simple with a friend.

Not the Warren is a friend. He’s a polite co-worker at best.

“The night you ran out of gas,” Warren begins, and I instantly regret my warmer thoughts of him being good company. “How come you travelled that far knowing the gas gauge was a problem? You’re in here changing brakes because you know we have travel coming. You’re not telling me something.”

He turns to face me, shoulders square with those deep brown eyes locked on me, searching for something I don’t want to tell him.

So I don’t.

I shoulder my way in front of him, tighten the nuts in silence before jacking the truck down and walking to the other side.

“You not answering me is rather telling, Walker.”

“Sure, Burke. You have me all figured out.” I loosen the nuts on the final tire, turning my back to him.

He snorts a rather unfriendly laugh. “You’re so focused on yourself that you overlook simple things like checking your gas. So busy riding the high of winning, you didn’t take care of something important. I hope that’s not your attitude as a partner.”

The wrench hits the ground with a thud, and I turn towards him. My hands push, no, they shove him against the wall, and my face is in his before I even know what I’ll say. “Don’t pretend to know me, Burke.” His pupils blow wide, and my stupid fingers curl into his shirt, searching for the warmth of his skin.

I want to tell him to stop looking at me like I’m better than what he sees. To stop trying to be my friend and offer the olive branch. Men like Warren Burke shouldn’t even be roping with me, let alone trying to be my friend.

“Maybe I want to know you, Walker.” Warren’s voice is barely above a whisper.

His gaze drops to my lips, and for that split second, I drop all my shields and dip my head to the lips I’ve thought about in private for years. Warren gasps and presses his lips to mine, which I don’t hate. His hands come to rest at my hips, squeezing like he can’t believe I’m real as he kisses me back.

He kisses me back!

It’s the ultimate high to feel his want and the biggest bucket of cold water all at once.

I pull away sharply and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. Warren stands in place, chest heaving and wide-eyed. I spin and return to work on my final set of brakes without saying a word as I jack the truck back up.

It’s not until his footsteps echo on the floor away from me that I rest my head against the truck and wish I had a different life.

And I wish I didn’t want Warren Burke as much as I always have.

“Hey, Jesse.”

Greeting my brother, I drop my gear on the office sofa with a sigh. Maybe if I’d slept here last night, I’d be more rested. The last time I remember feeling this wrung out and exhausted was when I forgot my house key at my foster home. They made me stay outside on the porch that night. I slept curled up like a dog, and to this day, I still twitch when I hear a transport use its air brakes in the early morning.

Funny how little things still stick with you after you’ve put yourself back together and found the right family to love you.