Page 33 of Roping My Rival

It sounds lame the longer I think about it, but maybe it’s okay if I treat him like a friend.

“It’s my sister’s address. You saw me with my sister. I use her address since I move so often. They just keep everything for me until I visit.”

“That was your sister I saw you with?”

Am I hearing relief in his voice? “Yeah, why? Did you think I have a girlfriend you don’t know about?”

“No, I just, I’d never…” He shifts in his seat, and a grin forms on my lips.

“Were you jealous, Burke? That it?”

“Oh fuck off, Walker. Since you kissed me, I hoped it wasn’t a girlfriend, and you were going behind her back. That’s all.”

That’s not it at all. He’s a terrible liar.

“If you say so.”

Leaning back, I pull my hat over my face to hide what has to be a too-happy grin. Warren is so jealous, and I really like knowing that. More silence stretches, and I know he won’t shut up for the rest of the way. I can practically hear the gears in his head turning.

“Can I ask why she’s there? She seems close to your age.”

“None of your business,” I clip. I gave him enough for this ride. Maybe too much. I’m not sharing about my sister today, rodeo partnership or not.

I can’t make out what he grumbles under his breath, and I don’t care.

I just want to get to the rodeo, win some events and make money.

Warren Burke doesn’t need to know every detail about my sorry life to make that happen, despite what my treacherous heart wants to believe.

“Damn. Where did all the team ropers come from this year?”

Warren surveys the crowd of men on horseback in our event. We’re in the second flight of contestants, so our turn will be a while yet.

“Maybe they all heard you entered and thought if you can do it, they can too?”

Warren rolls his eyes. “You’re my partner, jackass. You should have a better opinion of my skills than that.”

“I do.”

I’m betting the increase in roping teams is because they thought it might be a field with low entries and an easier chance of winning. I’ve been away for too long, and I don’t recognize a lot of the faces out here, but Warren gives me a running commentary.

“That guy, on the pretty Paint horse up ahead, he’s won tie-down a few years now since you left. I don’t know his partner, though. There are a few I recognize from the rodeo school, too. The younger ones, especially. This is anyone’s event tonight.”

With the first flight over, our group moves up to the ring. We line up as the third pairing in our group, and both of us stop talking. It’s go time.

The first pair out bobbles their head catch. The second pair only catches one foot, and it’s a penalty. Then it’s our turn.

Warren settles into his chute, and I do the same in mine. We know each other’s pregame routine well now, and once I’m settled, I let Warren take over.

Warren nods and is out of the chute, perfectly timed with the steer in front. His release lands true around the neck, and he’s already pulling the steer around to present the feet to me. My blood rushes through my veins and it drowns out the crowd. My rope lands neatly, pulling snug around both feet. Trigger stops hard before backing up. The ring official drops his flag, and relief floods my system.

“A new leader tonight, ladies and gentlemen! Warren Burke and Dane Walker have just posted their first-ever team roping score, and it’s a doozy! Five more pairs to go before we have a winner!”

Warren and I leave the ring and come to stand along the outside rail with the other pairs that might finish in money.

“Nice work, Walker,” Warren says before he chats with a few other men I don’t know. I should try to socialize more like Warren, but right now, all I can focus on is whether our time will stand.

How can he be so laid back about it?