Page 44 of Roping My Rival

Instead of letting this fester, me and Dane are sorting our shit today whether he likes it or not.

I won’t be his doormat or a booty call. If he doesn’t want us to do more than compete together, then that’s what we do.

We’re supportive teammates or nothing.

No matter how much I want him to be more than just a teammate.

Arriving at The Thirsty Cow almost thirty minutes early, I chew at my thumbnail while I sit in my truck.

A public meetup is good. If I’m in public, I can’t muscle Warren against a wall and kiss him, which I’m dangerously close to doing, along with so much more than that.

Since having dinner with his family, I’ve been in a free fall of emotions. The slashed tires, Darla, and this increasing want for Warren that I’m failing at ignoring have all collided in a great big mess of feelings.

I want it all. The partnership with Warren in the ring is just the tip of the iceberg. We’re amazing together. I know that already, and I know we’ll only get better. I also know that I can’t keep Warren at arm’s length the next time we go away together.

Which is a bit of a problem because I’m not sure I fit in his world outside competing together. The Burkes’ home is warm and welcoming. His family is achingly perfect, and I wish more than anything for that again.

I love my sister and always will, but it’s hard with no one to lean on, and I’m tired. So fucking tired of fighting on my own.

The passenger side door of my truck opens, and the man from the casino slides in.

“Get the fuck out of here,” I growl, and he laughs.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Dane.” He looks around the interior of my truck like he has the right to be here. “Heard you’re competing in another event soon. With someone from the Burke family.”

“That’s none of your business.”

His lips twist in a snarl. “That’s where you’re wrong, Dane. You still owe me money. Or have you forgotten?”

I swallow the bile rising in my throat. “You said I was even when I gave you the horse.”

“No, not even. It was a gesture on your part to keep us off your back, and it took a lot of guts, Dane. I admired that about you. But you’re a long way from even.”

“That horse was worth at least 50 grand!” I shout, and when I finally face him, my teeth clenched tight, I remember his name. Henry. It’s why I trusted him, because it sounded so grandfatherly. So trustworthy.

“Too bad we got nowhere near that at auction. I thought about letting it slide. You’ve been through a lot, but…” He shrugs a shoulder. “I’m not really that nice of a guy.”

“What do you want?” I rasp. Desperately trying to hold it together. This part of my life was supposed to be gone.

“40K. That’s what you owe.”

The protest dies on my tongue. My debt was never that large, and it was my stupidity to even fall into his world and borrow money from someone hanging around a casino. Preying on people like me. The desperate ones who will listen to anything and believe anything because it’s the only light they see. You follow it, and it’s too late when you realize it’s a mistake.

“Even if I win that much this season, it won’t be all at once.”

He shrugs again. “Just give me everything when you win it. I’m not picky.” He snaps his fingers. “Oh, but interest could go up.”

“I can’t give you everything. I have to pay for Darla.”

His lips twist in a cruel laugh. “You’re such a bleeding heart. Let her be a ward. Sign over her care and keep the money yourself. It’s not like she has any use now, anyway. Isn’t she so brain damaged she pisses her pants?” He laughs, and my fist connects with the dash. Fury rages white hot, along with a bolt of pain through my arm.

“Don’t you fucking dare talk about her that way!”

He opens the door and slides one leg out. “I expect five thousand after the next rodeo. Cash. I’ll find you.”

The door closes, and he disappears into the parking lot. My hand is swollen and throbbing, and I only wish I could say the same about Henry’s face. My guts are in a knot, and my heart is hanging on by a thread. I should have known by the way things were going that it was too good to be true. I couldn’t possibly catch a break after all these years.

When I glance at the entrance of The Thirsty Cow, I notice Warren entering, and after a few more moments to settle myself, I head inside. Maybe I can convince him to stay on the road for an extended period to hit new rodeos. More big money rodeos.