Page 61 of Roped in Rawhide

“You don’t have to eat them.” His tone is hesitant as he starts the truck, pulling away from the curb quickly as if I might leap out otherwise.

“Try to stop me.” The crinkle of me opening the candy slackens the strain in his posture. “I was just lost in the past for a minute. You used to buy these for me all the time.”

“Good memories?”

“The best,” I confess on a breath before popping a handful in my mouth. The chocolate and peanut butter satisfy a craving I didn’t realize I was having. “By the way, thanks for your help with Wren yesterday.”

Chance scoffs. “It was my pleasure. Two of my favorite girls in the same space? Count me in.”

“You’re really good with her.”

“As I said…” he trails off.

I laugh while inhaling more candy. “Do you ever think it’s weird that my sister is married to your cousin?”

His flirty expression sobers. “Where did that come from? Did someone give you shit or something?”

“No,” I giggle again. “Calm down. I’m just curious.”

“It’s not weird,” he grumbles. “I saw you first. Brody and Paisley aren’t going to ruin this for us.”

“Take is easy, big boy.” I stroke a palm along his tensed arm. “We’re not related. It’s just by marriage. No need to Hulk out.”

Chance exhales and loosens his white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel. “You didn’t talk to me at their wedding.”

“Ditto,” I huff.

“You looked so beautiful. That purple dress taunted me from across the room. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.” His gaze strays to me as if compelled.

Flutters erupt in my belly, making me feel light and giddy. “I might’ve noticed how well your tux fit you.”

That endearing dimple pops out from his right cheek when he smirks. “You didn’t bring a date.”

“Neither did you.”

“The only one I wanted to be with hates me.” He decides to be bold and reaches for my hand.

I allow it, lacing my fingers through his much bigger ones. “It’s safe to say that’s past tense these days.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s a relief.” He lifts our clasped palms to his lips, dusting my knuckles with kisses.

“It wasn’t healthy to harbor such negativity, even if you deserved it. I feel much better lately.”

Chance turns into a commercial area. “Speaking of, I hope you stretched this morning.”

Shock sputters from me. I was beginning to wonder when he’d mention our next lesson. “Ohhhh, this is a sex-tivity. Why didn’t you say so sooner?”

But then he pulls into the lot of a very familiar building. My jaw drops as I gape at the concrete fortress that holds countless childhood memories. Thunder Blades was our weekend hotspot growing up. Chance parks while I’m still reeling.

“No way,” I breathe.

“Yes way.”

And then he’s rushing to carry me inside the roller rink.