“Why is she mad at you? Shouldn’t she be mad at Maverick?”
“Now that I understand what happened a little better, she kinda stalked him until he gave in and dated her. So I’m not sure she’s all that rational. I think she views me as someone who stole him.”
Paige rolls her eyes. “Of course Maverick dated his stalker.”
Enough time has gone by that I can laugh about it too. “I’m not sure he realized that’s what she was until she showed up at his condo hysterical about them breaking up even though it had been a few months.”
“So… she was just waiting for him to go back to her?”
I shrug. “Something like that.” As I watch Kira and hercousin take a seat on the other side of the arena, I can appreciate that love doesn’t always make sense. “I get it. You can’t just switch off your feelings even when you might want to.”
Coming around the bend, I spot another familiar face, and I wave at Rory.
She smiles and jogs to us. “I was afraid I wouldn’t find you.”
I hug her. “Glad you could make it.” Then she turns to greet Paige and Honey.
The PA system flips on. “We have ten minutes before we get started. The teams to beat today are the Walker Ranch…”—Paige and I shout and clap—“and the McAllister Ranch.” Honey holds up her fist and hoots.
Rory nudges me. “I get the rodeo, but what’s a ranch rodeo?”
“They feature cowboys in team events that mimic skills you need to work on a ranch. They’re using the same horses and equipment they use every day.”
Honey motions to the arena. “Today is about bragging rights. A regular rodeo is more about individual competitions with pro athletes, who win huge payouts.”
I’m about to razz Honey for being on the McAllister team when Jace strolls by with his horse and tips his hat at us. “Ladies.”
Rory’s eyes go wide and her face flushes. When he’s gone, she whispers, “Who… who was that?”
I’d laugh at her expression except she seems so flustered. “Mav’s brother Jace. You haven’t met him yet?”
She shakes her head.
I lift my brows. “Do youwantto meet him?”
Her eyes get even wider. “N-no.”
Okay then. Looks like another unsuspecting victim just got struck by the Walker love bug.
Maybe I’d better change the subject. “Speaking of competition.” I nudge Honey. “Your brothers won’t get upset that you’refraternizing with the enemy?” The Walkers and the McAllisters have had a beef since this town was founded.
“Cash and Trig don’t tell me what to do. Besides, they’re all bark and no bite.”
A shadow falls over her. “That right, little sister?” a deep voice asks.
I chuckle. “Why, Cash McAllister, are you ready to get your ass kicked today?” I might not be officially a Walker, but I’m a Walker at heart.
Elbowing me, Paige giggles.
Honey flips her hair over her shoulder. “I’m not your property, Cash. If I want to talk to Baylee and Paige, I can.”
Beau steps up to us. “There a problem?”
“Here we go,” I mutter before I push him back. “No, Beau. There’s no problem. Just siblings giving each other shit.” The last thing I need today is these three coming to blows. There’s a lot of bad blood here, and both families take ranch rodeos seriously.
A pretty buckle bunny sidles up to Beau and threads her arm through his. “I thought you were going to let me pet your horse.”
Honey snorts.
