Page 19 of Holden: Bucked By Love (Crawford Ridge Ranch #1)

Leni

Buck-It List item number three is about to get crossed off, and like the first two times, I am a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

I'd taken Josi to get her cast on this morning, and the lap pillow book holder Holden had ordered for her is safely on her lap assisting her as she devours a story about dragons.

Rae agreed to watch the kids and she arrived with a plate of cookies and a new board game a few moments ago, just steps ahead of Holden who is waiting for me in the back doorway, filling the space with nervous energy.

Rae keeps swiveling her head between the two of us with a smirk, and when I dare to shoot her a look she shrugs and joins Josi on the couch, lightly hugging her and asking about her book.

We're going line dancing. Not only dancing, but we've entered a couples contest, per the list requirements.

Thankfully, the establishment is outside of Pinehaven in a bigger city, which means we can remain more anonymous.

I painstakingly chose my outfit, because if I'm going to humiliate myself on a dance floor, at least I can look good doing it.

My wavy hair is pulled into a low, side ponytail, and I have on a floral ruffle-sleeve top and dark jeans that I hope will be comfortable to maneuver in, and the cutest little ankle boots you've ever seen.

I topped it off with my cowboy hat, and feel like I nailed the mix of city and country with my look.

I give Holden a smile as I walk to where he's waiting, and he nods as he steps to the side to let me pass through the door.

"You ready for this?" he asks as we make our way across the deck.

I offer a shrug in return. "I like dancing, but it's been a long time and entering a contest feels a little . . . " I let the words hang.

He chuckles. "Out of your comfort zone?"

I smile as he opens my door for me and I climb into the front seat.

Walker is in the back seat, and I immediately pick up his cedarwood scent as I buckle. I sniff twice, loudly – a longstanding joke between us when he's hit the cologne hard – and he laughs.

"Don't start," he says as Holden climbs in the driver's side. "It's perfect."

"If you're looking to overwhelm a woman with smells so you can bring her back to your lair," I respond as Holden pulls away from the cabin.

"Scent plays an important role in attraction," Walker states. "Look at the animals. They're always sniffing new people and other animals. Dogs for example . . ."

Holden groans. "There will be zero sniffing tonight."

I laugh and look over the seat at Walker. "I'll agree that it's important for a man to smell good, but knocking them over the head with it is the same as telling a lie. Once you shower they'll discover your true scent, and the deception will come back to bite you."

Walker and I teasingly argue as we make our way to Steph's house where she's waiting on her front porch.

She's wearing a sequin shirt and flirty skirt, and the second she's in the truck she's joined the conversation with plenty of her own opinions.

While Walker spends the entire drive talking about how much fun it's going to be, and how he's going to meet so many pretty women, Steph spends the drive telling him he's going about this all wrong and needs to join the modern world and step out of his caveman brain.

She has it on good authority that people prefer the natural smells of other humans.

Having raised two humans, and been married to another for over a decade, I'd argue for a little coverup scent.

They move on to protein and collagen and other supplements and diet plans, and I zone out, hanging on to the amusement of our earlier chatter.

It helps me settle my nerves. The last time I line danced was, oh, before Josi was born, back when Holden and I were still committed to regular dates.

So, yeah, at least seven years. A few online videos have helped as reminders this week, but I have zero business competing at all.

The Two Step is a big building with a lighting problem and a bigger crowd than I would have expected, and when we enter I'm glad I dressed up a little.

Steph walks next to me with Walker and Holden following and I take it in with big eyes.

Things have changed since I was here last. Everyone showed up ready to wow, dressed in their best country-style clothing.

I find an empty cafe-style table and claim it while Holden gets our four numbers from the registration guy.

The number ten is pinned to my back, and I'm working to pin Holden's number to his back while Steph does the same for Walker.

Steph looks around his broad shoulders with a laughing grin on her face. "When was the last time we even line danced?" she asks.

"The way I feel right now, I'm not sure I've ever line danced," Holden rumbles from beneath his dress cowboy hat, causing a nervous giggle to burst out of me.

"Same. This idea is insane," I laugh .

Holden looks at me over his shoulder, hazel eyes amused. "I remember someone thinking this was a great idea."

"She has issues, probably needs therapy," I reply, still giggling like a weirdo.

"Good news, muscle memory and our exceptional athleticism make me feel like we have a chance here," Steph says, slapping her hands firmly against Walker's back to let him know he's all numbered up.

Steph is entering as a solo dancer, and so is Walker, who moves to a different table as soon as he sees some prey – translation: interesting women.

He's somehow immediately nursing a drink while warmly chatting them up.

In his defense, all the women in Pinehaven are familiar and Walker came looking for something new.

It's not a surprise that he's succeeded in making them all fan themselves.

He's warm, fuzzy, smart, and handsome. I have no idea how someone hasn't locked him down yet, but he says he's waiting until he turns thirty to be serious about dating.

Until then, it's smart to see what's out there.

I hope someone comes along and knocks him off his feet.

Walker and Holden are both wearing Western shirts – which is a departure for Walker who prefers denim – in shades of brown and blue, clean jeans, shined boots, and their dress cowboy hats.

I don't bother to pretend I don't find Holden handsome like this.

He holds his body stiff, and I know he's as out of his element as I am, but he's here, so that's something.

"I wish the kids could be here," I say. "They're the reason we're doing this."

Holden tosses me a relieved look. "No child should see their dad embarrass himself like I'm about to." He glances at Steph and points a tanned finger at her. "Promise me you won't take video. "

Steph holds up her hands and tosses her dark hair over her shoulder, tugging at the sleeve of her sparkling top. "Please. Conceited much? I'm in the contest too, remember."

Holden doesn't press it, but he doesn't trust her either. Steph has a way of doing things that shouldn't be doable, including video-taping an unwilling brother-in-law while also competing herself.

"Where's Ryan tonight?" I ask her, changing the subject. "I thought he'd enter with you."

She shakes her head. "Please, Ryan has no rhythm and less interest in dancing than he does in living a spontaneous life. I'm over him."

I laugh. "Liar. He's crazy about you." She rolls her eyes. "I happen to know you've gotten flowers from him every single day, and been seen kissing on your front porch."

"Gross," Holden mutters.

Steph plays it cool. "Whatever. He's a free agent. He can buy flowers and kiss me and it makes no difference."

"Uh-huh," I respond with a knowing look.

"Walker tells me you've been working out with him.

" My sister is a lot of things, but she's not a time-waster.

If a guy doesn't do anything for her, she cuts him off immediately.

The fact they've been at the gym together is a big deal. "And that you're smiling a lot."

"Walker should keep his giant eyeballs and even bigger mouth to himself," Steph grumps, but her mouth twitches in amusement.

"I think Walker's entire goal is to never keep his mouth to himself," Holden mutters, which makes me and Steph laugh out loud.

I hold up my hands and smile at my sister. I'll drop it for now. "Free agent," I say .

"Remind me what dance we're doing?" Holden leans down to ask a question that no one should be asking before a competition.

We've already lost.

"The Tush Push," I reply, having looked it up when I registered us for this.

A laugh bursts out of Steph. "I cannot wait to see Holden use those hips."

Holden's eyebrows raise. "You're kidding, right?"

I bite down on my lips to keep from laughing. "You've done this one many times."

"The hips never lie," Steph adds. "Sadly, your hips say ' hey, I'm grumpy and withdrawn '."

I toss her a look – sometimes it's bad how much I confide in her – and Holden groans. "I'm neither of those things."

She makes a noise and shrugs. "Prove it, then."

Always up for a challenge, Holden nods once and sort of sinks into himself in a way I recognize as deep thinking. He's most likely doing the steps in his head now and preparing himself for what's to come.

"What are we proving?" Walker asks, joining our little huddle and looking curiously at his brother who has really gone inside himself. He hooks a thumb at him. "This guy gonna make it?"

"I challenged your brother to prove he's still got moves and is not old or grumpy, or perennially ticked off by the act of living," Steph replies. She taps one of her booted heels on the floor, mimicking one of the moves. "Can he Tush Push? Yes or no?"

Walker takes in a breath and wrinkles up his nose as he adjusts the brim of his hat. "He's a Crawford. He'll make it happen. "