Page 12 of Ropers Can’t Tie Knots (Kissing Ridge Cowboys #3)

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Gabe

“ G ood morning, Diamond.”

The adorable barista at The Thirsty Cow bats his eyelashes my way before reaching for my thermal mug. I don’t need to give him my order. I’ve been coming here enough that he knows it without asking.

Diamond is one of those people who makes your day brighter just by being in it. Mostly because he’s a wicked flirt, but he’s so effervescent it’s hard not to be drawn to him.

“Good morning, Mr. Handsome,” Diamond says in his flirty tone, and I smile. He’s a cute little thing with his short platinum-blond hair and megawatt smile. My gaze sweeps down to his long lean legs in cutoff jean shorts and cowboy boots.

“How many hearts are you breaking today, sweetheart?”

Diamond smiles into the coffee cup as he adds a shot of hazelnut flavour. “I’m not into breaking hearts, sugar.” He shakes a delicious powder on the top of my coffee before sliding it over to me with the lid on the side. A heart shape sits on top, and I quirk an eyebrow.

“Are we talking sugar hearts or real hearts now?”

“There’s no time in my day to waste breaking hearts.

I’d rather hold out for the right one.” Diamond winks as he leans on the counter towards me.

“But what about you? Mr. Fine in his suit and perfectly scruffy jaw. You break hearts when you leave a room, and somehow, you snagged Kissing Ridge’s most eligible bachelor from right under our noses. What’s your secret?”

With a small laugh, I duck my head. Diamond isn’t one to be subtle. I already know that, but I also know I can’t say too much.

“Sometimes you just get lucky…and I got lucky.”

Diamond purses his lips, and for a moment I think he knows the truth.

“Seeing him on the sly and locked it down before he changed his mind?”

“Something like that.”

“Well, I can’t say I blame you, Mr. Handsome. He’s one fine-looking man, and the two of you look good together. The way you were smiling at each other the other day seems like you have a connection that most people wish they had.”

Diamond passes the payment terminal my way, and I tap my card.

“Do you think so?”

“Of course I do. I never say anything unless I mean it. I might not know you as well as the other guys yet, but I will. You and Hunter just have this…” He motions towards me with his hands. “You have this vibe.”

He leans closer to me and lowers his voice. “If I could be a fly on the wall in your bedroom, I bet I’d die from the heat.”

Coughing out a laugh at his forwardness, I place the lid on my coffee. “Some things aren’t up for discussion, Diamond. Have a good day. ”

He booms a laugh. “You didn’t deny it! See you later, Mr. Handsome!”

After leaving the Thirsty Cow, it’s back to the office for work.

The 4-H event Hunter took me to was a lifesaver.

New business was gained, and Mr. Bruce became a new friend.

Already, the older man came by twice with an album of old baseball cards while we talked about the game and discussed a complex will at the same time.

Mr. Bruce introduced me to his banker, Shelly Nelson, whom he trusts implicitly, and recommended that she use me for her real estate deals going forward. We exchanged cards and have sent each other new business already.

In a few short weeks, I went from wondering if I’d made a huge mistake with this new venture to feeling like I could conquer the world. I wouldn’t fail, and I owed that to the handsome and mysterious man I call my husband.

The ring on my finger still takes me by surprise. We’re a few short months into this, and it’s still odd seeing Hunter in a softer light, but I think when the end finally comes, we can at least call ourselves friends.

“Good morning, Mr. Davis.”

Penny, my legal aide, greets me and I nod with a smile. “Hello, Penny. How was your evening?”

“Amazing!” she gushes and I can’t hold back the laugh.

“What happened?”

“My friend and I went to the Happy Badger. It’s like a country dance bar place, and I learned how to dance from the cutest guy! I’m still floating about it. ”

Penny is twenty-three and freshly out of college with the energy of someone who survives on Red Bull. When I bought the business and learned the old legal aid was retiring as well, I thought I’d be well and truly fucked. But Riley’s assistant knew Penny and sent her my way.

We interact more like siblings than a boss and coworker, and I should probably change that, but unless Penny feels uncomfortable, I won’t.

“What kind of country dance is this? Are we talking about square dancing? Because Penny, I’m not a fan.”

She follows me into my office with a stack of files. “Two-stepping and line dancing, Mr. Davis! You need to try it. Hunter can teach you.”

Pausing, I turn to her. “Does he dance like that?”

“Mr. Davis…I know you haven’t been here long, but if he doesn’t dance, I’d eat my shoe. His grandmother owned the dance studio in town for years. She probably taught half of this town at one point.”

Well…this is interesting.

“I don’t know why that never occurred to me,” I lie, but thankfully Penny keeps chatting away and doesn’t notice my distraction. “I’ll have to ask him to take me one night.”

“You must. It’s so much fun.”

After Penny leaves me an itinerary and a list of tasks for the day, I check my schedule and do something I’ve never done in my life.

“Penny, could you please reschedule the last appointment at 3 PM? I’m leaving early today.”

You’ll need to torture me to admit I came home early to get a glimpse of Hunter on a horse. I didn’t need to leave early to ask him to go dancing with me. That could have been accomplished after working my full day, but part of me was curious about how this rodeo clinic operated, too.

With his first advance from the trust, he dove into the planning with Jackson to continue what they started. He wanted a rodeo school. He called it teaching clinics, but that’s what it was. A school, and it was perfect for him.

There was a change in his morning attitude now that he had fresh purpose. His surliness before coffee and chores was replaced with a boyish excitement to get to the clinic. Smiles came sooner and more often.

Maybe I’m just optimistic, but it feels like his life has turned a corner and I want to be a part of his growth.

Six cowboys I don’t know and don’t capture my attention are there with Jackson when I arrive. None of them are on horses, and there’s no sign of Hunter.

I give Jackson a nod, and the group returns to the barn as I approach the ranch house. Thinking I’d missed my chance to see Hunter in action, I turn my thoughts to this evening instead.

A roar of hooting and cheering rings out from the barn as I reach the front door. Too curious to stay away, I abruptly turn and head to the barn, hoping the commotion is for my missing cowboy husband.

I stand in the shadows of the barn entrance and watch as Hunter and another cowboy talk from atop their horses before heading to the chutes. Then I watched a fantasy unfold before my eyes.

Hunter, atop his gorgeous horse, a fierce line set to his jaw as he swung a fucking rope over his head like the sexiest western hero to have ever lived.

He and his partner worked together to rope a steer, and it was my new favourite thing to watch.

Actually, no. My favourite thing was the absolute joy on his face.

Hunter was already a breathtaking man, but this was…it was next level. He handled a horse and a rope at the same time with so much confidence it made my dick hard just watching it. This was what he was meant for, and I don’t know what it means right now, but I hope he returns to competing.

I’d done a little snooping online about Hunter, and I know Jackson wasn’t always his rodeo partner. He used to be a roper, and by the looks of things, he was damn good at it, too.

“He looks good, doesn’t he?” Jackson stands next to me at the barn entrance, and I glance his way.

“Are you referring to something about the way he can throw that rope, or is that a general statement about the man himself?”

Jackson laughs softly. “Sounds like you might have a crush on my best friend, Gabe.”

Looking on, Hunter laughs with the other man, and an animated conversation occurs. It’s the most real I’ve seen him since I’ve known him and that hat…fuck. He needs to wear that more often .

“A crush on my husband.” Jackson might be a little too observant. “What if I say, maybe?”

Jackson nods and shoves his hands in his jeans while he rocks back on his heels.

“I’d say there are worse men you could be infatuated with.

But I’d also tell you to tread carefully.

” Jackson faces me and steps closer. “I love him like the brother I never had. I know you two might have a hard time playing along with this for so long, but I don’t want either of you getting hurt. ”

“I can handle myself, Jackson. If the infatuation wears off, I’ll pick up the pieces just fine.”

Jackson cocks his head and studies me. He’s just as much of a romantic as Riley, and I imagine he doesn’t like to think about the possibility of things ending between me and his best friend.

“You might, but he won’t.”

Jackson’s expression remains blank, and the simple statement makes me pause.

“Wait. You think…do you think he likes me back?” Shit, I sound like I’m twelve, and Jackson holds in a laugh.

“Just be careful, Gabe. Don’t break his heart.”

He pats my arm and returns to the barn. With a last glance at Hunter on his horse, I head back to the ranch house with Jackson’s words. If anyone’s heart gets broken with this arrangement, it’s mine.

Hunter has been more than clear about this being a casual arrangement. There isn’t an agenda to make it more for him. Maybe not with me either, but I’ve never tried to hide my attraction to him. We have the physical sparks perfected, and so what if I have a tiny crush on the man ?

I know what I’m getting into and despite Jackson’s warning…I’m asking my husband out on a date.