Page 13 of Ropers Can’t Tie Knots (Kissing Ridge Cowboys #3)
Hunter comes in after I’m dressed and showered, and I meet him at the door with a cold beer. He raises an eyebrow but accepts the drink with a murmured thank you.
“You’re home early,” he says before he drinks from the bottle. After swallowing, he gives me a once-over. “You going somewhere?”
“Hopefully somewhere with you. I’d like to ask you to come to the Happy Badger with me tonight. Dinner and dancing.”
Hunter walks into the kitchen and leans against the counter. He’s dusty and sweaty from the work today. He pulls his T-shirt up to wipe at his face with the end, and I don’t hide my appreciation of the view.
“This sounds a lot like a date, Gabe.”
Yep. It sure does, and that’s what I want it to be.
“Let’s call it a celebration. It looked like you were having fun, and the day was a success.”
Hunter studies me in that quiet way again. Like he’s not sure how to react or what to say, and maybe he’s never met anyone like me. Maybe he’s still trying to figure me out and I’m okay with that, too.
“It was a definite success. I’m trying out a new roping partner and getting back into it. Into roping, I mean. We need to work out the rodeo schedule, but I’m making a comeback.”
His almost-shy smile does me in. Hunter wants to shout about this to anyone. It’s right there, and he’s holding back on expressing the joy. I want him to celebrate this. With me. Tonight. He should smile and shout, and tell me how excited he is to be back in rodeo .
“I definitely think that requires a celebration. So…will you have dinner with me tonight and teach me how to dance while we mark your return to the ring?”
This time, he laughs out loud before draining the beer. He rinses the bottle and leaves it in the sink. “You think I know how to dance?”
“I know you do.”
When he notices I’m not bluffing, he shakes his head. “You won’t give up if I say no, will you?”
“Not a bit.” I laugh.
“Give me fifteen then. I’ll get cleaned up, but I’m driving.”
He disappears up the stairs, pulling off his shirt on the way, and I fan my face. Lord, it’s almost a crime to look that good.
And he didn’t say no.
“Spill it,” Hunter says as he pops a fry in his mouth. “How do you know so much about me that I haven’t told you?”
After arriving at the Happy Badger, you’d think the king himself had entered. So many people fawned over Hunter, and it had been confusing at first. Until I saw the photos on the back wall of a much younger version of Hunter and what had to be his grandmother holding dance trophies .
“Google,” I say with a laugh. “But mostly Penny. She was the one who told me about this and dancing.” Knowing how close he was with his grandmother, and seeing so many patrons greet him like they haven’t seen him for a decade, I wonder if I crossed a line, and he’s just being polite. “Was it wrong to ask you here?”
Hunter wipes his mouth with a napkin and leans back in the booth.
“Not at all. It was probably the kick in the ass I needed.” He turns his head to the wall of photos and smiles.
“My grandma was an amazing dancer, and my grandfather hated it. It was the one thing she defied his wishes on. She taught dance of all kinds, and when this place opened up, offering a place to dance casually, then had a competition…well, she was all over it as much as possible.”
Hunter drops his chin for a moment and tears at the napkin.
“Since she accepted me as I am, I went with her a lot. Dancing was fun when I couldn’t be at a rodeo.
It let me just…be, you know?” Hunter’s gaze shifts to a wall of photos near us.
“We won three competitions here before she got sick. I was her main man.” His smile returns and holy shit, Jackson was right.
I’m crushing so hard on this man with a million layers, like some sort of sexy stacking Russian doll.
The music turns up, and couples flood the dance floor. Hunter’s smile returns as he watches the couples dance. His body moves to the music subtly, like he’s only waiting for me to signal I’m ready.
“I’m two left feet. Think you can teach me all those moves, cowboy?”
“I’m a little rusty, but I’ll give it a go if you promise not to step on my boots. ”
“I somehow doubt you’re as rusty as you say. You don’t rope anymore, and from what I saw today, you looked pretty good. I think dancing will come just as easily.”
Yeah, I like to talk big and I’m usually good at it, but watching the couples on the dance floor move as one and look so graceful makes me nervous. Forget about stepping on his boots. I’m more concerned about falling on my ass.
Hunter stands and nods his head to the dance floor. “Come on, counsellor. Don’t be scared. It’s super easy.”
Sliding out of the booth, I drain my drink and place it on the table. Hunter’s deep rumble of a laugh has me shooting him a scowl.
“You asked for this, counsellor. Don’t chicken out now.”
Hunter takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor, where I’m hyper aware of the eyes watching the dance prodigy return home. He positions my hand on his shoulder before holding my other one to the side.
“Quick, quick, slow, slow, Gabe. Just do that and feel where my body leads you. No fancy spins or dips.”
With a shaky breath, I nod. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
He leads me in a series of steps, and he steps on my foot twice while I try to fall into the rhythm.
“Don’t look at your feet,” Hunter murmurs. “Look at me, Gabe.”
And that’s the game changer. My nervous laughter dissipates as I watch Hunter’s face, and through some miracle, I don’t stop moving my feet as he leads us around the room.
“Look at that, counsellor. You’re doing it just fine,” Hunter whispers, and I immediately look down at my feet and stumble into him. His arms wrap around me, bringing me next to his body, while we both laugh and regain our balance.
“I won’t be bringing home any trophies soon, but thank you. This was fun.”
Hunter pushes my glasses up and allows his fingertips to drift across my cheek. “It was my pleasure…Can I show you one more?”
My nod to agree is automatic.
“Since you’re so close to me, we can do the same steps like this.
” His fingers splay across the small of my back as he holds me so close our chests touch.
“Our legs are closer, but just keep the same quick, quick, slow, slow. Same thing, just closer.” His breath skates across my skin, and I flex my hand in his.
Hunter leads us in the close dance. Even though the music is faster than our steps, I don’t feel like we’re out of place on the dance floor. But I feel out of sorts. This has been the perfect date. We’ve laughed, gotten to know each other better, and he shared a little about his grandmother.
Hunter has been a dream. Right now, as the one in his arms on the dance floor, I don’t want the dream to end. But as they say, everything has an ending. The music fades, and Hunter pulls me closer.
“Thank you for this, Gabe.”
Hunter’s gaze dips to my lips, and I lick mine in response.
“We should probably go,” I breathe.
His gaze searches my face, and I swear there’s a tenderness there he didn’t have before.
“Yeah. We should. Big day tomorrow.”
It’s late when we get home and neither of us says a word as we step inside the dark house. Hunter flicks on the light in the hallway, and after our shoes are off, we both move to the stairs to our bedrooms.
I’m not imagining the heat between us. After being so close to him and in his company for hours with his hand on me dancing, I’m a willing bed partner, but…something feels off.
“Well…thank you for tonight, Hunter. I had a lot of fun.”
Hunter licks his lips. “Me too.” He drifts closer, and I’ve never wanted a kiss so badly in my life.
I get one, but not where I want it. His lips brush over my cheek and hover next to my ear.
“It’s late and I have an early morning. Thank you for inviting me out and celebrating with me, Gabe.
” He doesn’t step back immediately. It’s like there’s a fragile soap bubble around us, both of us unsure of what to do to keep it intact.
“Maybe we can do this again sometime?” I whisper, placing a hand on his chest. “Maybe when you don’t have an early morning?”
“Maybe.” His voice is thick, and I wish he’d just… “Good night, Gabe.”
The fragile bubble bursts.
He moves away without another glance and enters his bedroom, closing his door softly behind him. I stand in place for a few minutes, replaying the way his breath felt next to my ear.
Finally, I enter my bedroom.
Alone…and wondering what the fuck just happened.