Roping Her Christmas Cowboy

Chapter Three

Toly could no longer enjoy his meal while he was trying to put two and two together.

Mills had stopped eating and threw his head back. “What in the hell was all that about? I could swear that wasn’t my sister who was eating dinner with us a few minutes ago.”

“I hate to say it, but I think I know.”

“Then you’re a prophet.”

“Answer me one question. Is Nikki’s bedroom upstairs or on the main floor of the ranch house?”

Mills blinked. “The main floor at the end of the...” He groaned and got to his feet. “That’s it! She came home the other night after leaving the dealership and overheard us talking about Denise on the way to her bedroom.”

Toly closed his eyes tightly. “If she’d listened to our whole conversation, she wouldn’t have been angry.”

His friend nodded. “You’re right. Hell. She heard just enough to send her off the rails. In my whole life, I’ve never seen this side of my sister.”

“Except that she wasn’t mad at you. That whole performance tonight was for my benefit.” It explained how strangely she’d acted at the barn. Now that he knew the truth, he was horrified by the answer.

“I’m positive she happened to overhear me give you Wymon’s advice. Taken out of context, his words would have dealt her a fierce blow and turned her inside out. As you said tonight, you didn’t recognize your sister. Neither did I.”

He threw down his napkin and jumped up from the table. “I’ve got to find her at the MGM Grand and explain. Carrying this kind of pain has already caused her serious damage. She needs to know the whole truth so she can give the performances of her life out in the arena.” He reached for his own set of car keys.

“I couldn’t agree more. She’s hurting bad, Toly. You go. I’ll clean up here.”

Toly grabbed his cowboy hat and lightweight jacket, then flew out of the rig to the car. He was surprised he wasn’t pulled over by the police while he made his way through heavy traffic to the hotel at top speed. His mind kept replaying the words she’d overheard. He cringed to realize what he’d said about those rodeo beauty queen types. They’re in love with their own image. The dude who’s hooked is doomed to be an afterthought.

He pulled in to the short-term parking area. The first hour was free. He had no idea how long he would be there and kept the ticket to pay later. Once inside the hotel festively decorated for Christmas, he saw that the WPRA party was meeting in the Vista room on the second level and went upstairs.

Men weren’t part of this exclusive crowd of women who were the best barrel racers in the world. From the doorway Toly took in the dressed-up finalists who mingled and chatted with organizers and sponsors. Nikki blew everyone away. She stood talking to several of the finalists he recognized. He found her so breathtaking, he wondered if he would ever get it back. Earlier tonight when she’d walked in the kitchen, her beauty had almost caused him to pass out.

Toly had no idea how long she would stay at the party, but it didn’t matter. He planted himself by the entrance to wait for her. Photographers took pictures, but she ignored them and moved around the room. He got the distinct impression she couldn’t wait to leave and had only put in an appearance because it was expected.

That was fine with Toly, who couldn’t wait to get her alone so they could have a long talk. Another ten minutes and it turned out his instincts had been right. She was the first woman to move away from the crowd and head out the main doors. When she walked past him without seeing him, he called her name.

She turned her head. “Toly?” Her expression changed to one of pure fear. “What’s wrong? Has something happened to Mills?”

He hadn’t seen that coming. The twins had a special bond of love and were close, but he’d just witnessed for himself how close. She would never have expected to see Toly here. Naturally her shock was genuine and it touched him how much she cared for her brother.

But it also caused something to twist in his gut because of the painful reason for seeking her out. She shouldn’t have to deal with anything but the coming events out in the arena.

“Mills is fine, but I’m not. We have to talk.”

Her jaw hardened. “Not tonight. I’m tired.”

“It has to be tonight, but not here,” he insisted. “We can do it in your rig or at your hotel.”

He could see the pulse throbbing at the base of her creamy throat. “What will you do if I don’t cooperate? Tie me up like one of your Corriente steers and haul me off?”

Her sarcasm came as a surprise. “If I have to. It’s up to you if you don’t want a scene.”

Color swept into her cheeks. She started walking. He followed her all the way out of the hotel to her car in the parking lot where she sustained a barrage of whistles from every male in sight. When she unlocked it and got in, he climbed in the passenger side.

“How did you get here?” she blurted.

“I drove our rental car.”

“Tell me where it is and I’ll take you to it.”

“I’ll worry about it later.”

She turned on the engine. “You don’t trust me not to take off and leave you standing there?”

“Frankly no. Not in your state of mind.”

“What state is that?” She wheeled around before finding the exit.

“The one that brought you close to clipping the end of that car when you turned too fast just now.”

She pressed on the accelerator. “There’s no way I’m letting you in my hotel room.”

“That’s fine with me. As you know I’m allergic to them and much prefer our rigs.”

Even having to weave through heavy traffic, it didn’t take her long to reach the RV park. She wound around to her rig and parked behind it. He got out and reached the trailer door before she did.

The interior of the Dobson rig was every bit as luxurious and comfortable as his. Mills had told him their parents had invested in it for their children several years ago. It was a damn shame they were no longer alive.

He took off his hat and removed his jacket, putting both on the love seat next to him. She disappeared to her bedroom and came out a minute later without her hat.

“I’ve already told you I’m exhausted.” She sat down opposite him. “Please say what you have to say so I can get to bed.”

He learned forward with his hands on his thighs. “During dinner, it was obvious to me you overheard Mills and me talking in your family’s den on Friday night. I’m sorry you only heard part of it, the part that offended you. For that I’m deeply sorry and want to apologize.”

She crossed her long, elegant legs. “There’s no need. You didn’t know I was outside the door and you’re entitled to your own opinion. I was about to say good-night to you, but I heard you talking and—”

“And you found out enough to—”

“To know your opinion of my kind is held by most of the male population,” she interrupted him.

* * *

TOLY SUCKED IN his breath. “You know that’s not true and you’re wrong, Nikki. What you heard was an opinion voiced by my oldest brother, Wymon, years ago when I started competing in the rodeo. He’d been hurt by the woman he’d thought loved him and hoped to marry. In his pain, he gave me advice so I wouldn’t get destroyed.

“That speech you heard was his speech, not mine. I was trying to comfort your brother who’s been knocked sideways by Denise. To be honest, I was hurt for him that she chose to break up with him this close to Finals. Of course, it’s none of my business and I’m sure the timing wasn’t planned, but he has suffered and it has affected his performance.”

Nikki averted her eyes.

“By the time you left for the MGM Grand, I realized you had to have heard enough of my conversation with Mills to infuriate you. In fact, it shows great character that you didn’t tell me to go to hell to my face before leaving the rig.”

“I came close,” she admitted.

He smiled. “I knew that. It’s why I took after you and wouldn’t let you get away from me before I was able to explain what you overheard. The last thing I want is to see you thrown off during the competition because of the cruel remarks you attributed to my feelings. You couldn’t be more wrong, Nikki. In my opinion, no other woman comes close to you in any way, shape or form.”

She laughed sadly. “You don’t have to go overboard.”

“Actually I do.” No matter how friendly the three of them had been over the last year, Nikki didn’t have a clue how he really felt about her. “What’s vital to me is that you believe me. I won’t rest until I know I have your forgiveness.”

Her luminous gray gaze lifted to his. “Of course. I’m afraid I’m the one who needs to ask forgiveness. It proves how much damage can be done by only hearing part of a conversation I wasn’t privy to. My reaction does me no credit, especially when you were trying to help my brother. Let’s be honest. Neither you nor Mills had any idea I’d come home.”

That sounded like the Nikki who’d taken up space in his heart.

“When we left the dealership, I’d hoped the three of us would all head back to the ranch together. But you were still being swarmed by your fans and Mills decided not to wait for you.”

“I was surprised how many people came by to meet us.” She got to her feet. “I’m thirsty. Would you like a cola? I think it’s all we’ve got.”

Toly wouldn’t have cared what it was. She was speaking to him again. “I’d love one.”

Nikki went into the kitchen and brought back two cans from the fridge. “I’m sorry I was so rude during dinner, Toly. It’s my loss that I turned down your homemade biscuits.”

“They’re my one claim to fame.”

“I happen to know that’s not true. You’re the one who cooked dinner, not Mills. He would never have thought to add pieces of tangerines and walnuts to the salad, or add cheese to the potatoes.”

So she’d noticed. “Will you let me take you to dinner tomorrow after the vet checks our horses? Spending time on your ranch, I know how much you like pasta. I thought we’d enjoy some Mediterranean food at Todd English’s Olives in the Bellagio Hotel. It’ll be my way of apologizing to you in style.”

Her eyes smiled at him. “I’d be a fool to turn down an offer like that. You’re on.”

“Good. You’ve made my night.”

On his way to the hotel earlier, he’d felt like the bottom had dropped out of his life. He could hardly credit the change in the situation since clearing up a misunderstanding that could have done a great deal of harm to all of them.

“As soon as we finish our drinks, I’ll drive you back to the parking lot to get your car.”

He wished she didn’t have to go. “Can’t you just stay here and we’ll drive to your hotel in the morning?”

“No. I’ve got an early breakfast with some of the marketers I can’t miss. I would rather get back to the hotel tonight. Mills should be coming inside any minute so he can go to bed. It’ll be easy to drop you off on my way.”

“Then I’m ready to leave when you are.” He stood up and put his empty can in the wastebasket.

She left hers on the counter and went back to the bedroom for her things. Before long they were on their way.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk privately about Denise. Do you have any idea why she broke it off with Mills? I don’t mean to pry. If you don’t feel comfortable telling me, I understand.”

“I wish I knew.” That sounded honest. “She hasn’t called me since they stopped seeing each other.”

“Would you like to hear Mills’s theory?”

“Yes!” she cried. “We usually share everything, but not about this. I’ve been worried sick about him.”

“He thinks she’s so jealous of you, she can’t be around you anymore. Since you and your brother are so close, it forced her to call things off.”

“What?”

“I was shocked too.”

“That couldn’t be the reason, Toly!”

“I don’t want to think it, either. He has accepted it’s over, but it’s sad that she did it so close to the competition.”

“I thought so too, but decided there had to be another reason she’s not telling anyone. You can tell my brother it’s not because of me. I don’t think it’s about him, either. I know she cared for him a lot and is the sweetest, kindest girl in the world.”

“That’s what he thought.”

“He can still think it! Something’s not right. We became close friends. One of these days we’ll learn the truth. For her to call him and tell him she couldn’t see him anymore means something traumatic had to have happened. But I know it’s killing Mills. He’s never cared for another girl like this.”

“He’ll feel better knowing you believe in her.”

“I do.” They’d reached the MGM Grand. “Where are you parked?”

Toly gave her directions. She stopped in front of his car. He turned to her. “Thank you for giving me the chance to talk to you.”

“I’m glad you insisted. I have to admit I was hurt. It’s a lesson I’ve needed to learn so I’ll never let anything like this happen again.”

“You were pretty scary at dinner. Mills looked green.”

“Don’t remind me. I’m ashamed of acting like a woman scorned.”

Toly burst into laughter. “To be honest, you not only fascinated me, you were dead-on about my lack of talents.”

She shook her head, causing her flouncy black hair to swish across her shoulders. “I didn’t mean it.”

“I believe you, but it’s true. I’ve been so obsessed with the rodeo, when it’s all over I’m going to have to work at becoming a participating member of the human race again.”

“That makes two of us. We have to be terribly boring to people who’ve never been around horses and never want to be.”

Now was the perfect time to ask her a question Mills hadn’t been able to answer. “Your brother told me you were in a relationship a while back that didn’t work out. He’s been worried about you. I guess that’s the nature of being twins.”

He heard her soft chuckle. “We do far too much thinking about each other and try to solve each other’s problems. It’s worse since our parents died. A psychiatrist would tell us it’s not healthy, but we don’t know any other way.”

“My brothers and I aren’t so different, even if we aren’t twins. Our father’s death changed our lives too.”

“Tell me what happened.”

He’d never shared this with anyone outside of his family, but it felt good talking to her about it. “I’ll never forget. My dad had taken me hunting up in the Sapphire Mountains. We’d camped out for a couple of nights and I’d never felt closer to him.

“He’d been a rodeo champion and knew how much I loved the sport. During our talks he encouraged me to go for it if that’s what was important to me. I could earn money to pay for my college and enjoy the sport at the same time. I loved him for being so understanding. On our way down the mountain, he suddenly fell over. Blood poured out of his head. I knew immediately he’d been shot.”

“Oh no, Toly! How horrible.”

“It was the worst thing I ever lived through.”

“I know how you felt. We got the call from the police that our parents had been killed in a head-on crash. The pain of knowing they’re gone and you’re absolutely helpless to do anything about it is unreal.”

Toly nodded. “Exactly. I called my brothers and they came with the sheriff. There was nothing to do for Dad. He’d died immediately. One bullet had wiped out his life. The authorities investigated and discovered it had been a freak accident by another hunter. It changed our lives.”

“Oh, how I know that. I’m so sorry for your loss, Toly.”

“I feel the same about yours.”

“You can tell Mills that Ted Bayliss is long gone from my life with no lingering regrets. It wouldn’t have worked. But if my brother hears that from you, he’ll believe it. I don’t know if you’ve figured it out yet, but you’re more or less the final word with him. I’ll reveal one more secret in case you weren’t aware. The great Toly Clayton was always his idol.”

So many revelations at one time had made Toly’s night, particularly the knowledge that she was no longer hung up on the man who, according to Mills, she’d come close to marrying.

The way he was feeling right now, he was ready to rope the steers lined up for the next ten nights at unheard-of speeds. Talk about leaping tall buildings in a single bound—

He got out of the car. “Thanks for bringing me back. I’ll follow you to your hotel to make sure you get there safely. Looking like you do, you need a bodyguard.”

“That’s heady talk.” She flashed him a smile that sent his pulse skyrocketing before he shut the door and got into his car. During dinner he never expected to see a smile like that from her again.

Toly turned on the engine and followed her all the way to the Cyclades Hotel. He waited while she parked her car in the lot. After finding a space nearby, he got out of his to walk her to the entrance.

“You don’t have to do this, Toly.”

Yes, he did. She looked like a miracle of femininity. He wanted to be with her as long as possible. “I feel like it.”

“Thank you,” she said when they reached the doors.

“Good night, Nikki. Don’t forget dinner tomorrow. I’ll see you after the vet leaves the stalls.”

“Sounds good.” There was a moment of hesitation before she turned to walk inside. He wondered if she’d wanted to invite him to her room to talk some more, but had controlled the impulse.

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