Love Again (Cowboys & Angels 4)

Tripp looked at me and I rubbed the back of my neck, silently telling him no. It had been our silent communication since we were little. A way to “talk” to each other when we got in trouble.

“I’m not sure. I’ll give you a call after the new year.”

Harley didn’t seem too surprised that Tripp had turned her away. “Okay, thanks. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.” She turned to walk away then stopped and faced us again.

“For what it’s worth, walking away from you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and the biggest mistake of my life. One I’ve regretted since the moment it happened. I hope you believe that.”

Okay, that one tugged at my heart strings. Tugged…but didn’t pull. It did pique my curiosity though. It actually sounded like she had no choice but to leave Tripp. I gave her a smile as I shut the door and said, “Have a good day, Harley, and tell your parents we said happy holidays.”

Tripp stared with a dumbfounded look. “You totally shut the door in her face when she was saying something important.”

“No, I didn’t. She was turned slightly and had started to walk away.”

“Waylynn, that was sort of mean!”

Grabbing my brother by the arms, I gave him a good shake. “Tripp Parker, don’t you dare forget what that woman did to you. Just because she shows up looking all hot and grown up with breasts I would kill to have…”

He jerked his head back. “Gross…mental image alert.”

“You have to be strong. Listen, Harley hurt you, and yes, she probably realized her mistake and her pride got in the way of crawling back to beg for forgiveness. That doesn’t make what she did okay. She has to earn your trust, Tripp. She cheated on you… Don’t forget that just because your dick wants to stand at attention when she’s in proximity.”

He nodded.

“I get that she was the love of your life, but take things slow. Let her know that she can’t walk back into town and pick up where she left off. As a matter of fact, I think you need to go out on a few dates with other women. Let her know you haven’t been pining away all these years.”

“You think Mitchell would let me borrow Corina?”

Hitting him on the chest, I rolled my eyes. “Stop it! There are plenty of women in Oak Springs who would kill at the chance to date you.”

“I’ve probably slept with most of them.”

I rolled my eyes. “Come on. Let’s go eat before Mom sends out a search party.”

Tripp let out a sigh. “Maybe you’re right. I need to proceed with caution.”

“Of course I’m right. I’m always right and why you boys won’t just admit it is beyond me.”

As we walked into the dining room, Tripp chuckled and said, “Poor Jonathon.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Waylynn

I walked back and forth, wringing my hands as I waited for the open house to begin.

“I have the refreshments set up in the lobby, and Paxton put out the information fliers.”

Looking up, I forced a smile. Amelia returned one. “Don’t be nervous.”

“What if no one comes? What if this was all a bad idea, and I just dumped thousands of dollars into a dance studio that no one wants to bring their kids to?”

Placing my hands on my stomach, I moaned. “Oh God! What if this whole thing tanks?”

Amelia laughed. “Look at you freaking out! I don’t think I’ve ever seen you freak out before, Waylynn.”

“Well, take a good look ’cause this is what it looks like!”

She laughed. “Calm down. The place looks amazing. Jonathon did a great job.”

I stopped walking and looked at her. For the first time today, I took a deep breath that actually settled my heartbeat.

“He did do a great job, didn’t he?”

“Yes, he did. Please stop worrying because you’re even making me nervous.”

“Ugh! I can’t help but be nervous. This is huge! Huge!” Spinning around, I walked to the large picture window and stared into the courtyard. Amelia placed her arm around me.

“I remember being little and waiting for you to finish your dance classes. I loved watching you through the windows.”

“Why didn’t you ever get more into dance? You certainly had to be dragged to enough dance recitals and classes.”

She grinned. “I don’t know. Maybe because it was your thing and you were so good at it. I remember hearing the other moms telling our mom how talented you were.”

Facing my sister, I took her hands in mine. “You didn’t dance because I danced?”

“No, I didn’t dance because it wasn’t my thing. Writing was. For as long as I can remember all I’ve ever wanted to do was write. You danced, and I wrote little stories in my journal while we waited for you.”