Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders 15)

He looked at Ben. “It didn’t go on in the house and it never happened when she was home. My f**kin’ big-mouthed brother Tell spilled his guts about it to her after I told him.” He drained his beer and twisted the cap on a new one. “The next day she tracked me down and…” That was one of the worst days of Dalton’s life. Seeing his mother crumble. It’d crushed him knowing she’d carry guilt that wasn’t her burden to bear. Especially seeing her broken after witnessing her transformation into a stronger, independent woman after she’d left Casper. Which was why Dalton wouldn’t tell her about his conversation with Casper three years ago. It would shatter her all over again.

“Don’t blame you for not bein’ the forgive and forget type when it comes to him. Do your brothers expect that from you?”

“They’re havin’ a hard time forgiving me for bein’ almost completely out of touch for three years. Now that I’m here…I don’t wanna sit in Casper’s room for hours on end while he glares at me and refuses doctor’s orders.”

“My dad said the same thing after he visited.”

“And Casper wonders why he doesn’t have hardly any visitors.” He swigged his beer. “I assumed the cousins are still pissed off at me because they think I took off three years ago and left my brothers holding the bag.”

“Holdin’ the bag.” Ben snorted. “I can’t speak for anyone besides me’n Quinn, but we never saw it that way. No one blinked when Chase took off for different pastures. Or when Carter did. Or when Cam did. Brandt and Tell ain’t been suffering from work overload bein’s that Jessie and Georgia are sharing part of their daily work.”

Dalton sighed. “How’d we get on this subject anyway? I thought we were talkin’ about my life in Montana. You and Ainsley ever been up to Boden’s hunting lodge?”

“Nope. He’s invited us to visit but it’s never fit into our schedule. Boden’s not a cattle man so he doesn’t understand calving.” He stood. “Look, I’m glad you told me about this stuff even though it burns my ass that you went through it alone, say nothin’ of when you were a little kid. Obviously in your time away you found a way to deal with it, or heal from it or whatever.” Ben’s eyes were somber. Conflicted. “Lemme know if you wanna talk. Or if you need an extra hand with the handyman stuff.”

“Thanks.”

He slipped on his coat. “Oh, heads up in two weeks we’re playing poker at my place.”

“Texas Hold’em?”

Ben snorted. “Regular poker. Not that made-for-TV game that relies on luck, not card skill.”

If Dalton had a buck for every time he’d heard that. Wait. He did—from playing Texas Hold’em with guys who had that same attitude. He took their money and smiled. “Who’s we?”

“Just the cousins. Been a while and I figured we could gauge if your public tournament loss changed the way you play.”

It had changed him. Not only in the way he played cards, but how he could strip everything down to the basics. Cut and run if he needed to, or bluff his way into a better position if need be. “I’m in. But I don’t wanna hear any bitching when I clean all you guys out.”

“That’s not fair! You’re cheating.”

“How is it cheating, Rory?”

She swung the Wii remote and smacked the onscreen tennis ball, sending it way out of bounds. Her avatar hung her head in shame when the scorekeeper announced Dalton’s doubles team had won the match. She looked over at the man.

He grinned. “Another game? Or you wanna play something else? We haven’t tried out that fantasy quest one yet.”

“Let me think about it.” Rory flopped on the couch. She never dreamed that playing virtual tennis would make her physically tired. She’d worked up a sweat. But so had Dalton so she didn’t feel like an out of shape couch potato.

She’d been very resistant when Dalton had bought the Wii. Growing up, she’d never played video games. She’d secretly scoffed at those who did, thinking they oughta get a life. But Dalton had insisted she try a couple of the programs before passing judgment. And yeah, she’d gone into it expecting she’d hate it. But she hadn’t. Not at all. The games were fun, a great way to blow off steam, get her body moving and spend time with Dalton doing something new and different—besides checking off sexual positions in the Kama Sutra.

He hadn’t gloated and said I-told-you-so. He’d just reminded her they used to play games and make believe as kids. Then he’d picked up an extra unit for her place so they each had one.

So maybe Rory had been secretly practicing so she didn’t get trounced every time, at every game.

Dalton had mad gaming skills, but not because he was one of those single men addicted to a virtual life. In college she’d dated a few guys who’d rather play online than play with her. Having a Wii hadn’t cooled Dalton’s libido at all—the man admitted he was addicted to her and proved it at least once a day. Had he ever proved it this morning before she’d gone to work. Just thinking about the heat and the intensity sent blood rushing to her face.

“I recognize that look,” he said, sitting beside her.

Rory reached up and brushed the damp hair from his forehead. “The look where I’m thinking back to how you rocked my world in the predawn hours and started my day with a bang?” Her fingertips followed the contours of his sigh-worthy face. His smooth face. She loved the little things he did for her—like shaving later in the day so she didn’t end up with beard burn when he kissed her, wherever he kissed her, because his mouth was on her a lot.

“Been reliving that a time or two hundred all day myself.” Then he plucked her up and settled her across his lap, wrapping his arms around her. “So did whacking a tennis ball relieve your stress?”

“Some of it.” She’d had a horrible day. Hannah had been a nightmare, barging in her office at least a dozen times, demanding explanations on reports Rory had filed months ago. Stupid, busywork questions that Hannah could’ve found the answers to herself if she’d bothered to look.

Even though Rory understood the disruptions were Hannah’s bitchy reminders that she still retained dominion, it was annoying. Rory’s tongue should’ve been bruised from biting it so many times. Plus, Hannah’s continual interruptions had put Rory further behind on her current project—which Hannah also knew. After having autonomy with this project, Rory realized it’d be hell working with Hannah again.