“What kind of proposition?”
&nbs
p; “I’ve only been in Heaven for a few hours, but I’m already in love with this place. It holds a certain southern charm you can’t find just anywhere, and I think it’ll be a perfect location for the shoot. And it’s a double win because you won’t have to leave and interrupt your physical therapy schedule. If you’re okay with it, all we’ll have to do is find a location.”
“I think it’s a great idea, and I’ve got the perfect location.”
Nikki and I down a few more beers as we talk about the ranch where I grew up. Nestled in the country, my parents’ ranch is full of anything a western ad might require—animals, old barns, wood-post fencing. It’s a photographer’s dream, or at least that’s what Beau tells me.
Once we’ve talked through the campaign, Nikki and I order a pizza and switch gears. Over dinner, we talk about my accident, which riders are putting up the highest scores while I’m gone, and what kind of numbers I’m going to need to pull when I come back. I’m confident that once I get my shoulder healed, I’ll be a top contender for the championship, and Nikki agrees.
The longer we talk, the more comfortable she gets, kicking off her high heels and tugging her hair down from the fancy contraption she had it in, and for the first time in years, I see a side of Nikki that hasn’t come out since she took over for her father. The chip on her shoulder seems to diminish, along with her sharp words. For a couple of hours, we’re just two friends catching up and shooting the shit. It’s nice, and a reminder that we were friends before any of the rest of this came along.
The clock in Coop’s living room dings, and Nikki yawns. “What time is it?”
I glance at my watch. “Holy shit, it’s after midnight.”
“Tonight was fun.”
“Don’t sound so surprised. I’m a fun guy.”
“It’s just…we haven’t hung out in a long time. We should do it more often.”
My head is telling me to draw a line in the sand. The last thing I want or need is Nikki trying to rekindle what we had. We’ve gone years without even acknowledging that night, and it needs to stay that way.
“We’ll have to make a point of catching up a little during our weekly business meetings.”
Her eyes widen a fraction, but she nods. “Right. Our meetings. Sure.”
Pushing her chair away from the table, she slips her feet back into her heels and gathers her things. “I’m exhausted. I should really get going.”
“That’s probably not a good idea,” I say, counting the beer bottles on the counter. I’m nowhere near drunk, but we’ve both had enough that neither of us should be driving.
“I heard your brother, Rhett. I’m not welcome to stay here, and for the record, I wasn’t going to ask.”
“I don’t care what my brother said, you’re staying.”
“Rhett—”
“It’s not up for discussion, Nikki. You’ve been drinking, and I’m not going to let you drive.”
“You’re sure? Because the last thing I need is your brother getting all pissed off at me. You two look way too much alike, by the way.”
I laugh. “We’re identical twins.”
“I know, but I haven’t been around him much. I thought I’d be able to tell you apart, but it’s really hard. When he answered the door earlier, I cussed him up one side and down the other for not returning my calls before I realized it wasn’t you.”
“How’d you figure out it wasn’t me?”
“He told me if I didn’t shut my mouth, he was going to bend me over his knee.”
Yup. That sounds like Coop. “Interesting.”
She pulls at the collar of her blouse. “Tell me about it.”
“You got a thing for my brother, Nikki?”
She mumbles something I can’t quite understand and clears her throat. “Not at all.”