Kiss Me Cowboy (Cowboys of Crested Butte 3)

What was wrong with him? Why had he told Tucker he planned to see her?

“How ya doin’ there, Romeo?”

“Fuck off, Billy.”

“Couple rabbits over there checkin’ you out.”

“I mean it, Patterson, leave me the hell alone.”

Billy slugged him. “We gotta get you a woman, Rice. You’ve been strikin’ out on yer own. I’ll see if I can help ya out.”

Tucker felt Jace’s pain strongly enough that he eased away from their kiss. Worse, though, Blythe had seen the look on his brother’s face, and it had devastated her. He knew the minute, the very instant, she realized how much they’d hurt him.

She’d gotten up and hurried off before Tucker realized what was happening. By the time he got up to follow her, she was far enough ahead of him that he couldn’t catch her before she slipped into the ladies’ room.

He’d been standing near the door long enough to worry she’d stay in there the rest of the night. He thought about asking one of the women going in, to check on her, but what could he say? He was tempted to go in after her himself.

“Hey,” she said, finally coming back out.

“Hey. You okay?”

“No. I’m not. What’re you gonna do about it? Anything?”

He laughed. He couldn’t help it.

“It isn’t funny, Tucker. You know what else? You’re a shitty brother.”

He shrugged outwardly, but inside he knew she was right.

“This is Jace’s night, not yours. Is this the way it’s always been with you two?”

Tucker didn’t know what to say. He didn’t think so, but maybe it was.

“You know how I feel, don’t you?” she asked.

“I think so,” he said, but he wasn’t sure exactly what she was referring to. Was she talking about how she felt about him or about the situation with Jace or something else?

“Why did you leave?”

He was afraid that was what she meant, as much as he hoped she wouldn’t go there. “It’s complicated.”

“Why did you leave?”

“I already answered that question.”

“No, you didn’t. You have serious problems, Tucker. If you’re unwilling to talk to me about them, then I can’t get involved with you. I mean, you just got up and left in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner. What the hell?”

“It was what your dad said.”

“Now this is my dad’s fault.” She turned to walk away.

“Wait,” he grabbed her arm. “That isn’t what I meant.”

She pulled her arm away. “I’m getting tired of you grabbing me. Don’t do that. If I walk away, you can either let me go, or you can follow me, but quit grabbing at me.”

He held both hands in the air.

“I don’t even know you,” she stammered.