Blame It on the Rodeo. Amanda Renee

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СКАЧАТЬ had watched the man drift from one woman to the next while he never cared how hard it was on her. Lexi still wasn’t sure how much he’d legitimately changed, but she had noticed he wasn’t catting around like he used to.

      A part of her saw the old Shane she’d fallen in love with start to reemerge, but despite his newfound loyalty to her, she also knew the man had tunnel vision when it came to winning the championship. Admittedly, Lexi wasn’t sure what kind of life she’d be able to build with Shane when she was a little jealous of the dream he chased. Truth was, she blamed their demise on the rodeo.

      The band invited her to sing a few more songs, and when she finally stepped off the stage with an adrenaline rush and smile of satisfaction, she searched the bar, but Shane still wasn’t anywhere in sight. Not that it mattered. She was perfectly capable of having a nice evening out without Shane Langtry. She’d been doing it for years, but if she was honest with herself, she’d concede that she did enjoy having him around.

      Bridgett leaned into her once she was back in the booth. “I assure you he left empty-handed tonight.”

      “Bridge, I’m not his keeper.” Lexi pulled her hair up and off her shoulders. “He’s a free man.”

      “Oh, please, Shane hasn’t been a free man since you two broke up after high school. Someday you two will get a clue,” Bridgett said.

      Kendra set a folded note and two beers on the table and popped the tops off. “Compliments of the man in the tan shirt at the bar.”

      The three women turned to look at the stranger. He lifted a hand to wave and tipped his hat as Lexi read his scribble.

      “Did you read this?” Lexi asked.

      Kendra shook her head.

      Lexi’s eyes narrowed as she rose from the booth, grabbed both bottles and honed in on the man.

      “Oh, dear, what’s she going to do?” Kendra asked. “Charlie’s going to be ticked off at whatever it is.”

      “This isn’t going to be good,” Bridgett replied. “I’ll settle our tab because I have a feeling this night is about to end.”

      Weaving in and out of the crowd, Lexi approached the tawny-haired, middle-aged man with a mustache in dire need of a trim. She lifted her hands in front of her, the longnecks dangling from her fingers.

      “Did you send these to my table?”

      He winked. “I sure did.”

      “So you thought it was appropriate to ask—how was it you put it?” Lexi unfolded the note and read it aloud. “For a redhead-and-brunette sandwich? Honestly, if that’s the extent of your creativity, I think we’d be incredibly bored.”

      “I, uh, I can teach you a few things.” The man leered at her chest, making his greasy hair all the more obvious.

      “Really? I can teach you a few things, too.” Lexi winked in return.

      “I bet you can.” He openly gave her body a once-over while making a disgusting clicking noise with his tongue. “Where do we start?”

      “Lesson one.” Lexi held the beers above his crotch and poured out the contents, then slammed the bottles down on the bar. “Asking a woman and her friend for a threesome is just plain rude.”

      “Dammit, Lexi!” Charlie yelled from behind the bar. “Stop pouring drinks on my customers.”

      “Sorry, Charlie.” Lexi laughed and headed toward the door.

      * * *

      SHANE SAT IN his Jeep and listened to Lexi sing. Standing and staring at her in the middle of a crowded bar sure didn’t do his heart any favors. No, it was safer outside where he wouldn’t be tempted to rush the stage and kiss her in front of the entire town.

      Lexi and Bridgett burst through Slater’s double doors laughing hysterically. Unnoticed, he watched them as they walked by. The two women climbed into Lexi’s black Mustang convertible and drove off, their laughter carrying across the parking lot. A man thundered out of the bar behind them, swearing at their car.

      Shane ventured a guess at what had happened from the way the man wiped at his jeans. It wasn’t the first time Lexi dumped a drink on someone. He wondered what the poor sap had done to warrant such a response. She had a fiery temper when it came to men and he felt he was to blame for her defensive attitude. The country girl who left for college never returned. In her place was an extremely independent woman with walls so high, no one could possibly scale them—but he would damn sure try.

      “What are you doing out here? I thought we were getting a drink.” Clay braced his arms on the roll bar above the Jeep’s passenger seat. “I saw Lexi and Bridgett peel out of here. You look unscathed, so who was her victim?”

      “Some guy.” Shane shrugged. “Listen, I’m not up for another round in there tonight. Care to grab something at the Still ’n’ Grill instead?”

      “When are you going to admit you’ve never gotten over her?” Clay laughed when Shane tried to take a swing at him. “Hey, I just call ’em as I see ’em. You’ve had two loves in your life. Lexi and the rodeo. Swallow your pride and tell her, because you’ve exhausted the entire female population in town. Literally and figuratively.”

      “Okay, Mr. P.I.” Having a private investigator for a best friend made keeping a secret next to impossible. “Here’s a fact for you—she’s not in love with me.”

      “Really? Because from where I stand, she never stopped loving you.” Clay looked across the parking lot toward Shelby Street. “Why don’t you go after her and end this insanity? My God, you’ve been celibate for how many months now and don’t tell me it’s because you suddenly have the urge to wait until marriage.”

      “I’ve been busy building the school.”

      “You’ve been busy pining over Lexi,” Clay flatly stated. “I’m not the only one who’s noticed. Just about all of Ramblewood was at Jesse and Miranda’s wedding and we all saw the look on both of your faces when you escorted Lexi down that aisle.”

      “What do you want me do?” Shane threw his hands in the air. “Knock on her door and say, ‘Hey, Lex, I love you, let’s get married’? She’d annihilate me and you know it.”

      “This isn’t an eight-second ride, Shane.” Clay laughed. “You don’t have to charge the woman like a bull out of the chute. But you could up the ante and do something special for her.”

      “Like what?” The thought of surprising Lexi piqued Shane’s interest.

      “You know her better than I do. You’ll come up with an idea.” Clay playfully punched Shane in the arm. “Come on, let’s head to the Still ’n’ Grill and we’ll try to come up with a plan over a beer.”

      Shane doubted one or two surprises would convince Lexi to trust him again, but he’d do almost anything if it meant winning her heart.

      Chapter Three

      “First day of groundwork, men. I know it’s early but we have a lot to cover today before the СКАЧАТЬ