Page 29 of Saddle Studs
“You didn’t have to.”
I groaned and rubbed my face with both hands. “It’s not that simple.”
“Because he broke your heart in high school?”
I glared at her through my fingers. “Because he doesn’t even know who he is yet. Or what he wants. And I’m not in the mood to be someone’s experiment again. Not with Sam.”
“Fair enough.” She nodded slowly. “But you do like him.”
“Shut up.”
Billie laughed and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Just don’t assume the worst before he even gets a chance to prove otherwise. You’re not the same person you were back then. Neither is he.”
“Yeah, well. Feelings don’t exactly come with safety nets.”
“No, but what if these feelings come with someone to catch you?”
I rolled my eyes. “You and your meaningful words.”
“Just be open to all possibilities. And know that I’ll be here to beat his ass if he breaks your heart again.”
“Thanks, Bills,” I said. She gave me a bump with her shoulder and left. I washed my cup and left it in the drying rack, then headed to my room to relax a bit before tonight. Line dancingnight wasn’t mandatory, but around here, it was pretty close. Plus, if Beau was hyped about it, there’d be snacks. And music. And a strong chance of at least one surprise glitter cannon.
I stepped back outside justas the sun was starting to dip behind the tree line. Boone had dragged the big portable speaker out onto the patio and had already started blasting country remixes—mostly boot-scootin’ classics with a bass drop. He held a pitcher of what looked like lemonade but smelled suspiciously stronger.
“Benny!” he called, lifting the pitcher. “You want some of this? I call it Pink Lightning in a Bottle.”
“I swear, if you put tequila in there again…”
He grinned like the devil himself.
I grabbed a cup anyway.
The whole family was there. Boone and Beau were doing a dramatic two-step demo in their matching cowhide boots, while Billie and Wylie assembled a snack table loaded with chips, dips, and fruit cut in the shape of little cowboy hats. Pris had shown up with her hands full of glowing headbands, which she started handing out to everyone without a word. Sky followed behind, handing out colorful rainbow bandanas.
And then there was Sam.
He stood near the edge of the patio, talking to Benny #2 (the goat, not me). He was wearing light blue jeans that hugged his thighs in all the right places and a crisp, clean blue T-shirt. His hair was a little messy, cheeks pink from the sun.
I hated how good he looked. I hated how much I wanted to walk over there and pull him into a slow dance just to see what it felt like.
“Are you going to ask him to dance or should I do it for you?” Billie said, appearing at my side with a red Solo cup and a knowing smirk.
“Are you ever going to mind your business?”
“Not when it’s this interesting.”
I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway.
The song changed, something a little slower, still upbeat, a little flirty. Beau whooped and grabbed Pris for a partner, swinging her in a tight circle that made her laugh. “Alright my Rainbow Rancher line dancers, let’s get this party started. Sam, we’ll start off with the first few steps. Typically line dancing is a solo sport, but with today’s choreography, you’re going to need a partner.”
Sam caught my eye.
And for a second—just a breath—it felt like we were back in high school, standing in the same shared air, trying to pretend we weren’t looking at each other every time someone turned our way. Trying to hide the intense attraction that had been starting to develop between us.
I stepped forward, tilting the edge of my Stetson down as a greeting.
“You wanna dance?” I asked.
