Page 27 of My Cowboy Trouble
"Why am I not surprised?" But there's no heat in it. His hand covers mine, guiding me through the motion. "Feel that?"
I feel a lot of things, none of which have to do with roping.
"Sure. Totally. Smooth circles."
"Now try it."
I swing the rope with what I think is perfect form. It goes about three feet and falls to the ground like a dead snake.
"That was terrible," he grunts.
"Thanks for the pep talk, coach."
"You're overthinking it." He retrieves the rope, demonstrating the motion himself. The rope sails through the air in a perfect arc, landing cleanly around the dummy's horns. "It's about rhythm and release."
"You guys and your rhythm obsession."
"Try again."
I try. And fail. Try again. Fail worse. On my tenth attempt, I somehow manage to rope myself, the loop tightening around my waist.
"How?" Trent asks, genuinely baffled. "How did you even?—"
"It's a talent." I try to wiggle free, but only succeed in tangling myself further. "Um. Little help?"
He steps closer, working to loosen the rope, and suddenly we're way too close. His hands are on the rope at my waist, his face inches from mine.
"Stop moving," he murmurs, focused on the knot.
"I'm not moving."
"You're trembling."
"It's cold."
"It's ninety degrees."
"I run cold."
His eyes flick up to mine, and for a moment, we just stare at each other. The air between us feels charged, like the moment before lightning strikes. His hands are still on the rope, still at my waist, and neither of us is moving now.
"Trent," I start, not sure what I'm going to say.
"Almost got it," he says, but his voice is rougher now.
The rope loosens and falls away, but he doesn't step back. We're still standing too close, still caught in whatever this is.
"Well, well, well."
We jump apart like teenagers caught making out. Gavin's leaning against the fence, that insufferable smirk firmly in place.
"Don't let me interrupt... whatever this is."
"It's rope training," Trent says flatly.
"Is that what we're calling it?" Gavin's grin widens. "Because from where I'm standing, it looked like?—"
"Did you need something?" Trent cuts him off.
