Page 20 of A Lot Like Love
“We’re just playing around,” Nate said. “What’d you expect when we saw her driving your car? You’ve never even let me drive it.”
“Just admit you like her,” Chase said. “Simple as that. She’s not just some cute girl you picked up and brought home, is she?”
“What, then you’ll miraculously shut the hell up?” Ryder asked.
He watched them exchange glances.
“Yeah,” said Chase. “Stop pretending like she’s just some cute piece of ass and man up.”
Heat rose like an angry snake through Ryder’s body, creeping fast into his veins until he wanted to explode. “Goddamn it! She’s not…”
“A piece of ass,” Nate finished for him, giving him a shove. “Just admit it and we’ll stop.”
“Fine,” Ryder snapped. “So I like her. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Nate’s mouth twisted into a half smile and Chase sniggered, but neither of them said a word. Ryder hauled himself up and surveyed the mess, two bottles on the ground and one tipped over on the table.
“Who would have thought, huh? Our baby brother getting all twisted in knots over a woman.”
Ryder ignored him and crossed the room to the fridge, pulling out another three bottles. They could tease him all they wanted, he didn’t give a damn. He had a plan with Chloe and what he needed was for his brothers to leave him the hell alone, so if that meant admitting to them that Chloe wasn’t just a good-time kind of girl, then so be it. They were supposed to be dating so him being all protective over her went with the territory.
“So does she have any nice friends?” Chase asked.
“Maybe.” Ryder gave Chase a beer, slapping him over the back of the head then dropping it in front of him. “Aside from one cute brunette at the rodeo the other day, I don’t know yet.”
“And what does she think of you riding rodeo?” Nate asked.
“What the hell do you think? I haven’t met a girl yet who doesn’t love seeing me ride a bull or a bronc.”
Nate glared at him, his voice like a lion’s growl when he spoke. “Bullshit.”
“Come to my next ride and see if she’s there watching.”
Nate didn’t look impressed with being goaded, but Ryder didn’t care. He knew what they all wanted him to do, and he’d already made it clear that he was going to make his own choices about what he did and didn’t do in his life. He might be back in Texas, but he wasn’t going to give up the one damn thing he was good at. Besides, he knew Chase wasn’t as pissed off with him as Nate, but if his granddad had been here too—then Nate would have looked like the easy one.
“I’ll stop when I need to stop. Haven’t you seen the gear I’m wearing these days? There’s no chance I’ll hurt myself again.”
“When you’re dead? You’re gonna be real useful to us if you stop then,” Nate muttered. “You know Granddad wants you more involved in the business.”
Ryder looked at Chase but just received a shrug in response. “Lay off. We’ve talked this to death already. Can’t you just let it go?” If his granddad wanted him more involved, then he could tell him himself.
“Ah, let me think,” Nate said, his glare raw anger. “No.”
Chase pushed back his chair, drained his beer, and stood up. “You guys wanna come see a man about a bull with me?”
“That code for something else?” Ryder asked, staying seated and watching his brothers.
“Nope. Just sayin’ it like it is.”
He glanced at Nate, still scowling at him, and decided he’d go with the brother who looked less likely to commit murder.
“Yeah, I’ll come,” Ryder said. “Lucky some of us were born capable of working on a ranch.”
Nate stood, pushing up his shirtsleeves and bunching his fists. The fact that he was wearing suit pants and a dress shirt didn’t make him any less intimidating, but Ryder had dealt with being the youngest all his life, knew how to keep up with his brothers. He might have been smaller once, but the only advantage Nate had on him now was a few years more experience.
“Easy,” Chase said, coming between them and putting a hand on Ryder’s chest to push him out of the way.
“I’ve got ranch business of my own to attend,” Nate told them. “Sam’s coming over to show me a new horse he’s been working with.” Nate’s old childhood best friend trained all their horses, and they all liked an excuse to watch him work.
