Page 28 of A Cowboy's Twinkling Lights Lasso
“Trying to untangle your intentions is like dealing with a knotted strand of lights—frustrating and pointless.”
A cheeky smile tugs her lips at my remark. “I’m exceptionally good at untangling lights and stringing them back up.”
My insides burn with anger. What the hell kind of game is she playing?
I control my tone, but even my attempt to keep it light comes out gruff. “You’re as indecisive as said lights that can’t decide whether to twinkle or stay dim.”
“What’s going on?” my brother asks no one in general.
“I think they knocked boots,” Dani answers.
“We did not knock boots,” Flora and I shout simultaneously.
“Y’all did something.” My brother’s smart-ass tone is back. “Thorn didn’t get those scratch marks on his chest from nothing.”
“Scratch marks?” Dani makes a throaty squeal sound. “You left out some details, Flora.”
My jaw grits down so hard my teeth ache. She told her damn sister? I’d think Dani could be in on the whole light tie-me-up bullshit if she weren’t on my side. Hell, at this point, I wonder if she is on my side.
“Girls against boys?” Dani picks up two pool cues and hands one to her sister.
“Find your own table.” My brother bends over the pool table, lowering his body to get a better angle, and takes his shot. “This one is occupied.”
Dani positions her cue stick vertically before the striped ball, stopping it inches from the pocket. “Or the two older against the two younger.”
Dani is full of great ideas.
Theo grunts. “I ain’t teaming up with you.” He leans into Dani’s face when he passes her. “I don’t much enjoy your company.”
“I don’t like you either.” She wrinkles her nose. “And you smell like you dunked yourself into a vat of sandalwood and musk. Tone it down, cowboy.”
I don’t disagree with her there, but I do disagree with a round of pool.
“I like Theo more than I like either of you right now.” Flora points between her sister and me before grabbing the triangle rack.
“What did I do?” Dani asks defensively.
I’d also like to know what the hell I did. She’s the one who tied me up and left me half naked in The Enchanted Ballroom.
“You teamed up with the Wilma and Faye to play matchmaker. Did you know?” Flora asks Theo as she rounds the corner of the pool table, collecting balls and dropping them in the rack. “That these two are scheming to get me to marry your brother after what he did?”
There’s my entrance. I push off the wall. “What I did?”
“Alright, alright.” Theo holds up his hands and steps between us. “Flora and me against you two.”
A storm of frustration brews inside me, and I can’t tell if it’s because I’m still livid about my bound arms or if it is the thought of her playing with another guy—even my brother.
“No skin off my back.” I grab my beer and almost guzzle the entire thing.
“That thwart’s our plans, now, doesn’t it?” Dani stops beside me, takes my beer out of my hand, and gulps a mouthful. It’s empty when she passes it back, and she still has her own full drink.
Fucking great. Where’s the waitress? I can’t do this stone-cold sober.
“Those plans were thwarted when—”
“When my sister tied you up.” She says it nonchalantly, like we’re discussing the weather. “It’s kinda hot. I’m surprised you’re not more into it.”
I glare down at her. “She left me there.”
