Rodeo Queen (11 page)

Sydney realized that while she was filling a need Mike had for a trainer, she’d actually taken Derek’s only position on the ranch. She wondered if he was bitter about the situation. She’d have to be very careful not to step on his toes.

“You know,” Derek drawled as he grabbed another box, “I think for the first time in a very long time, I might enjoy my job.” He winked at her and gave her a lopsided smile.

Sydney wasn’t oblivious to his flirting but wasn’t sure how to deflect it. She certainly couldn’t say she didn’t date people she worked with. On the other hand, she couldn’t really say if she and Scott were actually dating. She chose instead to pretend she hadn’t noticed his flirting. “So when do we get started?”

“Why don’t we take a tour tomorrow morning? I’ll take you out to the barns, then we can ride to the pastures and you can see the stock. Then I can get you up to speed on our paperwork after lunch.”

“That sounds like a great way to start. Silvie said breakfast is at eight?”

“Yeah, I’ll get up early and saddle a couple of horses. Mike will feed them about six so we can leave around nine, if that works for you.”

Derek placed a box on the bed and Sydney noticed it said “Clothing” on the side. Unsure of what might be inside, she placed a hand on the lid. “It’s okay, I’ll finish this tomorrow. I’m pretty beat.”

Derek looked down at her hand then met her gaze. He looked hurt, but she really didn’t want him unpacking her underwear. “Uh, okay, I guess I’ll see you in the morning then.”

Derek shut the door behind him and Sydney plopped back onto the bed. She really liked Derek. He was fun and quick to laugh and tease, but she didn’t want him to construe any sort of friendship as flirting. And she certainly didn’t want to cause any more sibling rivalry between Derek and Scott by telling him about her relationship with Scott. Not that she was sure what she could even tell him. It wasn’t like she or Scott had actually defined their relationship.

Sydney sighed and stretched. The unpacking could wait. Her back was as tight as her nerves. Her mind whirled with questions about how to handle Derek’s flirting tomorrow. Maybe a walk would do her some good. She could head over to the barn and check on Valentino.

She tiptoed down the stairs, careful not to disturb anyone in the nearly silent house. The only noise she heard came from a television in a room down the hall, the faded light shining from under the closed door. Sydney took a deep breath of the brisk nighttime air as she stepped onto the porch. As she made her way down the stairs, she noticed a shooting star and smiled. She and her mother always made wishes on comets. She wondered what her mother would say if she told her that tonight’s wish was to get through tomorrow with no confrontation.

She opened the main door of the barn and heard Valentino whinny. “Shh, you don’t want to wake everyone else, do you?” She hurried to his stall and he met her at the door, hanging his head over the gate. “So what do you think of this place?” She rubbed a hand over his forehead.

“Couldn’t sleep?” The familiar voice sent her heart racing. Scott stood beside her but didn’t touch her. His rigid stance told her that he was upset, but she had no idea why.

“Not yet. Too much excitement, I guess.” She looked over her right shoulder. “What are you still doing up? I thought everyone in the house was asleep.”

“Seems like you are getting along fine with everyone already.” She couldn’t read anything in his face, but his tone and the fact that he refused to look at her sent up warning signals.

She matched his nonchalant tone. “I’d like to think so.”

“Derek seemed quite taken with you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sydney bridled at the suggestion.

“It means I saw him when he first laid eyes on you and I heard the two of you in your room.” He faced her and she could see the barely contained anger glinting in his eyes. “I know you guys are going to be working together with the horses—if Derek actually works.”

Was Scott jealous of Derek? Sydney turned and faced him. “Scott, I am not interested in your brother.” She laid her hand on his forearm, trying to reassure him.

Scott cocked an eyebrow, his eyes still dangerously clouded. “Really? So you told him about us?” His tone clearly assured her that he knew she hadn’t.

Sydney drew back, hurt by his accusation. “I’m not sure what you think you heard. Derek was helping me unpack and, sure, he flirted a little. But I was trying to figure out what to tell him about us without causing any trouble between the two of you.”

He shrugged. “So you thought leading him on was the best decision? What’s next? A little seduction scene while you are out riding tomorrow?”

“I wasn’t leading him on. What was I supposed to say, Scott? That we kissed? That you want me?” Sydney’s voice was dripping in sarcasm as her frustration flared into anger. Hadn’t he realized by now that she wasn’t out to seduce anyone?

“I don’t think that’s really a concern any longer,” Scott interrupted. His black eyes narrowed, his voice suddenly calm.

She wouldn’t allow him to see how his words wounded her. His accusations hurt enough, but to know that she’d imagined the desire she’d thought he felt . . . She felt like a foolish, lovesick teenage girl. “Fine. Then I’ll just do my job, and we’ll have as little to do with one another as possible.”

“Keep your distance from Derek, Sydney. He’s trouble.”

“At least he was nice and welcomed me. You’ve been the one who was nothing but trouble. You don’t have the right to warn me about anything, Scott.” She spun to leave but felt his hand at her elbow. She jerked it free of his grasp and whirled on him, causing Valentino to jump backward. “Don’t ever touch me again.”

He arched a brow and his gaze swept from her head to her knees and back. “Next time, princess, you’ll beg for me to touch you.”

“Don’t bet on it.” She wished she could slam the door of the barn but had to suffice with storming toward the house.

Sydney hurried back to her room and flung herself onto the bed. How could she have believed that Scott Chandler cared about her? She felt the hot tears streaming down her cheeks, hating herself for crying for him but unable to find the strength to stop the flow. So much for their budding friendship, let alone any sort of truce for the sake of working together in peace.

S
YDNEY WAS UP
early the next morning after a long night of tossing and turning in the unfamiliar room. She glanced at the clock just before hearing Mike greet the giant black lab on the porch. The horses immediately started whinnying in anticipation of breakfast. Every sound seemed to reverberate in her aching head. She groaned, wishing for aspirin, before tossing back the covers and grabbing her robe. She might as well get an early start on what she was sure would prove to be a trying day. In fact, that would probably prove to be an understatement.

She grabbed a towel from the hall closet Jen had showed her the night before and headed for the shower. She stood under the warm water and closed her eyes, willing her headache to go away. Sydney let the spray of the water soothe her sore muscles and relax her mind. A knock on the door brought her crashing back to the present and her eyes flew open.

“Any day, Sydney. You’re not the only one in the house.”

Did Scott really have to intrude on her shower the way he’d intruded in her fitful dreams last night? Was a moment’s peace too much to ask for?

“If you don’t open this door in two minutes, I’ll break it down.”

“That I’d like to see,” she muttered as she turned off the water and pulled her robe over her shoulders.

Apparently the acoustics in the bathroom were better than she’d thought. Just as she fastened the sash on her robe, the door swung in.

“What in the hell are you doing?” she yelled.

“I warned you.”

With her wet hair plastered to her head and tendrils sticking to her cheeks and neck, Sydney pushed her way past him, proud of her ability to contain her anger and not slam the bedroom door.

Sydney heard the bathroom door close and the shower turn on before a deep baritone began singing a haunting country ballad. She frowned, pulling on her jeans, as she realized Scott was singing the same song they’d danced to at the barbecue. She wasn’t sure what he hoped to accomplish by trying to aggravate her at every turn, but she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d succeeded. She buttoned a faded Western shirt over her tank top and stepped into her boots before checking her reflection in the mirror. Maybe a little mascara? She dabbed it on quickly before running a comb through her wet hair, pulling it back into a ponytail, and hurrying down to help Silvie with breakfast.

“Need any help, Silvie?”

“Thanks, honey, but it’s all under control.” She motioned toward the set table. “Take a load off.” She poked her head into the oven to check her breakfast casserole before glancing at Sydney over her shoulder. “Something wrong?”

“What?” She had to get her head on straight. “No, nothing I can’t take care of.”

Mike stomped his feet at the back door before entering. “Hey, Silvie, how much longer ’til breakfast? I’m starved!” He blinked as he noticed Sydney at the table. “Morning, Sydney.” He made his way to the cupboard and grabbed a mug. “Want some coffee?”

“Sure, thanks.” She smiled at her employer as he placed the steaming mug in front of her.

“Milk? Sugar?” he offered.

“This is fine, thank you.” She raised the mug to her lips, inhaling the tantalizing aroma before sipping it.

“So, where are you starting today?” Mike took the seat across from her, leaning back in the chair as he sipped his coffee.

“We’re heading out after breakfast so I can show her the stock and what she’s working with. After lunch, I figured we’d get started on the paperwork,” Derek answered as he entered the room. “Morning.” He reached out as he passed by and slid a finger down her arm.

Sydney didn’t miss Silvie’s raised brows or the questioning look she shot toward Mike. And why wouldn’t they wonder? They had no idea what had happened between her and Scott the night before. She didn’t even get a chance to answer Derek before he gave Silvie a squeeze around her shoulders. “Morning, Sil. Smells good this morning. What are we having?”

“Your favorite, as if you didn’t know.” Silvie reached for a mug and handed it to Derek. “I have some lunch already packed for you and Sydney to take too.”

“Are we going to be out that long?” Sydney glanced at Derek and caught his wink.

“Who knows?” He laughed.

“Isn’t it a bit early to be laying the charm on so thick, Derek?” Scott strode into the room. “Morning, Mike, Silvie.”

Sydney glanced from Mike to Silvie before settling her gaze on Derek’s storm-clouded eyes. It hadn’t escaped anyone’s notice that Scott hadn’t greeted her, ignoring her presence entirely.

Derek glared at his brother. “I thought you’d have left early with Clay. Sleeping in?” Sydney was sure she wasn’t imagining the sarcasm and resentment dripping from Derek’s words.

“Nope, just taking a shower.” Scott arched his brow at Sydney as if daring her to comment. He sipped his coffee and leaned against the kitchen counter. She simply frowned at him when Derek’s eyes flickered over her still damp hair. “Oh, and Mike, I’ll need to pick up a new lock for the bathroom door.”

“Do I even want to know why?” Mike’s brows shot up between the weathered creases of his forehead.

“Probably not.” Scott chuckled and looked pointedly at Sydney. “Ask her.” He jerked his chin at her. “I have to head out and get some work done. We can’t all take picnics and joyrides around the ranch all day.”

Derek blanched at Scott’s open animosity before Sydney saw the color flood back into his cheeks. His pride wasn’t allowing him to tolerate Scott’s mocking. The chair scraped the wooden floor before toppling backwards. Derek was standing toe-to-toe with Scott before anyone realized what was happening. Derek had the height over his brother but his youth and lanky frame wouldn’t match Scott’s experience and powerful physique.

Scott calmly rose to his full height, the counter still behind him, and slid the cup to the counter. “I’d advise you to take a step back, little brother. I don’t want to have to help Silvie clean the mess your blood will make.”

Sydney held her breath. This was exactly what she’d been worried about. The dangerous gleam in Scott’s eyes left no doubt that his wasn’t an empty threat.

“Knock it off, you two,” Mike warned. He hadn’t even looked at the two men but his tone left no room for argument.

She watched anxiously as Derek’s lips split into a wide grin as if he’d just pulled one over on Scott. He glanced back at Sydney before stepping away from Scott and, reaching over, righted the chair.

“It’s fine, Mike.” Derek sat down as Silvie reached for the casserole in the oven as if the fight between the brothers was typical morning chatter. “I guess Scott’s just nervous to see Liz tomorrow for the first time since their breakup.”

Sydney shot a quick glance at Scott. He wouldn’t meet her gaze and she couldn’t read his expression. Was that why he started the argument with her last night? Did he still have feelings for his ex-girlfriend and want her out of the way now that she was returning? Well, she’d make sure that she wasn’t anywhere near either of them. Scott and his ex could get back together and she wouldn’t even care. Sydney knew it was a lie, even as she thought it. She knew she was stupid for even getting involved with Scott. There’d been nothing about him that suggested any sort of relationship. For him, it was all about desire, and he’d made that clear from the start.

Silvie placed a plate of food in front of her, squeezing her shoulder in sympathy. She was grateful for even that little bit of offered comfort, as if Silvie understood her thoughts while the three men in the room seem oblivious to her inner turmoil. She had never felt so foolish, or so used. She moved the food around the plate, unable to eat. Scott put his cup in the dishwasher and left through the back door. He hadn’t denied Derek’s accusation.

Sydney sighed and rubbed her temple with her fingertips. Silvie rose from the table without a word, and grabbed Sydney’s plate before returning to the chair, slipping two aspirin into her hand. She reached over and squeezed Silvie’s hand in thanks. She wasn’t sure if she should be grateful or worried about how much Silvie seemed to see.