Rodeo Queen (16 page)

Sydney leaned forward in the chair and covered her face with her hands. She couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the young man he’d been. He’d once been the romantic in love until he’d had his dream crushed by a heartless vixen. She held her hands against her cheeks and sighed. Scott’s first impression of her made so much sense now.

“He said he knew my type,” Sydney whispered.

Jennifer raised her brows as if Sydney’s statement only confirmed the facts. “Liz was a rodeo queen, and you know a lot of them are spoiled like she is. And it’s not hard to see that Scott has a hard time opening up to people. He didn’t even tell Mike or me the truth about what happened until Liz came home for a visit a few years ago and he insisted on being gone.”

“But why didn’t he just tell me this instead of being so obnoxious about it?”

Jennifer cocked her head, pursed her lips, and raised a brow. “Are you kidding? I love my brother, but do you really think that macho Scott is going to confess any frailty or vulnerability?” She rolled her eyes. “Nope. Dust off those britches and cowboy up,” she drawled in a humorously elaborated accent. “It’s stupid, but I know he thinks he’s protecting you. I don’t know why Liz is so interested in him again, but the fact that he’s interested in you has put a target on your back as far as Liz is concerned.”

Sydney realized that in an odd, slightly warped way Scott was trying to deflect Liz’s attention from her. He’d tried to keep them away from one another at every turn. She’d assumed it was because he was interested in rekindling his romance with her, when in fact he’d simply been using himself as bait. Was he interested in her? It had seemed so. But, she wondered, was he too wounded by his past with Liz to ever trust again? She knew that her past had left scars as well. Were they both too damaged to ever feel vulnerable enough to fall in love?

“So,” Jennifer encouraged, “now that you know what happened, what are you going to do about Scott?”

Sydney threw up her palms, shrugging, and sat back in the chair. “Nothing.”

“What?” Jennifer stared at her in disbelief.

“He doesn’t want me, Jennifer.” She held up her hand as Jennifer began to protest. “I overheard him say as much this morning. And sometimes the scars from our past just don’t ever heal.”

Jennifer gave Sydney an odd look and she hoped that her friend wouldn’t ask her to elaborate. She wasn’t ready to confess her past with anyone yet. She knew she could trust Jennifer, but she was afraid that the truth would make her look weak and she couldn’t stand pity. She and Scott had more in common than he’d realized.

“Sydney, if you ever want to talk, I’m here.” Jennifer reached out and squeezed her hand.

“I know Jen.” Sydney rose from the chair, squeezing her friend’s hand before releasing her. “And I appreciate that more than you know. But right now, there’s nothing to talk about.” Sydney hardened the protective shell around herself, pulling it close like a trusted talisman. If they knew the truth, would they blame her?

C
LAY PICKED UP
the suitcases and piled them into the trailer. “Come on, ladies,” he complained good-naturedly. “Let’s get this show on the road before the sun rises.”

“My cases are right there,” Jennifer said as she pointed at the two very large suitcases and overnight bag on the porch.

Winding his arm around his wife’s waist, he pulled her close. “And this is why I never take you, woman. You bring everything but the kitchen sink.”

“Fine.” Jennifer shrugged, standing on tiptoes to kiss his beard-roughened jaw. “I guess I’ll just stay home then.”

He growled and placed a quick kiss on her lips. “Like hell you will.”

They both laughed as Clay loaded Jennifer’s bags into the truck. Sydney watched their exchange with hidden jealousy. Jennifer had explained that they’d shared a rocky start to their relationship as well, but had quickly overcome it because of their mutual love. But Sydney and Scott didn’t have a mutual love. Their relationship was nothing more than lust, at least on his part, and she just couldn’t allow herself to be swept away by that tidal wave.

“Everyone here?” Scott stepped from the back of the horse trailer. Sydney hated that her pulse raced every time she saw him.

“Hold on,” a voice called from the porch. All heads turned to see Liz come running down the steps, curls bouncing, an overnight bag in her hands. “I’m coming too!”

Mike reached for her arm. “But, honey, I stayed home so that we could have time to visit.”

“But, Daddy,” she whined. “I want to go too.”

Sydney could see the flicker of disappointment in Mike’s eyes. How could Liz not see or seem to care that she was hurting her father? And what sort of grown woman actually thought that whining would help her get her way? Sydney rolled her eyes.

“Not this time, Liz,” Clay insisted. “We barely have enough room as it is. Stay and visit with your dad for a while.” He turned and opened the truck door for Jennifer, helping her inside.

Sydney met Liz’s glare with a smile tugging at the sides of her mouth. She was only able to keep her composure because she could see what Liz’s request had done to Mike. She could deal with Liz’s hatred, but she was worried at how Mike almost seemed to age from the disappointment of knowing his daughter preferred anything other than his company.

“Let’s move out,” Scott ordered.

Sydney slid into the back seat of the truck Clay was driving, but not before she saw Scott walk over to where Liz still stood. She couldn’t make out his words, but if the unmistakable look of fury in the woman’s face was any indication, Liz didn’t like what he had to say.

T
HE CREW PULLED
their caravan of trailers into the rodeo arena just as the sun began descending behind the hills. Scott, Jake, and Clay hurried to unload the stock and make sure they were fed and had a plentiful supply of fresh water. Sydney and Jennifer unloaded the riding horses and led them to a pen separate from the bucking stock. Sydney threw flakes of alfalfa over the fence and stooped to dust the loose flakes from her pants as she saw Jennifer going into one of the fifth-wheel trailers brought to house them over the long weekend.

“Wonder how they plan on working out these sleeping arrangements?” Sydney mumbled as she stomped her feet to shake off the leaves and stood.

“You’ll be sharing a trailer with Jen.” Sydney’s heart leaped into her throat as Scott’s familiar voice intruded.

“Oh, okay.” She was so surprised by his nearness that she practically forgot what she’d even said.

“At least, for now,” he added.

Sydney saw the flame of desire in his eyes and her pulse quickened at the sight of it.
Stop it
, she scolded herself.

“What?”

Scott wiped his hands on the sides of his pants. Was he actually nervous? She tried to look busy watering the horses.

“There are so many entrants that we’ll be running slack well into Sunday evening. We’ll have to stay an extra night or two to close up the deal. Jen and Clay will head home with most of the guys, and we will stay and finish up with Jake.”

Sydney bit her lip, trying to control the nervous flutter in her stomach at the thought of spending one night, let alone two, nearly alone with Scott. This was the longest conversation they’d had in days without it ending in an argument.

“Sydney.” Her name was barely spoken as he turned her to face him, but she could hear the longing in his voice.

She turned to him, hoping that her eyes wouldn’t lay her heart bare for his perusal. Scott tipped up her chin and she trembled at the contact. His thumb caressed her jaw and it took every bit of willpower she had to not lean into his touch.

“Hey, Sydney.” Jennifer’s voice carried through the fading light of the arena grounds, breaking the trance. “I need your help with this.”

“I have to . . .” Sydney stammered.

Scott let his hand fall. “Saved again.”

S
YDNEY HURRIED TO
the trailer, grateful for Jennifer’s interruption. That man could tempt the devil, she thought. One look from him was all it took to get her heart racing. And with only a touch, she’d practically melted in her boots. She considered herself lucky to have been able to escape with any shred of her pride still intact. The last thing she wanted Scott to know what that being around him was like the first time she’d been on a roller coaster: scary, yet oddly thrilling. He made her constantly feel like she was on unstable ground, trying to maintain balance where there was none. If she wanted to have any sort of sanity left, she’d have to stay as far away from him as possible.
Now, if only I can figure out how to do that when everyone leaves
, she mused.

She saw Jennifer putting the sodas and beer in the small trailer’s refrigerator as she walked inside. “What did you need?”

Her friend looked over her shoulder and smiled at Sydney. “Nothing. I just happened to see you with Scott, and you looked pretty uncomfortable.” She looked back into the refrigerator. “I thought I’d rescue you.”

“Thank you.” Sydney sighed as she flopped onto the small sofa. “It’ll be worse when you guys leave.”

“I thought you said he wasn’t interested in you.” Jennifer glanced at her again, raising a brow. “He didn’t look
disinterested
, that’s for sure.”

Sydney looked around the trailer and changed the subject. “So, why is this trailer away from the other two?”

Jennifer shrugged and stood up, arching her back to stretch it. “Because we’re women and I told them we wanted some privacy.”

“But what about your anniversary?”

“How’d you know about it?” Jennifer looked pleased that she’d remembered.

“Silvie mentioned it a couple days ago before we knew about the rodeo.”

“Yep, number seven.” Jennifer sighed. “Doesn’t seem like it’s been that long.”

“We should celebrate tomorrow.”

Jennifer scoffed at the thought. “Scott would never let us have a party the night before a rodeo.”

“Jennifer,” Sydney scolded, “Aren’t you the oldest?” She continued when Jennifer nodded and looked at her as if she’d grown a third head. “Then that makes you a senior partner, doesn’t it?”

Sydney watched the myriad of expressions that passed over Jennifer’s features. She laughed out loud as Jennifer smiled broadly. “A party it is,” she agreed.

T
HE MEN GATHERED
outside, eager for dinner, as Sydney and Scott’s sister finished preparing the meal in the trailer. The easiest way to feed a crew of this size was buffet-style, and Jen had promised the crew her famous fried chicken. Both women appeared, carrying platters of crispy, golden chicken, biscuits, gravy, and an enormous tossed green salad to a folding table. When everyone had eaten their fill and several of the guys were groaning from eating their share plus quite a bit more, Sydney and Jennifer jumped up to clear the table.

“Do you want some help?” Clay moved to rise from his chair.

Jen stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “You know you never do dishes,” she teased. “Don’t pretend to be chivalrous just because Sydney is here.”

The women retreated as the men continued to tease Clay. They returned within moments with four homemade pies, courtesy of Silvie’s kitchen.

Scott laughed as Jake groaned beside him. “I can’t eat another bite, but how can I pass up Silvie’s boysenberry pie?”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way to fit it in,” Scott teased.

He hadn’t taken his eyes off of Sydney all night. It was amazing to see her relax and enjoy herself with his sister. She seemed to let her guard down, and he could almost see the woman he’d spent time with at the last rodeo. He knew that much of the tension between them had been inflicted by his desire to protect his ego. When she had smiled at Paco’s teasing early in the evening, he’d clenched his fists, wondering what it would take for her to smile at him that way.

He watched as she moved to clear away the dessert. He couldn’t help but notice the way her jeans clung to her every curve, or the way the v-neck of her t-shirt dipped just low enough when she bent over that he could see the shadowy curve of her breast in the light of the lanterns and the fire pit Jake had set up. He shifted in his folding chair, hoping to calm the warmth that was spreading through him. He was disappointed when she didn’t emerge from the trailer and he realized that Jen had also turned in for the evening.

Scott looked around to see that several of the men had headed off to bed, either in the fifth wheels or in the tack rooms. He’d been so focused on Sydney that he hadn’t realized anything else going on around him.
That is not a good sign, cowboy
, he thought to himself.

“Sydney’s a nice girl,” Clay observed aloud. “Jen sure seems to have taken to her.”

“What brought that up?” Scott sounded defensive, even to his own ears.

“Nothing.” Clay pulled a can of Skoal from his pocket, flipped it a twice, and then pressed a pinch between his lower lip and teeth.

“If Jen sees you with that, you’re a dead man,” Scott reminded him, nodding at the chew. “And if you have something to say about Sydney, just get it over with.”

“She’s a good match for you.”

Scott shook his head. “Why is everyone so fired up about my love life all of the sudden?” Clay’s only response was to spit off to the side of the chair. “She’s not my type anyway.”

Clay laughed. “Not your type? I’ve never seen two people more suited for each other than the two of you.” Clay rose and spit the chew into the fire. He swished a mouthful of soda to rinse his mouth and spit it out before walking into the trailer and leaving Scott with his thoughts. But Scott didn’t miss Clay’s laughter as he headed for the trailer, or his comment as he entered.

“Not your type, my ass.”

Scott sighed in frustration and bent over to put the fire out. Hell, he thought. Okay, he was big enough to admit that Sydney was exactly his type of woman. She was feisty and strong, hard working and beautiful. She shared the same interests he did, and she was kind. Beneath the wall he’d given her reason to build, she had a tender heart that was made for loving. He’d seen glimpses of the passion she kept hidden, and he was dying to be the one to release it.