I drag my fingers through my hair, tugging on the ends. “Damn, I don’t even know what to say. I’m just really fucking sorry.”
Keegan fans her face. “Ugh, sorry to rain on the fun. I didn’t mean to get all mopey.”
“Don’t apologize for that. You have every right to grieve.” I give her leg another reassuring squeeze.
She rubs at her red nose. “Thanks. It’s good for me to talk about sometimes.”
“That’s good because I have two ears and strong shoulders. You can lean on me all you want.”
Her humming agreement is more garbled than usual. “Be careful or I might get attached.”
I pause, waiting for a pool of dread to bubble in my gut. No signs of sludge or acid appear. In fact, her suggestion leaves me with a sense of calm that I only get after a long cruise down the freeway. My reaction steals the snarky remark I might’ve tossed back at her. Instead, I focus on the fast pace action in front of me. A quick glimpse over reveals that Josey and Millie are doing the same. As we all should be, apparently. Two men are riding on horseback, chasing a cow, with lassos spinning in large loops over their heads.
“Woo, okay.” Keegan wipes under her eyes. “I’m cleansed and all better. Let’s enjoy the show.”
Silence settles between us as a new event begins. Each participant is attempting to twist a steer’s neck in order to wrestle the beast on the ground. It seems fairly aggressive with a bunch of kids in the audience, but what the fuck do I know. “This almost reminds me of a bike rally, just with animals and country music.”
“Do you go to those often?” Keegan dips a fry in ketchup, biting the end off with vigor. Talk about being aggressive.
“Not anymore. Growing up, we went all the time. I swear, my mom loved going more than my brother and me. Those are good memories.”
“Did you lose interest, or what happened?” She chomps away on another fry, her eyes going wide. “Am I prying? Feel free to ignore me.”
Grant is a topic I prefer to avoid. I glare off into nothingness, seeing my brother as he was then versus now. Bringing those skeletons into the light of day is not what I want to do. But I suppose it’s only fair since she spilled about her loss. “My family is a sore subject, especially my brother. Grant was my best friend until he got into a bad wreck with his motorcycle. He ditched his bike and started working for my dad. I barely speak to him anymore.”
Keegan slaps a palm to her forehead. “Gah, I’m really stepping in the cow manure today. I seriously didn’t plan on turning this conversation into confessional.”
I chuckle at her creative non-swearing. “It’s fine. I’m having a good time.”
She quirks a brow. “For real?”
“Yeah, the rodeo is kickass.”
“Better than biker rallies?”
I think about that for a moment, an idea sprouting and taking root. “Maybe we can start the old traditions again. Make them our own.”
Keegan pushes her sunglasses up, staring at me with a ferocity that strikes down to my bones. “Don’t make promises to me, Ford.”
“I only will if I intend to keep them.”
“Think about what you’re saying.”
I gulp down a long swallow of soda. “That’s all I’ve been able to think about lately.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“You, Millie, all of this. I wasn’t expecting much when I came up with this unconventional scheme, but it’s really working out for me.”
Keegan lets her gaze skitter off mine. “Please don’t break her heart.”
My pulse hammers a furious rhythm, nearly stealing my breath. “What about yours?”
“I’m not worried about me. Mine already has a few dents and dings. A couple more cracks won’t hurt.”
“Doesn’t seem right.” I want to cup her jaw, force her to look at me.
She keeps her eyes averted. “That’s the way it has to be.”
I want to correct her, confess to wanting…more. But what do I really have to offer? Warming one side of the bed for a few nights? This woman belongs with a man far better than me. Even so, I can’t leave her hanging. “Not sure I’ll ever agree with that.”
Keegan smiles, but the expression is forced. “By the way, thanks again for what you said about Millie.”
“Honestly, that was nothing. You deserve far more than a few simple words, Kee.”
“They sounded really complex to me.”
“I can do better.”
A brief pause almost opens the door for regret. Until Keegan peeks up at me from under her lowered lashes. “Sometimes you’re almost sweet.”
“Don’t go spreading that around.”
“Do you have a reputation to uphold?”
“Nah, not really. I’m a mystery to most folks. But if they think I’m a teddy bear, the town will probably burst into flames.”
“That’s a little extreme.”
“Same with you calling me sweet.”
“I said almost,” she corrects.
“Not sure it matters.”
“Just take the compliment, Ford.”
“All right, if that’ll make you happy.” I take a liberty, small as if might be. When I wipe specks of food from the corner of her mouth, Keegan gasps.
“I’d be tickled pink.”
Pretty sure she already is. “That’s an innuendo waiting to be discovered.”
“Not everything has to be dirty.”
I point to our surroundings, specifically the plums of dust clouds in every direction. “I can fake being a filthy country boy with the best of them.”
Her lips twitch. “Oh? Do you have a Stetson and some Wranglers stashed away?”
I dip down until my mouth caresses the pierced lobe of her ear. “Would it turn you on if I did?”
Since she ditched her shades, I can see the change in her vibrant green eyes. The idea definitely appeals to her. “Yes,” she whispers.
“How about asking Josey to watch Millie while we take our next…adventure?”
“What’re you suggesting?”
“Maybe some of those benefits you initially implied.”
Keegan tucks some golden hair behind her ear. “Thought we’d been there and done that?”
“Who’s to say we can’t circle back for another quick pass?”
“Just once?”
I shrug. “Maybe twice.”
She
