Page 209 of Ride a Cowboy

Mark stopped walking and gripped Matt’s arm, forcing him to halt as well. “So? So we don’t fight over women. We never have. Not once.”

“I don’t see us fighting over Bridget.”

Mark threw back his head in annoyance and glanced skyward. Matt waited him out. Matt knew his twin, knew Mark didn’t like confrontations. While Matt tended to throw fists first and ask questions later, his brother’s temperament was the polar opposite. Sometimes that was irritating, but most times it saved them from bruised knuckles and fat lips.

When Mark looked at him once more, Matt could see he was calmer. “I’d really like to go out with Bridget. On a date.”

Matt lifted one shoulder. “I’m not holding you back. She is. In case you forgot, she’s here on vacation. Seems sort of silly for us to get so worked up over something that can’t be more than a short-term fling at best.”

Mark stared at him for a long time. Matt was grateful for the shadows of the woods. His brother knew him too well. If they’d been standing in broad daylight, he’d have seen the fact Matt was lying written all over his face. “If that’s really how you feel, then do you mind if I ask her out for dinner tomorrow night?”

“Hell yes, I mind.” The words flew from Matt’s lips quickly and loudly.

Mark chuckled. “Yeah. That’s what I thought. Shit.”

“We’re both being stupid, you know that?”

Mark nodded, repeating his words back to him. “Everything you said is right. She’s here on vacation. She lives in New York City, for God’s sake.”

“She’s also beautiful, funny and hiding something,” Matt added to the list.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that last thing too. I’m worried about her. You think that’s the attraction? We’re curious?”

Matt shook his head. “Hell no. Curiosity’s got nothing to do with it. For a few minutes, I thought it was your white hat, defender of the downtrodden bullshit coming out, but I don’t think that’s it. You don’t think Rodney is hurting her?”

“No. I don’t. You heard the way she jumped to his defense tonight. None of that was pretense. She’s not afraid of him at all. Besides I’ve seen the way he looks at her. He’s definitely protecting her from something.”

“Yeah, well. I’m glad she has him. I just wish she’d tell us what’s bothering her. She was running from us yesterday when she took that tumble in the foyer. I saw her face when we walked in. It was pure fear.”

Mark turned and started walking along the path toward their ranch, running his hand over his face. “I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so many feelings all at once. It’s like I want to protect her and kiss her and, Christ, fuck her.”

“Keep her.”

Mark glanced at him, but he didn’t stop walking. “That’s on the top of the list. Couldn’t make myself say it. That’s wrong. I know that. I mean, hell, we just met her yesterday.”

Matt bent forward and picked up a large stick lying in the middle of the path, tossing it to one side. “Caleb said he fell for Jessie the first night they met. Said he knew after one conversation she was special. That she was the one. Hell, Dad popped the question to Mom on their second date. Said he wanted to ask her to marry him on the first one, but didn’t want to appear forward!”

Mark chuckled. “So what you’re saying is this is a James flaw?”

Matt stuck his hands in his pockets. “What I’m saying is Mom said yes and Jessie’s still with Caleb. Maybe we James men just know when we’ve met our soul mate.”

Mark stumbled for a step, but kept walking. “Soul mate? You know, there’s a problem with that theory if you’re right.”

Matt knew. It was a big fucking problem too. “Yeah. I know. All those things you want to do for Bridget, I want to do too. So what’s the answer? You want to arm wrestle for her?”

Mark chuckled. “I think Bridget gave us the answer. We ignore what we want, we offer her friendship for as long as she stays, and in a few days, she goes to New York and life goes back to normal around here.”

Matt knew his brother’s words made sense, but for the first time in his life, normal didn’t seem like enough. “Yeah. Normal. You realize that’s not going to work for me, right?”

He’d expected his brother to laugh at his joke, but it was met with only silence. They’d reached the edge of their property when Mark stopped walking once more. “Normal sucks. I think maybe it would be better if we took turns on the lessons. Since I usually work with the beginners, I’ll take tomorrow with her. You can take over the next day.”

Although Mark’s comment seemed innocuous, Matt suspected there was more behind the words than appeared. He could see the sense of his brother’s suggestion. There was no way the two of them could be alone with Bridget and not start up the rivalry for her attentions again. They’d always been too competitive for their own good. By dividing the time, they’d kill two birds with one stone. They’d prevent World War III from erupting between them, while they each would have a few precious hours alone with Miss Carson to press their suits. “What about the third day?”

Mark shrugged. “I guess we let her choose her teacher for that day.”

“To the victor goes the spoils?”

“Something like that. Listen, Matt. Regardless of who she chooses, we have to agree not to let it come between us. I know we’re brothers, but we’re best friends too. I don’t want to lose you over a woman, no matter how great she is. Deal?”

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