Page 11 of Hooking Up

She caught a flash of long red hair. “A sweet talker as always, Bella.” The female drawl grated on Bella’s last nerve. She and Wynonna had been butting heads for countless years, but there seemed to be no escaping the woman.

“If it isn’t the charming Wynonna Calhoun.” She settled her hand on her hip and leaned against her truck, allowing her lower back time to untighten after sitting in the same position for too long.

“You ladies inspire me,” Rigby said, looking between them.

Bella laughed. “Save your wet dreams for somebody else, Rigby.” She took off for the rest stop, checking her pockets for quarters as she did. She needed the bathroom and thenhopefully the vending machines boasted some coffee. She had a whole case of energy drinks in the trailer, but she hated the things. Give her the rich nectar of her people any day.

Most of the rodeo crowd traveled in caravan-style. Playing tag on the interstate, sharing meals when they stopped. But Bella was more of a solitary person. That was fine by her, when most of the women in her sport were like Wynonna.

Whatever rubbed her wrong about that woman Bella would never know. She suspected they’d hated each other in a past life and just carried it through to this one.

She washed her hands and splashed her face with water. As she exited the restroom, a woman frantically waved at her. Bella bit off a groan. Dammit, what did Wynonna want now?

“What’s up?” Bella asked as she neared. Wynonna twisted the end of her braid that dangled over her shoulder. She was a true redhead, and because of that she got a lot of attention. Bella knew a lot of women were jealous of her looks, but Bella wasn’t one of them.

“I ran into a couple of guys who’re sick.”

Bella stared at her. “So?”

Wynonna pushed out a hasty breath. “Honestly, Bella, don’t you ever care about somebody besides yourself? We’re like a big rodeo family here.”

“I stick to myself.” She started toward the vending machines, but Wynonna caught her forearm.

“Do you still drag around all those medicines in your trailer? I thought you might have something to fix up these guys.”

“Why don’t you nurse your own boyfriends back to health?”

Wynonna was a true redhead, all right, and she blushed like one. Her face scorched. “These aren’t my boyfriends. My brothers would tan my hide and make me go home faster than I could say eff off if I was seeing them.”

Bella rubbed the space between her eyes that was starting to ache. The last thing she wanted was to be mired in the Calhoun family politics. But she did feel a little bad for Wynonna. Having five older brothers couldn’t be good for the sex life.

“Fine. Who are they? Point me at them.”

“Those guys over there. The team ropers.” Wynonna, as tall as Bella, had the advantage of looking over much of the crowd. She pointed to the guys, and Bella swallowed a groan.

Dammit, couldn’t it be any other team roping pair? She didn’t want to help Carter or Quint. Not when she’d spent so much time lately avoiding both.

Wynonna gave her a tiny push in the direction of the gorgeous cowboys. “Go on. They’re not contagious.”

Bella shook off the woman and slowly approached the guys. Now that she got a good look at them, theydidlook under the weather.

The dark-haired pair was the most striking of all the cowboys in the rest stop. Tall and broad, one wearing a western shirt with white embroidery and the other sporting a ratty old plaid. Quint’s hat was tipped lower so she couldn’t see his eyes until she stood before him.

“I hear you’re unwell. Come with me.” She didn’t wait for either set of surprised eyes to register her words—she turned on her heel and marched away.

Outside the building, they caught up and flanked her. It struck her that Wynonna might be playing some game. If Carter and Quint were fighting over Bella, they wouldn’t be at peak performance, and Wynonna’s brother wanted that top spot in the team roping event.

“How’d you hear we’re sick?” Carter’s deep voice buried itself somewhere deep inside her belly, entirely too low for herown peace of mind. Something warm and liquid broke open and flowed downward.

Damn them. And damn Wynonna.

Next time she got the woman alone, she was going to let her know she didn’t appreciate Wynonna butting into her personal life. Either that or she’d prank the hell out of her and see what her big brothers could do about it.

The idea brought a faint smile to her face as she looked over the two studs in front of her.

“Wynonna told me. Now what’s the matter?” She didn’t wait for their replies, just unlocked her trailer door and launched herself inside. When they didn’t follow, she poked her head out. “You coming?”

“Sure.”

---