Page 5 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
“What gopher crawled up his britches?” Wyatt asked.
Carrie Anne looked in the direction Bear went. “He’s still hurting.”
“That was a year ago. He needs to move on.” He paused. “Not everyone is out for our money.”
She leaned back. “And you’re one to talk.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes. “I’m traveling too much to even think about a relationship. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“You are a lousy liar. Just admit Lori threw you for a loop.”
“She didn’t.”
Carrie Anne lifted a single eyebrow and pinched her lips together.
“I’m telling you, I’m fine. I just…haven’t found the right woman yet.”Rightbeing the operative word. Sure, there were plenty of women hanging around the rodeo who were willing and ready, but Wyatt wanted more. He wanted family, home, and belonging.
“Back to Gabby,willyou pick up Gabby for me? You’re the only one left to do it.” She grumbled under her breath about dealing with fire later.
“Did you say something about fire?” he asked.
She waved him off. “No, just talking to myself. So will you get her?”
“Yeah, I’ll pick her up. I haven’t seen her in ages.”
“Well, when I talked to her this morning, she said she was dating some guy named Tim.” Carrie folded her arms over her chest. “But I don’t believe her for a second.”
Wyatt felt a little kicked. Gabby dating? Then again, she wasn’t so little anymore, as evidenced by his sister tying the knot in six weeks. “Why?”
Carrie Anne stared at him a second like she was waiting for him to say something and then sighed. “Men are so dumb.” She spun on her heels and bounced up the stairs. “Just so, so dumb.” Her voice trailed off as she left Wyatt standing there gawking after her.
What did that even mean? How was he dumb? Shaking his head, he grabbed his bag and followed Carrie Anne. He’d be spending some time at home, hoping that he could figure between now and the next rodeo if he should dive in harder or hang it up. Maybe by the new year, he’d have his answer and a plan in place.
Chapter 3
Winding her way through Amarillo airport, Gabby wondered who would be picking her up. At least Wyatt wasn’t an option. He was at a rodeo two states over. She’d double-checked the night before just to be safe. And Carrie Anne wouldn’t do that to her anyway.
With a quick stop at the arrivals counter, she found where her luggage would be coming in and finished her trek through the airport. The same crowd she’d shared her plane with began to gather, waiting for their suitcases too.
Suddenly, she had the feeling she was being watched. She swept her gaze across the sea of people and froze. Wyatt West.
“No,” she whispered. It wasn’t possible. He was in Arkansas. She’d checked and double-checked. Even that morning when she’d pulled up the event, he was still listed as a bull rider.
Gabby was going to give Carrie Anne the chewing-out of a lifetime when she saw her. How could she send Wyatt?
What was Gabby going to do now? How much would a ride from Amarillo to Caprock Canyon cost? Whatever it was, it would be worth it not to be trapped in a vehicle with him for two hours. Just as she was plotting her way out, their gazes locked.
Hat in hand, he smiled that signature smile of his. The kind where one side of his lips quirked up and just a bit of his teeth showed. She had a list of her favorite smiles, and this one was the humdinger of them all. It was the kind that made her feel lightheaded and stupid.
And she was stupid. He was a married man of many years now. She’d even seen the invitation. Not that she was spying, really. She couldn’t help that it had shown up on her mom’s Facebook timeline as one of the choices Lori was considering.
In the time that it took for him to reach her, she’d somewhat gathered her thoughts. She was the little sister’s best friend, and he was married. It wasn’t like they really ran in the same circles in high school, even though she was only a year behind.
When he moved in like he was going to hug her, she crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her hip, stopping him in his tracks. “I thought you were going to be out of town.”
Wyatt blinked. “Are you mad? I haven’t seen you in five years.”
For a second, she stared at him, and then she let her arms fall to her sides. “No. Carrie Anne just said someone was picking me up. I didn’t question her because the last time we spoke, she said you had a rodeo event during Thanksgiving weekend and you wouldn’t be home.” No way was she going to confess she’d double-checked it.
