Page 14 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
“No,” Jade and I fire back at the same time.
One thing we agree on.
“I can see it now.” Faye’s voice is an airy whisper. “Twinkle lights, fiddle music, barbecue smoke drifting through the air, and you two swayin’ under the stars.”
Jade snorts. “You might want to get your eyes checked Faye. I wouldn’t sway with him if we were on a lifeboat.”
“Feeling’s mutual. I’d rather dance with a bronc.”
Faye waves us off like she’s swatting a fly. “Oh, hush. That’s just the tension talkin’. All that snippin’? That’s how half the married couples in this town started.”
“I’m not going to stand here and pretend like this is anything but a terrible idea.” I give them both a hard look. “Jade and I don’t need to be at the rodeo together. We don’t need to be doing anything together.”
The mayor taps the gavel on the podium with a sharp clack, and all eyes snap back to him. “Enough matchmaking on the town dime.”
I couldn’t agree more.
The Quylt sisters share a look I don’t like.
“What happens if something goes wrong during the event?” He addresses Jade and me. “If you’re both not going, who will be stepping in for you?”
Jade doesn’t miss a beat. “My sisters will have everything under control. They know exactly what they’re doing.” She gives a slight nod in my direction. “Unless, of course, the Wildes sabotage it. They are known to turn every event into a slugfest. It’s hard to forget the punches thrown when they crashed our New Year’s Eve celebration this year.”
I know my brothers can get out of hand—especially the rodeo champ twins. Sterling and Sammy start a fight over a gust of wind. So, when Sammy showed up after months of being away, it was enough ammo for Sterling to snap.
Still, I snort because I’d never admit it to her.
The mayor turns to me. “You have something you want to add?”
I shrug. “I’m sure the Foxes will have everything running like a well-oiled machine, while my brother’s turn the BBQ into a knuckles-up contest.”
Jade snorts.
The mayor’s face turns beet red. “There will be no knuckles-up contests, y’all hear?”
“Hannah is organized, level-headed, and I’ve walked her through every detail. Twice.” Jade ticks each detail off her fingers.
“Wheeler knows how to talk to people,” I say. “No fancy talk, just straight-up words.”
She tilts her head to look at me. Framed by dark lashes, her eyes are a hypnotic swirl of hazel and gold, pulling me in with every glare.
“They are grown men who can’t sit down and have a conversation without trying to out-muscle each other.”
“I suppose you would know. You’re an expert at sitting back and throwing shade from the sidelines,” I quip.
“At least I don’t have to prove I’m a man every time someone looks at me wrong.”
“Better than hiding behind your opinions, that fancy clipboard, and never stepping up.”
“I do not hide from my opinions. For example, I think you talk a big game, but you run when it’s time to act.”
That’s a twisted jab. Her intention. And it burrows deep and jagged in ways I’ll never let her know.
I let my arrogant, charming side slide into place. “I get what I want, and I know when to walk away.”
It hurts her.
I see it.
