Page 5 of Sheltering His Second Chance

“That’s why you should stick around and let me win my money back. I’m just getting warmed up.”

“Not happening. You’ll just have to be content being a sore loser.” Her smile returned, stretching from one hoop earring to the other. “You owe me, buddy.” She held out her hand. “Pay up.”

He fished out his wallet, pulled out a twenty and handed it over. “Fair is fair, but I demand we have a rematch soon.”

“I agree. It’s as easy as taking candy from babies.”

“Are you calling us babies?” Rip said as he strolled into the room with a bucket of beers.

“If the shoe fits. I’m definitely prepared for a rematch.” Farrah held out her hand. “You owe me too, cowboy.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He groaned, set the bucket on the table, and paid his debt. “Why do I feel like we’ve been swindled, Raven?”

“Seems about right.”

“How do you boys think I paid my way through college? You’re lucky I haven’t introduced you to my poker skills yet. I wasn’t called Farrah Play for nothing.” She wagged her brows.

“I’m up for a game of cards.” Rip rubbed his palms together.

“I would love to take more of your hard-earned money, but I have a date, which I’m now running late for. See you two later.” She gave them a flirty wave and flounced toward the exit door.

Raven caught Rip’s disappointed expression and felt a bit sorry for his brother. Apparently, it wasn’t as obvious to Farrah that Rip wanted to take things to the next level with her. Most women fell all over themselves trying to get Rip’s attention, except for Farrah, which maybe had a lot to do with his fascination for her.

Raven smiled. “Want to try again?” He jutted his chin toward the board.

Rip opened one of the bottles and nodded. “Sure. I guess it’s down to you and me, bro.”

“I don’t like to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong, but why don’t you tell her?” Raven said, shooting one dart.

“What are you talking about?” Rip asked.

“I’m talking about Farrah and the way you get all frustrated like a newborn colt taking his first wobbly steps when she’s around. Dude, justtellher.”

Raven finished throwing and slid up on the chair, leaning his back against the wall. Rip didn’t take his turn. Out of all the Ryder brothers he was the lankiest, built like a runner because he ran cross country in school and five miles every morning since. His athletic ability made him invaluable on the search and rescue team. He and Raven had become quite a team, especially since Dean was still recovering.

“Here you boys are.” Shelby came rushing into the room and set a platter of boneless wings in the center of the table.

“We didn’t order anything,” Rip said.

“These are on Farrah. She told me it’s a peace offering since you two were skunked.” In Shelby typical fashion, she winked and left the room.

“Okay, I must admit, Farrah’s beautiful, sexy, and smart. And she knows the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. What man wouldn’t be attracted to her?” Rip dug into the wings.

Raven paused with his bottle mid-air. “I’m not. I mean, yeah, she’s beautiful and I can see why men are attracted, but I get more of the buddy vibe from her. So, I’ll say it again, tell her. What do you have to lose?”

“A woman like Farrah wants a man with six figures. She’s probably going out with some rich lawyer who gets weekly manicures. If that’s her type, I don’t fit the mold.”

“What happened to the confident Rip I knew?” Raven sighed. “Anyway, did you stop and see Dean this evening?”

Rip licked his fingers. “He’s doing good. Says you’re treating him like an invalid. Told me to find something else for you to do instead of playing nursemaid.”

“He did, did he?” Raven snorted. “I’ll think twice before I bring him a dozen of those pastries he loves so much from Candy Bliss every day.”

“Don’t take it to heart. He knows you’re worried about him, but he also realizes you’re the only one who hasn’t moved on from the guilt of the explosion. What happened wasn’t your fault.”

The last thing he wanted was another lecture about how he should let it go. “Right.”

Rip must have realized arguing the point further was moot. “Did Dean tell you who stopped by recently to see him?” He munched on another wing.

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