Learning the Ropes Read Online Free PDF Page B

worry in her head aside and drew out her playful side. “You’re the designated driver. It was my turn last time.”
    David rolled his eyes and looked out the windshield again. “Can’t you just go out and have a few beers? Aren’t we getting kinda old for this?”
    “Okay,” Chris laughed, deepening his voice to mock David. “It’s time to grow up and be serious, right? Fine. Since you’re so old and mature, you can be the designated driver at every rodeo.” He shook his head but smiled at his friend. “Can’t you loosen up and just have some fun?”
    Alicia didn’t want to be stuck in the middle of their banter, joking or not, and breathed a sigh of relief when David dropped the truck into park. She shoved Chris out of the passenger side door.
    “Easy, woman! Where’s the fire?” He moved to let her out.
    “I’m trying to breathe some fresh air. I almost died from the lack of oxygen and cologne poisoning. Did you use the entire bottle?” she teased, inhaling deeply the sweet, clean scent of straw in the air as they headed for the entrance gate.
    Alicia reached into her wallet to pull out the money for her entry when the girl at the table reached for her hand, connected a band around her wrist and stamped her hand. “Um, I need to pay.”
    “I’ve got it,” David said, his voice husky and deep.
    “Thank you.”
    Was this a date? Did he expect her to spend the entire evening with him or was he just the designated driver, as Chris said? She wasn’t sure what sort of idea he had about tonight and the lack of certainty made her nervous. She glanced up in time to see Chris heading toward the bar at the other end of the makeshift dance floor.
    “You know, you don’t have to babysit me. You’ll have your hands full keeping an eye on Chris.”
    David followed her gaze in time to see Chris throw an arm around a pretty brunette waiting in line behind him. He turned back to Alicia and chuckled jerking a thumb in Chris’s direction. “That’s the never-ending chore of a best friend, especially when it comes to that guy. However, I’d much rather hang with you. If you don’t mind?” he clarified.
    He wanted to be with her? This was David Greenly. His father and brother were both world champion rodeo cowboys. He could have his pick of any girl here, and there were several waiting in line from the glances being cast in their direction, and he wanted to be her date for the night? She rubbed her suddenly damp palms against the thighs of her well-worn jeans, the best she had in her closet. Maybe this was a pity date, something he promised Chris he’d do as a favor. She eyed him suspiciously. He didn’t seem like the type of guy to be dishonest. Quiet and perhaps reserved, but not conniving. Could he be for real?
    So far, she liked what she’d seen of David. He might not have Chris’s easygoing nature but he seemed mature, responsible, and ambitious. She could appreciate those traits and most cowboys didn’t seem inclined to cultivate them.
    “You want to dance?” He glanced at the couples already rocking to a quick country two-step as the band played. The steady beat of the drums and bass guitar gradually grew louder as they picked up the pace.
    She bit her lip. It had been a long time since she’d danced with anyone. These days, she headed straight home or back to her trailer instead of attending the extra rodeo events. Those she had attended with friends were meat-markets for the groupies who hung out behind the chutes all day waiting to rope their own cowboy. Most of the real cowgirls stayed near their trailers because once the sun went down and the music cued up, it was harder to tell the buckle bunnies from the real cowgirls. Especially once the cowboys had their beer-goggles on.
    “I promise, I won’t break your toes.” The corners of David’s mouth tipped up.
    It was the first real smile she’d seen from him yet and it was disarming. His dark eyes gleamed with mischief and she had to