to thank for that.
Ford’s song came to an end, and Westin said, “You taking requests, man?”
“Nope.”
The others laughed, and Ford began to strum a new tune.
Lars’s gaze shifted to Kellie again. It was good to see her laugh. She didn’t do enough of it, in his opinion. As the night deepened around them, the group grew quieter, and more contemplative.
“Y’all ready for tomorrow?” Eric asked after stifling a yawn.
“Riding the bulls?” Westin said. “I’m always ready.”
“Well, that, and doing sideline interviews for me after your events.” Eric looked around the circle. No one appeared too enthused about the prospect of being on another episode of Eric’s YouTube show, which he’d dubbed Rodeo King. “Please?”
Still, no one spoke. Ford plucked a couple of the strings of his guitar.
Ryan reached for the hand of his girlfriend, Talia, her head on his shoulder, content and cozy, as they stared into the fire. She was a petite woman with dark hair and pretty features. The height difference between her and Ryan wasn’t much when they were sitting down.
Reid took off his cowboy hat and scrubbed a hand through his dark hair.
Westin hunched his shoulders. “I already hit my quota for the year.”
“You’re excused, then,” Eric said, then turned his gaze on Lars.
Eric wasn’t the only one looking at him. Kellie was, too. So maybe it was an ego thing that prompted him to say, “Count me in, I guess. But only if I win the saddle bronc. Your fans don’t want to listen to a loser, now do they?”
Everyone laughed at that.
“You focus on getting the win,” Eric said, “and I’ll be ready with the questions.”
Lars dipped his chin in agreement.
“Well, I’m heading out.” Ryan stood, drawing Talia up with him. “Wanna come with us, Kells?”
“No, I’ll catch a ride with someone else.”
Ryan tipped his hat to the rest of his group. “Y’all have a good night. I’m taking my woman back to her place.”
His “woman” slugged his arm for calling her that. He grinned and pulled her close, then kissed the top of her head. They walked away together, easy in the way they clasped hands and linked fingers.
Lars dragged his gaze away, and found Kellie’s eyes on him. She quickly averted her gaze, then said something to Westin on her other side. He smiled and replied, but their voices were too low for Lars to overhear what they were saying.
Ford started up another song, and Lars leaned back in his camping chair. Linking his hands loosely over his belt buckle, he let the lyrics wash over him. There weren’t many better things in life than sitting around a fire with his best friends. Time had passed, relationships had come and gone, but the Original Six was still solid.
They all knew about his issues with his brother. And Reid had been trying to talk him into buying up the land that bordered his over by San Antonio. But that would mean putting down roots in Texas. A place that felt like it was on fire half the time.
His gaze wandered again, landing on Kellie. He knew every feature of her face, could see her even with his eyes closed. Her blonde hair, the blush of her cheeks when she was worked up about something—or sunburned. The blue of her eyes that either sparked in anger like blue fire, or lightened when she was trying not to bust out laughing.
The shape of her lips, and the way she’d lick them when she’d forgotten her Chapstick. Right now, the shadows of the flames flickered against the curve of her neck. She was leaning back as well, one leg crossed over the other, and he had to smile at the torn hem of her jeans. He’d been there when she’d gotten stuck while unrolling some barbed wire. He’d knelt to dislodge her pant leg, but her impatience had her yanking her boot away, tearing the hem in the process.
As if she knew he was studying her, Kellie turned from her conversation with Westin and met Lars’s gaze.
He didn’t look away.
And neither did she.
The song that Ford was singing faded away, and Lars could swear he and Kellie were the only ones at the fire. The intensity of her gaze seemed to block out all else.
“We’re all eating dinner together tomorrow night before the rodeo, right?” Reid asked when Ford finished his current song.
“Right,” Kellie said, pulling out her phone. “The women at Broken Hearts have it all planned out. In fact, I need to …” She