Taming a Texas Rascal (Bad Boy Ranch #6) - Katie Lane Page 0,25
you?”
Her smile got even bigger. “Not Cord, Christie. She called me just this past week. I guess she tried emailing me numerous times after the Houston rodeo to make sure I was okay, but her emails got sent to my junk folder. Anyway, she still wants me to represent her new boot line.” She swiveled in the chair and propped a cowboy boot on his knee. “She even sent me ten pairs of boots in all different colors of the rainbow.”
Sawyer would’ve commented on the boots if his brain hadn’t gone back to the gutter at the sight of Maisy’s leg stretched out before him. He wanted to touch that leg in a bad way. He wanted to run a fingertip over the crescent scar on her knee and slide his palm over the smooth, soft-looking skin of her muscled thigh. Then he wanted to push up the thin material of her dress and seek out her hot, wet—
“Aren’t you going to say anything, Sawyer?” Maisy let her foot drop back to the floor. “I thought if anyone understood how awesome a sponsorship is, you would. Which is why you’re the first person I’ve told. But whatever.” She started to get up, but he stopped her.
“Sorry, Maze. I’m a little . . . off tonight. That’s great news. Cord and Christie Evans are good people and I know they’ll treat you right. And why haven’t you told anyone else? You’ve worked hard for this. You deserve to celebrate.”
“Most folks won’t think this is cause for celebration. I think everyone is hoping I’ll quit saddle bronc riding, just like—” She cut off.
He finished for her. “Me. I get it, but we can’t let anything stop us from doing what we love.
She looked away and stared at the stack of diapers in the corner. “Even if the cost is too high?”
He figured he knew what she was talking about. While their friends were coupled up and having babies, he and Maisy were single with no prospect of having a family. “You’ll have time to start a family, Maze.”
She looked back at him. “What about you? Don’t you want a family?”
At one time, he’d dreamed about having kids. He’d known exactly the woman he’d wanted to start that family with.
Lauren had grown up with Sawyer and Mattie. She’d been the proverbial girl next door who changed from an annoying pigtailed pest to a stunningly beautiful woman. A woman Sawyer had fallen head over heels for. But a cruel twist of fate would keep him from getting the only woman he’d ever loved.
Sawyer had been born the outspoken twin who excelled at everything he tried. Mattie had been born the shy deaf twin who was completely overshadowed by his brother. Sawyer became his parents’ pride and joy while they treated Mattie like he couldn’t do anything without help. As he grew, Sawyer began to notice the imbalance. The joy he took in his parents’ praise faded and was replaced with anger at them for not seeing that Mattie was just as good at things as Sawyer was. He just couldn’t speak.
So Sawyer decided it was up to him to balance the scales. He stopped getting good grades and excelling at everything he did and started acting out and getting into mischief. He let the gold tarnish on his halo so that Mattie’s could shine. It had worked. The more undisciplined Sawyer became, the more praise his parents gave Mattie. Sawyer didn’t mind being the bad kid as long as Mattie got the attention he deserved.
At least, he hadn’t minded until Mattie fell in love with Lauren. He had given his brother everything and Mattie had taken the one thing Sawyer hadn’t wanted to give.
He picked up his beer and took a deep swallow before he answered Maisy. “No. I have no desire for a family.”
She studied him with concerned eyes. “But maybe one day you will, Sawyer. And you’ll want good health to enjoy your wife and kids.”
So that was it. She was still worried about what the doctor had said. “My brain is just fine.”
“That’s debatable. But I guess it’s your choice.” She got to her feet. “See you around, rodeo bum.”
“See you around, Maze.”
But he hoped he wouldn’t. She occupied way too many of his thoughts even when she wasn’t around. Which was why, once she was gone, he headed for the redhead at the bar. He needed to fill his head with something besides Maisy’s naked shower scenes.