Handsome Wrangler (Handsome Devils #6) - Lori Wilde Page 0,4

heartbreaker?

Caitlin felt another shiver of awareness run down her spine as she looked at Brent. Someone needed to toss ice water on her. Jeez, she was a basket case. This was not the right time to fall for a guy, and Brent was certainly not the right guy to fall for.

With effort, she tried to concentrate on something else. What had her brothers been talking about? Oh, right. Football.

“You’re right. My football days are behind me,” she said. “You guys are like mutant monsters. Besides, in four more weeks, I’m out of here. Hang on, Dallas, here I come.”

After a brief hesitation, Brent gave her a lopsided grin that made it impossible for her to look away. No wonder women chased him like crazy. He had a way of looking at you that made you think about wild, crazy nights.

Rafe snorted. “Figures you’d decide to give up football now, right after you’ve beaten us.”

“You’re just going to have to find a guy to play with,” Caitlin said, tired of them acting like babies. “I have other things to think about now.”

Thank goodness. Finally, she had something to look forward to, something to plan for. These days she was swamped getting ready for the move to Dallas. It was fun. It was exciting.

And just as soon as she found someone to take over running The Honey Hive charity, she’d be home free. The problem was, she didn’t feel right asking just anyone. The job was too important. It demanded someone responsible.

Which brought her back to Brent. He really would be the perfect solution to her problem. He wanted to stay in Honey. He liked the slow pace of the small town. Why else would he leave the excitement and challenge of the rodeo circuit?

Seemingly drawn against her will, Caitlin glanced at Brent again. He was watching her carefully, which made her feel flustered.

Drat.

Where was this chemistry between them coming from? And why’d it have to surface now? She needed Brent to agree to help her with The Honey Hive, not to ask her out.

As they continued walking in the direction of the Rogers’ house, Brent asked Logan, “How’s Madeline?”

“Fine. Tired of being pregnant. But the baby’s not due for another three months.”

“You excited?”

Logan grinned a silly grin. “Yeah. And scared stiff.” They all laughed. Then Brent said, “Must be a great feeling, becoming a dad. And there’s no better place to raise a child than Honey.”

Caitlin wasn’t surprised by Brent’s words. She’d figured that was why he’d moved back home. He’d sowed his wild oats and now wanted to settle down and start a family.

That meant he would be looking for a serious relationship, something that would lead to marriage and children and a life in the two-story brick house his grandmother had left him. The house that sat smack-dab in the middle of the lot next to her father’s house.

Well, that ought to squash any attraction she felt for him. Which was just as well. One cold, hard lesson she’d learned from her mother’s death was that you didn’t always get a second chance to make your dreams come true.

By working for the Henderson Charity, she’d not only be able to have her dreams, but she’d be helping lots of other people as well.

She couldn’t wait.

“You know, Caitlin,” Logan said. “All of us are against this move you’ve got planned. I mean the whole town hates the idea. Everyone’s going to miss you. Plus, Dallas is a big city, and you’ll be by yourself.” He looked at Brent. “You have to be careful. Brent can tell you. He lived in lots of big cities when he’d been with the rodeo.”

Brent was silent for a few seconds, but Caitlin didn’t miss his frown.

“He’s right. You have to be careful,” Brent finally said, his voice flat.

Caitlin wondered again what had happened to him. Her brothers wouldn’t tell her a thing except that he’d decided to return home.

She just didn’t know what that something was. She figured he’d been hurt. All she knew was that one day, he’d come home to Honey to work for Jared Kendrick.

Maybe it was all part of his desire to be a dad. But any way she looked at it, Brent wasn’t for her any more than this town was. Her life awaited her, beyond the not-so-bright lights of Honey.

“Don’t start nagging, guys,” Caitlin warned. “I’m moving to Dallas and that’s that.”

“Stupid move, squirt. You can find a good job here.” Logan grabbed the ball from Brent, sprinted