Roping the Cowboy Billionaire - Emmy Eugene Page 0,41

Bluegrass continues to be the best place in the whole dang South to buy a winning horse.”

Duke turned to look at Blaine.

“If she can’t see that, it’s her loss,” Blaine said.

“Thanks, Blaine,” Duke said. Time passed, and Blaine wasn’t sure if it was seconds or minutes before Duke asked, “You and Tam next?”

Blaine smiled at the thought of waiting for Tam at an altar like the one where Spur had stood. He’d seen her face as he’d walked past her standing in the second row, and everything about this wedding had enthralled her.

Tam was as tough as women came, and she was brilliant with horses and leather. At the same time, she loved frilly things and flowers and the smell of fruity things.

“Maybe,” he said.

“What do you mean, maybe?” Duke asked. “Haven’t you known her for twenty years?”

“Yeah,” Blaine said.

“I remember crushing on her when I was thirteen.”

Blaine’s eyes widened as he gaped at Duke. “You’re kidding.”

Duke chuckled and shook his head. “Not even a little bit. She was hot, Blaine. You just never saw her that way.” He reached for another peanut butter cup. “I’m pretty sure Conrad did, though. He almost asked her to Homecoming.”

“He did not.”

“He did, but someone else asked her first.” Duke’s dark eyes shone like liquid oil. “She’s fun to be around; in high school, we all thought she was gorgeous. She still is, if you like blondes.”

“I like blondes,” Blaine said, wondering if he’d really just never seen her the way Duke was talking about.

“I know you do,” Duke said. “You haven’t dated a non-blonde ever.”

“But not Tam,” he said quietly, frowning.

“Yeah, why not Tam?” Duke asked. “She’s been right there forever.”

Blaine already felt stupid for not seeing Tam all this time. For the car mats on her thirtieth birthday. For not even realizing his feelings had changed at some point. How did he answer why not Tam?

“She’s my best friend,” he said, shrugging. “I guess I never really thought to look at her as anything but that.”

“You’re lucky someone else didn’t snatch her up.” Duke’s phone rang, and Allison’s name sat on the screen. He swiped the phone up, sucking in a breath, as he jumped to his feet. He walked away from Blaine saying, “Allison, hey,” in a near-breathless voice.

Blaine’s frown deepened, because he wasn’t sure Duke should be so happy to have his now ex-girlfriend call him, only an hour after breaking up with him. He couldn’t control Duke, though, and he certainly knew better than to try to control how someone’s heart reacted to someone else.

His pulsed steadily in his chest, and he stayed on the couch until the door opened and Trey and Cayden came inside, both of them talking at the same time.

“There you are,” Trey said. “We were wondering where you disappeared to.”

“Just wedding-ed out,” Blaine said, looking up at them as they took off their ties. “How was the sparkler send-off?”

“Bright,” Cayden said. “Fun. Spur looked about ready to claw off his tie.” He grinned like that was the funniest thing ever.

“He probably was,” Blaine said. “I know I was. Getting married is entirely too much work.”

“He’s done it twice now,” Trey said, looking around at everyone. “I’d like to get there at least once. Hopefully only once.”

“I think we all would,” Cayden said, and Blaine nodded.

He stood up and turned off the TV. “Well, I’m beat. I was just waitin’ for you two, so I knew you were home.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Trey said, grinning at him. Cayden laughed, and even Blaine cracked a smile. The three of them went down the hall that led to the bedrooms, and Cayden veered up the steps to his room.

Blaine and Spur lived on the main floor, though Spur had been moving his stuff out steadily over the past few days. Olli lived right next door, so he wouldn’t be far from the ranch, and she had a big house with lots of room for Spur’s cowboy boots and hats.

They’d sat at the kitchen table one night a couple of weeks ago, sketching out a place for a corral and barn where Spur could keep All Out, the horse he loved to bits and pieces. Then he could saddle up and ride to work every day. As far as Blaine knew, that was still the plan, and he glanced at the door at the end of the hall, which was Spur’s bedroom.

“He’s not far,” Trey said.

“I know,” Blaine said.

“I think I’m going to ask that woman,” Trey said. “Next