And Then You Dance (Crested Butte Cowboys Series Book 2) Read Free Page A

else.
    Half of him hoped that when she got to his house things between them would go back to the way they were two days ago. When she was his buddy. The other half of him hoped he felt more, the way he had yesterday.
    He took a shower. Then, he spent time picking out what he would wear, as though he had a date. And the thing was, even if he threw on a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt, somehow she’d be on to him, and tease him about it. She was uncanny that way. No one else called him out on his shit the way Renie did.
    He should have a couple of beers before she got there. Or a shot of whiskey to calm his nerves. He wasn’t even this nervous before riding a bronc.
    ***
    Renie came into the kitchen through the back door. She saw Billy out on the deck leaning on the railing, with his back to her. There were few sights as fine as that one. Billy, in a pair of jeans, the right amount of tight. His T-shirt stretched taut over his shoulders. There he was, short sleeves, no jacket, in ten-degree weather. How long he’d been standing out there?
    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then another. She wasn’t sure what to expect from him, so it would be up to her to set the tone of normalcy between them—make everything okay. It was what she did. Her eyes met his. Billy was still on the deck, but he’d turned around and was watching her. He raised his beer to his mouth and took a long drink. Renie loved how he held the bottle a little away from his mouth, so his lips didn’t touch it.
    She walked to the wine cooler and then remembered Billy didn’t keep wine in the house the way her mom had. She turned back to the refrigerator to get a beer. Alcohol fortification would get her through the next few hours.
    “There’s wine if you want some,” he said, walking into the kitchen.
    “There is? Since when?”
    “Since I stopped and got it, in case someone wanted wine. Does it look any good? It’s what they recommended.”
    She walked back over and opened the door. He’d stocked several whites, several reds, a couple bottles of sparkling and even a rosé.
    “You having a party Billy?”
    “Nah, I thought since I had this thing I should keep something in it.”
    Renie went through the bottles, putting the whites on one side, the reds on the other, doing it so it looked as though she was seeing what he had instead of organizing it.
    “You have a huge refrigerator over there. Are you feeling compelled to make proper use of that too?” Right now, Renie doubted he had much more than beer. Which reminded her, she had no idea what he thought they’d be having for dinner.
    “You got everything figured out, don’t ya? Maybe you should quit makin’ so many assumptions.”
    She opened the refrigerator. It still wasn’t close to half-full, but he had a lot more in it than beer.
    “As I said, looks as though you’re having a party. Stocking up for those girls you’re inviting over.”
    “Why are you so fixated on me invitin’ girls over? I’m sure the first time you asked me, I told you I didn’t have any plans to. You’re a little obsessed, aren’t you?”
    “Well I don’t want to show up here unannounced and find you in a compromising position now do I?”
    “A compromising position.” He rolled his eyes at her. “Right.”
    “Can’t believe a—” she started to say hot, but then thought better of it. “Saddle bronc champion wouldn’t have experience with compromising positions.” Oh God, why didn’t she shut up? She was talking about compromising positions, to Billy. Great. This should end well.
    “I have plenty of experience,” she heard him mumble as he reached in and pulled out another beer. “I got steaks, shrimp, and chicken. Didn’t you say you were gonna make dinner? Whatcha’ makin’?”
    She wanted to see what else he’d gotten, but he was blocking her view. She bumped his hip with hers to move him out of the way. And there it was again, that little sizzle when she touched him. Like a