Two to Wrangle Read Free

with us.”
    â€œBut that’s just it, Ty. There’s never going to be an ‘us.’”
    She’d once hoped there could have been, but not now. Seeing him with another woman was all the wake-up call she’d needed. It had hurt like hell, still did, but it also made her realize she’d only deluded herself. Once a player always a player. And Ty was a major-league player.
    â€œWhy’s that?” he asked. “You’ve tried and found me guilty just like that?” He attempted to snap his fingers and missed. “I don’t even get a chance to tell my side of the story?”
    â€œAll right, Ty. Since you’re feeling so damned talkative tonight, have it your way.” Pushing his booted feet out of the way, she plopped down on the far end of the sofa on which he lay sprawled. “What’s your side of it?”
    â€œYou really going to listen this time?” he asked. “Or are you only going to hear what you wanna hear?”
    â€œI’m sitting here, aren’t I? I could have walked out.” And probably should have, but this was a side of Ty she’d never seen before—sorrowful, earnest, and vulnerable. The alcohol had taken his guard down. If she really wanted to know what made him tick, this was her chance. She might not get another. “Yes,” she said. “If you really want to talk, I’ll listen.”
    â€œFirst off, that business with me and Cassie the other night was just that, Monica—business. I was entertaining a potential investor—which, as you might recall, was somethin’ you suggested. Cassie only came to give me some archi-architeshural renderings and then asked to join us for the bull riding. We went as a group. There was nothing else to it.”
    â€œYou had your hands all over her,” she accused.
    â€œThen you were seeing things. I had one arm around her shoulders, ’cause she’d had a bit too much to drink.”
    â€œI saw how she was looking at you, Ty, like she wanted to eat you up.”
    â€œLook, Monica. Les jus’ cut to the chase here. If you wanna know if I ever screwed her, the answer is yes. More than a few times, but never since I met you. I could have brought her up here to this room after you tossed your little hissy fit and stormed out the other night. Maybe part of me wanted to, just to spite you for it, but I didn’t. I know you’re gonna believe the worst of me, as you always do, but that’s the truth.”
    â€œAll right,” she replied warily, still unsure if she could believe him, but wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt. “If I did jump to conclusions, what did you expect after you acted so vague and mysterious. You really hurt me.”
    â€œI never meant to,” he said softly, remorsefully. “I’d planned to tell you everything if it panned out, but the whole deal was still hanging in the air at that point. I didn’t want to jinx myself by talking about it.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you ever tell me about Delaney?” she asked. “You were married, for God’s sake! Why did you let me think you’d never been in a serious relationship?”
    â€œBecause my marriage was a total fuckup. Probably the biggest of my life. I’m no good at relationships. I said that from the beginning. So mebbe you can understand why I don’t like to talk about it.”
    â€œBut I thought you just said you wanted to tell me your side of the story.”
    â€œYou really want to know all about me and Delaney?”
    â€œYes, Ty,” she said. “I do.”
    He blew out an exasperated breath. “All right. If that’s what you really want, I’ll tell you the whole damned story.” He slouched, flinging one arm over the back of the sofa. “We first met at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I was there riding bulls and raising hell with my best buddy, Zac McDaniel. Delaney had just