Microsoft Word - DeadHeat_wrp356.doc (26 page)

almost applauded. Soon it'd be too noisy to hear what

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anyone was saying.

By the time the second beer arrived, she had a

pleasant buzz. Rudely, she turned her back on the

uninvited guests and concentrated on the four-piece band.

Three guitars and a drummer. Black Midnight the group

called themselves.

A hand touched her arm. “You can relax. They're

gone,” Dani said. “I told them we were gay.”

“Dani! Jesus. It'll be all over the backside by

tomorrow morning.”

Dani grinned. “Who cares? It'll be a seven day

wonder, then forgotten. That's if anyone bothers to listen

to them at all.”

“Why are men such jerks?” Jenna muttered. Since

they'd sat down, the OK Corral had filled with people.

Now there was standing room only.

Without an introduction, the band struck up a lively

two-step. Jenna tapped her foot to the music.

A warm breath feathered across her cheek from

behind. “Want to dance?”

Startled, she glanced up expecting to see good ole

Marty. Instead, she gazed into a rugged, handsome face.

Crinkled lines fanned out from the corners of his

twinkling eyes. The man laughed a lot. Laughing was

good.

“Sure. Why not?” With a smile, she rose and followed

him to the dance floor.

For the remainder of the song, Jenna gave herself up

to the music and the simple joy of dancing. Her partner

knew his two-step, and she couldn't remember the last

time she'd had fun on the dance floor. When the song

ended, the band eased into a slow waltz.

“Shall we?” the stranger asked.

Under the dim lights, Jenna studied her partner,

liking what she saw. The tanned face indicated he spent

most of his time outside. His clothes, although clean,

weren't new. He was comfortable with who he was. She

moved back into his arms. “Are you new in town?”

“Yep. Just shipped in last night. From Aqueduct.”

Curiosity peaked, Jenna tilted her head and looked

up at him. “You're a trainer?”

“Yes, ma'am. Name's Guy Anderson.”

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“Jenna Green.”

“I know. I watched those two horses you worked this

mornin'.”

Surprise, surprise. Her ego took a direct hit and

plummeted. The guy wasn't interested in her as a woman.

“You and everyone else. Gee, I thought you were

interested in me, not my horse.”

He laughed. “Can’t it be both? Those horses are

superb athletes. Amazin' they're both in the same barn.”

“That's only because I train for Rye Cameron. One of

them belongs to him. The other's mine. You staying in

Kentucky long?”

“Nope. I’m here for the big stakes race this weekend.

I’ll be headin' back to New York on Monday.”

Guy pulled her close. Jenna stiffened, started to pull

away, then forced herself to relax. It was only a dance.

His hard warm body wasn't Rye's.

“It doesn’t take a genius to see you're in love with

someone,” he whispered.

Jenna snapped to attention. “Is that right?” She

leaned back to look into his eyes.

“I'd say he's about six feet tall. Black hair. Angry

blue eyes. Handsome guy, although I'd wager his nose

was broken at some point in his life.”

Jenna's jaw dropped.

“No,” he chuckled. “I'm not psychic. He's standing

over by the bar gnashing his teeth, his eyes burning me

into cinders. Don't do it,” he said quickly when she started

to turn around. “Don't let him know you're aware he's

here. Isn't this part of your master plan? To make him

jealous? Or are you trying to forget him?”

She sighed. “I had no idea he'd be here.”

“Ah. Trying to forget him. I'll give you some advice,

pretty lady. You won't get over a man by crawling under

another one.”

“Speaking from experience?” Jenna asked, not taking

offense at his bold statement.

“What else?”

****

bar, his gaze zeroed in on Jenna dancing with the hotshot

trainer from New York. He'd never met the man, but Guy

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Anderson was well-known in the thoroughbred world. The

man’s hand splayed across Jenna's back and rested way

too close to her bottom. Anger churned. He itched to

stomp over and tear him away from her.

Rye hadn't realized he'd made a move to do just that

until Brett grabbed his arm. “Whoa, little brother. Get rid

of the green-eyed monster. You were right earlier. I'm too

old for barroom brawls.”

Rye chugged the beer Brett handed him. “His hands

are all over her.”

“I don't see the lady protesting.”

Rye shot his brother a withering look. “What's that

supposed to mean?”

“No hidden meaning. Just that Jenna's not fighting

off the guy. Looks to me she's where she wants to be.”

Brett's cell phone rang.
Saved by the bell
, Rye

thought.
I'm in no mood to hear any lectures.

“Got to take this outside. Can't hear a damn thing in

here.” Brett hurried toward the exit.

The song ended. Through partially closed lids, Rye

watched Jenna start back to the table where Dani sat by

herself. Anderson pulled her back into his arms as the

band began another song. An oldie.
Help Me Make It

Through the Night
.

Rye straightened.
Not if I can help it, buddy.
He

strode over to the couple and slid a possessive hand

around Jenna's arm.

“Mind if I cut in?” His gaze speared Anderson, daring

him to refuse.

The man shrugged and grinned. “Not me. As long as

it's okay with the lady.”

Rye pulled Jenna into his arms. “The lady has no

choice.” His eyes dared Anderson to argue.

A flicker of disappointment sparked his psyche when

the other man shrugged, winked at Jenna and walked

away.

Jenna's gray eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you

doing? Are you following me?”

“I have no idea what I'm doing, and yes I am

following you.”

“You're lucky I remembered my manners.”

“I thought you were raised by wolves,” he joked,

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reminding her of something she'd tossed at him a while

back. “Even wolves are better behaved than you. They

don't sneak around itching for a fight.”

Rye grinned. “You think that's what I'm doing?”

“You're lucky Guy is a gentleman.”

Rye tightened his grip on her back.

She pushed against his chest. “Ouch. That hurts.”

“Sorry,” he muttered, loosening his grip. “You got

something going on with Guy Anderson?”

The look she gave him took about four feet off his six

foot frame. “Is that what you think of me? That I hop from

bed to bed?”

He cupped the back of her head, drew her into his

neck so he could inhale the scent of her hair. “No, of

course not. I'm sorry, Jenna. I saw red when I walked in

and spotted you in someone else’s arms.”

“We were dancing, that's all.”

“Come home with me.”

“No, Rye. I've changed my mind.”

His stomach lurched to his throat, then dove for the

floor. “What do you mean?” Was that his voice sounding

like it probably had at the onset of puberty?

Jenna inhaled. “I no longer want a sexual fling with

you. You were right all along. That's not my nature.”

Relief made him dizzy. He clung to her tightly,

needing the support of her body to keep him on his feet.

“What if I've changed my mind?”

She tilted her head, her gaze searching his face.

“Changed your mind about what?”

“I want more than a fling, too.”

Her bitter laugh chilled him in the hot stuffy room.

“Right.”

The music ended, and the band announced a short

break. Jenna pulled away and headed straight to her

table.

Damn it. If he chased after Jenna now, Guy would

come to her rescue. He doubted Jenna would be impressed

by a fist fight in her honor. Rye weaved his way back to

the bar to order another beer. Brett had claimed his place

at the beam.

“Got some news.”

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“Good news, I hope. I could use some.” Rye handed

the bartender a five dollar bill and left the change on the

counter.

“We got the search warrant for Casey's room. He

lives in a sleazy boarding house in the middle of town.

Rye grimaced as he swallowed the beer. The bitter

brew didn't slide down his throat as smooth as the last

one. “When?”

“In the morning while he's at work.”

Rye grunted and maneuvered so he could see Jenna's

table.

Brett slapped him on the back. “Glad to see you're in

one piece. When I didn't hear a ruckus in here, I figured

you and Romeo had settled your differences in a peaceful

manner.”

“I danced with her.”

“And?”

“And nothing. Now Anderson's sitting at the table

with her and Dani.”

“Did you plead your case?”

Rye shrugged. “I tried. The song ended, and she

walked away.”

“Let's go join the party.”

Rye glanced at his brother, thinking he joked. His

expression was serious.

“Yeah right. We'd be about as welcome as a couple of

bible-thumping advocates, preaching the ill effects of

alcohol.”

“I'm serious. Let's go.” Brett walked away. After a

moment's hesitation, Rye followed.

“Mind if we join you?” Brett asked, pulling up a chair.

Rye swallowed a groan at the hostile look on Jenna's

face. “Sure. The more the merrier,” Guy Anderson

answered with good humor. “I'm trying to convince Dani

to ride my horse in the stakes race this weekend.”

“You'd be crazy to say no, Dani,” Jenna said.

Dani stared at her mug where her thumb drew

circles in the condensation on the glass. “I don't know the

horse.”

Guy touched her wrist. “Come by and gallop him

tomorrow morning. Barn twenty-eight. Then give me your

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answer.”

Rye relaxed. Guy wasn't over here hitting on Jenna

after all.

“Okay. You've got a deal,” Dani agreed.

The band returned from break and belted out a tear-

jerking slow dance about love gone wrong.

Guy held a hand out to Dani. “Let's seal the deal with

a dance.”

“Don't step on her feet, Anderson. She needs them to

ride,” Brett said.

Dani shot him a frosty look as she walked off with

Guy. “Why do you antagonize her?” Jenna asked. “Best be

careful or I'll begin to think you've got the hots for her.”

Brett shifted in his chair, but made no response to

Jenna's remark. Rye enjoyed watching his brother

squirm.

“What are you doing here anyway?”

“Watching out for you,” Brett said.

Jenna's eyes narrowed. “Is that right?” Her gaze slid

to Rye. “I must have misunderstood you, Rye. I thought

you came to be with me.”

“I did.”

“Bullshit.”

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Jenna gripped the sides of her chair. Anger

simmered, warming her to an uncomfortable temperature.

Brett excused himself and hightailed it toward the bar.

Rye had held her on the dance floor and told her he'd

come looking for her because he cared. The bastard. The

truth was he'd tagged along with Brett to keep an eye on

her. “Jenna, I...”

Her mug and his bottle of beer rattled in protest

when she slapped her hand on the table. “I don't want to

hear it. No more lies. No more bullshit.”

Rye's expression hardened. “You and I are going to

hash this out right now.”

Jenna raised her voice to be heard over the band.

“We enjoyed hot sex. That's all. It’s over.”

“You don't believe that any more than I do. And stop

hollering,” he added, his gaze sweeping the room. “I'd

rather not air our dirty laundry to a room full of drunks.”

Jenna grabbed her mug and guzzled the beer. The

jerk. She'd ignore him until Dani returned.

“While we danced, you admitted you'd fallen in love

with me.”

Her jaw dropped. Did this man have a death wish?

“Are you on drugs? I never said any such thing.”

“You implied it.”

Jenna's face burned with embarrassment and anger.

“I did not.”

Rye's lips curved into that lopsided smile she loved so

much. “Let's go outside and argue.”

Jenna's jaw clenched. “If you insist on backing me

into a corner, I'll come out fighting.”

His smile faded.

“Rye, listen to me.” The words left her mouth on a

sigh. “I don't want to fight with you. I'm grateful you gave

me a job when I needed one. I can't continue to work for

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you under these circumstances. The conflict between us

has to end, or I'm leaving sooner rather than later.”

“Hey. Your job training my horses isn't even in the

equation. I care about you, as a woman, not just a horse

trainer.”

Jenna's breath caught in her throat. She almost

crumbled. She blinked several times against her tears.