Cheering the Cowboy_A Royal Brothers Novel Read online

  “Am I dressed okay?” he teased, wondering what she thought of the cowboy-biker look.

  She grinned as she ran two fingertips along the brim of his cowboy hat. “This would be better in black, with this particular look.”

  Austin stood, reaching down to take her hand and help her to her feet too. “I have black.”

  “I know. I saw it at the wedding.” Her eyes glinted like gems, and Austin worked hard not to lean down and kiss her before they’d even gone out.

  His mother had counseled him never to kiss a woman on the first date, but Dylan had kissed Hazel before they’d even gone out. Of course, they had spent several days together out in a cabin, so Austin assumed they’d talked plenty before the actual kissing.

  “Should I go grab it?”

  She shrugged. “Sure. If you want.”

  He wanted to be who she wanted, so he said, “Give me a minute.” He took her in the house with him and left her in the living room with the single couch while he took the steps leading upstairs two at a time.

  He knew right where the hat was, and he pulled it out of the box in the top of his closet, his heart thrumming a steady pulse in his neck. “Calm down,” he told himself. But it was hard to find that inner peace. He’d been dreaming of a date, of dinner, of dancing, with Shay for six months. Okay, only five. It was still a long time, and he was sure he was going to go back downstairs and find she’d fled.

  With that panicked thought in his mind, he practically sprinted back to the living room to find her sitting on the couch, studying her fingernails. “Ready?” he asked.

  She stood, the nerves in her expression not quite evaporating before she met his eyes. “Yeah. Ready.”

  Austin laced his fingers through hers deliberately, enjoying every thrill and spark at the way her hand fit in his. “I’m glad you said yes,” he said, not trying to make his voice sound like he’d swallowed cotton. “Do you have a favorite place in town?”

  “Yeah.” She hesitated. “You won’t like it.”

  Austin led her toward the front door and outside. “Why do you say that?”

  “Most men don’t.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  “Every time I go there, it’s all women eating with their kids or girlfriends.” She paused as he opened her door and stood back so she could climb in Robin’s high-end truck. “You’ll definitely stand out.”

  “I’m with you,” he said. “Of course I’ll stand out.” He gave her a smile that felt flirty on his face, and her blush confirmed it. “And a place without other men to steal you away from me sounds great. What’s this place called?”

  “The Soup Kitchen.” She watched him for a reaction, but Austin couldn’t give her one.

  “Never been there.”

  “The whole menu is soup. I love soup.”

  “Soup it is, beautiful.” Austin helped her into the truck and closed the door before heading around the back. Truth was, soup wasn’t his favorite food. But he didn’t care. Not even a little bit. He’d eat cardboard if it meant Shay was sitting across the table from him, that gorgeous hair cascading around her beautiful face and shoulders, telling him things about herself he didn’t yet know.

  In fact, as soon as he buckled his seat belt and got his bearings in this unfamiliar vehicle, he said, “Tell me something about yourself I don’t know.” He put the truck in reverse and backed away from the garage before setting the truck toward the main road. He’d bumped the minute or two down the dirt lane before he realized Shay hadn’t said a word.

  He stopped before turning and looked at her. “Shay?”

  “I’m trying to think of something.”

  He chuckled, a bit of nervous energy entering the cab. “I don’t know hardly anything about you,” he said. “It can’t be that hard.”

  But still she didn’t say anything.

  Chapter Eight

  Shay hated that her vocal chords had frozen. Her brain, seemingly, too. Still, she felt like she was sifting through information so fast that she couldn’t get a coherent thought to form into a word.

  “I bailed you out last time,” Austin said. “So this awkward silence isn’t bothering me.” He turned onto the road and pressed on the accelerator. Said nothing.

  Shay’s world narrowed to just this moment in this ritzy truck. A deep breath helped settle her thoughts. “I was a tomboy growing up,” she said. “I’m sure that’s not a surprise. I wasn’t planning on going into the Army, but I’ve always loved working on motors and machines.”

  “So why did you go into the Army?”

  A flash of regret bolted through Shay. How many questions would she have to endure during this date?

  Relax, she told herself. This was what people did when they dated. They got to know each other. They talked. Shared important and intimate details of their lives.

  “My mother had just passed away,” she said quietly. “The ranch felt…too small without her on it. Or too big. Or something.” All she knew was she couldn’t stay there. She looked out the window, wishing she’d scooted all the way across the bench seat so she could steal from his strength while she spoke.

  “So I enlisted and I left.”

  “Did you like serving in the Army?”

  “You know what?” She looked at him and twirled a lock of her hair around her fingers. “I did.”

  He looked like he was going to ask another question. Instead, he closed his mouth and smiled. A cute, mischievous little smile that made her ache to run her hand along that bearded jaw and feel the joy radiating from him.

  “So your turn,” she said. “Tell me something about you that I don’t know.”

  Austin’s smile turned into a smirk. “I really hate mushrooms, and I’m terrified of snakes.”

  Shay half-snorted, half-laughed. “Snakes, huh? And you own a ranch in Hill Country?”

  “I put on anti-snake cologne.” He laughed, the sound of his made of pure happiness. She wanted to bottle the sound and listen to it whenever her anger started spiraling out of control. Not to mention the scent of his cologne….

  “Right.” She nodded. “It sure smells nice for simply warding off serpents.”

  A beat of silence passed before he said, “You think I smell nice?”

  “Divine,” she said before she could censor herself. A blip of embarrassment flew through her. “I mean—”

  “No,” he said, a twinkle in his expression. “You like how I smell.” He leaned closer as if Shay couldn’t already smell the musk and sandalwood and mint. Was that mint? “Just own it.”

  “All right.” Shay chuckled too, relaxing further into the leather seat. “I’ll own that.”

  “Just like I think you’re beautiful.”

  Shay basked in the warmth blooming through her. The drive into town passed in the blink of an eye, something Shay had never thought possible. While she’d loved living out at Triple Towers, the drive into town had never been her favorite.

  But with Austin, she could drive for hours.

  “So where is this place?” he asked when they reached the outskirts of town.

  “It’s right downtown. Turn right.”

  Austin complied and took them downtown. “I’ve never seen this place.” He scanned both sides of the street and then looked at her helplessly. “Help me out.”

  “It’s down the alley up there.” She pointed up to the right. “Like a legit soup kitchen.”

  “Down the alley?” Austin eased to the side of the road, finding a parking spot easily enough because it was Monday night. “What kind of place is this?”

  “It’s a Soup Kitchen.” Shay reached for the door handle. “C’mon, cowboy. Are you nervous?”

  “To go down a dark alley? Yeah.”

  Shay laughed and got out of the truck. He met her at the front bumper, his eyes still warily watching the mouth of the alley. “Oh, come on, Austin. I’ll keep you safe.” She linked her arm through his and strolled down the sidewalk.

  He moved easily wi
th her, and Shay really liked this feeling flowing through her. She couldn’t quite identify it, didn’t know how to quantify it, but she didn’t want it to end. He made her feel stronger than she normally did. More feminine than she’d ever felt.

  She steered him down the alley, and he slowed. “There’s literally no sign or anything.”

  “It’s right down there. See that patch of light?” A rectangle of yellow light fell onto the concrete, and the door opened. A pair of women spilled out, giggling, and Austin relaxed beside her.

  “See?” She tucked him closer to her as both females locked their eyes onto him. Then her. She pinned a smile on her face and kept walking. She didn’t recognize either woman, but that wasn’t saying much. After all, she’d left town for a decade and then sequestered herself on the ranch.

  “Hey, Austin,” one of them—a brunette—drawled, drawing a giggle from the other one.

  “Oh, hey, Karla.” He sounded sort of surprised and sort of like it really was nice to see her. A wave of jealousy and uncertainty clouded Shay’s thoughts.

  She pushed against it. Austin was a nice guy. So he’d said hello. It meant nothing.

  He slowed and stopped and faced the two women. “I’m sorry,” he said, sounding truly sorry. “But I don’t know you.” He had his eyes on the blonde woman at the same time he casually tightened his arm against his body, keeping Shay right beside him.

  “This is Pearl,” Karla, the brunette said. She had a pretty, heart-shaped face, and Shay wondered how Austin knew her.

  “And this is Shayleigh Hatch,” he said. “Do you know her?”

  “Oh, sure,” Pearl said, her voice as squeaky as a cartoon chipmunk’s. “From out at Triple Towers.”

  Shay felt like someone had splashed ice water in her face. It dripped onto her chest, making her cold everywhere. She sucked in a breath as Austin said something she didn’t catch. They talked, all of them, and she stood there, wondering how people would know who she was now that she didn’t actually own the ranch anymore.

  Come June, who would she be? Oh, sure. Shay from…. Who are you again?

  Shay became aware of Austin gently tugging on her arm, and her feet stumbled to move with him. He opened the door to the Soup Kitchen, and a happy buzz of chatter and the scent of cream and mushrooms and chicken broth hit her hard enough to break her out of the stupor she’d fallen into.

  “You okay?” Austin asked, gazing at her. With her heels, he only had two inches on her, and she nodded.

  “Yeah. I’m okay.” But was she? Shay wasn’t sure.

  Something flickered in Austin’s eyes. Something that said he knew the exchange in the alley had upset her, but he wasn’t sure why, and he wasn’t sure if he should ask right now. He didn’t, thankfully, and instead turned his attention toward the huge menu board that spanned the entire back wall of the store.

  “Oh boy,” he said. “I had no idea soup could be this intense.”

  She sighed, releasing some of the negativity and worry that had built in her system. She didn’t want to concern herself with the future. Not tonight. No, tonight was about her and Austin, so Shay forced herself to look at the menu too.

  “They have chili,” she said, pointing to one of the left sections.

  “Mm, I love chili.” He lifted the arm she’d kept in her possession since meeting him at the front of the truck and slid it around her waist. The movement was slow, almost seeking her permission. A trail of fire erupted along the path he touched, and Shay found herself relaxing into his half-embrace.

  “Are you really okay?” he asked, his voice a mere murmur with all the hubbub around them. “Because we can go somewhere else. Or back to the ranch. Whatever you want.” His lips landed on her temple, and Shay wanted nothing more than to be wherever he was.

  She had no idea how to deal with her feelings. She’d never let a man as far into her life as Austin had already gotten, and it was only their first date.

  “I like the potato and sausage bisque,” she said, her voice wobbly. How would he react when she told him things were over between them?

  Relationships end in one of two ways, she told herself, the lessons she’d learned in her life flowing through her mind like hot lava. Marriage, or a break-up. And she knew that marriage wasn’t an option for her.

  So why was she even here with him, in her favorite restaurant, letting him hold her and kiss her? How had she allowed this to happen?

  An inexplicable anger sprouted in her soul, expanding fast, faster, the longer she stood there, the longer Austin studied the menu, waiting for her to make a decision and tell him what to do.

  In desperation, Shay did the only thing she could. The only option she could think of to slow this fury before she ruined everything.

  She prayed.

  Help me, Lord. She seized onto the prayer. I like this man, and I don’t want to hurt him. I need my job at the ranch, and if I’m cruel to him, he can dismiss me.

  She pressed her eyes closed. Help me.

  “Mac and cheese chicken soup?” Austin asked, his voice incredulous. It also sounded very far away from Shay, though the remnant of his minty breath wafted across Shay’s cheekbone.

  She turned as if in slow motion to look at him. As soon as her eyes met his, everything snapped into place. She twisted against him so she could lift her hand and trace her fingers down his beard, as she’d fantasized about earlier.

  He froze, but his eyes were so alive. Sparking and dancing and searching hers. She had so many things to say in that moment. I really like you.

  I don’t want to hurt you.

  I’m not the marrying type.

  I don’t want to get hurt.

  But I really, really like you.

  She said, “You should try it. It’s really good.”

  “You’ve had it?” He somehow made talking about soup feel like they were exchanging trade secrets.

  “I think I’ve had them all,” she said.

  He leaned into her palm, which still rested against his cheek. “What’s goin’ on with you?”

  She dropped her hand back to her side, but she couldn’t look away from him. “I don’t know.” It was at least eighty percent true.

  “Did I do something to upset you?”

  Of course he had. He’d bought her ranch. Shown up all devilishly handsome, with those innocent blue eyes and that stunning cowboy hat. He’d worked hard every day since arriving at Triple Towers, grown out a beard to cover his baby face, making himself twice as handsome and four times as attractive to Shay.

  He had a magnetic personality that had seized onto her heart and refused to let go for six long months. He attended church every week, and now he’d infiltrated her anger management classes too. She had no defense against him, and all of it irritated her.

  And yet, there she stood, close enough to his body to feel the heat, his hand firm against her back, indicating he’d like her closer if they weren’t in a public place.

  “I’m a mess,” Shay mumbled. “I don’t know what I’m doing here.” She’d never spoken so honestly about anything before.

  A couple of people moved around them, joining the line to order their meals. Shay felt eyes watching them, and she didn’t care.

  “Do you want to go?” he asked, his face falling.

  Shay considered the option. Then she said, “No, we’re here. Let’s eat.” She stepped out of his embrace, her body instantly cold. A shiver passed through her. Couldn’t she enjoy one date with him?

  He followed her to join the queue, kept his hands in his pockets now, and said, “So you’ll never guess who’s coming for Christmas.”

  “Who?” Shay kept her eyes on the menu board, though she knew what she wanted.

  “My mother,” he said. “And her boyfriend.”

  Shay spun to look at him, the dryness in his tone obvious. “You’re kidding.”

  “I wish.” A dark look crossed his face like a thundercloud obscuring the sun. It only stayed for a moment, and then the glori
ousness of his light shone through his eyes again.

  He nodded, that cowboy hat making him so beautiful it hurt Shay just to look at him. “Your turn to order, sweetheart.”

  She turned away from him, sweetheart reverberating in her mind. She generally loathed it when a man called her that, taking it as a derogatory term meant to make her feel inferior. But when Austin said it, she felt like his sweetheart, like he said it because he treasured her, held her close to his heart.

  As she put in her order, she knew she was in real danger with this man. The very real danger of falling in love with him. The danger of breaking her heart. The danger of breaking his.

  Chapter Nine

  Austin thought he’d worked from sunup to sundown before. But with he and Shay trying to get their regular work around the ranch done, as well as decorate all the buildings, the towers, the silos, the house, and the open spaces along all the roads, he felt like a zombie.

  He woke tired. Worked tired. Ate tired. And went to bed tired, just to get up and do it all over again the next day.

  But by the following Sunday—his day of rest—the ranch was ready to flip the power switch and light up the night.

  At least he hoped so.

  They’d tested all the lights, throwing away dozens of strings that weren’t fixable. Fitting new bulbs into the ones that were. Dusting, planning, climbing, hanging. So much climbing and hanging.

  “Everything’s set for tonight,” he said when he entered the kitchen to find Shane and Robin sitting side-by-side at the dining room table. She nudged her husband’s coffee mug closer, and Shane patted her hand. They were so obviously in love, and Austin’s heart pinched for a beat.

  He wanted to share his life with a woman too. Sure, his brothers were great, but they’d each found someone already. He didn’t want to be the odd man out forever, and he found he’d already shared things with Shay he’d never told them. It was simply a different kind of relationship, and he wanted both in his life.

  “Great,” Robin said. “We’ll be there.”

  “Tour starts here at the homestead,” he said. “At least that’s what Shay said.”