Chapter 3
AIDEN
The girl Aiden had seen at the rodeo danced through his mind for an entire week.
Every single redhead who came into the hospital had him turning his head for a closer look, and every single time, he was left disappointed.
It wasn’t like he was very social. Not locally.
For the most part, he enjoyed finding dates from nearby towns.
It made sense. Less chance of awkward run-ins.
Less chance of anyone expecting more than he was ready to give.
Maybe he’d get lucky and see her tonight at the country club.
What was he thinking?
Why was he so invested in finding this woman? He wasn’t built for long-term relationships. Everyone who knew him would say the same thing. If Mathew knew he was here looking for someone, he’d laugh in Aiden’s face, then promptly remind him of his bachelor ways.
And yet the closer Aiden got to the entrance of the club, the more adrenaline pumped through his veins.
Was he nervous?
No. This was excitement.
Right?
Maybe he was a little nervous. And he hadn’t even confirmed she was here yet.
He stepped inside, the music an invitation to finally enjoy himself. He wore the usual outfit he donned when he competed. Jean jacket, hat, boots—the works. He was just making his way across the dance floor when a girl bumped into him. She sucked in a breath, and a wide smile pulled at his lips.
“Aiden! What are you doing here?”
“If it isn’t little Klein. Bring it in.”
He opened his arms, and Penny stepped into them for a hug.
She was small in his arms, and the way she clung to him made him feel, for one odd second, like he might be capable of the steadiness he saw in everyone else around him. He didn’t have to be the screw-up. He didn’t have to be the guy people warned their sisters away from.
Maybe his hug lasted a little too long, because Penny pulled back and swatted at him with a laugh. “You look good. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything but scrubs.”
He flashed her his most charming smile, well aware he was showing off his dimples. “Careful, sweetheart. You’re going to make me blush.”
She snorted. “You’re such a flirt, you know that?”
He draped an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t tell your brother. He might get on my case about it.”
Mathew would definitely get on his case if Penny made even an offhanded comment about Aiden flirting with her. They both knew it.
Penny laughed. “I think he knows.”
Suddenly, she stilled and glanced over his shoulder.
He looked in the direction she did but couldn’t see anything.
Turning back to her, he murmured, “Yeah, you’re right. That’s why he told me to stay away from his sister.”
She glanced up at him. “Huh?”
Aiden tapped her lightly on the nose. “What do you say, sweetheart? Want to make your brother angry?”
He was teasing. There was no way he’d ever cross Mathew that way. But if Penny was game for something fake just to rile Mathew up, maybe he could be convinced.
Penny scoffed, but there was amusement in her voice once again. “I’m not the one who’ll end up with a broken nose.”
“Eh.” He shrugged. “Mathew’s a decent doctor. He can set it right, and if I get a kiss out of the deal, then it might be worth it.”
He winked at her. This was how things were between them. He pushed Mathew’s buttons, and Penny got exasperated but played along when she was feeling up for it.
As if to prove him right, she laughed again and pressed her palm against his chest. “Nice try, lover boy.” She shook her head and took a step back. “I’m sure you have your eye on someone here. Go woo them for a while. If I get bored, I’ll find you.”
She wasn’t wrong. He’d been distracted, but now that she’d reminded him, he needed to see if that redheaded angel was here.
He let his eyes sweep across the room briefly before returning his attention to Penny. Fully prepared to tease her some more, he placed a hand to his chest and frowned.
“You wound me, little Klein.”
She rolled her eyes and headed for the bar.
He watched her go and chuckled. Penny wasn’t as fragile as Mathew made her out to be. She might have had some rough times in college, but she was a capable woman. One day, she’d make someone very happy.
Aiden turned and slipped through the crowd, his gaze darting from patron to patron. Disappointment threatened to drag him under as he continued to weave from one side of the space to the other.
And then he saw it.
A flash of red.
Aiden stopped and turned for another look.
There were two of them. They looked almost the same, but one was taller. Immediately, his focus shifted to the shorter of the two, and somehow he knew deep in the marrow of his bones that she was the girl he’d seen at the rodeo.
Something in him went still.
The way her nose scrunched when she laughed at something her sister said. The way she threw her head back with abandon, like she insisted on living her life at the highest volume setting available.
This girl looked like the kind of woman who didn’t have regrets. She went for what she wanted. That was how Aiden preferred his own life to be, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t have regrets.
How often did he compare his decisions with those of his friends? Too many times to count. But if any of them asked, he made sure they believed he was content with each and every outcome.
The redhead leaned closer to her sister when the other girl cupped a hand to her ear. They resembled two little girls on a playground, giggling and speaking to each other in secret. Only they were all grown up.
He moved along the perimeter of the room, trying not to look like he was following them and failing to talk himself out of it. A few girls brushed his arm or tried to catch his attention, but for once, he barely noticed.
It took longer than he liked, but he managed to get within earshot and caught the tail end of their conversation.
“I’m going to let him give me a ride home,” her sister insisted.
“Do you trust him?” The redhead’s surprise faltered with concern. “You know how Dad can be.”
Her sister sighed. “Yeah, I’ve gone out with him before. He’s harmless. Kinda like you.”
The redhead swatted at her sister. “Hey!”
They both laughed, and her sister nudged her back. “What about you? Gonna see if anyone’s worth an evening walk in here?”
Aiden stiffened, wondering if he’d be lucky enough to be picked for such an adventure.
It wasn’t like he was committing to something serious. He just wanted a chance. A conversation. A way to find out if this strange tug in his chest was worth paying attention to.
“Maybe. But he has to be a cowboy. Someone local.”
The sisters exchanged knowing looks.
“I get it. No long-distance stuff.” Her sister glanced through the room. “Well, it’s not like you don’t have a lot to choose from. Pick a cute guy wearing the right stuff.”
“You know as well as I do that doesn’t mean anything, especially since this town has gotten more popular.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Her sister perked up. “Quiz ’em. See what they like to do. Have them show you a pic of their favorite horse or something.”
The redhead snickered. “Be realistic.”
Her sister joined in on the laughter. “Well, good luck. I’ll see you later tonight, kay?”
They hugged, and her sister disappeared into the crowd.
Aiden watched the girl he’d become fascinated with for a second longer and knew the exact moment she decided she was going to bail. He stepped forward just as she spun around. The drink in her hand sloshed against his chest, dousing him in what smelled like root beer.
She gasped, her eyes traveling up his torso until they reached his.
Blue.
Like the sky after a storm. When the clouds have cleared away and a rainbow has been painted on the horizon. They were endless and vibrant and… everything.
He’d never seen eyes like hers.
He was so intent on them that he didn’t realize she’d scrambled for some napkins and was currently dabbing at his clothes.
He chuckled and lightly caught her hand before she could keep scrubbing at his shirt. “Don’t worry about that, angel. I’m fine.”
“But it’s going to stain,” she said with a nervous laugh. “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s just a shirt. I have plenty.”
Her cheeks flushed a beautiful shade of pink, and he had to curl his free hand into a fist to keep from reaching out. They’d only just met. He needed to remember that, no matter how strange and strong this pull felt.
Then her eyes widened with shock, and he realized he was still holding her hand.
Shoot.
He released her immediately. “Sorry. Did I—”
“You’re Christopher Stone.”
He blinked. Then blinked again. “You know who I am?”
Granted, she knew his alternate persona. He went by his middle name when he competed. At first, it had been for fun. Then it had become a way to keep a little space between the hospital and the rodeo crowd. Between his real life and the version of him who wore the hat and flirted too easily.
Still, he should probably correct her.
Her blush intensified, and she looked away. “I might have seen you compete a few times.” She peeked at him. “You’re really good.”
The correction lodged somewhere in his chest and didn’t come out.
“Well, angel, you have me at a disadvantage. You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “Lily.”
“Lily,” he murmured, trying out the name. “It suits you.”
“Thanks, Christopher.” The way she whispered his name was so sweet, so trusting, it nearly brought him to his knees. “So does yours. Your name, I mean. It suits you.”
Aiden grinned, but something in him tightened.
Christopher suited him because Christopher was easy. Christopher was the man in the cowboy hat. The one who didn’t have history here. The one who could ask a beautiful girl to dance and not worry about what came next.
Aiden Stone was a whole lot messier.
Still, he loved the way Lily looked at him. He loved that nervous hope in her smile. His whole body felt on edge in a way he didn’t know what to do with. He didn’t even know her, and already he could tell one conversation wasn’t going to be enough to get her out of his head.