Debbi Rawlins - By The Sheikh's Command

Bri’s mouth opened but nothing came out. Rafe thought she was beautiful. How was that possible? And then she blinked. “Cord said what?”

“Do not look so troubled. He is your brother, your patron. As we discussed earlier, of course he would defend you.”

Bri shook her head. No sense trying to get through either of their thick, chauvinistic skulls. And then she drew in her lower lip, wondering what Rafe’s response had been. Not that she’d ask him. Not in a million years.

“I have an idea.” He took her hand again.

She gave him a cautious look.

“Go to the Desert Rose with me.”

The heat from his palm pressed to hers traveled up her arm and went straight to her belly. “Why?”

“To watch Mac Coleman train the two new colts. I believe one of them is Rising Star.”

No fair. He knew she had a special fondness for the scrawny colt. Although the way Rafe rubbed the inside of her wrist again was an even more persuasive argument. “You forget I have work to do.”

“It will still be here.”

She hesitated, afraid to meet his eyes.

“Hey, Bri. I almost forgot to ask—”

At the sound of Chuck’s voice, she gave a guilty start and tried to jerk her hand away. Rafe held firm.

Chuck stared at them, obviously startled himself, and then his gaze fell to their clasped hands and his lips thinned.

“Sorry,” he muttered in a sarcastic voice. “Didn’t mean to crash the party.”

With a firm tug, Bri withdrew her hand. She was embarrassed. No getting around it, but she’d be damned if she’d let Chuck get away with acting like a two-year-old and give her that accusatory glare. “You wanted something?” Amazingly her voice didn’t crack.

He glowered at Rafe and then gave her a wounded look. “Never mind.”

“Chuck, come on. You didn’t interrupt, and you obviously wanted something.”

“It’s personal,” Chuck said, darting Rafe a sour glance. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Rafe didn’t offer to leave but stood there, looking bored and impatient, which really annoyed her. In fact, both men annoyed her.

“Fine, then if you’ll both get out of my hair, I can finish this inventory.”

Rafe frowned, his displeasure clear. “I thought we had a date.”

Her gaze immediately went to Chuck, whose eyes had narrowed in contempt. “To watch Mac train over at the Desert Rose? I’d hardly call that a date.”

“Afterward, I will take you to lunch,” he said as if the matter was settled, and then reached for her hand again.

She had just enough wits about her to jerk away, but words failed her. What the heck was he doing? The whole bunkhouse would be gossiping about them by dinnertime. She couldn’t bear the thought. Enough of her life had been hurt by rumors and whispers. All that talk about how she was unwanted, a bastard child…

“Okay, I get the picture.” Chuck took a step back, his expression far from understanding. “But you could’ve told me, Bri, and not waste my time.”

She threw up her hands. “Told you what?”

“That you two were already playing footsies under the table.” Lifting his chin in a cocky manner, he adjusted his Stetson.

“We are not.” She looked to Rafe for help. Maybe he didn’t understand what Chuck was getting at, because he just stood there watching with lazy interest.

“Yeah, well, that’s sure what it seemed like.” Chuck slid Rafe an accusing look, which was received with a stifled yawn.

“Well, I’m telling you how it is.” Bri put her hands on her hips. “Not that I owe you an explanation.”

“Sure enough, darlin’,” Chuck shrugged and took a step back. “Just wish you hadn’t led me on about the dance.”

“I never—” She could end the talk before it started. “Who said I led you on? Of course I’ll go to the dance with you.”

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