Read Online Blame It on the Rodeo by Amanda Renee - Free Book Online

smile. Some people took teeth whitening to the extreme and it bugged the hell out of Shane. Photo ready was one thing, but there was no need to be a beacon for space ships every time you opened your mouth.
    “And five, four...” The woman motioned three, two, one with her hand. “We’re here in Ramblewood with the Langtry family for the greatly anticipated opening of the Dance of Hope hippotherapy facility and the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School.”
    Shane listened while his mother answered the majority of the questions like a seasoned pro. If she was the least bit nervous, she certainly didn’t show it. Normally Shane and Chase handled the interviews now that Cole had stepped away from the rodeo, but today belonged to their mother and Shane loved watching her take pride in their combined venture.
    The interviewer posed her final question. “And with Shane getting his own reality show, you must be excited about the national publicity you’ll receive.”
    “Shane getting his own what?”
    So much for easing her into the idea.
    * * *
    “W HO ELSE KNOWS about this?” Clay stood in the setting sun. He was tall and tanned with a hint of sandy blond hair peeking out from under his summer Stetson. He removed his sunglasses, Caribbean-blue eyes meeting hers with all the sincerity in the world. He looked more like a movie star than a cowboy P.I.
    “Only my horse, and I can trust she won’t talk.” Lexi attempted to laugh, rose and teetered to the porch railing that overlooked the narrow two-lane highway and emerald-green cornfields, weeks away from harvesting. It was tranquil out here, away from the bustle of her family’s tourist attraction. Lexi turned to face Clay. “Now what?”
    “I have to admit,” Clay acknowledged, “there is a strong resemblance between the two of them, but don’t jump to any conclusions until we know for certain.”
    “How soon can you find out?” Lexi implored, dropping back into the rocker, half the bottle gone, the effects of the bourbon beginning to take a toll. “I can’t work close to him, knowing I might be inches away from my own child.”
    “Now that they’ve had the ribbon cutting, the school will do more arena work inside. It’s too hot outside not to. In the meantime, I can do some digging and see what I come up with.”
    “And you’ll find out for certain?”
    “There’s only one surefire way to know. You use a DNA lab for your breeding program, don’t you?” Clay asked.
    “Yes, but I think the Texas Veterinary Board would frown on that, let alone the ethics factor.”
    “Lucky for you, I don’t have any ethics to worry about. I’ll run the test. I can get into the bunkhouse when he’s training and grab something of his.”
    “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?” Reality punched her hard in the stomach and the world began to churn in front of her.
    “No more bourbon for you.” Clay led Lexi inside the air-conditioned house to a couch that had seen better days. “Lay down for a while.”
    “My God.” Lexi looked around the living room, scanning the boxes still stacked in the corners. “You’ve been back in town for how long and you still haven’t unpacked?”
    “Eh, what’s another year or two?”
    “Seriously.” Lexi steadied herself on his arm before flopping down on the sofa, causing a small cloud of dust to rise in the air between the two of them.
    “Take my bed.” Clay quickly tried to hide his embarrassment. “I’m rarely home so none of this gets used very much.”
    “It’s fine.” Lexi removed her phone from her pocket and sent Nash a quick text, feigning a vet emergency. Clay ran upstairs and returned with a pillow and a sheet before she even hit send .
    “We all have skeletons, Lexi.” He helped her stand and draped the sheet across the couch before fluffing up the pillow. Lexi lowered herself back down, tucking her legs beneath her. Clay perched on the edge of the coffee table and continued. “Some greater than others but