He smelled like baked potatoes and melted butter, a strangely sweet combination that had her leaning a little closer before she stopped herself.

“Dad and I have worked a couple of steers together.” She tipped her chin at him. “What horse did Jason give you for tie-down roping?”

“King Al, I think he called him.”

“King’s Smoky Allure?” Andra frowned. What was her brother thinking? That gelding wasn’t ready yet, even for a local rodeo. He kept going sideways instead of backing up to keep the rope taut when the cowboy jumped off to tie the calf. “Never mind that. Take my horse.” She swung down, her leg narrowly missing a cowboy who rode by while still buttoning his shirt, his reins hanging loose over his horse’s neck.

“You sure?” LJ blinked. “Figured I’d have to sign over the title to my truck and my mama’s house for enough collateral to touch an animal that well-bred.”

“Al’s nice enough, but Gracie will do everything but put your boots on for you. Which might be good, since you were working with the colts when you should have been practicing. Besides, I think she likes you.” Andra passed over the reins to her mare, who had her head contentedly drooping while LJ scratched underneath her bridle straps. “Do you want me to swap out her saddle real quick?”

“Oh, I think I can manage a saddle switch without any help.” He winked and flexed his arm until his biceps strained the cotton of his shirt. “But if you’re worried, you can take a feel, make sure you think I can handle that pony of yours.”

She shoved him away, snickering. “You never miss an opportunity to show off those arms, do you?”

“Of course I don’t. You know how many push-ups I had to do for these biceps? Besides, they always make you smile . . .” His dark eyes twinkled, and he held his arm up farther as she tried to smother a laugh. She knew better. The more she giggled, the more he hammed it up. Sure enough, he picked up one of her hands, rubbing it dramatically up and down his arm. “Oh yeah, give it a feel. You still worried I can’t lift that bitty little saddle?”

A throat cleared. Loudly.

Andra’s grin began to fade as soon as she turned to see her dad standing next to his horse with every muscle in his face locked tight.

“LJ. I believe you have work to see to elsewhere.”

LJ straightened up. “Mr. Lawler, we were just—”

“Now.”

Andra’s stomach dropped, an instinctive reaction to that voice she’d heard every time she’d been in trouble since she was born.

LJ’s hands clenched on Gracie’s reins. “Sir, I don’t mean any disrespect, but your daughter and I were only joking around. If she were uncomfortable, she’d have told me to knock it off.”