Chapter 13
~ Anelise ~
Four weeks. That’s how long it had been since being fully and utterly claimed by Troy. Did I miss it?
Yes!
Sure, I had gotten to see him, had make out sessions. But had we gotten alone time again?
Only twice and once was a damn quickie behind the barn where he couldn’t take it anymore and pushed up against the wall. He easily had me turned on and then was screwing my senseless.
But we had picked up on the ranch, had more horses coming in, especially with the circuit coming to town.
And then MaryBeth had gotten sick
So, to say I was busy, it was an understatement, and I didn’t have many dates with Troy.
If it had been years ago, I would have said he got what he wanted and left. But the fact that he kept on teasing me, kissing me, and throwing comments my way showed me that he wanted more, just didn’t have the time to.
And I got it.
I also won’t lie and say I wasn’t worried that the lure of the circuit that drew him the first time didn’t catch his eye again and draw him away.
I tried hard not to get my heart involved with this man, but I believe that it was pointless, because it was going to happen, sooner or later.
And it happened.
I wished it hadn’t, but there was no fighting it now. Would I tell him? Not yet. Certainly not when I couldn’t find time to just be with him.
“You okay?”
I jumped, startling the horse I was rubbing down and soothed before looking over my shoulder at a chuckling Troy.
“Sorry,” he said, holding his hands up. “I didn’t mean to scare you, but I called you three times, and you didn’t answer. You left me no choice but to scare the crap out of you.”
“Not funny.” I let out a breath before I started brushing the horse again. “What did you need?”
“Markus is taking some horses over to the rodeo grounds and said you and I needed a break. So, since MaryBeth is feeling better, I figured we could take the other trailer, help him out, and then I could show you around?”
That sounded way more fun than lounging around the house, dreaming up all kinds of scenarios about him leaving me for the fun of riding a bull.
“Yeah, sounds good. I would say let me wash up, but since we’ll be around animals, I’m still going to smell the same.”
“Aw, Anelise, you’re gorgeous anyway, even if you happen to have some horse dung on your face.”
I quickly wiped my cheek, not even thinking how I could have gotten it there when he busted out laughing. I narrowed my eyes at him and then smacked his chest.
“Don’t tease me. You’re a cruel man, Troy.”
“No, cruel men are men like Markus who makes us slave away. They make us too tired to even think about sex with a sexy vixen like yourself.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” I told him, finishing up with the horse before turning to him. “Let me get my daughter while you get the horses in the trailer and we can head out.”
As I walked by him, he grabbed my waist, hauled me against his body, and planted a toe-curling, Earth-shattering, end-all kiss right on my lips. And let me tell you, that had me dazed for the new hour.
"Oh my gosh," MaryBeth exclaimed as we started walking to the rodeo grounds. "So much," she muttered, and I had to agree.
I had been once before, right before the end of school, but had no desire to be back. I knew Troy didn't do some of the smaller rodeo stops, and even though this was his hometown, he didn't do it often.
But I never wanted to take the risk of seeing him and having my crush thrown in my face or something. I mean, there are just some things I can't handle, even now.
"They have all kinds of things to see. And a petting zoo too. More than just horses," Troy told her, swinging her up in his arms.
And my heart just stopped because it seemed like the most natural thing for him but also the cutest thing ever. Because Troy with a kid, sexy!
Not that I didn't know that, but damn. It hit me all over again.
"Troy?" We both turned around as a gentleman walked over, holding his hand out. It had only been a few months since Troy retired, people really couldn't be missing him, could they?
"Bill, good to see you. You ridin' today?"
“Just calf ropin’. Took a fall and can’t stay on a bull for a bit.”
“That’s rough. Not that calf ropin’ ain’t hard either.”
“Right. You showing the family around? This your sister?”
“Nope, she’s my lady.”
I gave the man a smile but in return, he gave me the most confused look, which he finally turned on Troy.
“Bullshit man.”
“Language, MaryBeth is only four,” Troy said, bouncing the little girl who giggled in response.
“And a kid? You know the twins are here. They were really hoping to see you, have you show them around. They missed the fun side of Troy and so have I. You got me more pus-” I cleared my throat, making sure to give him a pointed look before looking at my daughter. “Right, sorry, ma’am.”
“It’s okay. Why don’t I take her so you boys can catch up, huh?
Seems like there’s lots to share, in more ways than one.
” I grabbed MaryBeth, who almost protested.
But if there was anything she was good at, it was picking up on my moods.
And she knew I wasn’t happy so the last thing she wanted to do was push me more.
“Wait,” Troy called but I waved him off.
It wasn’t that I didn’t know he had a past. Troy was a good-looking guy and a rodeo champion, of course he had women throwing themselves at him. Hell, even if you weren’t in the rodeo but had jeans and a buckle, women just chased men.
I’ve seen it plenty of times in the bar or around the ranch, when they came over.
But I guess there was something I didn’t think of. Like him having some type of threesome. Even better yet, that means he had way more fun than I ever thought and I wasn’t up to doing things like that, so if he stayed here, would he be bored?
Would I be boring for him?
“Hey,” he said, grabbing my elbow to stop me. I turned, lifted a brow at him, before nodding to the food court.
“Getting a snack. You can join.”
“Look, don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad, Troy. I’m just, I don’t know exactly what.”
“This is my past, you know.”
“I know.” His hand settled on my back as he walked with us to the food court. He stopped short as two young, but gorgeous females stepped in our path.
“There’s our favorite cowboy. We’ve missed you, Troy,” one said, edging her way by his side, effectively pushing me out of the way. I took a step back, assessing them before shaking my head.
They were younger than I thought, but I can’t say I was surprised given how beautiful they were, that he had them both.
“Ladies,” he started, trying to step away but they only held onto him tighter. I rolled my eyes, walking over to a stand and grabbing something for MaryBeth. I sat her down, taking a bite of the fried treat, my head swimming with thoughts of him.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
I watched as he straddled the bench next to me and shook my head.
“You don’t want to know, Troy.”
“Tell me, Cowgirl.”
“This was your life? Ridin’ then sleepin’ your way around?”
“Sometimes, yeah.”
I didn’t want to be hurt, or upset, and I really couldn’t figure out why I was. But I was. It did hurt to see this.
“Would you want to go back to it?” I whispered.
He reached over, pushed a piece of hair behind my ear, and slowly shook his head.
“This doesn’t appeal to me anymore, Anelise, you need to know that.”
His eyes told me the truth, but my mind was screaming at me not to trust it.