Chapter 3 #2
“I don’t mind at all. How many kids do they have now?” He thought it was three, could be four by now for all he knew.
“Three, but rumor is they’re discussing one more.” Bodie rolled his eyes, but there was a smile lurking around the edges of his lips. “Cowboys do love babies.”
He snorted. “Babies turn into teenagers. And worse, some of them grow up to be bull riders.”
“Heaven forbid.”
He chuckled and gave Bodie a wink. “Right? What else do we need?”
“Chicken breasts, broccoli, foil, cooking spray, light beer, an ice cream scoop, and a chocolate cheesecake.”
“That’s very specific.” They wandered through the aisles. He found the foil right away and dropped it in Bodie’s basket. “So, I have ideas. For you.”
“Okay. Is that good or bad? Ideas, I mean.” Bodie grinned at him, shooting him a look.
“Good for your bottom line, good for your future. But you’re not always going to like turning yourself into a business.” He’d never had a client who loved it. Rocky had the head for it, but even he would roll his eyes and hold his nose sometimes.
“I guess I’ll figure it out. I’m not a dipshit. I understand things fairly well.”
He added humble to the growing list of Bodie’s admirable qualities.
“I’d say you do. If I recall, you took some time off to become a better athlete and turned yourself into a champion.
You can rock this too if you want to. Look what Sky has done.
” He always had his eye on the young guys, and Bodie had something special.
The cowboy didn’t strike him as a “dipshit” at all.
He was smart enough to know he couldn’t ride forever.
“Yeah, I intend to get out without the traumatic brain injury, God willing.” Bodie shopped with a single-minded intensity, checking his phone as he went.
“Let’s make that a goal. Ooh. Cheesecake.” He picked over them and found a single chocolate one left. “Last one. There’s an Oreo one too.”
“Oh, someone will eat that. I’m the only one still riding, and I’m not a guy who has to diet like crazy. I’m just high protein.”
He grabbed them. “Okay, both it is. So you have a good metabolism, hmm? That’s handy for a bull rider.”
“It’s not perfect, but I do fifteen percent carbs, twenty-five to thirty percent fat, the rest protein. Lets me eat when I’m hungry.”
He would never understand athlete diets. He was thinking he might just have the cheesecake.
He followed Bodie around the store. “So, tell me about your family.” Always an important angle for cowboys.
“I am the middle child of three. Two sisters—one is a vet in Las Cruces, and one is getting a computer engineering degree at Caltech. Mom is married and lives in Mexico running an animal sanctuary. Dad is not married and lives outside Vegas. They all know I’m gay.
No one cares.” The words were offered over without stress. Just—straight forward and easy.
“Well, I didn’t know, thank you for sharing it with me. And me too.” He chuckled. No one made a thing of him either, he’d earned some respect in the field. It was nice to hear Bodie had a supportive family though, in case he wanted to call them in for a shoot.
“They’re all normal people, really. Dad and Elise are book smart. Mom and Hailey love animals. I like riding.”
His lips twisted as he fought a grin. “I’ll… remember that.”
Bodie didn’t fight his, though. Oh, this one had a streak of wicked…
He chuckled. “Okay, I see you now, cowboy.” He did too, he had to admire that grin and the little flash in Bodie’s eyes.
“Don’t worry. I’m never too much with the babies or the older ladies. I am on my best behavior. Promise to God.”
He glanced at Bodie as they checked out. “You’re eager to please. That’s going to work well for you.”
“I’m practical. I have to create a life after bull riding is over. I need funds and contacts to do that.”
“I don’t know what Rocky told you, but I’m sure he was honest.” Rocky was always honest. Real.
Square with people. “There will be days you feel like you’ve earned something and days when you feel like you’re selling your soul.
That’s the business end of this. My job is to let you focus on riding and handle the media so all you have to do is show up and smile. ”
Bodie nodded to him, gaze serious and still. “I’ll do what I have to. I did it to win my first two million; I’ll make another three before I retire.”
“We’ll have a good talk. I have questions, but they’re not for now. Now that I’ve seen you ride, I need to do a little research. I’ll call you in a couple of days, and we’ll set up a meeting wherever you are on the road.”
“Fair enough. I appreciate you taking a chance on me.”
How could he not? Bodie was solid, determined, and ready to hire him.
He gave Bodie’s shoulder a squeeze. It was solid under his fingers. “It’s less of a risk than you think, Bodie.”
“Thanks.” Bodie paid for the groceries, then signed a gimme cap for the teenaged bagger who was staring at him.
That was a good start. “That was kind of you.”
“Hrm? What’s that?” Bodie seemed genuinely confused.
That made him smile. It was hard to reconcile such a gentle soul within a tough bull rider. “The hat. Not everyone is willing to do that. It was nice.”
“It’s part of the job, I guess. Besides, it don’t cost a thing to be a good man, but you pay dearly for being a bad one.”
He nodded in agreement. If he’d known the sort of man Bodie was before the cold calls came in, he might not have waited so long.
“What a gorgeous night.” He’d been here a few days, and he just loved these spring evenings. A little cool, clear skies, stars for days.
“Yessir. It reminds me a bit of the Rockies.” There was a fond, warm smile on Bodie’s face.
That smile made him feel a little warm himself. “Little bit. Less open. More trees.”
“Yeah. These are mountains, but not the Rockies. They’re special.”
“I agree. I live in Boulder, so I look up at the Rockies every day.”
“So lucky! I try and get a VRBO up there or in Fort Collins every time we’re on break.”
“Well, visit any time. I have a house… you’d be welcome to stay, use it as a home base or whatever.” He didn’t think anything of inviting Bodie until it was out of his mouth and then he wondered if that was weird. Rocky had been there many times, but he was a friend.
“Well, when I come up, we’ll totally have to have supper! I’d never just show up on you, but I love the idea of having a friend out there. Are you a skier? Snowboarder?”
“I ski, hike, mountain bike. Snowboarding is fun, but I’m kind of hopeless.” He tried it once or twice almost every winter and he always went back to his skis. “I like what I’m used to, I guess. You?”
“I love it all. I don’t have to be good at it. I just love being outside and having fun.” Look at those eyes shine.
“Well, look me up the next time you’re in town then.” He wouldn’t mention the offer to visit again; Bodie had very politely sidestepped it. “I’m following you…” He pulled out his keys.
“You so are.” Bodie beamed at him, just happy as a little lark. “I bet I’m the only UT orange truck around, so I’m hard to miss.”
He was dazzled for a moment by Bodie’s smile. “You’re impossible to miss.” Even as he said it, he had to wonder whether he was still talking about Bodie’s truck.
“I hope so. That’s at least part of the plan.” Bodie tipped his hat, gaze warm as hell.
He was liking the plan. “I’m just—I’m parked here. Just over here.” He rolled his eyes as he babbled like an idiot and hurried to his car. He jumped in and closed the door like that would shut out whatever the hell Bodie’s grin just did to his heartbeat.
It didn’t work.
He took a breath and drove out of the parking space, pulling up right behind Bodie’s butt.
Bumper.
Right behind Bodie’s truck’s bumper.
Jesus.
Bodie was going to be bad for business if he wasn’t careful.