Chapter 6 #2
“They have others too—Vegas, Dallas, and here in Nashville. We can make it convenient. And listen, you don’t have to do it all.
You get to say no sometimes. Not to easy things like signing at a booth, but travel outside your riding schedule, that kind of thing.
It’s work, but we never want you tired, or working too hard. ”
“Okay. My big thing right now is my training. I have to put in the work there for sure.” Jacob was totally willing to travel or work via Zoom, but the man was the reason he was riding so well.
“What’s your schedule? Do you have a trainer?”
“I do. He’s in Vegas, but he travels, and he does Zoom sessions, which is handy. I don’t intend to stay at my dad’s forever.” His pop was amazing, but he was a grown man and needed his own space.
“No, you’ll get a house very soon. You probably have enough put away already. Where does your dad live?”
“Out near Vegas. He’s got himself a place out there.” He had his own room and a sitting area, but he wanted a dog.
A cat.
Something fuzzy to love on when he was home alone.
“Do you like it there? It’s not my favorite place. It’s too hot.” Cole chuckled and picked up his beer again.
“No. I mean, I don’t hate it, but I’m not a hot desert guy. I like the mountains.”
Cole nodded in agreement. “Definitely the mountains.”
The server came back and took their order. Cole ordered vegetables for sides—some steamed asparagus and a medley of grilled brussels sprouts and carrots and things. No potatoes, nothing heavy.
He nodded, humming deep in his chest at the thought of the steak he had coming. “So why’d you decide on this line of work?”
“I was a marketing major who had a fascination with rodeo. There weren’t too many other things I could choose. Plus, wrangler butts.” Cole grinned at him.
“Ah, now that I do understand. To the bone.” Wrangler butts were proof there was a God, and He loved them.
Cole laughed again. It was an easy sound, relaxed. “You can tell me to mind by own business, but do you have a partner?”
“No, I don’t.” He never had. He’d had fuck buddies and one-night stands, but he just wasn’t the most passionate of guys, he guessed. He was focused, practical, and into his work.
“Me either.” Cole shrugged, smiling. “More reason to look at those butts, right?”
That was a surprise. Maybe Rocky was—had been—Cole’s person. That would so suck. “You know it.”
“So what does your retirement look like? What are you hoping for?”
“I want to announce some, do some commentating, maybe. I wouldn’t mind a little place in the mountains, but I’m not a rancher. I’d have a horse or two and a couple acres.” He wanted a happy, simple life.
“Very nice. You definitely have the personality for a commentator. You’d be great at it.”
“I think I’d like it. I know about my rodeo, I have a brain for stats and stuff, and I like to talk.”
“You know everyone, too. I was watching you in the chutes; you’re everywhere, helping the guys, talking to the riders. It’s great.”
His cheeks got hot. “Thank you. I figure I’ve got to be the example. I’m the champ. I got responsibilities.”
“Not everyone thinks that way. It’s admirable. It really is. It reminds me of a mutual friend of ours.” Cole gave him a wink.
“I know a few champs. Mostly, they’re amazing.” Sky, Chris, Hawk, Rope, Paolo, Eduardo—all good men with good hearts.
“Well, that doesn’t make what you do any less inspiring.” Cole held his gaze a tad longer than he would have expected.
“Thanks? I want to be thought of as a good guy.” Just in case. Just in case something happened to him.
“Sure. Sure, of course.” Cole smiled and then picked up his beer and took a long sip.
He didn’t know what to say, but he guessed he didn’t have to. That was probably Cole’s job, right?
To say things?
Their food arrived, which took the pressure off either of them to say much of anything that wasn’t related to how gorgeous the steaks were.
“God, this looks so good.” Cole picked up his streak knife.
“Yes, sir.” He grinned over. “Happy friggin’ Friday.”
“Fantastic Friday.” Cole dug in, taking a bite and nodding as he chewed. “Mhm.”
He dug in, filling his belly, and letting himself just enjoy every bite.
“Do you like to cook? Grill?” Cole was making small talk while they ate.
“I love to cook. I cook a ton of things.” He’d even gone to culinary school for a couple semesters. He enjoyed the hell out of the process.
“Oh yeah? What are you go-tos? Like what would you cook if I was coming over for dinner?”
“Artichoke pasta, garlic bread, and a nice salad. Or we could do fajitas too. It depends on what you like.”
“All of that. I like all of that.” Cole winked at him. “Did you cook with your family?”
“I did. My dad is one hell of a cook. Mom is fine, but she doesn’t love it, you know?” She was, at best, casual.
“That’s awesome. Are you closer with your dad then?” Cole looked like he was really enjoying his steak.
“Well, Dad is in the country. Mom lives in Mexico with her husband. She runs an animal sanctuary down there, so I’m literally closer, but my mom is incredibly cool. Just a marginal cook.”
Cole chuckled. “Does she ever come up to see you ride?”
“Not often, no. She’s got a ton of critters—exotic and domestic. She works her butt off. It’s wild, but she’s so happy.”
“Okay, how about your dad? Can we get him to an event? It would be good for a promo photo op.”
“Absolutely. Pop is all about showing up. He’s not married, and if he’s not working, he’d love it.” He looked like his father too, for all that he was red-headed where Pop was darker.
“Perfect. I look forward to meeting him. How is your dinner? I’m getting full.” Cole patted his tummy and grinned at him.
“It’s delicious.” And he was going to go back to the hotel and crash like a lead balloon.
“You are.” Cole’s eyes went wide. “I mean you aren’t looking at the desserts, are you? I have nowhere to put it.”
“No. No, I don’t have a big sweet tooth, you know? I like salty and umami.”
“Umami?” Cole sipped his beer, hiding behind it a little.
Umami could be tricky, when he got right down to it. “Bacon, mushrooms—that flavor that’s more than savory? It’s my favorite.”
“Hm. I haven’t heard of that, but I’m definitely a bacon fan. There’s a place near my house in Boulder that does it just right every time. Crunchy, but not overdone. Mm.”
“Oh, I’m a fan. Crunchy bacon is a magical animal, so to speak.”
“Ha. So to speak indeed.” Cole put his fork down. “Yep. I’m so done.”
He ate two more bites of steak and some veg. “Yeah, I think I might be too, but it was worth it.”
He looked like a snake that had swallowed a bus.
“Completely worth it. This was one of my better business dinners. You’re so agreeable.”
Huh. That worked for him. He didn’t want to fight, and he didn’t want to be ugly, so… Yeah.
“Thanks.”
“I’m going to send you a management contract tomorrow. You should read it well; feel free to have a lawyer look at it if you like, though I promise I’m fair, and I’m sure Rocky told you that as well. And once that’s signed and back to me, I’ll get to work. Sound good?”
“Sounds fine. I’m in.” He’d have the barrel man look at it; he was a demon with contracts.
“I am also in. And I’m here all weekend to watch you ride.” Cole smiled at him. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever want to do that again.”
“Well, I’m glad you were brave. Honestly. I know it’s a challenge after someone dies.” It happened to all of them.
“Dies like that.” Cole stared at a table and nodded slowly. “Yeah.” A breath went by, and when Cole looked up, he blinked a couple of times, then smiled. “I know what he’d want. Watching you reminded me.”
“Well, I’m glad. For all of us. No one deserves to lose their chance to be happy.” At least he hoped not. He didn’t want to be miserable, and he didn’t want anyone else to be either.
“Hm. No. I think you’re right.” Cole waved for the server and handed off his credit card. “Sleep late tomorrow. You have some digesting to do.”
“Thank you for supper. I really appreciate it, you know?”
Cole got his card back and signed, then pushed his chair back. “My pleasure. You’re excellent company.”
He blushed, and he had to beam. It felt good to hear that. Damn good.
Cole gave their server a nod as they left and picked up a peppermint from the host stand on their way out.
“Garlic breath, ho!” he teased.
“Peppermint. The garlic eraser.” Cole popped it in his mouth.
“You know it.” Too bad he didn’t love mint enough to have the carbs. Dammit.
“Oh, its drizzling. Yuck.” Cole picked up the pace as they headed to the car. Cole wasn’t tall, but his legs were definitely longer.
He wasn’t going to melt, but he was totally going to get way more wet than Cole was. Dammit.
But Cole unlocked the doors and opened his for him. “Come on, cowboy.” Cole held out one arm to sweep him right into the rental car, then closed the door.
“Whew.” He brushed the raindrops off his good hat. “Lord have mercy.”
That was the sweetest thing ever.
“Right? Glad it’s an indoor arena. Riding in the mud is no fun.” Cole pulled out of the parking lot. “Your hat okay? I wasn’t expecting rain.”
“It’s great. Just a couple three drops, you know? Thanks for asking.” Cole was just about a sweetheart.
“So how long before you’re allowed to eat like that again?” The drive to the hotel was short. It was already in sight, just up the road a bit.
“I’ll probably have something tasty Sunday night, if I win.” Tomorrow, he’d want something easy—maybe an omelet from the hotel restaurant.
“Sounds great. Okay, you got your boots?” Cole pulled up under the porte-cochère, where it was dry, to drop him off.
“Did you want to share the suite? You’re welcome to.” He didn’t mind. He wasn’t using the other bed.
Cole blinked at him. “Oh. Well, I don’t have my things with me so I better head back tonight, but thank you.”
“You’re welcome, if you change your mind…” He offered Cole a grin. “You know where I am.”
“I do. Thank you. Have a good evening. Sleep well.”
“You too!” He waved and headed into the hotel, neatly side-skirting the afterparty that was still swinging. He wasn’t interested, at all.
He just wanted to digest and nap.