Chapter 20
Bodie’s weekend was going straight to hell.
He’d covered one bull, but not the other, and his head was pounding like a naked gnome was jackhammering in his skull. The last thing on earth he needed was to go to the fucking after-party.
Cole wasn’t going to give him an out, though, and he knew it. It wasn’t even worth asking. The sponsors were going to want to see him there.
“Rough weekend, babe, I know.” Cole’s hand ghosted over his shoulders. “We can keep it short.”
“Yeah, because my temper is fraying a little.” And he didn’t need to fight, and he didn’t want to dance. He wanted to go upstairs and have some mindless TV and relax.
“That’s saying something because you hardly have a temper. Can I get you a drink?”
“Please. Nothing too hard. I don’t want my lips to fly off my face and say anything nasty.” That would be a terrible thing. He hated letting the fans see the real man behind the cowboy.
“Mm, no. I like them where they are.” Cole gave him a grin and slipped off to the bar.
He’d barely had a chance to survey the room before Pete Church moved in next to him. “Looks like things are going well with your new manager. I’m seeing your face everywhere lately.”
“That’s his job.” He did not say what he wanted, which was fuck off, you asshole, but he thought it.
Loud.
He and Church had been in more than one run-in. Church was loud and cocky and thought that being a cowboy meant being a shit.
He knew better.
“Well, he’s good at his job. Hopefully, he sticks to it. Rumor was he and Rocky were… you know.” Church crossed his arms.
He arched one eyebrow. “Are you gossiping about the dead? That’s classy, man.”
“Come on, everybody liked Rocky, but he was kind of a weird one, right?” Church leaned closer and lowered his voice. “And everyone knows Bates is queer as a three-dollar bill. I’d watch yourself.”
“Church, I suggest you turn around and walk away. I don’t hold with gossip, I don’t hold with bullshit, and I’m not talking to your bigoted ass.” Fucker.
“Man, everything they say about you is true too. You really are no fun. Enjoy the party. Hope you ride better tomorrow.” Church laughed and shook his head before sauntering away in no hurry.
His fingers curled into fists, and he rumbled softly, damn near baring his teeth. “Lousy motherfucker.”
“Whoa, cowboy.” Cole was suddenly at his elbow. “I brought you a beer. What did I miss? Unclench those fists before you’re tempted to use them.”
“I was being warned off from your gay self, honey. You watch that son of a bitch Church. He’s a bastard.” And a bigot.
Cole snorted. “Rowdy told me about him. And he’s not wrong. You better watch out. I might try to kiss you later.”
“Oh, only might?” He didn’t know what he’d do, honestly. Would he panic? He didn’t think so. He hoped not. But he didn’t know for sure.
“Ha. You’re a brave cowboy, but I’m not going to make you be that brave in front of fans. Not tonight, anyway. I’ll get you alone soon enough.” Cole raised an eyebrow. “Take a deep breath, babe, you look like you’re ready to explode.”
“Sorry. Sorry, I hate ugliness, you know?” He didn’t hold with assholes, and he didn’t need any more aggravation right now.
“I get it. I do. Maybe you want a shot of something stronger than that beer after all?”
“Hey, Bodie. Rough day for you, but even that would have been average for most guys.” Brent Ayers had a beer in one hand and offered the other to shake.
“Thanks, Brent. Can’t be on fire every time, right?” This was a game of attrition. Hold on. Gain points. Don’t get hurt.
Brent chuckled. “Gotta give the other guys some hope?”
He grinned and bowed, oh so dramatic. “Yessir! You’ve caught me out.”
“Well, I’m not worried. It’s all good for business. Looking forward to the next one.” Brent grinned and clinked beers with him, nodded to Cole, and stepped away.
“Could do a lot worse in a sponsor.” Cole stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and he smelled like Irish Spring.
“I let you make those decisions. I just ride and smile a lot.” He offered Cole a wink, letting himself relax a little.
“How about I give you another chance at a ride tonight?” Cole said that with a completely straight face and sipped his beer.
He let his eyebrows lift up and up, but he couldn’t fight his smile for love or money. “Eight seconds for the win?”
“Fuck, no. This one is a bigger challenge. I’m thinking at least two minutes. At least.”
“Maybe we should shoot for ten.” He might as well be hung for a sheep as well as a lamb.
“Ambitious. I like it.” Cole scanned the crowd. “Who do you feel like you need to talk to?”
“I usually just stand still and let them come to me. I’m the champ, right? That’s what Sky recommended. Be a little proud.”
Cole nodded. “Sky would know. And you should be proud. Even after a bummer day, you’re still the champ.”
“I am. It’s still a little weird, you know? I wanted to be the champ so bad, and then—”
A teenaged girl who was made up to look older walked up to him. “Excuse me, would you like to dance?”
Oh, man. He hated turning the teenagers down, but he didn’t need that type of trouble. “I’ve tweaked my ankle or I so would. I’m babying it for tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” She glanced back over her shoulder at an older man with a hard face.
“You okay, girl? Do you need help?” He wasn’t stupid. He knew that girls got in trouble.
Cole stiffened a bit beside him. “You can stay here and talk. Who is he?”
“I—My boyfriend?”
“Huh. Well, you can sit here and chat with us.” He texted Cody Ball, their league president, with,
Bodie
problem @ afterparty. Bring help
“Are you a fan?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve been watching you ride for a long time.” She sighed. “And thank you.”
His phone vibrated, Cody texting him back.
Cody
On the way, got Buck and his buddies
“It’s going to be all right. You picked the right cowboy. No one’s going to let you get hurt. Okay?” He didn’t know the situation, and he didn’t care. She was just a kid, and he didn’t hold with anyone hurting young folks. Or old folks.
Or folks.
“Can I get you something to drink? A Coke?” Cole gestured over his shoulder.
“I better not.” She glanced over her shoulder again.
“Okay, just keep talking. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? Get my… attention?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then we’ll just sit here and chat like we got nothin’ but time.” He wasn’t scared. No man could hit like a two-thousand-pound bull, and he was surrounded by his people, friends or no.
And it wasn’t another minute or two before Cody came strolling in with Buck, who was a big man, and two of the bull handlers. “Evenin’,” Cody said casually. His posse stopped a couple of feet behind him.
“Hey, y’all. How’s it going? This here is—” He tilted his head. “What’s your name, honey?”
“Kaitlin.”
“This is Kaitlin. She’s got a bit of a situation, you hear me? She needs somewhere safe to be.”
“I understand. You’re not here alone, Kaitlin?”
“No, sir.”
Cole lifted his chin in the direction of the guy who had sent her over.
“Ah. You stay here. We’ll be back.”
Cody sauntered in the direction of the man with Buck and the boys at his back. There was a very short conversation that was difficult to see around them, no scene, and after a few minutes, all of them left together except Cody, who made his way back over. “The bigger they are…”
“Yes, sir. Honey, do you have family you want us to call?”
“My mom… she’ll hate me.”
Cody snorted. “I doubt that. Let’s go find Maddie, you can sit with her while we make some phone calls.”
“Have a good night, Kaitlin.” Cole gave her a nod.
“Thank you. Thank you for—you’re nice. I’ll remember that.”
“I’m just a cowboy, kiddo, but if you need me, you call.” He handed her his phone. “I’ll answer.”
Her eyes went wide but she called herself, then put her info into his phone too. “Thank you, Mr. Jimenez. I hope you win everything.”
Cody rolled his eyes at him playfully over her head where she couldn’t see. “Enjoy your beer.” Cody and Kaitlin headed for the door together.
“I’m thinking standing here and letting them come to you is a sketchy strategy.”
He glanced at Cole and shrugged. “I can’t let that pass. Not ever.”
Cole lowered his voice. “Are you ready to get out of here? Because if you get any more sexy I’m going to embarrass myself.”
“Let’s go. I want to be alone with you.” He nodded and put his beer on a table.
The job the good Lord had put him there to do was done.
Cole’s bottle landed solidly on the table right next to his. “Go on, babe, I’m right behind you.”
He headed out of the party and across the lobby, focused on getting them to the elevator.
They’d made it about halfway across when the ‘boyfriend’ came rushing them, a pistol in hand, a roar filling the air.
Bodie didn’t even hesitate. He stepped in, slamming the bastard’s gun arm up before cold-cocking him and laying him out flat, then stomping the hand that still held the gun.
The crunching of bones was marvelously satisfying.
“Jesus fucking—” Cole pulled out his phone and fumbled it, dropping it on the ground. “You got him?” Cole picked his phone up again and made a call. It was hardly necessary; security was there in a second.
“I want to press charges. The asshole tried to shoot me.” And he already had a fucking headache.
“Sir, can you stop stepping on him?”
“Oh, sure.” He could probably do that. He stepped away, maybe pushing off the littlest bit, because he could.
Cole stuffed his phone back in his pocket with a sigh. “We’re not going upstairs any time soon, are we?”
“I’m going. The cops can call me. I need a glass of milk and a shower.” And he wasn’t going to wait here, dammit.
“Hang on.” Cole gave his shoulder a pat and went to talk to security. He handed over a business card, shook hands, then came back and nodded. “They’ll call in the morning.”
“Perfect. Let’s go.” He had had enough.
The elevator was right there. Right. Fucking. There.
“In.” Cole gave him a nudge, then hit the close-door button and the doors closed more or less in another couple’s face. Cole didn’t sound too apologetic. “Oops.”
“Yeah. That was… fascinating.” His heart seemed like it was trip-hammering.
“Are you okay?” He wasn’t even sure Cole was okay. His man looked pretty pale. “That was… I mean, fuck. Bulls are dangerous enough.”
“Right? But pimps are worse. I don’t like it.” In fact, he was not into this at all.
“Well, no, and since when is that a thing at an after-party? I’ve never seen it.”
“I have heard about it, and we have protocols, in case. No one wants that to happen at an event.” And he’d done everything right, he hoped.
“With any luck, they’ll all know better next time. I hope that girl is all right.” Cole used his keycard and opened the hotel room door.
“She will be. I hope she gets home to her momma.” He hoped it was safe.
“Yeah, me too.” Cole closed the door, locked it, checked the lock, and put the chain on too.
“Good deal. I’m going to shower and then call for a snack and a drink, okay?” He was beginning to feel a little adrenaline-shocky.
“How about I come with you? I don’t really want to let you out of my sight right now anyway.” Cole followed him, keeping close.
“I would love that.” He grabbed Cole and hugged him, hard. “Damn Sam.”
Cole sighed in his arms and hugged him back. “I worried about you all fucking weekend and then this? What the hell, babe?”
“Luck? Incredibly lucky?” He leaned up and kissed Cole’s jaw. Fuck, that had been a friggin’ mess.
“Some kind of luck.” Cole caught his nape and kissed him. “You smell like a barn, babe.”
“I feel like I’m all stress sweat, man.” He tugged Cole toward the bathroom. “Water. Soap. More kisses.”
“All of the above. And I did promise you something.” Cole’s tone was teasing even through the worry.
“You did, but first we’re going to breathe together a second, huh?” He cupped Cole’s ass and squeezed it.
Cole nodded, letting him go. “Maybe even a whole minute.” Cole toed off his shoes. “I’ll get the water going.”
“Sounds good.” He left his wallet and his phone in the bedroom, stripping off and trying not to think too hard.
His heart hurt.
He heard the shower start and then Cole came back out and hung his clothes over a chair as he undressed. They were quiet as they headed for the shower together, hand in hand.
The temptation to just not ride tomorrow was huge. He wouldn’t, because he needed the points, but dammit, he just wanted to get the hell out of Dodge.
The bathroom was already misty with the hot shower, and he felt himself relax, his tension automatically easing.
“We’re going to step into this shower and forget everything that happened today. The whole damn day. And when we step out, it’s just going to be you and me, a comfy bed and a really nice snuggle.” Cole held open the shower door for him.
“Yes. You and me, bed, possibly a beer.” He was in. He loved this man, and he wanted to breathe with Cole.
“Time will tell.” Cole followed him in, maneuvered him under the spray and kissed him, gentle and slow. It was the easiest thing ever to step in, cuddle with Cole, and hold on tight.
Just let it go. All he had to do was trust in their embrace.