Chapter 22
Bodie ducked out of the meeting with the police, needing to make his ride. He didn’t have a bunch to say, really.
He’d been a good guy. He’d stopped a bad guy from shooting him. He’d gone upstairs.
Now he had to work, and he was leaving town. Yes, he would return for a trial, but no, he wasn’t staying here.
“Heard someone tried to shoot you yesterday.” Pete Church gave him a grin. “Was it a bad guy?”
“Nope. Angel. They gave him a medal.” Can’t you back the fuck off?
“Kind of ruins the fun for the rest of us to have security all over, you know.”
“Sorry. Bitch at the asshole who pulled the gun.” Don’t. Push.
Church narrowed his eyes. “Something like that can really get in your head, you know? Mess with your ride.”
“Yeah, I guess. That’s why I’m a pro, kid. You just ride your bulls.” He was not going to explode.
Not.
“We’ll see how long you can hold out.” Church snorted and started to walk away, but stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Or I suppose I could ask your manager about your stamina.”
“Go for it, boy.” He drawled the word out as offensively as he could. “Report back.”
Church was all talk, and he knew it. And one of the great things about being the guy that never got in a fight was that no one knew what you were actually capable of if you did.
“I just might, Jimenez.” Church laughed and walked away.
Tommy Phillips walked past him, the Aussie bullfighter rolling his eyes. “Oi, don’t let the fucker get to you. He’s an arsehole.”
“You’re telling me, man.” He wasn’t worried. “You ready for NOLA?”
“You know it! Booze, shrimp, dancing—I’m in.” Tommy shook his ass playfully. “Good ride, cowboy. I’ll be there for the catch.”
“Thanks, man.” He nodded and tipped his hat. That was right. Calm the fuck down.
“Sorry I’m—I got caught up with a sponsor for—whoa. Why do you look like someone tried to shoot you again?” Cole resisted the urge to touch him, but just barely. He saw it.
He rolled his eyes, giving Cole a grin. “Church was starting shit. Watch your back. He’s gunning for you.”
“Let him. I know his manager.” Cole gave him a grin and a confident wink. “Don’t worry about that little shit.”
“You know I won’t. He’s just a baby.” He rolled his eyes. “I am ready to get the hell out of here.”
“Ride like hell, babe. And then we’re on the road.” Cole gave him a nod, then looked back over his shoulder as he walked away. “I’ll be watching!”
He snorted and headed out to the chutes, climbing up to take his place as champ for the introductions.
Hawk Destry stood up there, the former champ holding on to the stand with a death grip.
“You okay, Destry?”
“Yeah. You’ll help me down after, man?”
He nodded, then rolled his eyes at himself. The son of a bitch was blind. He knew that. “Of course. Where’s your man?”
“He’s got a sick stomach. He’s in the room.”
“I got you, no worries.” They didn’t come any braver than that one. He won his final championship knowing he was going blind. Being up here with guys like Hawk made guys like Church insignificant.
“Thanks, man. Seriously. I appreciate it.”
He nodded, then sighed again. “Anytime, my friend.”
Dealing with blind folks was tough.
“Here come the lights, smile for the camera.” He took off his hat and waved it and the crowd cheered.
They prayed and sang the anthem, and then he was helping Hawk down the steep stairs, handing him off to a suit from the league. “You good, man?”
“Perfect. Thanks.”
“You look it. Have a great day.” He eyed the chutes.
“Good ride.”
“Thank you.” He normally would have nodded, but Hawk wasn’t going to see that.
He went to lean against the chutes and watch the rides. He was riding in the last section, so he had time to spare. Cole was in his seat, taking notes on his phone, and stealing glances at him, making him smile.
It was a little strange to know that Cole’s notes were about other riders, and trying to land the next potential champion. After he retired, of course. That was Cole’s job after all, and he had the cred to land anyone. He wondered who Cole might be looking at.
Not Church.
Maybe Doug. Doug was smart, but not the best at sticking on the back of a bull…
Oh, maybe Kurt. Kurt won last weekend and was nipping at his heels. Well, not nipping, but they were in spitting distance.
Was he jealous?
Maybe.
Maybe he was. He wanted to be… the best in Cole’s mind.
Then he caught Cole’s eye and got another smile, and realized he didn’t need to be jealous. Riding was a job, and yeah, being the best meant he made bank, but Cole wasn’t with him because he was the champ. That was the reason they met, but it wasn’t the reason they were together.
It wasn’t the reason Cole was in his bed.
That was soul deep.
That was love.
He grinned, because how could he not smile? He was in love.
“Jimenez? Hey, Bodie!” Buck was waving at him. “Quit day-dreaming and come on.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah!” God, had he been woolgathering that long? Damn.
His cheeks were burning when he headed over to Buck. “Man, I’m ready to head out.”
Buck snorted. “I can tell!”
“Is Jim on my rope?”
“Jim’s on your rope; your bull is being loaded. Take a breath, champ. This one is yours.” Buck gave him a hard clap on the shoulder.
“Yeah, yeah.” He needed to get his mind in the middle. The last thing he wanted was an injury this late in the game, dammit.
“Show him who’s boss, Bodie!”
He knew that voice, and he gave Cole a distracted wave just so Cole knew he’d been heard.
“Up, down, and you’re outta here, cowboy,” Jim said, helping him with his rope.
“Yep. Eight seconds for the win.” He rosined up his rope, rocking back and forth on the bull’s back, getting his legs down. He just needed to stick in the middle.
He took a deep breath, feeling the bull underneath him, and waiting to nod.
The gate swung open, and he let his breath out in a rush.
One. Two. Three. He kept his arm up, focusing on the rhythm of the buck and spin.
He had this.
He hoped.
“Six. Seven. Eight. Woo!” Cole shouted from the stands. He couldn’t hear anything else, but he heard that. “Let him go, Bodie!”
He opened his hand, but it didn’t pop out of the bull rope. Oh, fuck no. He was not doing this.
Bodie bore down, yanking hard.
“Oi!” Tommy tossed an arm over the bull, reaching for the loose end of his rope and working it toward his fingers. “Lean away, mate. Away. That’s it.”
“Coming loose!” He went flying off the back, and the bull’s hooves connected with his butt, sending him soaring through the air.
Which was great until he hit the ground.
Still, he wasn’t broke, so he got up and started running. He climbed the fence, laughing in sheer relief.
Okay, he’d ridden. Go team him.
A second later, the confetti cannons went off and the crowd went nuts.
Oh, that was the cue to cheer and pump his fists. So, he did it, ignoring his muscles that insisted he was sore.
“You lived for another day, mate.” Tommy gave him a shove, playing it up so that it looked harder than it was.
“Go team me.” He hauled himself over the fence, shaking folks’ hands on the way.
“Thank you, everyone. The champ will see you at the next event.” Cole was suddenly at his elbow, escorting him through the crowd. “Thank you. Excuse us.”
“Gear’s in the truck. Need to go.” He didn’t want to play anymore.
“Yeah. Come on. Are you okay? You want me to drive?” Cole led him out a side exit, and they headed straight for the truck.
“Just jostled. I’m fine. Not injured, yeah? Just rattled.”
“You do seem rattled. Tommy was there for you, you’re good. I’ll drive for a bit.”
“Works for me. I rode. I made some points and some money. That’ll do.” It would have to, because he was restless and ready to be on the road.
“Grab a water from the back.” Cole unlocked the truck and headed for the driver’s side. “I bet you feel better once we’re moving.”
“You know it.” He wasn’t sure why he was stressed—that wasn’t true. He had helped a girl in trouble, had a gun pulled on him, and had Church sort of threaten Cole out of the side of his mouth.
What he needed was a reset, and New Orleans was just the place to get one.
Cole drove right out of the parking lot, only waving at people he would normally roll the window down for any other day.
“We can drive until we’re ready to stop. Then we’ll get a hotel room.” He smiled at Cole and drank his water. It was time to go.