Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Destry.
The sun was barely up when I pulled into the fairgrounds. The place was already chaotic as hell. Riders getting ready, bulls being led to the pens, and dust coating everything.
I climbed out of my truck, adjusting my hat, and stretched to shake off the stiffness from last night. My clothes were the same as always, jeans broken in just right, boots scuffed, but today my button-up rocked the patches of my sponsors.
I scanned the grounds, looking for Savvy before I could even stop myself because she was already a habit, one I didn’t want to break. She wasn’t anywhere to be found but I wasn’t surprised, she was one of the few who took this job seriously. I had a bull to ride, but I still found myself checking the stables and the tack room as I moved through the place.
That damn kiss had fucked up my focus and I wasn’t even mad about it. The best part was she hadn’t pushed me away or cussed me out. She let herself be in the moment just for a second and that was enough to let me know I wanted more.
I pushed the thought away, shaking my head. I needed to get my mind right and make it through this first round. I found Jace near the chutes, already talking to one of the wranglers. He looked up when he saw me, tipping his hat back looking amused as hell.
“You look a little too relaxed for a man who’s about to tempt fate.”
I shrugged. “It’s just another ride.”
He snorted. “Tell that to that bull you’re about to be on.”
I didn’t answer.
Jace studied me for a second, then laughed. “You’re up second, riding Devil’s Chance.”
I nodded. Devil’s Chance was mean but not the worst in the lineup. He had a nasty habit twisting and ramming shit but I’d seen his pattern before. Nothing I couldn’t handle.
Jace left me alone, knowing my process. I didn’t want to talk.
“I’ll make sure everything’s set up. Try to stay from up under that damn bull when you land.”
“I don’t wanna fuck up this pretty face so I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jace laughed and walked off, leaving me to get in the zone.
I had just finished adjusting my glove when I heard someone approaching.
Colt Westin.
Cocky ass muthafucker was headed my way. We had been trading wins for years. It was the kind of rivalry that kept things interesting. He liked to act like he already had the buckle in his hands before the first ride even started.
He stopped in front of me with his arms crossed. “Still riding in my shadow?”
I was unbothered. “Your perception is skewed as fuck?”
Colt grinned. “You know you’re just here to make my win look better.”
I chuckled. “I’m just here to ride a bull.”
“That has always been your problem. You’re here to ride, I’m here to win.”
“Riding is winning but you already know that.”
His smug ass attitude dropped before he walked off.
An hour later, the arena was packed. The crowd was loud and restless. The sound of boots hitting the metal bleachers relaxed me, oddly enough. That shit kept me grounded. These people came to see a show and I was about to give them one.
I climbed up onto the chute, settling onto Devil’s Chance, rolling my neck as I adjusted my grip. The bull snorted beneath me and I could feel his muscles twitching and body coiled tight.
I pulled my hat lower, squeezed the rope and grounded myself.
All I had to do was stay in control.
Jace leaned over the fence. “You ready?”
I nodded once and he motioned to the wranglers that it was time. They watched the clock until the signal hit and the gate swung open. The damn bull shot out hard with his back legs kicking up high. I moved with him, keeping my grip firm, and let my body roll into the motion instead of fighting it.
Two seconds.
He jerked left and twisted hard to the right. I anticipated it, shifting just in time to stay ahead of him.
Four seconds.
I felt his power beneath me, wild but contained. I had him.
Six seconds.
The bull twisted again, kicking high, trying to shake me loose. This muthafucker was mad as hell. The crowd was on their feet but the sound of them blended into the rush of the ride.
Eight seconds.
The buzzer sounded, and I let go, throwing myself clear just as Devil’s Chance bucked again.
I hit the ground hard and rolled once before pushing to my feet, my chest heaving and adrenaline pushing through my veins.
The crowd erupted, cheers and whistles crashed over me but I barely heard them.
I didn’t ride for the crowd and most days not even the buckle. I rode because I loved the fight. It was a gotdamn adrenaline rush.
Jace was grinning at the fence, shaking his head. “You did that shit, bruh.”
“You act like you didn’t think I would.”
The scoreboard lit up, flashing my name and points, keeping me in the top five. I barely had time to let it sink in before my eyes went back to the stands, searching again. Still no sign of Savvy.
I shook off the lingering frustration then grinned because why the fuck was I still stuck on this woman.
One ride down.
Now, I could focus on finding her. I had already put my ride behind me. First round was locked in so I went to find my next adrenaline rush. I spotted Savvy near the stables carrying a saddle across the grounds. Her shoulders were tight and her expression was strained like she was trying to do too much at once.
I grinned.
Time to slow her ass down. I cut across the dirt path, stepping into her space just as she was about to pass. She stopped abruptly, barely avoiding the collision.
She huffed, shifting the weight of the saddle in her arms. "I’m in a hurry."
I braced a hand against the stall door beside her, blocking her in just enough to make her look up at me.
"You look like you’re about to pass out. Take a breath, lil Rebel."
She groaned but didn’t curse me the fuck out.
"Happy now?" she muttered.
I took the saddle from her arms before she could argue.
"I need that."
"It’s not going anywhere..” I set the saddle down on a bale of hay.
She rolled her eyes but didn’t fight me. "This place is insane. I’ve been running around all day, and I swear, no one tells me anything until it’s already late."
I nodded, watching the way she finally started to relax, her body was no longer as tense.
"Welcome to the rodeo. It’s chaos, but I love this shit."
She sighed, shaking her head. "I don’t know how y’all do this every year."
"We get used to it. You will too."
“If I survive this one.”
For a second, we just stood there with the noise of the fairgrounds taking over. She was frustrated and had only been at it for a few hours but at least she wasn’t running from me.
"Congrats on the win, by the way."
I grinned. "You saw the ride?"
"No but I didn’t need to. It’s your first round. I already knew you’d win."
Her confidence in me threw me for a second, mostly because she’d admitted it.
“Damn, that actually sounded like you were impressed.”
She stepped around me. "You’re good. No need in pretending you’re not."
I should go. She reached for the saddle but I caught her wrist and pulled her right back before she could get away.
She barely had time to react before I leaned in, letting one hand grip the side of her waist and the other met the back of her neck before I kissed her.
She sucked in a small breath, but she didn’t push me away and just like last night she softened just for a second, before she caught herself and pulled back, blinking fast like she was trying to reset.
I grinned, watching her scramble to pull that shit together.
"Would you stop doing that?”
I chuckled, leaning in close again. “I would if I thought you didn’t like it but clearly you do. See you later, lil Rebel," I murmured, stepping back just enough to let her breathe.
She narrowed her eyes. "Why do I feel like you’re going to be a problem?"
"Because I am," I said easily.
Her brows pinched. "I don’t need problems?"
“But you need me.”
“No I don’t.”
"Yeah you do, but you’ll find out later.”
"Destry—"
"Savvy!" Someone called her name, interrupting our moment and it pissed me off. She turned toward the voice, clearly torn, but the job won.
With one last I hate you glare, she shook her head and hurried off, disappearing into the thick of the rodeo.
I watched her go with my smirk deepening because she was about to find out I was the best and worst problem she would ever have.