Chapter 10
“Roper? Roper, you’re supposed to be at a signing in five minutes, boy. I will beat your ass.”
They were waiting to check into the hotel, and Ryder glanced up, meeting Cord’s eyes.
“Wrong twin.”
“No. No, you are not doing this to me again! He’s retired. He’s not here. You are always—”
Ryder winked at Mister Charlie and shook his head as Cord ranted and railed.
Poor man. Roper had broken him a decade ago.
“Excuse me. Hello?” Charles stuck out a hand. “Hi. I’m Charles Martin, and I can promise you this is the retired twin.”
Cord stood there for a second, eyes huge, neck going deep red, veins sticking out. “I hate twins. Hate them. You tell your brothers they are not allowed on tour!”
Charles pulled his hand back, looking a little taken aback. “Well, it’s uh…been a pleasure.”
“Cord! You be nice. Mister Charlie here has paid for his ticket, and so have I. Don’t you be rude.” He wouldn’t stand for that nonsense. Cord was raised better.
Cord blinked again, turned a deep purple, then nodded and held out his hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Cord Gruene. Pleased to meet you. I hope you have an amazing night.”
Charles shook, still looking a little unsure of Cord and glanced at him before speaking. “Thanks. I do too. I’ll keep this twin out of your hair, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that. One is enough. Sorry, Ry.”
“No worries. I’ll make sure Roper’s at the signing booth.” It had been his job for years, after all.
“So when you’re not working for me, you’re working for him?” Charles’s tone was teasing. “And… Mister Charlie, hm?”
“What?” Had he said that out loud? Seriously? “I just check on him. He gets into trouble.”
“I imagine he’s been surviving without you for a while.”
“You’d think so.” He found a smile, but part of him was a little worried. “I’m not talking to him on your time, I swear. I’m just a brother.”
Charles put a warm hand on his arm. “Ryder, you can talk to him any time you please. There is no ‘on my time’ when it comes to family.”
He took a deep breath, then reached out and patted Charles’s arm. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
He didn’t know how to say no when Roper asked.
Charles gave him a nod. “Okay. So, who was that guy? Really?”
“He’s the sponsor liaison. He has a terrible job. He has to make the sponsors happy and make cowboys show up on time.” It was a pointless job.
“Oh? And is he actually able to fulfill either purpose?” Charles seemed to be catching on quickly.
“Nope. Not a chance. He’s always yelling or getting yelled at.” No fun at all.
“No wonder he was in such a poor humor. I hope he is well compensated for his efforts.”
“I guess?” He didn’t know. He didn’t really care what all the guys in all the moving parts made. No one ever bitched, so it had to be good.
“So what’s first after we check in? The initial round is tonight?”
“I got us a suite, so we can go on to the room, get cleaned up, and then we can go see all the vendors, have a snack, whatever you want.” He wanted to go say hi to folks, introduce Charles around. “The event starts at seven, and we have family seats.”
“Family seats sound very nice. I want to see everything, so I am letting you lead the way.”
They finally made it up to the desk and got checked in. Charles signed all the paperwork and didn’t blink at the cost of the suite.
The bellman took their bags, and they wandered toward the elevator banks.
“Ryder? Ryder, is that you?” Mackey, the head bullfighter waved at him. The man was magical. He could always tell them apart.
“Mackey!” He waved back, and Charles turned to follow as he went to say hello.
“That no good brother of yours didn’t tell me you’d be here. Does he know?” Mackey looked at Charles and held out a hand. “Mackey. Pleased.”
“Charles. Likewise.” Charles shook with him.
“He knows. He’s… Roper.”
“He’s a shit, but we all love him. You’re looking so much better than last time we saw you. Y’all heading up?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Me too. I left my knee pads upstairs.” Mackey chuckled and shook his head.
Charles held the elevator door for the bellman and everyone else. “Interesting. Are knee pads standard gear for bull riders?”
“I’m a bullfighter. Cowboy protection. I work for a living, right, Ry?”
“You know it.” Ryder owed Mackey and the other bullfighters his life. “Mackey is the head bullfighter. He keeps us safe.”
“That sounds like quite a responsibility. You’ll have to forgive my ignorance; this is, in fact, my first rodeo.” Charles was proud of that little joke he could tell, and it was adorable.
“Oh, wow. Good deal! Well, Ry here knows every inch of the show. He won’t steer you wrong.” Mackey chuckled softly. “You got yourself the good one, for sure. Roper is…wild and wooly.”
Oh God…
Charles looked amused. “Have I? Good to know.”
The elevator opened on their floor, saving him from whatever Mackey might have said next.
“See you tonight, Mackey.”
“Yessir. Y’all have fun.” Mackey waved, and they headed down to their suite.
“I got myself the good one?” Charles was grinning as he opened the suite door.
“Well…” Shit. “Roper is not really suited to this sort of thing…”
At all.
“Good twin, bad twin? I’ve heard of such things. I’m even more curious to meet him. Oh. The suite is quite nice.” Charles let the bellman bring the suitcases into the room, then slipped him a tip. “Thank you.”
“Thanks. He’ll run up and meet you in a bit, if that’s okay.” He was nervous for Charles to meet Roper, a little bit.
Roper was far more interesting than he was.
“He doesn’t need to go out of his way. I’m sure he’s busy.”
“He’s staying two floors down. I let him know to text when he was done signing posters.”
“All right then. We can get settled in the meantime.” Charles looked around. “Which room is mine?”
“The bigger one. It’s got a Jacuzzi tub, and it’s supposed to have the good view.” And Mister Charlie deserved those.
“Oh, very nice.” Charles dragged his suitcase into the bedroom. “Yes, very nice, indeed. Am I dressed appropriately? Should I change?”
Did Mister Charlie even own jeans?
“This is casual—jeans and a button-down, or a T-shirt. Be comfortable. I can iron for you, if you need it.”
Charles popped his head out of the bedroom. “Casual merits an iron?”
He shrugged. “I iron my jeans to crease them.”
His shirts were pre-starched at the cleaners.
“I had noticed that when we went to the party at Victor’s, but I thought that was considered dressy. Interesting.” Charles disappeared again. “I think mine are fine. No one would ever mistake me for a cowboy anyway.”
“Rodeo fans come from all over the world. Don’t worry on it. You’ll be perfect.”
“I know I’ll have fun, in any case. I feel like a VIP sitting in the family section with a retired rider, watching people you know.
I’ve been eagerly anticipating this weekend since we talked about it.
” Charles had been talking from behind a partially closed door.
When he came back out, he was wearing jeans, black boots with a thick sole, and a black button-down shirt. “Does this work?”
Oh, wasn’t that a pretty sight. “Yes, sir. You’re right as rain. Let me go switch shirts right quick, so we can be ready for whatever.”
Every so often, Charles made him swallow hard.
His phone vibrated with a text from Roper as he was getting changed.
Roper
I’m about to knock!
And, with basically no warning, there was a loud knock on the door.
“Is that Roper? I’ll get it.”
“Okay.” He hurried to unbutton his shirt, hearing Roper’s voice ring out.
“You’re Mister Charlie! Pleased. You’re cute as all get out. How’s it going? Have you put Ryder over your knee yet?”
“Have I—well. Goodness. You must be Roper. I prefer Charles, if you don’t mind.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
Ryder
Don’t get me fired, man. I like this job
He heard Roper’s phone ding, then, “Oh, sure. Of course. Sorry. Sorry, I’m just playing. Ry has said tons of great things about you. I’m glad you came out. This is a solid event.”
Oh, better.
He got his shirt on and buttoned, then he started tucking in.
“Well, I certainly am looking forward to it. Come in, please. Would you like something to drink? I believe you’ll find soda and water in the mini-fridge. Ryder is just changing after our trip.”
Roper didn’t drink before he rode. It made him puke.
“Oh, that’s kind, but I never drink before I ride, thanks.”
He opened the door, and there was his twin. God, it had been weeks.
“Ry. Damn. You look amazing.” Roper hugged him tight. “Missed you.”
“Yeah.” He couldn’t hardly talk.
He was surprised how well Charles read the room. “You know, we need some ice. I saw a machine down the hall. I’ll be right back.” Charles picked up the ice bucket and the door closed softly behind him.
“He’s cute.”
“Still. Nice.”
“Sorry. Headaches?”
“Not as bad. Your shoulder?”
“Hurts.”
“Doc?”
“Nah.”
Their conversation flew fast and furious, both of them knowing the answers to things before the other asked the questions.
“Standings are good.”
“I’m riding good.” Roper sighed. “Still doesn’t feel right with you not here.”
“I hear you.” But he couldn’t just follow Roper around and not ride.
His wreck had damn near killed him. He wouldn’t survive another one. Hell, he was still supposed to be wearing a helmet, or so the Doc said.
His brain was solid, and his skull was…okay.
“Yeah.” Roper nodded, hearing his thoughts. “But you got a good thing going now. Seriously, has he spanked you yet?” Roper grinned wide, changing the subject as only he could.
“Shut up. He isn’t—he’s a new widower.” Ryder was pretty sure that Charles wasn’t into sex, and if he was, he was going for someone classy. “I’m the help, Bubba.”
“That’s not creepy.”
“It’s what it is. It’s okay. I like him.”
Roper gave him a bit of the hairy eyeball but let it go.
“Found the ice.” Charles came back in and set the bucket down on top of the mini-fridge. “The two of you really do look alike. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t get you confused like that gentleman we met earlier though.”
“No? That would be a trick. Mackey’s the only one who doesn’t. Right, Ry?”
He nodded. “Even Momma can’t tell.”
“Oh, I don’t believe that for a second. But you can test me at some point and see how it goes.” Charles winked at him and sat. “So, Roper, I hear you’re having a good season.”
“That’s what they tell me. I’m solid to make the finals, and I’m healthy. At this point, that’s the secret. We’re getting closer to our finals event every day.”
“That’s great. When are finals?”
“October. I’m excited as all get out.” Roper glanced at him. “You’ll be there, right, Ry?”
“If you make it, I’ll be there, Bubba.” It was only right.
Charles nodded. “I’ll make sure of it, Roper. Not to worry. You just stay healthy, as you say, and he’ll be there.”
They both stared at Charles, and Ryder wanted to just howl at Roper and say, “See? A good man.”
“Thank you, sir,” they said, in unison.
“You’re welcome, boys.” Charles chuckled and got up off the couch. “You have an event to get to Roper, so don’t let us keep you. Ryder is going to walk me around a little. Maybe get a bite to eat.”
“Oh, the boozy milkshakes are amazing!”
He arched an eyebrow at Roper. “You’re eating milkshakes?”
“Stole a suck.” Roper winked at him.
“Hm. I could be convinced to try one of those.”
“That sounds amazing. Let’s do it.” Ryder hugged Roper again. “Good ride tonight.”
“I’ll show off, just for you.”
Charles was quiet but stepped in a little closer, a strong presence behind his shoulder. “I’d be happy to buy a round of drinks after if you’re interested. Just let Ryder know if you feel up to it.”
“Sounds perfect. I’ll see y’all in a few hours. Love you, Ry.”
“Love you more.”
Some things were eternal.
Charles held the door for Roper, then let it close quietly behind him, smiling slowly. “He’s very handsome.”
Ryder chuckled, because he got it. Roper had something special. A spark. “He knows it too.”
Charles rolled his eyes. “And you don’t?”
“Oh, I totally do. He’s something else. Tons of personality.” He made sure he was looking good. “You want to go wander?”
“You do realize you’re his twin, don’t you? I was talking about you, Ryder. You look exactly alike.”
“Now you said you could tell us apart…” He had to tease.
“Oh ho! Touche. Well, you pointed out the difference between you already. He knows, you don’t.” Charles opened the door for him. “Shall we?”
“I’d love to. Let’s go play.” He was so ready.