Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Another Airport
“Oh my God! Can I get your autograph?”
The young boy, who couldn’t be more than thirteen, was decked out in a pair of cowboy boots and cowboy hat. He stared up at Bowman with hero worship in his eyes.
Bowman looked at him and smiled, his gray eyes crinkling at the corners.
Ugh. The eye crinkles.
Stupid girl, no, stop it.
So hot…
“Sure thing,” Bowman said easily. “You got a pen?”
The boy’s face fell and he shook his head. He glanced over his shoulder at his frazzled parents who looked like they wanted to be anywhere except the passenger pick up area of the Spokane International Airport.
“I’ve got a pen.” I let go of the wheely suitcase and began riffling through my bag. I found a pen at the bottom and handed it to Bowman.
“Any paper?” the boy asked hopefully. “I wasn’t expecting to see a legend or I would’ve brought my own.”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “Legend, huh?”
“Oh yeah.” The boy nodded. “He’s the best bull rider in the world!”
“Thanks,” Bowman said. “That means a lot.”
His tone was sincere and I paused in my paper search to look at him. He was staring at the boy and there wasn’t a trace of arrogance.
“Did you always want to be a bull rider?” the boy asked.
“Yeah,” Bowman said. “You want to be a bull rider when you grow up?”
“Yes!”
“Let me give you one tip.”
“What?” the boy asked.
“Make sure you stay on the bull.” Bowman winked at the boy who grinned.
“Brock!” his mother yelled.
“Almost finished,” Brock called back.
“I’ve got a dry-cleaning receipt or pharmacy prescription bag.” I looked at Brock. “Your choice.”
“Oh. Dry cleaning, I guess,” Brock said.
I handed the receipt to Bowman who took it to the bench. He set it down and quickly scribbled his name. He then gave it to Brock who held it like a priceless artifact.
“How about a picture,” Bowman offered.
Brock gasped. “Really?”
“Really.”
Brock whipped out his phone and opened it. “Will you take our picture?”
“Sure thing. I’ll take a few. Okay, smile.” The camera app shuttered rapidly. “Okay, now do silly.”
Brock stuck out his tongue and Bowman screwed up his face in a comical expression of cross-eyes and puffy cheeks.
“Perfection.” I handed Brock his phone.
“Can I get a photo with you?” Brock asked me.
I blinked. “Me? But I’m not a legendary bull rider.”
“No.” Brock angled his head and shot me a cocky grin. “But you’re really pretty. And I want to show my friends.”
“Hmm. You might just be a legendary charmer, you know?” I quipped, and then gestured to him. “Let’s get this picture quickly before your mom blows a gasket.”
Brock stood next to me and I placed my hand on his shoulder.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Brock asked.
Bowman held the camera steady, but his eyes were on me, as if he, too, was waiting for my answer.
“No,” I said. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Good,” Brock said. “Then I have a chance.”
I laughed. “Maybe in a few years.”
“Here you go,” Bowman said, lowering the camera and handing it back to Brock.
“Thanks!” Brock grinned up at him. “This made my day!”
“Meeting me?” Bowman quipped. “Or her?”
“Her. Definitely her.” Brock blew me a kiss, and then ran back to his parents.
“That kid isn’t lacking in the charm department,” I said, looking at Bowman. “When he’s older, women everywhere won’t stand a chance.”
“Pretty sure that’s what he’s counting on,” Bowman said. “Pharmacy bag?”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve got a pharmacy bag. Like for a prescription?”
“Yes. I had a mild sinus infection. Anything else you want to know?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”
That wasn’t the question I thought he was going to ask.
Thankfully, I was spared from answering because a black SUV with Idaho plates pulled up to the curb and my sister waved excitedly from the passenger side.
The car had barely parked when her door opened and she all but fell out onto the sidewalk. “Easy there, tiger,” I said with a laugh, happiness bubbling inside of me at seeing my twin.
A grin spread across her face, and then she lunged at me.
I caught her in my arms. I was older by four minutes and five inches taller, but Hadley had always been the one to take care of me.
“Sorry we’re late,” she said, pulling back to stare at me. Her blue eyes drifted to my neck and I forced myself not to squirm under her gaze. “My fault.”
“Stomach or bladder?” I asked.
Her cheeks heated. “Both.”
I let out a laugh.
“Uh, Salem?”
“Yeah?”
“Who’s the guy standing behind you?” Hadley asked in confusion.
“Oh, funny story. That’s Bowman.”
“Bowman?” Hadley frowned. “As in Declan’s best friend from the circuit, Bowman?”
“The one and only,” Bowman said, taking a step toward us.
The driver’s side door opened, and my sister’s tall, dark-haired fiancé stepped out of the car. He came around the front of the vehicle and his jaw dropped open.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Declan demanded, a wide smile spreading across his face.
“Surprising you,” Bowman said easily.
“We met on the plane,” I blurted out.
“Did you,” Hadley murmured, her gaze bouncing between me and Bowman.
“Damn glad to see you, brother,” Declan said.
The two of them clasped hands in a shake, but then Bowman pulled Declan close for a quick man-hug. Declan had a couple inches on Bowman and was leaner.
They separated and Bowman looked at Hadley.
“So, you’re Hadley,” Bowman drawled.
“Yep.” Hadley smiled.
“You sure you want to marry this fucker?” Bowman asked, gesturing to his best friend.
She placed a hand on her belly that had just started to show. “Not really. But he kind of wore me down.”
Declan pulled Hadley to him, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “That’s not what you said last night.”
She elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to grunt, and then laugh. To me, she said, “Let’s get your luggage into the car.”
“That’s not a car, that’s an AT-AT,” Bowman said.
“A what?” I asked in confusion as Declan took my bag and opened the hatch of the SUV.
“An AT-AT,” Bowman said again. “You know, those machines from The Empire Strikes Back? They’re on Hoth and attack the rebel base?”
The three of us stared at Bowman in silence.
“You’re a Star Wars fan?” I asked slowly.
“Geek,” Declan said. “The word you’re looking for is geek.”
“Oh, shut up, you Trekkie,” Bowman fired back.
Hadley whipped her head around to stare at her fiancé. “You like Star Trek?”
Declan snapped his spine straight and pinned her with a stare. “Yes. I like Star Trek. So what?”
Hadley attempted to swallow her lips to keep from laughing. She looked at me and mouthed, “Hot nerds.”
“You should’ve told Brock about your love of Star Wars,” I said to Bowman. “Pretty sure he would’ve kissed the ground you walked on.”
“Brock? Who’s Brock?” Hadley asked as she opened the back door. “Bowman, you take the front.”
“No,” Bowman said. “I’ll sit in back.”
“But your legs,” she said.
“Yes, I have them.” Bowman smiled. “Your car, you sit in the front.”
“Good man,” she said.
“While we were waiting for you, a boy recognized Bowman and wanted an autograph,” I said. “Because he’s sooooo famous.”
Declan laughed as he shut the hatch.
“But then he wanted a photo with your sister because she’s sooooo pretty,” Bowman teased.
“Very pretty,” Hadley agreed, her gaze once again bouncing between me and Bowman. She climbed into the passenger side and Bowman closed the door.
Once the four of us were in the car, Declan pulled away from the curb and drove toward the highway.
“So, you guys met on the plane,” Declan said, looking in the rearview mirror. Our eyes met.
“Yep,” I lied.
“And you . . . talked?” Hadley asked.
“Clearly,” I said. “Because we both figured out who the other one was.”
“And does he know . . .” Hadley prompted.
“Yes,” I said, my throat tight. “I told him about Dad.”
Hadley turned in her seat and addressed Bowman. “Sorry your surprise is kind of . . . overshadowed.”
“Hey, I’m just glad I’m here,” Bowman said, his tone sincere. “Whatever you guys need. You let me know.”
“Thanks.” Hadley’s smile wobbled. “We’re going straight to the hospital.”
It wasn’t up for a debate: it was a statement.
My phone chimed with a text.
I pulled out my cell and looked at the screen. Our group chat had a new message.
Wyn
you at the hospital yet?
My fingers flew across the screen.
Me
Hadley and Declan just picked me up.
Hadley’s phone buzzed in the front seat.
“I’m texting Wyn and Poet,” I explained.
“Ah,” Hadley said.
“Poet,” Bowman said. “She mentioned Poet should’ve been maid of honor?”
I glared at him.
He grinned.
“You guys really got to talk, huh?” Hadley asked. “If you already know who Poet is.”
“Not that much,” I lied again.
“I love Poet,” Hadley said. “But Salem’s my twin. No one else was ever going to be my maid of honor.”
More like Maid of Dishonor.
I’d slept with the best man.
To be fair, I hadn’t known he was the best man when I went to bed with him.
But if I admitted it to myself, I still would’ve found a way to go to bed with him even if I’d known.
And damn if he didn’t look at me like he knew what I was thinking.