Chapter 4
DILLON
I tossed and turned all night long. I’ve had barely had any sleep, and now I find myself in a full arena and all eyes on London.
I frown as I look around us.
There are too many men looking at her. Too many kids wanting her attention. Too many women looking at her like she’s their idol. I crowd against her, and she tenses next to me.
I lean down and whisper in her ear, “You’re still mad at me, aren’t you, honey?”
She just grunts and shakes her head. “Mad? I’m not mad. Why would I be mad at you?”
She’s looking at me with all innocence, but I have felt the anger coming off her in waves since this morning.
“London!” someone hollers, and London pastes a smile on her face and waves out to the crowd.
“There’s too many people here,” I grumble.
She keeps smiling. “It’s a showcase, Dillon. Anyone and everyone with the circuit is going to be here.”
She continues waving, completely unfazed. “Queenie was on edge this morning. Can you have Roger make sure she’s okay?”
I tense up. “That’s it, you’re not riding today.”
Her head flips so fast toward me I’m surprised her hat stays on. “I’m riding.”
I go toe to toe with her. “Not if it’s not safe.”
She rolls her eyes. “Queenie would never hurt me.”
I see the faith she has in her horse. The connection between them is undeniable, and I know she’s right. The horse wouldn’t hurt her, but if she’s sick or something, then accidents can happen. “I’m going to check Queenie out before you ride.”
She laughs. “Are you a veterinarian now?”
I snap my fingers. “Good idea. I’ll get Dr. Macks to look at her.” I gesture to the back where the horses are stabled. “Come on, we’ll go get her checked out.”
London looks at me as if I have two heads. “Dillon, I’m about to be interviewed. I don’t ride until this afternoon. I’ll go check on Queenie as soon as I’m done. Or you can go…”
I jerk my head back. “I’m not leaving you.”
She mutters under her breath, “You didn’t seem to have any trouble last night.”
I look into her fiery eyes and realize I was right. She’s still mad about that. Hopefully, eventually, she’s going to realize that walking away from me was the best thing she could have done.
I put my hand at the small of her back. “Come on. Let’s get you up closer to the stage.”
We’re walking through at a snail’s pace because it seems like everyone wants to stop London and talk to her. I can’t blame them, but I’m also frustrated because these types of events are harder to manage sometimes.
A woman stops in front of London and me. “Dillon. It’s been a long time.”
I barely recognize the woman. It’s been years since I saw her. I just nod, but she stands in front of us.
“Maybe we can catch up… like old times.”
She wiggles her eyebrows at me, and London turns and looks at me with disgust. I tighten my hold on London’s waist. “Sorry, I can’t. I’m working.”
Which apparently is the wrong thing to say. London swings her head away from me but not before I saw the hurt and anger reflected in her eyes. London starts walking, and I have to jog to catch up with her. “London.”
She shakes her head. “Forget it, Dillon.”
I reach for her arm. “Hey, talk to me.”
She pulls from my hold. “Forget it.”
Her name is called from the stage, and London is automatically a professional.
She’s smiling and waving. She’s giving autographs as she walks up to the podium.
I’m on edge the whole way, crowding her more than I usually do.
I’m blaming it on my lack of sleep, but it’s just an excuse.
I want to be close to London, and if I need to use the fact that I’m her bodyguard as an excuse, that’s what I’ll do.
She’s about to take the stage, and I wait for her to look at me.
We’ve done this for months now, and when she gets nervous, she looks at me.
I always give her a reassuring nod and let her know I’m right here, but today, she doesn’t even glance my way.
London is a confident woman, but speaking in public is not something she enjoys.
There’s a pit in my stomach as I stand at the very edge of the stage, and even though I want to keep my eyes trained on her, I force my gaze out to our surroundings.
It isn’t long before London has won over the crowd.
She makes them ooh, aww, and laugh. They ask her about her being the Queen of the Rodeo, her barrel racing performances, and all the awards she’s won.
She plugs a brand of jeans she’s contracted with, and when the interviewer asks if she can get personal, I hold my breath.
I’m not sure exactly where this is going, but I have an idea.
London smiles. Most people would think she’s unfazed with the change in questions, but I know her best. Her fingers are tense as she wipes a stray hair off her face. “Yes, of course. Ask me anything.”
The interviewer leans toward her like they’re just two girls talking over tea instead of in front of a crowd. “So… one question everyone wants to know the answer to… are you single?”
She sucks in a breath, and I swear she’s avoiding my gaze. “Yeah, I am single.”
The crowd is shocked, and I can’t say I blame them. But those four words are not enough for the interviewer. “Sooooo,” she begins. She cups her hand under her chin and leans toward London. “No prospects? No cowboys you like?”
My heart does a flip in my chest. Me! I want to scream, but I remain standing, tense, stoic, and acting as if I’m in control.
“Wellll,” London says, drawing it out. “There is one guy. But he turned me down.”
The gasp from the crowd is deafening. London gives a soft smile, and it’s obvious to me she’s hiding her true feelings. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
The interviewer squeals with glee. “Well, I’m sure there are plenty of cowboys in the audience or who are riding today that would love to take you on a date.” She waves her hand around the crowd. “What do you think, everyone? Can we help London McCoy get a date?”
It’s like a stampede or something with all the noise. Women are cheering, men are whistling and cat-calling, and my blood pressure spikes. I fist my hands at my side.
London is all smiles, but she’s obviously uncomfortable. She stands up. “Well, I gotta go check on Queenie. Thank you for having me out.” She points at the crowd. “I hope you stick around for the barrel racing this afternoon.”
The interviewer thanks London and then addresses the crowd. “All right, everyone, give it up for the Rodeo Queen, London McCoy. Thanks for being here, London.”
She’s waving and smiling until I lead her behind the stage.
I grab her hand, not caring that everyone is looking at us with curiosity.
I walk her down the hall, and the first empty room I find, I pull her into it and shut the door behind us.
I’m simmering mad, trying to control it. “What the hell was that?”
She blinks up at me. “What was what?”
I point at the door. “That woman was trying to pimp you out. Do you have any idea what you just did? Now everyone with a dick in their pants is going to think they have a chance with you.”
She rolls her eyes in irritation, and I’ve never wanted to kiss her more than I do right now. “London, I’m serious. I’m here to protect you, and I can’t do that if it’s pure fuckin’ chaos.”
She puts her hands on her hips. “Then quit. If I’m such a fuckin’ problem for you… quit.”
It’s like I go into a panic. I grit my teeth. “I’m not quitting.”
She stomps her foot. “Fine, well, then you work for me. And you don’t get a say in who I date, who I do anything with. You decided that we can’t be together, and I’m not going to just sit back and watch all these cowgirls throw themselves at you.”
I shake my head. “What the hell are you even talking about?”
She holds her hands up and presses her back to the door. “Look, I don’t want your ‘job’ to interfere with you getting laid. Take the rest of the day off.” She starts shooing her hands at me. “Go ahead. I’m sure if you hurry you can catch up with the big-breasted blonde.”
She’s jealous. She’s not just jealous, it’s raging through her. Shocked, I shake my head. “You’re jealous.”
She slams her hands on her hips. “Of course I’m fuckin’ jealous.” She shoves me in the chest, and I take a step back.
She slides out from between me and the door and walks to the center of the room. Her chest is heaving with every breath she takes. She won’t look at me now. “This is not working out. I’m going to call Lone Star Security and see if they can send—”
I cut her off. “Over my dead body.”
She looks down at the ground. “Dillon, you’re making this harder than it should be. You say we can’t be together, well, I can’t be…” She waves her hand between us. “I can’t be this.”
I shake my head. “I’m not quitting. You’re stuck with me, London.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, uh, how exactly do you think this is going to work?”
I shrug. “We’ll go back to before. Like it was last night before—”
I slam my mouth shut because just thinking about that kiss makes me hard.
She takes a step toward me. “Before that kiss? Is that what you were going to say?”
I cross my arms over my chest as if that’s going to protect me from these feelings raging through me. “Yes. I know that kiss was everything, but—”
She blurts out a laugh. “But you can’t be with me. Yeah, that makes complete sense.”
I point to the door. “Come on, we need to check on Queenie, and you need to get ready for your ride.”
She stops next to me on her way to the door. “If you’re not going to be with me, then you’re going to have to get used to the fact that I’m going to date. I mean, just like you said, I’m young.”
Let her go. That’s what I tell myself, but I still reach for her. I pull her to me, and her body is flush against mine. I’m hard everywhere she’s soft. “Don’t push me, London.”
She laughs. “Oh yeah, what are you going to do?”
I lean down until our mouths are inches apart. “Honey, you have no idea what I want to do to you, and if you keep pushing me…”
My voice trails off as her eyebrows lift.
Slowly, I release her and put my hand to my head. “London, please, can we discuss this later? I want to get through this day and get you home.”
She smiles at me. “And what do you want to do to me when we get there?”
I clench my hands into fists. It’s either that or I’m going to reach for her. “London. Please.”
She holds her hand up all innocently. “Fine. Let’s go.”
I point to the door. “After you.”
I make sure not to watch her ass sway back and forth as I follow her out the door.