10. Ten
Ten
Rhett
Kyla
Do you get to do a run before the event? Like practice?
This woman. All day she had been texting me questions, and all day I had been ignoring others to answer her. Why does the calf have to stay down for six seconds? Does the rope ever hurt your teeth? Why do you hold the rope with your mouth? What’s a flag man? Are you scored differently than bull riders?
Glued to my phone, I held it tightly as I felt the vibration in my hand.
Me
No. No practice runs.
Kyla
Why not? Wouldn’t that benefit you?
I scoffed and shook my head, that stupid grin appearing again.
Me
I train at home. We have a giant arena.
Kyla
But Abi says there is no “season.” I’m just confused as to when you actually have time to relax and . . . sleep.
Me
I’ll show you more when I get home, Princess. Stay a little longer and you’ll know everything about the rodeo. Even how I relax.
Kyla
Princess? I think you’re running out of options. You used that one already.
Me
I have not used Princess.
Kyla
But you have. The first day we met.
The memory of the first time I saw Kyla resurfaced as I pocketed my phone. I let out a breathy chuckle I was sure only I could hear as I reached for Buckle’s reins.
“For the past four days you have laughed at that screen more than anything.” Wyatt took off his baseball cap and rubbed the back of his neck as he followed me. I guess my laugh was louder than I thought.
I looked at my brother and raised a single eyebrow at him, trying to pretend like I had no idea what he was talking about. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You wouldn’t happen to be texting a certain girl, one who’s maybe staying in your house now, would you?” He mimicked my expression, a single brow reaching his hairline, his baby blue eyes boring into me.
I took a deep breath. “She just has questions about the rodeo, she’s interested.”
“She could ask Lachlan, or Abi . . . hell, she could talk to Stetson. He probably knows more about the rodeo than anyone else on the ranch,” he said as he opened the trailer hatch for Buckle. She stepped in, her hooves hitting with a clank.
Giving Buckle a pat on her neck, scratching the spot that made her let out a soft breath, I hooked her to the trailer and turned, my eyes staying away from Wyatt. He had made it known he thought it was weird I let Kyla stay in my house, giving her full access to everything. But he didn’t know why she needed it.
Just thinking about it made my blood boil. She guaranteed me that he never hit her, that the abuse came in other ways, but that didn’t make it any better. Kyla needed to know she was safe. She needed to know she was welcome. She needed the time to herself, and if my house offered any of that, she could stay there as long as she needed. As long as she wanted.
It wasn’t a secret I had hoped she would stay longer. The secret was that I didn’t want to admit out loud I was falling for her. One night—one day—with her was not enough. I wanted more. I wanted all of it. It was a constant reminder when we hung up our phone calls or texted for the last time that day that to her, we were friends. I was willing to be what she needed, and right now that was a friend she could talk to. She needed a home, even though it was temporary, and that, for now, was me.
“We’re friends,” I added hastily as I locked up Buckle’s trailer, making my way to the front of the truck.
“Friends?” he repeated. “I’ve never seen you turn down so many girls during a trip.”
I stopped and glared at my brother. “Excuse me?”
It had been a long time since I took a girl back to my hotel room, maybe even too long—but now with Kyla in the picture, I didn’t even think about that. Having Wyatt accuse me of turning down girls was a surprise, seeing as not one had even approached me. Or maybe I didn’t notice them approach me.
“They’re saying you’re not interested.” Wyatt clicked his tongue.
I didn’t even answer him. I held his stare for a few beats before climbing into the cab of the truck. Once he shut his door and looked over at me, his eyebrows up to his hairline, I finally acknowledged him. “More for you then.” Turning the ignition, I took my hat off and placed it on the dash, giving my brother one last glare. “You know for a fact I have never been one to have a different girl every night—that’s for bull riders, and apparently announcers.”
He barked out a chuckle. “Not every night, but you have been known to have some fun. Everyone can see you’re acting differently.”
“I’m not acting any differently,” I argued.
“Where’s your phone? Do you have any new messages lately?”
Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of reaching for my phone right away to see if Kyla had messaged back, I left it in my back pocket and ignored the buzzing that came on cue.
“I’m about to drive.” I raised my hand to the road.
“Yeah, but you’re thinking about Kyla.”
I shook my head slightly, ignoring him completely, making the drive to the stable in silence. Thankfully, Wyatt got the hint and dropped it. Once we got to the stable, he took off to meet with a few of the bull riders, leaving me alone with Buckle, just the way I had hoped.
I led her out of the trailer before glancing over at my brother who was already surrounded by a few girls. He took advantage and wrapped his arm around one’s shoulder, probably wishing he was still wearing his cowboy hat versus the ball cap he normally donned after an event. Leading Buckle into her stall, I was suddenly grateful for the time alone.
I had a few more rides before I was back for the Fourth of July, and knowing Abi, she was already busy with planning the rodeo back home. It was tradition, and knowing that a few bigger names had registered, even if the prize money was smaller, made me wish it was July. I counted down the rides in my head: South Dakota, Wyoming, home. Then a few weeks of relaxing stress as I watched the roping stats and back to it until December.
Relaxing stress. That was a new way to put it. I normally would ignore the stats as I took the few weeks in July to myself, but coming this close to the NFR for the third year in a row—close to the buckle—was starting to wear on me. I had the thought of adding a few more rides to my schedule, to make sure my time and earnings stayed high. Top in the nation was a big deal and I was determined to keep it.
The stress that came along with keeping it, I didn’t care for though.
I almost wished I was home with Kyla.
I did wish I was home with Kyla.
I took off Buckle’s bridle and watched as she shook her head.
“You did great today, girl.” I ran my hand down her neck. Removing her saddle and blanket, I grabbed the brush to begin settling her down for the night.
She nodded her head at me once the brush hit her skin. Knowing this was her favorite part of her day I would draw it out—let her enjoy the moment a little longer than normal. I tried to focus on her coat, loving where the white turned brown. She really was a gorgeous horse and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She and I shared a bond. Buckle needed to know my every move and I needed to know hers. Her uneasy stance tonight told me she knew something was up with me as much as anyone else did. Even though I could turn it off in the arena, here in the stable all that was running through my mind was Kyla .
“Hey, Rhett.” I heard Wyatt’s voice behind me, startling me. I turned and looked at him. “I’m gonna head to—”
“Yeah, yeah just don’t stay out too late. We have an event at one tomorrow.”
He saluted and gave me a cheesy smile. “Don’t forget to check your phone,” he sang as he disappeared from the gate.
Lowering the brush, I reached into my back pocket for my phone, just in time to see Kyla’s name as she called. It was a FaceTime call. I drew in some air at the thought of seeing her face. Her eyes, her smile, the way she rolled her lips when she was nervous about saying something. Relaxing my shoulders, I answered quickly.
“Hey . . .” I paused, completely out of nicknames. I scanned my brain for anything. She didn’t like Sweetheart. Maybe, Darlin’? No, she said that was almost as bad as sweetheart. I was losing this game. “Enter nickname here.” I chuckled.
“Oh, that’s a good one.” She laughed, her eyes beaming. She sat on the porch, her hair flowing over her shoulders as the night air hit her skin. Gorgeous as ever, I studied her through the screen.
“I promise I’ll find one,” I added softly.
“Which ones have we said no to?” she asked.
I glanced at the phone as I walked away from Buckle. “Princess, Bunny, Darlin’, and Sweetheart. But I personally like Darlin’.” I smiled, setting the phone on the ledge on the gate, turning my back to return to Buckle.
“Don’t forget when you used Sugar.”
“I don’t think I’ve used that one yet.”
“But you did, through a text. ”
I rolled my eyes and held back a laugh. “Needless to say, I ran out of nicknames. Did you watch today?”
“Don’t hate me but, no.”
“I could never hate you. Today must have been good then, huh?” I turned and looked at her.
She gave me a smile before I turned back to my horse. “Stetson and I worked on his reading.”
“Tutoring my nephew?”
“He’s excited to start second grade and Abi needed him out of the way, so we read The Magic Tree House. Have you ever read The Magic Tree House?”
“Can’t say that I have, but I’m not much of a reader.”
“You have a ton of books. How can you not be a reader?”
“A lot of those are rodeo stats . . .”
“I did notice that. I’ll buy you some books once I get to Washington.”
“What kind of books do you read?” I asked, keeping my focus on Buckle.
“Non-Fiction mostly, to be honest—continuing education. I haven’t read in a while though. I never really had time to myself to read.” She paused, pinching her brow. “You’re in the stables?”
“Buckle needs to get comfortable before I head in for the night, then we’re on the road tomorrow.” I turned, tossing the brush on the floor next to my feet before dusting my palms on my pants. “I have a few rides tomorrow before a bigger event in Cheyenne.”
“When do you come home?”
Home . She called it home. Did that mean she was getting comfortable there? Waiting for me to come back ?
No . . . I was just reading too much into it. No, I was just seeing things that weren’t real.
“Six days.” I smiled, walking towards the phone.
“I put an application in for an apartment,” she blurted out unexpectedly and I swear, my heart stopped. “I can take a virtual tour this week. I may just be out of your hair before you get home.”
“At least stick around to say goodbye.” I leaned against the wooden wall, my hands on either side of the phone.
She smiled, and I swear the dark stable brightened up. Even though that was damn near impossible, I could feel it. I lowered my chin, hiding the heat in my face.
Remember, that’s not what this is.
“How could I leave Stetson on such short notice?” Kyla joked, winking at me.
“Right, Stetson.” I raised my head to look at her.
She had a hand resting on her neck, her head tilted just enough that her hair fell to the side, framing her face. The one thing I hated about FaceTime was it felt like she was in the room with me, yet I couldn’t reach out and touch her. She was several state borders away, miles and miles in between us, but I still felt this pull. She had to have felt it too, right? It couldn’t only be me.
She gave a small hum, a sweet smile growing on her lips before she spoke, softly this time. “I’ll stay for a few days after you get back, if that’s okay.”
My breathing slowed as my heart beat again, the warmth that was in my face radiated. “That’s more than okay,” I responded .
Her lips rolled as her chin dropped. If I were with her, I’d take her face in my palm and lift her back up to me. I’d kiss her and feel her melt. I’d let her consume me.
“What’s on your list?” I asked softly, wanting her attention to come back to me more than anything.
“What?” Kyla responded, her gaze coming back to the screen.
“Your list. You said you had a list of things you wanted to do before you went to Washington. What’s on it?”
“Oh, um . . .” She shifted on the couch, her knee coming into view as it came close to her chest. “See the Grand Canyon, which I did.”
“And?” I raised my eyebrows. As much as I didn’t care for Arizona, the Grand Canyon was a spectacular sight to see.
“It was a giant hole.” She laughed before continuing, “I also wanted to lay on the Four Corners, sleep under the stars, hike to Delicate Arch, buy my own coffee maker . . .”
“Buy your own coffee maker?” I parroted, not really believing a simple task like buying a coffee maker would be on someone’s bucket list.
“Don’t laugh! I’ve never been able to choose one. David always had to have the top of the line espresso maker. I want a simple drip one. I want yours.” Her face turned to the house. “Where did you get that one?”
“I’m not sure, it’s kinda old.”
“Seasoned. It’s seasoned.”
I huffed a laugh, trying to get back to her list. “Okay. Grand Canyon, check. Sleep under the stars . . . it’s summer in Idaho, you can make that happen— ”
“And get kidnapped? No, thank you.”
“You should put ride a horse on there . . .”
“Stetson would like that.”
“Okay, ride a horse has been added. Anything else?”
She nodded, but kept silent, those damn lips rolling again, but this time forming a tight line.
“Tell me,” I pleaded. I wanted to know more about her; continue to peel away those layers I was finding at the bar.
She blushed and turned her head. “It’s embarrassing. And it’s just for me.”
I raised an eyebrow and curved a corner of my lips. “It’s not embarrassing if it’s for you.”
Shaking her head, slowly at first but speeding it as she looked down, she finally said, under her breath, “Shop for lingerie. Just for me. It doesn’t matter who sees them or . . . who doesn’t. I’ve never had something like that for me before, and well . . . now seems like the perfect time to do that. Starting over and all.”
My mind instantly went to Kyla wearing a red lace bra and panties, spread out before me as my eyes caressed her every curve. During our night together I didn’t care what she was wearing, she was the sexiest thing I had ever had in my bed, and now just the image of Kyla in lingerie, I could feel myself harden. How I longed to make that one come true for her . . .
“Hey, Cowboy . . . did I lose you?”
With the image of her still ingrained in my mind, I took a deep inhale through my nose, I shook my head and forced a casual smile. “Princess, have Abi take you into town one day, get Stetson to get you on a horse, and sleep under the damn stars.”