Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Quinn
I expected dinner, in town, or maybe in the lodge, but this was not even something I could have envisioned. My cowboy roper has arranged a beautiful private dinner for us by this breathtaking lake. Thanks to the lights encircling the tent, I can clearly see our final destination from the ATV.
“Is that for us?” I ask, impressed.
“I hope so ’cause if not, I came to the wrong damn spot,” he says while flashing his handsome smile.
He pulls the ATV right up on the edge of the lake, about twenty feet from the tent. After opening my door for me, he grabs my hand and helps me out. Then, hand in hand, he leads me to our tent. Under the moonlit dark sky with streaks of yellow hues and just a few feet away from the still lake is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner.
The tent is actually a structure made from four large wooden beams creating the square and four additional beams on top. Beige linens and beige ropes drape it to give the illusion of a Moroccan style tent. Centered under it are a dining table for two, the chairs all draped in beige linen and accentuated with lavender bows. The centerpiece is a beautiful bouquet of purple calla lilies. Also on the table is an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne, two champagne glasses, and two silver covered platters. And if this isn’t already perfect, there’s a bonfire burning in front of the tent right on the shoreline.
“This is absolutely beautiful,” I gush as I squeeze his hand. “Truly beyond my expectations.”
“Mine too. I can’t lie, the ladies in the lodge made this happen. They set this all up. I just got the lilies. My mom loved them, so I figured you might too.”
His eyes soften when he mentions his mother, making this big, tough, sexy man even more attractive. I can see myself falling hard and normally I would pump my brakes because this has been quick but not this time. Not with him. He’s truly different from any other man I’ve ever dated. Being the heiress to a multi-million dollar national brand has dictated the circles I run in and in those same circles, I’ve found myself attracted to and in relationships with cookie cutter versions of my father.
Don’t get me wrong, my dad is wonderful and I love him dearly but he’s square, always by the book, and never colors outside of the lines. Titus is the complete opposite. He says exactly what’s on his mind; he doesn’t tailor his words to fit a mold. He’s rugged, determined, and ambitious. Unlike the men in my past, nothing has been given to Titus. He has earned everything; I admire that the most about him. So, for once, I’m taking a chance and going full throttle, all gas no brakes.
“They are actually my favorite flower too,” I admit.
He removes one of the lilies from the vase and hands it to me. “Good. I didn’t want to mess this up,” he says before pulling my chair out. When I’m seated, he sits in the other chair. “I chose steak and lobster for dinner. That’s straight with you?”
“I love them both but let’s toast before we eat. This is a celebration for you after all. Let’s celebrate.”
I grab both glasses and he stands and pulls the bottle of champagne from the bucket. He holds it away from the table to keep the water on the bottle from failing on the table. After taking his keys out of his pocket, he uses one to break the foil on the bottle. He angles the bottle in his hand then turns to look at me.
“I hate opening these damn bottles,” he scoffs before opening it.
He might hate opening the bottles but it’s clear he knows how because it hisses instead of popping. He hands me the bottle and I fill both glasses, pouring at a slight angle to lessen the foam but preserve the bubbles. Bubbleless champagne diminishes any celebration.
“You make the toast,” I suggest.
With a low, sexy chortle, she says, “Nawl. I’m not a toaster. That’s all you, Quinn.”
I’m obsessed with the way my name falls off his lips.
“Um. Let’s see. It has to fit the occasion,” I say, stalling as I search my brain for something catchy and cowboy fitting. When the words come to me, I begin, “May Phoenix ride fast, your rope knot be tight, let’s celebrate and toast to you tonight.” I tap my glass on his but he’s so caught up in laughter that he barely taps my glass back. “Wow, you’re laughing at me,” I say with faux offense because I’m actually amused too.
After leaning down and kissing my lips passionately, he says, “That shit was corny but I can’t front. I liked it but I also just like yo’ pretty ass.”
He pecks my lips one more time then downs his champagne. I refill his glass then he joins me at the table in his seat so we can eat. After he says a short silent prayer over the food, he removes the tops of both platters. My platter has a massive tomahawk steak, two large, split, grilled lobster tails, and perfectly grilled asparagus spears. A butter boat and sliced lemons are on the side. When I glance over at his much smaller serving, I laugh.
“I think that one is mine,” I say and he nods to agree before swapping the platters.
My new one has smaller options but it’s still too much. I have a bone-in prime rib steak, one grilled lobster, the same perfectly grilled asparagus spears, and a butter boat and lemon slices. The food looks as wonderful as it smells. After I remove my silverware from the cloth napkin, I place the napkin in my lap then slice into my steak. The first bite is juicy, well-seasoned, and buttery. It practically melts into my mouth.
“How is it?”
“So amazing. I’m going to be in a coma when I finish this.” When I cut my lobster tail, I glance over at my single lily then at the bouquet. Seeing them makes me curious about him, especially the woman who birthed him. “You said you are from Diamond Falls. Your mom is still there?”
“Yes. She’s not going anywhere. She was actually born here though but left when she was seventeen. Her parents didn’t like that shit, especially because she was following a man. They stayed together for three years then he just left and never came back. Her pride wouldn’t let her return home so she stayed.”
“By herself?”
“Nawl. She had me. That nigga left when she got pregnant and wouldn’t get rid of me,” he says and I’m speechless. My words escape me and if they hadn’t, I’m not sure how to respond. Thankfully, he continues before I say the wrong thing. “We didn’t need him anyway. While she didn’t come back here, she did reconnect with my grandparents and uncle when I was born. They helped when she went to school and got her GED then nursing degree.”
“Was she at the rodeo today?”
“Oh nawl,” he says sternly.
“She was working?”
“No,” he says with a slight smile. “She supports me. Hell, all of my trophies, ribbons, certificates, you name it, it’s all at her crib on her Titus wall. She will watch on television if it’s broadcasted and Lab sends her videos of me but she will not watch in person. She was at the rodeo when Lab got hurt. That fucked her up, real bad.”
“Oh…that had to be hard. I understand.”
“Tie-down roping is nothing like bull riding but she can’t separate the sports. I get it so I don’t trip.”
“What about yo’ people?”
“My family in Crescent Falls. My mom was born there; her family is one of the founding families, the Redmonds,” I say, then laugh a little at myself. “Sorry, I always sound like a historian when I talk about my family. Taarini hates it.”
“Nawl. It’s cool. I want to know about you, Quinn. I asked, remember?”
“Yeah but I’ll give you the abridged version. My dad’s side, the Jaxsons, are actually from Atlanta. He’s ex-army. He met my mom while he was stationed at Fort Atkins in Crescent Falls. They fell in love. The Jaxson warehouses are still in Georgia but headquarters is in CF. So, it’s my parents, my older brother, my dad’s two brothers, me, and my big ass Redmond family all there.”
“Redmond’s, like the soul food joint?”
“Yeah. That’s my great aunt and uncle’s place. Best lemonade in the world. I even tried the lemonade at the rodeo and it can’t touch my auntie’s.”
“Yeah, that shit is legit.”
He nods then eats more of his food. That tomahawk is dwindling down. Titus can eat and it all must dissolve into his muscles because there isn’t an ounce of fat on his fine body.
“I have to tell my Aunt Irene she has a new fan.”
“You do that,” he says and I don’t miss the smug look on his face. “But do I have a new fan?”
“In me, absolutely. I thought you were kind of cute when we first met but after seeing you today, your looks shot up a few notches and I became a real fan,” I tease and he grins.
“Yeah, a’ight. I’ll take that though cause I’m feeling the fuck out of you.”
“That feeling is definitely mutual.”
“But I’m wondering though.”
“Wondering what? I’m an open book.”
“Is that right? Good ’cause I am too. So why haven’t you asked me about other women? You gotta know about this lifestyle and the wo?—"
“The Buckle Bunnies?” I interject. “It didn’t cross my mind.”
“Why didn’t it?” he asks, eyebrows furrowed and curiosity clearly piqued.
“You really don’t look like the type to fuck around. Well wait, you look like the type,” I say with air quotes. “But looks can be deceiving. Once you spoke and I got to know you a little, I quickly realized you aren’t. It’s clear you have discerning tastes; you’re having dinner with me.”
“True and I really love the way you taste too.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I say, cheeks flushed from blushing. “What about you? You never asked if I had a man.”
“That’s ’cause I don’t give a fuck. The minute my lips met yours, both of them, whatever and who the fuck ever you had was duct tape,” he says with finality and damn!
I’m turned the hell on. With him, I’ve just discovered that assertive, confident cowboys are my new love language because the way I want to push this food aside and climb him is crazy. However, I opt to calm my hot ass down and just guzzle down my champagne.
“Thirsty?” he comments.
Very.
Lying, I simply say, “I’m good.”
He doesn’t buy it. While smirking, he gets back to his plate and kills that steak. I continue to enjoy my food too. We have more interesting small talk as we finish, then he moves our chairs near the bonfire so we can enjoy it. Craving to be closer to him, I bypass my chair and ease onto his lap.
“Don’t try nothing tonight,” he warns.
“Why?” I ask, disappointed. Last night was everything and I’m surely up for a repeat.
After softly kissing the side of my neck, he utters in my ear. “Tonight, I want to take my time. I plan on eating that sweet pussy until you cry then fucking you slow and hard.”
Every hair on my body stands at attention and my heart gets caught in my throat at his words. I inhale slowly, push my heart back down into my chest, then exhale.
“Then, let’s go right now,” I say, still breathless.
A hush fills the giant arena as we all try to process what the hell just happened. Destry Callahan, the favored bull rider and newest member of my Jaxson Boots team, isn’t advancing to the finals. It’s Thursday and the final day of semifinals. Wild card is tomorrow and the finals for all events start Monday. We were all confident Destry would make it to the championship round, but we were dead ass wrong.
He didn’t make it and I can only imagine how he’s feeling. I’m a few feet from him and a beautiful woman with two long braids. She’s embracing him. I want to turn and head back to my seat but he sees me. Shit! After taking a deep breath, I continue toward him with a wry smile plastered on my face. Before I can utter a word, he snaps.
“If you want your money back too?—”
As angry as he sounds, I can’t hide my slight amusement at his obviously incorrect assumption. “I don’t want my money back. I just want to know you’ll be in Dallas after this,” I tell him and his expression shifts and some of the tension in his shoulders loosens. “This is only one rodeo, Callahan. I assume you’re not calling it quits?”
He shakes his head. “No, I’ll be back.”
Pleased with his answer, I smile. “Good to know.” Then I turn to the sista with him. I can’t help but admire her pretty face. After winking at her, I say, “Take care of our guy. We have a lot of money riding on a championship from him.”
She lifts her chin and stares at me before cutting a glance at Destry. “I will,” she assures.
He shakes my hand then I walk out, leaving her to take care of him. I have another hour and a half before Titus competes for his finalist spot and it makes no sense to leave the fairgrounds and try to make it back in time. So Rini and I are going to stay in the arena. I was checking on my new team recruits while she went out to get us lunch.
When I make it back to my seat in the dirt deck, she’s back too with two bourbon slushies, a smoked turkey leg covered with Cajun rice, and another of those larger-than-life funnel cakes with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. I can’t lie, these funnel cakes are sinful.
“Why did you bring another funnel cake? These things are the devil?” I ask as I grab one of the slushes.
“Because it’s good as hell.”
She opens the pack of sanitizing wipes from her purse and pulls out a wipe. Then she hands it to me. I grab two and we both thoroughly wipe our hands. At the same time, we reach for the funnel cake and break off a piece. The moment the deliciousness hits my stomach, I grin.
“I swear I’m going to leave this rodeo fifteen pounds heavier,” I say before breaking off another piece.
“Not me. Whatever pounds I gain, Lab’s fine ass is going to work them right off. When I tell you he breaks my back, he breaks my damn back. You hear me. Hands down the best sex I have ever had. I don’t know why I waited this long to fuck around with a cowboy. I’ve been missing out. He’s going to have my ass moving to Millers Pointe,” she says while cracking up.
I laugh too because my sentiments are the exact same. My mind flashes to after the bonfire the other night. Titus kept his word and took my body to heights I’ve never experienced. We probably should have stayed out by the lake that night because I probably woke up the entire lodge with my moans. I finally understand addiction because I’ve developed one for him.
“You better not hurt that man. His back is not one hundred,” I remind her.
“I can’t damn tell. He does everything but pick my thick ass up.”
We laugh together this time. She’s a trip but I can tell she’s really feeling Lab. Her constant conversations about him are a dead giveaway. Rini talks a lot of shit but she doesn’t speak about her men or relationships this much and she definitely doesn’t smile like this. My bestie looks genuinely happy and I love all of this for her.
While we wait for the afternoon competitions to begin, the little kids are on the dirt, mutton bustin’. It’s the cutest thing. Four-to seven-year-old boys and girls who weigh under fifty-five pounds are riding sheep. With their helmets and cowboy gear, they straddle the sheep and hope to hang on to the finish line. As they race, two rodeo clowns run behind them for their safety. Watching them struggle to stay on the sheep and make it to the end of the race is adorable. More fall off than make it though.
When the mutton bustin’ ends, the clowns work to clear the dirt and get it ready for the adults. About fifteen minutes before the semifinals, I get a text from Titus. Since I was by the box during his first ride when he broke his record, he’s convinced I’m his good luck charm. He wants me there now for this round too.
“Duty calls,” I tell Rini before getting up.
“I’ll be screaming for him.”
Since I have a few minutes, I bypass hopping the fence and take the official route to the back area. It’s crowded today so I have to squeeze through a few pods of people to reach his box. Phoenix is already inside but he’s standing in front, wide legged with his head slightly bowed. His hands are clasped in front of his face and he’s rocking. For a minute, I stand back, assuming he’s praying but when his head rocks from side to side, I step to him. He removes an earbud from his ear.
“What are you listening to?” I ask and he places the bud in my ear. A deep, commanding voice is speaking. “Who is this?”
“Dr. Trey Evans. I listen to him sometimes. He’s a Black man, speaking to Black men about being a man. He hypes me sometimes before I ride.”
I swear Titus amazes me more every day.
I remove the earbud and hand it back to him. He removes his other one. Lab walks over and takes Titus’s earbuds and phone. Then he hands Titus a carrot.
“Good luck, bruh,” he says.
“It’s good now that she’s here,” Titus says, then hooks his arm around me and pulls me into him. He places his hand under my chin then tilts my head. For a moment, he just stares into my eyes and I try not to blink. Missing one second of his intense stare would be a shame. Then he kisses my lips passionately. “Stay here until I’m done.”
“I’m not going anywhere. See you in nine seconds,” I tell him.
A smile spreads on his handsome face then he asks, “Nine?”
“Yeah. I feel it. You are going to beat your new record. Nine. Now, go, cowboy.”
He tilts his hat at me then releases me. All I can do is smile because that hat tilt is sexy as hell. When he’s in the box, I walk over and stand by Lab. From where he is, I have an unobstructed view of the floor. With my hands gripping the gate, I prepare myself for him to go out.
In a flash, there’s a loud thud. The chute opens and the calf comes barreling out. When it reaches the yellow line, Titus and Phoenix fly out of the box. My eyes jet from him to the seconds on the jumbotron. One. Two. Three. He’s off Phoenix. Five. Six. He’s flipping the calf over. Seven. Eight. His hands are up. Eight point seven six! Eight point seven six! The numbers aren’t changing and my heart is about to burst through my chest. I start jumping and screaming along with the rest of the arena. It’s an explosion.
“Three, four, five, six,” I hear Lab yell. The clown unties the calf and Phoenix and Titus ride back into the box. “Muthafuck! He did it!” Lab screams.
“And once again, Titus Cole broke his own record today. He’s starting the semifinals off strong. Quite possibly securing his spot. Eight point seven six is the time to beat. Great job, Titus,” the announcer says as I watch Titus climb off Phoenix.
I run to him and practically jump in his arms and he catches me. “8Eight point seven six,” he utters in my ear.
“You did it,” I squeal.
“You really are my lucky charm,” he says before lifting me off the ground.