Chapter 13
JULES
S undays in Sterling Ridge reminded Jules of a simpler time. Everyone slowed down and came together. First at the white steepled church on the edge of town, then at the dirt arena for an afternoon at the round-up.
And today, she was going to be up in those stands as well.
Riley had shown up for her, turning out last week to come to her rescue. So, she had been determined to show up for him today.
“Every other guy is going to be so jealous when I walk in with you two on my arms,” Cooper said with a smirk, turning his elbows out to Maddie and Jules. They each looped an arm through his, flanking the confident cowboy, before they all started through the parking lot.
“When are you going to find a nice girl of your own?” Maddie asked him with a breezy laugh.
“Encouraging him to find a nice girl? When did you become his mom?” Jules teased.
“Mads, are you worrying about me?”
“I’m worried about the rotation of women I’ve seen coming out of your cabin since I moved in,” she scolded. “And if that makes me a mom, so be it.”
“The ladies love me, what am I supposed to do?” Coop grinned as they reached the stands.
Leaning forward, Jules looked past him to make eye contact with her best friend. The women shook their heads in unison as a scoff escaped Maddie. But Jules had to admit, quite a few heads turned their way as they climbed the stairs to find an empty spot.
No sooner had they taken their seats than the stadium speakers crackled to life.
Before them, two cowgirls rode by on horseback, one with the flag of Wyoming, the other with the stars and stripes.
The air hummed with excitement, children laughing over corn dogs and people greeting their friends as they took their seats.
Jules always loved the energy of the small towns she visited—it was as if the smaller the population, the larger the collective sense of heart.
But she was here for one townsperson in particular. Her eyes scanned the scene, looking for his familiar, bone colored cowboy hat. It was Cooper who located Riley first, though. He bumped his shoulder against hers and pointed over to two men across the way.
“That’s Colton, he taught Riley everything he knows about roughstock events. Used to be a roughie himself.”
“Did you know Riley when he was a roughie?” Jules asked.
“Sure, in the way that kind of everyone knows Riley. He was a hometown hero out there on the pro circuit. We were friendly enough, but not like since he joined the team.”
“Did he… leave anyone behind in town when he left for the circuit?” She felt her face flush as the words left her lips. Maddie and Cooper noticed as well, studying her as he replied.
“He was either with his horses, his mentors,” he paused to motion towards Riley and Colton still deep in conversation, “or his family. He’s a big family guy.”
“His niece, Paisley,” Jules recalled.
“Yeah, and his sister Piper.”
As if feeling her eyes on him, Riley turned and looked up at the stands. Colton was leaning in to say something to him before nodding in their direction in the stands. The moment Riley’s eyes locked onto hers, a wide smile stretched across his face, spilling over with sunshine and swagger.
Damn, that man was handsome.
There was something so exhilarating about watching Riley compete. The way he handled the rope, specifically the way he held it between his teeth, had her hormones ablaze.
But the cowpoke’s sex appeal aside, Jules could also see how much pure talent coursed through him. Just like the first time she watched him compete, she was enamored by the way he moved with confidence and precision.
When his next round came up, she leaned forward, her elbow balancing on her knee and her chin resting on her hand. Fully mesmerized by the action before her, she took in his steadiness as he waited for the calf to reach its advantage point. And the moment it did, he was off.
Landing his lasso on his first try, his horse stopped on a dime and then Riley’s boot hit dirt. He flanked the calf and tied the legs quickly, throwing his hands in the air to signal that his run was complete.
Jules tilted her head, a grin on her face as he remounted his horse and proved that the calf had indeed remained tied.
“He’s damn good,” Cooper said, respect heavy in his tone. She nodded in agreement, still watching him closely as he made his exit. Her smile slipped though as she watched a girl their age rise from her seat and disappear in his direction.
Her blood boiled when two more followed suit.
“Let’s go talk to him,” Maddie suggested. “He’s done now, right?”
“He’s done now,” Cooper confirmed, standing.
The metal stairs clinked with their steps as the group worked their way down towards Riley. Rounding the corner, Jules came to an abrupt halt, her mouth pulling into a tight line. He wasn’t alone. Far from it.
Standing in the center of a cluster of women, Riley had his hands shoved down into his front pockets and a warm smile on his face.
A brunette in a pair of daisy dukes threw her head back in exaggerated laughter while a Barbie look-a-like practically licked her lips looking him up and down.
Heat scorched across Jules’s cheeks as anger roiled just below the surface.
If looks could kill, she’d have struck down these buckle bunnies in an instant for throwing themselves at him.
How dare they ? Did they have no regard for if he was committed to someone?
But he wasn’t.
He wasn’t hers, she reminded herself in an attempt to calm her heightened feelings. These ladies had a right to come on to him like this.
While the third Charlie’s Angel was pulling a hair flip maneuver, Riley’s gaze lifted.
He spotted Jules, his head tilting in interest and his expression calculating.
Then, apparently reaching a conclusion that satisfied him, that warm smile of his stretched twice as wide.
And just like that, he went from handsome to breathtaking.
Even more breathtaking was that it seemed this smile was reserved for her, because he kept his focus trained on her as he took a step forward from his fans. It was as if everything around them disappeared, it was only her and Sundance.
Riley
If he didn’t know any better, he’d think that Juliette was jealous. He shouldn’t be this pleased by the daggers she was glaring, but he was. He was absolutely delighted. This was proof that she hadn’t moved on so easily from their night together either.
Of course, there was no reason for her to be jealous. He was well aware of the type of attention he was receiving, and he was happy to leave it for a different cowboy.
Approaching her, Riley wrestled with the appreciation he felt for Cooper and Maddie coming, and the competing feeling of wanting a moment alone with Jules.
“You were so good,” Maddie said, pulling him into a hug. He hugged her back, keeping his eyes on Jules over her shoulder. She softened under his gaze, leaning back against the fence at their side.
“You were really good,” Jules offered as Cooper clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s like that’s been your event all along.”
“I can thank the ranch for that,” he replied, coming to stand at her side. Riley positioned himself so they were pressed together, shoulder to shoulder.
“Drink to celebrate?” Coop asked, motioning to the stand behind him. “On me.”
“Yeah, thanks, man.”
“I’ll go with you, I want a pretzel,” Maddie said.
And just like that, he got his wish. He had a moment alone with Jules, kind of. Leaning over, he murmured, “Hey Juliette, why did you look upset when you walked up?”
“I didn’t.” Her jaw set with determination.
“I’ve never shown any interest in them. I was just being courteous.”
“Whatever you say, it’s not like you owe me an explanation,” she replied. The edge was absent from her tone this time. “But you looked happy to be talking to them.”
Satisfaction washed over him. And a hint of amusement. Stretching his fingers out, he caught her waist and tightened his grip. “Let me make this clear,” he started, waiting for her to look up at him. “I’m only looking at you.”
She stiffened for a split second before leaning into his embrace. A silent understanding passed between them as she rested her head on his shoulder. She didn’t need to admit she was jealous today. He didn’t need to admit that keeping his heart closed off to her was proving impossible.
There was one thing he needed to say though. “Thanks for being here, it meant a lot to look up and see you in the stands.”
“It meant a lot that you walked away last week to help me,” she replied in a hushed voice.
“Is that the only reason you came today?”
She lifted her head and studied him for a long moment. Finally, she admitted, “No, it’s not.”
“Good. Then get a drink with me after this, we can go to Wrangler’s.”
She turned to face him, her hip propped against the fence and a smirk on her face. “I know what happens when I go to a bar with you.”
“What would that be?” he asked innocently, ignoring the way his heart rate sped up.
“Besides,” she started, reaching out and adjusting the opening of his shirt to reveal the chain around his neck.
Slowly, she dragged the cool silver between her thumb and index finger.
Her touch was light as a feather against his skin, reaching the bolt at the end and lifting it out from under his shirt. “We already have plans.”
“We do?” he rasped.
“I may have mentioned to Maddie and Laurel what you did for me last weekend. Everyone else is back at the ranch getting a fire going. The cowboy cauldron is out and everything—to celebrate your win.”
“And if I don’t win today?” he asked, despite the warmth expanding in his chest.
Jules only shrugged in response, as if that wouldn’t have been of any concern.
With his hand still on her waist, he pulled her flush against him, tucking her into his side. The familiar floral scent he’d come to associate with her tickled his senses. Turning his head, his nose drifted across the top of her head, and he inhaled quietly. Subtly.
It didn’t matter to him where they went, as long as they left together.
Maybe it was the high from his strong runs today, maybe it was the rush from being back at a rodeo with her. More than likely, it was the fact that he’d spent nearly every day with her for the last few weeks and couldn’t fight the feeling any longer.
Riley was completely unconcerned about being hurt by her departure. He was ready to be utterly destroyed by this woman.