Chapter Thirteen
Royce
I’m three drinks in when Cabe starts talking about bulls.
“Bryce is serious about it,” he says, leaning against the edge of the bar. “He’s already looking at a piece of land behind the academy for another outdoor arena.”
Micah’s eyes light up. “For the stock?”
“Yep. Wants to get into the bull business.”
I take a drink and half listen.
“Buy young bulls, train them, chute-break them,” Cabe continues. “Get them used to the noise, the lights, the gates. Then practice bucking them and see what they’ve got. If they turn out, sell them or haul ’em to events himself.”
“Doesn’t his ass have enough going on right now with the school and his new broadcasting gig?” Micah asks.
Cabe grunts. “I know we do—with the ranch, rodeo academy, Dad and Grandpa’s new herds, and Harleigh breaking ground on the guest ranch. He’s gonna have a hard time convincing Matty to take on yet another project of that size.”
I nod at the right moments, but I’m not really listening anymore.
Because across the barn, Marina is laughing as she chats with Porter and Harleigh, and I can’t seem to stop watching her.
She’s standing near the buffet table with a crystal flute in her hand. Her hair falls over one shoulder, and every time she smiles, I remember what that mouth felt like against mine.
Fuck.
“Dude.”
I blink.
Cabe is staring at me.
“What?”
His grin spreads. “You haven’t heard a word we said for the last five minutes.”
“I have.”
“Bullshit.”
“Bulls. Bryce. Matty,” I mumble, then take a swig from my glass.
Micah looks between us and follows my line of sight.
He lets out a low whistle. “Oh my. Who is that?”
I give him a warning look.
Cabe chuckles. “Well, well, well.”
“Shut up,” I grit out.
“I didn’t say anything,” Cabe says, his eyes sparkling with amusement as Micah snorts into his beer.
Before I can tell both of them to go to hell, Axle joins us, asking for whiskey from the bartender.
“What are you idiots laughing about?”
Cabe jerks his chin toward the other side of the barn.
Axle looks, and I know the instant his gaze lands on Marina because his brow rises slightly.
“That Marina Kincade?”
“The one and only,” I say flatly.
Axle doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to. He’s the only person here who knows exactly what happened between Marina and me.
His eyes narrow slightly as he looks from her back to me. “What’s she doing here?”
“No idea.”
And I don’t. All I know is, she’s here, and she has a kid.
Blaze fucking Cassel’s kid.
Beyond that, I haven’t had a chance to ask.
As if summoned by the thought, a small voice cuts through the conversation. “Are you all bull boys?”
We look down.
Ryder stands in front of us with Ruby beside him, both of them looking up at the four of us.
Axle quirks an eyebrow. “Bull boys?”
I grin. “It means we’re bull riding cowboys.”
Before I can explain anything else, Ryder looks straight at Axle, and his eyes widen.
“You beat my daddy for the world championship.”
Axle nearly chokes on his whiskey. He coughs so hard that his eyes water, and I slap him between the shoulder blades.
“Easy.”
He bends forward, still coughing as his eyes snap toward Bryce and Charli, who are currently cutting into their four-tiered wedding cake, blissfully unaware that their reception has just become entertaining for an entirely different reason.
I look back at Axle. “No,” I clarify. “He’s Blaze Cassel’s kid.”
Understanding flashes across Axle’s face. His eyes move from Ryder to Marina and back again.
“Oh,” he says as he straightens, wiping his mouth. “Kid, you almost gave me a heart attack.”
Ryder wrinkles his nose. “Why would your heart attack you?”
Axle stares at the boy for a second before shaking his head. “Never mind.”
Ryder’s focus lands on me. “I saw you on TV too. My daddy beat you though.”
Axle is coughing again—this time to hide a laugh.
“Burn,” Cabe says, impressed by the barb.
“He did,” I confirm.
Ryder nods. “Blackjack’s a rank bull. He got you caught up and hurt you that last ride. You’ll do better next time.” He reaches over and pats my leg as he delivers the blow.
Axle’s eyes go wide, and we both stare at the tiny cowboy.
How the hell did he know that?
“Thanks, little man,” I mutter.
“Ruby! Ryder!”
Shelby’s voice cuts through our shock as she approaches to wrangle the children.
“There you are. Come on, you two. Grandma Evelyn has cake waiting for you.”
Ruby grabs Ryder’s hand. “Cake!”
The two of them take off.
Shelby watches them go before turning back to us. “You big boys want cake?”
I lift my whiskey. “Nah, I’m good.”
“Hey, Shell.” Axle nods after the kids. “You know why Marina and her boy are here?”
“Yeah,” she says. “Marina and Bryce are friends. He ran into her when he was in Dallas and invited her to the wedding weekend. He’s hoping he can convince her to come work for him at the academy.”
My attention snaps back to her. “He is?”
“Yep. She’s an expert rider and a champion barrel racer. Thinks she’d be a great addition to the team,” she says, then lowers her voice. “Apparently, Ryder’s father is a jackass who left them high and dry. She’s selling their place in Dallas, and she needs the job and a place to land.”
“What a douche,” Cabe mutters.
Shelby nods. “He hasn’t even seen his son in over a year.”
He has a kid who looks just like him. Who’s obsessed with rodeos and bull riding, even watching him on television. And he hasn’t seen the boy in over a year?
Un-fucking-real.
“Think she’s gonna stay,” Shelby says.
“Nice,” Micah says, glancing toward Marina.
“Don’t even think about it,” I snap.
Silence.
Every one of their heads turns toward me.
Including Shelby’s.
And they are all wearing curious expressions.
Shit.
Micah slowly raises both hands. “Whoa there. I just meant that the students deserve not to have to only look at your ugly mugs.”
I scowl and Cabe’s grin gets wider.
Axle clears his throat, unsuccessfully hiding his laugh behind his whiskey. Because he knows I’ve had a thing for Marina Kincade for years.
Shelby’s eyes stay on me. Then a slow, knowing smile curves her lips. And judging by the look in her eyes, I’m pretty sure she’s figured it out as well.