39. It’s Called Love, Buck
IT’S CALLED LOVE, BUCK
CASH
Life was fucking good.
No, life was great.
I was nervous to ride the first weekend, but when I saw Paige screaming my name it gave me a new confidence I was missing.
When I was escorted out of the arena, she ran into my arms so fast I almost toppled over.
For the first time, I didn’t care if I won or lost because I had the ultimate prize, and her legs were wrapped around my waist.
The energy was high as we loaded into the car after the second rodeo.
I managed to secure enough winnings to buy a bid into the professional rodeo circuit next season if I wanted to.
I was still debating if that was a life I wanted, but it was a life I earned.
One of the first things I’d ever earned completely on my own.
Paige rolled her window down all the way and screamed into the sunshine as we pulled onto the main road. The team wanted to go out to celebrate, so once we got home everyone went to their rooms to change.
I was spraying cologne when Paige opened the bathroom door and stepped out. My jaw dropped and my cock stirred to life as I drank her in. She was wearing a pair of bell bottom jeans that looked like they were painted on with the way they framed her ass, and a strapless black corset top.
“Fuck,” I said, scratching the scruff along my jawline.
She smirked at me. “Do I look okay?”
“You look better than okay.” I draped my arms around her so my palms were firmly on her ass. Her hands ran up my red flannel and she gripped the fabric just below the collar.
“Have I ever told you how fucking hot you are, Leonard?”
I bit my bottom lip as if thinking deeply about her question. “I’m not sure you have.”
“So fucking hot,” she said, raising up on her toes to place a kiss on my lips. My grip on her ass tightened as I deepened the kiss. She moaned into my mouth, and I had to back away before we ended up skipping the bar all together.
“Let’s go before I ruin that top by ripping it off you.” I gestured for her to lead the way out.
“Sounds like a pretty solid night to me,” she said, throwing a wink over her shoulder as she passed me to leave the room. I tilted my chin to ceiling and breathed out, willing God to give me the strength to get through this night without dragging my wife into a dirty bar bathroom to fuck her.
The Wild Boar was packed when we entered. One of my favorite things about the local rodeos was the fact that every weekend, most of the contestants gathered in one of the local towns for a night of absolute shenanigans.
It gave me a sense of community, allowing me to get to know the other men who were in the same position as me.
I told Paige to head to a table with Buck and Tweety while I ordered drinks. She gave me a quick kiss and disappeared into the crowd. The minute I reached the bar, girls appeared around me.
A few weeks ago, I might’ve liked the attention, but things were different now. The only girl I wanted was the pretty little blonde who’d stolen my heart. I peeled a girl’s hand off my hip as I leaned across the bar to order some drinks.
“There he is!” Brian Cook clapped me on the shoulder as he sidled up next to me. A girl immediately found his side and he wrapped an arm around her, whispering something into her ear that made her eyes flare.
I dipped my chin in greeting as the bartender placed my tray of drinks in front of me.
“Now that you’re going to be in the real game, you can look forward to this every weekend,” he said with a smirk.
“Look forward to what?”
“Keep winning like you are, and the girls will be all over you.”
I nodded in understanding and chuckled. “Not my thing, but you have fun.”
“Oh, right.” He tsked. “The wife.” He said the word as if it was dripping with poison.
I squared my shoulders as my hackles started to rise.
“Yeah, my wife.” It came out harder than it probably needed to.
He raised his hands in response to my harsh tone. “I didn’t mean anything by it, man. Just looking out for you. This lifestyle is hard on a relationship, but I guarantee you’ll never go to bed lonely.”
I was going to respond, but Cook’s girl grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor.
It was probably for the best because if he said anything bad about Paige, my fist would’ve connected to his jawline.
I pushed the anger to the back of my mind and picked up the drinks.
I found Paige, Buck, and Tweety engaged in a conversation that was making Paige laugh so hard she couldn’t breathe.
The sight eased my tension immediately.
I hadn’t made my mind up about the pro circuit yet, but I would choose Paige over any of it. I’d been happy working on the ranch for twelve years and no part of me felt like I needed to change that.
I approached the table, and the moment my eyes locked with Paige’s she lit up like a Christmas tree. I placed the drinks down before taking off my hat and placing it firmly on her head. I leaned into her space and crashed my mouth onto hers.
I didn’t want a single person to doubt that she was taken.
People standing around us started cheering as Paige smiled against my lips. I sank into the open seat next to her and rested my arm around the back of her chair.
There was no world in which I just gave up on my connection with Paige Brooks.
There was no going back to before.
Tweety stood and offered a hand to my girl. “Come on, Barbie Brooks, show me those moves.”
She glanced up at me and gave her a silent agreement.
She didn’t need my permission to dance with anyone, but I also appreciated that it crossed her mind.
I trusted Tweety—mostly. She smiled ear to ear before dropping a kiss to my cheek and taking Tweety’s hand.
Tweety dragged her onto the dance floor and immediately started twirling her around.
“I’ve never seen you like this before,” Buck said, pulling my attention back to the table.
“Like what?”
“Not growly about a woman. Even a few weeks ago, if Tweety looked at her funny you would’ve decked him.” Buck laughed.
“No need to be jealous when you have the best girl. It’s called love, Buck. You should try it sometime.” I smiled at him before taking a sip of my drink.
“Yeah, this is fucking weird,” he mumbled before finishing his beer.
I gestured to his drink, offering to grab another round and he nodded. The space was getting more and more packed by the minute so I stood and pushed my way into the crowd.