Chapter Twenty-One #2
“Right there…oh yeah, just a little left, perfect, that looks great!”
The booth was set up in the middle of the dusty stadium, the perfect spot. The floor was bustling as the arena transitioned from a rodeo to a festival. Tables and stands surrounded us, all trying to sell services or gear to the exhausted cowboys and jazzed fans.
The show was much less stressful after Colton’s ride. Alan and Dean had placed third in team roping; Erin and Miley had gone crazy, whooping and whistling; and Jimmy had been one of two bull riders to stay on for the full eight seconds. AnnaJane screamed so loud I thought my eardrums would burst.
They made the rodeo even more exciting, if that was possible.
Billy was swinging her camera around like a madwoman, trying to get footage of all the different brands. “Is the board coming to see the booth? We should get a picture of them all together for the website.”
I was scanning the crowd, biting the tips of my fingernails. “Oh, yeah, that’s a good idea.”
There he was.
Colton walked through the crowd, accepting high-fives and handshakes that came his way. His hat was dusty from landing in the arena during his ride, but the rest of his outfit was spotless.
The proof of a flawless ride.
He caught my eye and started jogging.
To me? I wondered, or hoped.
He threw his arms around my middle and spun me around.
Yes, to me!
I laughed in surprise. “Howdy!”
He set me down, a grin as wide as his dad’s spread on his face. “I missed ya.” He bent down and kissed me hard and fast; the smell of fresh cologne surrounded me.
I tucked my hair behind my ear and blushed like a schoolgirl. “That was an incredible ride, Mr. Nash.”
He sighed happily. “That horse was fightin’, but I’ve been checkin’ my stats, and she really bumped me up.” He pulled out his phone and swiped.
The top fifteen cowboys in Colton’s event would go to the NFR. The season was winding down, with only a few more rodeos left to qualify. If he has a bad ride and drops below the top fifteen, he’s out.
He was going to be on high-wire anticipation until after the season was over.
I leaned over his shoulder to peek at the screen.
Colton was number ten.
He was killing it.
I grinned up at him and playfully hit his arm. “Are you kidding? That is incredible?”
He refreshed the screen two more times. “I’m happy to have some cushion, but it’s…gosh, it can get close.” He refreshed it again.
“Legra?”
I whipped around to see Thompson standing awkwardly in front of the booth. “Thompson! Thank you so much for joining us, sir!”
Thompson reached around me to shake Colton’s hand. “Nash, that was one hell of a ride.”
Colton beamed and shook his hand. “Thank you, sir. Means a lot comin’ from you.”
“How’s it lookin’ for Vegas?”
Colton had put his phone back in his pocket, but I could tell he was dying to refresh the app again. “Lookin’ good, sir.”
“I’ve already got my tickets,” he said with a hint of a smile. “Excited to see your first ride in the big leagues.”
“Thank you, sir,” Colton said again, soaking in the compliment. “Seems like the business is doing well.”
Thompson glanced down at me. “She seems to know what she’s doin’, makes me work too hard though.”
I think Thompson and I had finally upgraded our relationship to friendship, or maybe cordial acquaintances. I smiled at him. “The hard work pays off, Thompson.” I spotted Dennis climbing behind the booth. “Speaking of which, would it be okay if we got some footage for your website? Where’s Mickey?”
Colton caught my hand and squeezed it. “I’m gonna talk to some brands, see you in a second?”
I squeezed his hand back. “Sure! Have fun.”
Billy dragged Mickey into the booth. We were finally going to get a professional picture of the board all together for the website.
Mr. Sterling was going to love it.
“Can you guys try to smile?” I pleaded.
They stood side by side, their hands in their pockets. Dennis had his usual huge grin, but Mickey and Thompson stared straight ahead.
“No,” Thompson said shortly.
I laughed to myself. “Okay, ready? One…two…three!”
I was going to send it to my website designer tonight, it was the perfect cover photo. “Thanks, guys. You’re free to go!”
I had hired some of their workers to run the booth, knowing I couldn’t keep them pinned in a booth in the middle of a rodeo arena.
Thompson was already wandering away.
Something sharp pinched my arm. “I need to talk to you.”
I turned, grabbing my stinging skin.
A tiny woman with fiery red curly hair was an inch away from my face. She was wearing an orange pearl snap button-up and tight Wranglers. Her arms were crossed over her chest.
It was the girl who was sucking Colton’s neck when I tried to get his first interview.
My heart sank. I hadn’t thought of her since that moment.
Were they still dating? No. There was no way.
Right?
“Um, hi,” I tried to find my footing in this awkward stare-off we seemed to be having. “Can I help you?”
She huffed. “I saw you kiss Colton.”
I swallowed hard and looked back at Billy. “Did you get what you needed?”
“Yup,” she said, not bothering to hide the fact that she was staring at the redhead.
“Great, thanks.” I tucked my hair back behind my ears and decided to play Corporate Allegra. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve properly met.” I stuck my hand out. “I’m Allegra Ford.”
She stared at it. “I don’t care. I just wanted to warn you to stay away from Colton, or any of those Nash boys, for that matter.”
She said “Nash” like it tasted bad on her cherry red lips.
“Oh?” I lowered my hand awkwardly. “Why’s that?”
She didn’t hesitate before jumping into her story.
“We dated for a year. A YEAR. He asked me out. Took me horse ridin’ with the kids.
He was the first to kiss me. I was practically part of the family.
He told me he loved me, all that. Then one day, just drops me.
Tells me, ‘I’m sorry, but it’s over.’ Hasn’t spoken a word to me since. ”
Asked me out. Horse ridin’ with the kids—the first to kiss me.
I was practically part of the family.
Her words stung. I swallowed hard and crossed my arms over my chest. “There has to be more to the story than that,” I said, mostly to myself.
“Nope.”
I glanced across the arena.
Colton was standing at the NFR booth, shaking hands with a sharply dressed man.
There was no way this genuine man, who had spent the past weeks being nothing but a gentleman, would do something so heartless. I was reeling.
“Girl code, right?” She said, her voice begging to be thanked for her efforts.
“Yeah,” I muttered, still staring at Colton.
“See ya around.”
Colton caught my eye and smiled.