Page 8 of Hard To Fall
“Nice run,” she says to Levi. “Clean turn on the second barrel.”
His eyebrows lift. “You actually watched?”
She shrugs lightly. “The barrels call to me. I can’t help but watch.” She laughs, and he joins in.
Levi elbows me. “She grew up racing. Did you know that?”
“Nope.”
His eyes dart to her, and it makes me mad. “Yeah, she comes from a rancher family.”
“Long days make for good runs and–”
“Short nights make it hard to fall!” they both say in unison, and my skin crawls.
What the fuck is going on right now?
“I miss it actually,” she replies easily. “And believe it or not, I miss the ranch work, too. But bronco riding, that’s my love.”
“You ride broncos.” I don't ask it as a question. It’s more of anI’ll believe it if I see ittype of comment.
Levi lights up. “Well damn.”
She turns to me with that calm and soft smile. “It’s not that much different from a bull.”
“The fuck it is,” I snipe out, and she laughs.
“What’s different? It’s still eight seconds of the longest and hardest ride of your life. More thrill than I ever got anywhere else.” She smirks. “I’m sure you understand.”
Levi whistles low and smooth, and oh, I’m not letting this go.
“You’ve no idea what you’re talking about, sweetheart.” My eyes drag slowly over her. “And I can promise you, I won’t quit in eight seconds.”
“With a busted knee, it might be all you get.”
“Oh, shit!” Levi barks out and doubles over in laughter.
Her lips twitch, and she keeps on antagonizing me, saying, “What can I say? I like winners.”
I shoot Levi a look, but he does nothing to control himself. “She’s got good taste.” He puffs his chest, throwing his arm around her.
“Don’t encourage her,” I snap.
She tilts her head, giving me that gorgeous fucking irritating smile. “Too late.”
She looks back at the arena, and I study her profile. The slope of her nose, the upturn of her stubborn chin, her gorgeous blonde hair. She watches the crowd as they filter out of the stands. She doesn’t flinch at the dirt flying around or the smell. And I notice how happy she looks, and it’s beautiful.
And that thought pisses me off.
I let out a gruff sigh. “I’ve got work to do, and now you’re standing in the way,” I mutter.
“Of what?” she asks.
“My peace,” I mutter and try to circle around her, and all she does is side-step in front of me again.
She smiles. “You don’t look peaceful.”
“Exactly.”
