Page 102 of One Last Rodeo

I nod again. “I’m not going back to my ex. I was never going to. I didn’t go on the date with June either. I’m sorry for making you believe that. It was… it was cruel.”

He waits for me to finish. I take another deep breath.

“I know I can forgive you, Jensen, because I already have. I know you’re telling the truth.” I exhale slowly. “I just need a little more time. I need to focus on the upcoming surgery. I need to...”

I need to be okay with myself first before I'm okay with letting someone else love me again.Because if I’m not, I know I’ll repeat this pattern and I’ll be the one to hurt Jensen first next time.

His shoulders drop, relief softening him. He accepts it. He spreads his hand wide on my knee—the one painted red, just like mine was—and leans forward, pressing a kiss to the inside there gratefully. Then he looks up at me.

His hand lifts to my chin, his thumb rough as it brushes along my jaw, tilting my face toward his. We’re close enough that I can feel his breath. Close enough that Iache for him all over.

I want him to kiss me. God, I really want that. But I know it isn’t fair to want that from him. I need to fix my own shit. I need to be a woman deserving of him first.

He must see that in my eyes because he doesn’t lean in. Instead, he smiles softly.

“Okay.”

He stands, takes his hat from the desk, and turns toward the door. He pauses in the doorway. Looks back over his shoulder.And there it is—that blinding, goofy, knowing grin. The same one from the first night we ended up naked together in his Denver hotel room.

"Jensen." I hesitate, stopping him before he can leave. "It wasn’t all your fault. You were right. The punishment didn’t fit the crime.”

His brows lift a little.

“Some… or maybe a lot of my reaction was about me. And my own insecurities. I’m sorry, too."

He nods and doesn't press. Doesn't ask for any more of the details. He just takes it.

“I knew I had a good feeling about you,” he says with a cautious smile. “Good luck with the surgery in San Jose. You’re gonna make that girl feel brand new.”

Then he settles his hat back on his head and walks out for his ride. Another eight seconds of a bull trying to take his life. Another eight seconds where I’ll stand on the sidelines, worrying the entire time because I don’t want to lose him.

I stay in my office for a beat longer, breathless, realizing I might never agree with his decision to keep riding, but I'll take the eighty years I hope I get with him in the meantime... even if it means he keeps his eight seconds.

Chapter 31 – Jensen

The roar of the Charlotte crowd is still bleeding out of my ears when I duck into the locker room, gloves half off, shoulder singing in a familiar key I've gotten really good at ignoring. Just a few more days out from San Diego.

“That was a nice one,” Joel says, coming up behind me as I finish peeling off my riding gloves.

He gives my bad shoulder a squeeze—firm enough to remind me he hasn’t forgotten I’m still riding half-busted and only barely got cleared to get back on the bull tonight.

“Might’ve ridden nice,” I mutter, rolling my shoulder carefully, “but it only counts if I take it all the way to the finals in four days.”

Micah appears at Joel’s side, sweat-streaked and unusually serious as he gives me a nod. “You’ll do it because you're the best in the series. And we've got your back now that we're both out.”

“Appreciate that. Did you see how Raf finished?” I ask, reaching for my bag. He’s the only other one from our team who made it to the last ride here in Charlotte. He didn’t get in the semis ride, but he’s still sitting pretty to take fifth overall and some sort of award money home. He's also got a new, potential sponsorship waiting for him if he pulls it off. Some fancy technology company that makes cameras and a men's cologne brand.

Two things I don't think Raf gives a shit about.

“Yeah,” Joel says. “He did good. Think it’s ‘cause June was hanging off the gate the whole time, flirting with some cowboy from one of the competing teams. Raf wanted her to notice him, maybe even take his picture.”

I huff out a laugh. “Did it work?"

He shrugs. "I don't think so. He got some photos, but not her focus."

"For a guy with exactly zero pictures on his phone, it’s wild how bad he wants her taking his.”

Micah smirks. “Ain’t the photos he wants. It’s her eyes on him.”