Page 42 of One Last Rodeo

"He didn't catch my eye."

It’s a flat out lie and we both know it. Dani gets this smile she's had since she was seven years old, the one that means she's right about something and is giving me the grace of not saying so directly. I hate that smile. I've always hated that smile. I need Jensen to un-catch my eye immediately.

"He's a former patient, technically. I performed his heart surgery a few months ago. And he’s now one of my colleagues. It meant nothing. It was a one-time thing."

"Sleeping with a patient… ooh."

I think about last night. The way he said my name,Catalina, not Doctor Alba, like I asked. It didn’t feel like he was a patient then. I think about the way he checked the condom twice. The way he kissed my fingers after threading our hands together gently.

"I swear, if you tell Hayes I’m going to be pissed.”

Dani's smile gets wider, and I want to hang up on her.

“Okay, well, see you in a couple weeks! We can’t wait to see you guys in action. And Jensen! Have a safe flight.”

“Yeah, see you then.”

She smiles and hangs up. I stay there for a moment, phone in my lap, taking a few slow, controlled breaths like I’m prepping for a difficult procedure and not a routine walk to the elevator where I might run into my one-night stand.

Then I push to my feet.

I’m ready—or pretending to be ready—to walk to the lobby and join the rest of the team flying to California. It’s only been a few hours since I left Jensen’s hotel room, but I’ve already decided. I’m going to act normal. Professional. Unbothered. Like none of it changed anything. Because it didn’t.

My phone buzzes. I glance down. It’s a notification from the dating app that June set up for me. I don’t look at what it means. I turn the screen face over on the bedspread. Right.

Like I didn’t let a bull rider ride me.

Chapter 12 – Jensen

“Micah’s looking good out there tonight.”

I nod slowly, watching my friend finish up his ride. “Yeah. I think he’s got this one. His ride’s been the prettiest.”

Dawson angles his body toward me, lifting a brow. “Shoulder holding up?”

“Yeah.” I roll it once, keeping my face unreadable. “Heath taped it up well. We iced it and worked it out this morning. Don't worry. I didn't do anything heavy.”

Dawson slaps my back like I’m made of stone. “You hit your thirties and things start popping and cracking in ways they didn't used to, and one day you realize you're not as invincible as you once were. Take it easy. You’ll be back at it after the break.”

Invincible. There goes that word again.

“I think the timing of the break is good,” I say. "We could all use some time off from riding."

Words I never thought I'd say but am grateful for now. That way I don't fall too far behind in the ranks while attempting to rest my injury.

“Universe tends to have a way of doing that for us, huh?”

“That it does.”

My shades hide half of what I’m doing here—pretending to watch Micah ride while really scanning the arena like a feral animal looking for one woman. Onewildand beautiful woman who seems bent on avoiding me ever since we landed in California.

Micah gets his eight seconds and dismounts clean. It's a solid ride all around. I should be hyped for him, and I am, in the way a man can be proud of his buddy while also not giving a single shit about his ride because the only person I’m looking for is Doctor Alba.

“You and Lo good?” I ask.

Dawson nods. “Yeah. We’re good. Going to Hawaii for the break.”

“Sounds nice.”