Page 48 of Reckless Skye

‘Sure. Every time. But as soon as I’m in the chute and sitting on that bull, nothing else exists. Just me and him. There’s a lifetime in those eight seconds. Every time. When the buzzer sounds, it’s like everything restarts.’ His laugh echoed through his chest and into her back. ‘And then I have to dismount without dying, which is sometimes scarier than riding the bull in the first place.’

‘I’ve watched the bull riding at a few smaller rodeos.’ She knew the basic rules too, but, just then, with TJ’s big body wrapped around her, she couldn’t help but tease. ‘You just hold on for eight seconds, right?’

TJ bit her neck gently. ‘Rude.’

Skye craned her head back to laugh up at him. ‘I’m just kidding. I know there’s a lot more to it.’

‘There is. And it’s not just riding. It’s travelling – which is exhausting. Being away from home, not being able to work a regular job, having to sleep in a strange bed most nights of the year – although that gets easier over time. It’s tough,’ he ceded. ‘And that’s if you’re one of the rare people who can make enough money a year doing it. And if you don’t have anyone waiting for you at home.’

Skye heard the cautiousness in his tone. ‘Don’t worry, Casanova. I know what we’re doing here.’

He frowned. ‘You see, when you say it like that, I really don’t think you do.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘I’m not going to stop you from going – because I understand why you need to. But,’ he said cautiously, ‘maybe we could meet up when we can both get time off?’ Leaning forward, he kissed her gently. ‘You should think about that.’

Skye was so shocked, so panicked, that she didn’t – couldn’t – reply. She might have been inexperienced, but she understood how dating worked. In theory. You went out. If you liked each other, you kept seeing one another, and then you either called it off when things fizzled out or took things further when they didn’t.

She just hadn’t expected that TJ would want to date her – or even, she could admit to herself, want to stay in touch once they parted ways after the weekend.

Life had taught her several hard truths, including that it was best not to rely on anyone but yourself. You could never truly know what happened behind closed doors or inside another person’s mind. And men, in general, were not to be trusted.

‘Why does that scare you so much?’ he asked gently.

‘I don’t know. You could be with anyone,’ she pointed out. ‘But I also think it’s because I don’t know what I’m doing. And not just with you. With my life.’ She chuckled, but it sounded a little panicked even to her own ears. ‘TJ, I have five thousand dollars to my name. No home. No job. And a twelve-hundred-pound animal I have to look after. I’m … fucking terrified,’ she admitted, perhaps for the first time. And in admitting it, decided, ‘I have to build a life I’m proud of, and I can’t do that chasing a guy who things may or may not work out with. I have to do it for me.’

‘I know,’ he said simply. ‘But, maybe, we can still meet up when our schedules allow – for me?’

Chapter 14

At three o’clock the next day, TJ hiked his gear bag over his shoulder and stepped out of the farmhouse. It was a good day. He’d spent the night with a beautiful woman, one who made his heart pound and his blood swim. The weather was clear and bright. He felt well rested and ready. Overall, the universe seemed to be on his side.

His dad sat on the porch, a Coke in one hand, a tattered Stephen King novel in the other, his reading glasses falling down his nose. He looked up when the front door slammed shut. ‘You heading out?’

TJ internally sighed. But he put his bag on the floor.

Despite his father’s nonchalance, a farmer sitting on the porch mid-afternoon meant one thing: his dad had meant to be there. And judging by the pointedly roundabout way he stalled, he wanted to bring up something specific. ‘Yeah. Mom said she’d bring Skye over later.’ His eyes dropped pointedly to the soda ‘You sneak that?’

‘Don’t tell her.’

His dad’s refusal to admit that his mother knew everything he did was one of life’s great mysteries. ‘What was it you wanted to say, Dad?’

He sighed heavily. ‘That obvious?’

‘It’s three p.m.,’ TJ pointed out. ‘We both know you have a zillion things to do.’

‘I’m gonna get to the point then.’

‘Please.’

‘Your mother’s worried.’

TJ knew, instantly and without doubt, what his mother was worried about. But, by God, he’d make his father say it. ‘About?’

His dad sighed. ‘You and Skye.’

‘Why the interest in my sex life now?’ TJ demanded hotly, irritated. ‘Jesus Christ, I’m thirty-three years old.’