Kaylee stood and gave me a once-over. “Like you just had an incredibly hot moment with a good-looking guy in his hotel bathroom.”
When she winked at me, I felt my entire face heat. Again.
“I hate you.”
Chapter Seventeen
LINCOLN
I saw Stella the moment I walked into the hotel bar. She had on a long-sleeved white shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots, and her hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She didn’t look a day older than forty.
“Hi,” I said softly, sliding onto the barstool next to hers.
I glanced around and saw a few other people in the room. A table with four guys caught my attention. They all had on cowboy hats, and on two of them, I could see their big buckles, just like the ones Brock, Dirk, and Ty wore.
“Bull riders?” I asked, motioning over to them with a jerk of my head.
Stella glanced that way. “Yes. Brazilians. They’re big in this sport.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yep, who would have thought, right? Beer?” Stella asked as she pointed to her Miller Lite.
“Sure.”
Lifting her beer, she motioned to me, and the bartender nodded. “So, why don’t you just get to what’s on your mind, sweetie?”
I dragged in a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “How do you do it? I mean, two sons who ride bulls and another who rodeos? How are your nerves not shot?”
She laughed and took a drink of her beer. The bartender set mine down in front of me, and I followed Stella’s lead. Only I took a longer drink. My nerves were still on edge, and I hoped Stella couldn’t tell why I was flustered.
“I wish I could tell you it’s easy, loving a man who does something like bull riding for a living. Ty Senior did it when we first met. He won the state high school bull-riding championship. At first, I thought it was sort of sexy. Then I fell in love with him, and I did whatever I could to encourage him. It was something he was passionate about. Luckily for me, though, when I had Ty, something in his father switched, and he just stopped. Worked full time on my daddy’s ranch, the one we live on and work now. He walked away from bull riding and never looked back.”
My brows pulled in some. “Why didn’t Brock do that when he got married and had Blayze?”
She hesitated before taking a deep, cleansing breath. “I can’t tell you why he kept riding. Some guys just do. They get married, have kids, and keep on the tour. I can, however, speculate. Kaci and Brock were not meant to be together. At least, I think they were both just too young. They thought they knew what love was, and maybe they did.”
I sucked in a breath. “You don’t think they were meant to be together? Why?”
Stella faced me. “It’s not my story to tell, and when Brock is ready to share it with you, he will. But he’s holding on to some serious guilt about more than one thing. You’re the first woman he’s even looked at since he married Kaci. When she died, I think he went on a few benders and had a one-night stand or two. Probably did some things he regrets, but for the most part, he swore off ever falling for another woman.”
“He’s opened a little bit with me, but I don’t want to push him.”
Stella gave me a grin and went on. “I think Kaci figured once they got married, Brock would walk away from bull riding. Of course, that never happened. Since her death, he’s been struggling, and the mistakes of his past have made him the man he is today. Brock just has to figure out who that man is, and find the right woman to share that man with.”
I took a swig from my beer.
Stella took my hand in hers. “Lincoln, Brock is a wonderful son, an amazing father, and one heck of a good guy. He likes you, I see it, and I’m pretty sure you like him just as much. Just go slow, be patient with him, and let him come to you when he’s ready. He’ll get there, but it might take longer than eight seconds, if you know what I mean.”
I wanted to ask her more, but the sound of Blayze’s voice from the lobby had us both looking that way.
Stella smiled and said, “The gang is all ready for dinner. You’d better call Kaylee and tell her to get down here. Once these Shaw men get hungry, that’s it.”
With a chuckle, I pulled out my phone and sent Kaylee a text to come to the lobby. She texted back that she was already there, talking to Dirk.
I paid for my beer and followed Stella out into the lobby. I couldn’t help but smile as I took in everyone. Brock seemed so happy to be with his family. He loved his job, but I was positive he hated that it took him away from his son.
Blayze ran up to me, grabbed my hand, and began pulling me toward the door. “Sit next to me, Miss Lincoln!”
Laughing, I asked, “Where?”
“At the restaurant, silly!”
There was a steak and seafood restaurant right across from the hotel. Ty Senior had made reservations, so when we got there, we were seated immediately.
“So, what can we expect from tomorrow?” Kaylee asked, tossing a piece of bread into her mouth.
Everyone looked at Brock.
“Well, I’ve got passes for everyone, and a behind-the-scenes tour set up for Lincoln and Kaylee, as well as Mom and Pop.”
“Me too?” Blayze asked.
“Of course for you too.” Brock ruffled his son’s hair. “Then, round one starts. If I qualify, I move on to round two on Sunday. The fifteen/fifteen bucking battle is after that, and then the championship round.”
“What’s the fifteen/fifteen bucking battle?” I asked.
“It’s the top fifteen riders in the world competing against the fifteen highest-ranked bulls at the event. Points count toward the season standings.”
I nodded.
“Are you ready for Tiny Devil and Moonshine?” Ty Senior asked.
Brock nodded. “They’re both good bulls. Moonshine is currently ranked third, and Tiny Devil is tenth.”
Kaylee and I exchanged a look of utter confusion. She made a face, and I tried not to laugh.
“Moonshine is a left-hand delivery, so he’s gonna turn away from your hand,” Ty Senior added.
Brock nodded. “Doesn’t bother me any. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went right.”
Blayze tapped my arm, causing me to glance down at him. “Daddy is takin’ me to see the bulls. Will you come with us?”
I peeked over to Brock. He was still talking to his father. “I’d love to, if your daddy says it’s okay.”
“He will. He likes you. Just like Uncle Ty likes Miss Kaylee. Daddy said Uncle Ty has a crush on her! And I made up a song about it. Wanna hear?”
Kaylee nearly choked on the salad she’d just put into her mouth.
Stella chuckled, and all three Shaw men stared at Kaylee as she grabbed her water. None of them had heard what Blayze said.
“What’s wrong?” Ty asked, clearly worried about Kaylee.
Holding up her hand, she took a drink and managed to get out, “I’m fine.”
Her eyes were watering, and she shot a glance in my direction, shock on her face and in her eyes. I had to admit, I was a bit shocked as well. Ty had seemed to have pulled back on his flirting with Kaylee, and now he acted as if she annoyed him more than anything. Kaylee had told me after they’d shared a kiss at the Blue Moose, Ty had grown distant. I wanted to dig deeper into that, but I needed to focus on Brock first before I even attempted to figure out Ty Shaw.
Kaylee kept coughing, and Ty stood up. “Kaylee, are you okay?”
With her hand lifted in a thumbs-up sign, she nodded.
Ty grabbed her now-empty water and walked over to the waitress to ask her to fill it. I had to admit it was a sweet thing to do. When he came back and handed it to her, I knew Kaylee thought so as well. She seemed awestruck for a few moments as Ty sat back down.
“What in the world happened? Something go down wrong?” Ty Senior asked.
I looked at Brock and nodded down to Blayze, moved my eyes to Ty and Kaylee, and then nodded to Blayze again.
Brock frowned and mouthed, What?
Clearly, I needed to work on my covert skills.
I leaned around Blayze’s back and whispered to Brock, “Blayze announced that his uncle Ty has a crush on Kaylee and something about a song he made up, right as she was taking a bite of salad.”
Brock pulled back and stared at me, and then he looked to Kaylee and his brother.
Then, he lost it, laughing, and I couldn’t help it; I followed right along.
Kaylee shot us both daggers as she quietly said, “I hate you.” Then, she proceeded to kick me under the table.
“What’s so funny?” Ty asked.
I wondered when Blayze would speak up, and he didn’t disappoint.
“I think Miss Kaylee swallowed her salad all wrong when I told her you had a crush on her. I know you said I’d have to walk to Billings if I didn’t stop singing my song, but we’re here now, so I want to sing it for her too.”
The entire table stilled—well, with the exception of Kaylee, who was groaning.
Ty stared at his nephew. “I do not have a crush on Kaylee, Blayze. We already went over this. And you’ll walk back home if you start that song.”
“What?” Kaylee asked, glaring at Ty now. “You went over this? When?”
Ty looked at her. “It was before we picked you both up. Blayze misunderstood something his daddy said. Right, Blayze?”
The little boy winked at his uncle and replied, “Right.” He leaned across the table and whispered loudly, “We’re tellin’ a white lie, ain’t that right, Uncle Ty?”
This time Ty moaned, and Kaylee tried to keep from laughing.
“Well, moving on from that conversation,” Stella said with a huge smile, “girls, I’d love to get some shopping in while we’re here, if you’re both up for it.”
“Shopping? I am always up for shopping,” Kaylee stated.
Stella giggled, as did I.
The rest of dinner was spent with the men talking about ranching, bulls, horses, and what they were going to plant in the north pasture. Stella and I talked about me starting a garden, possibly offering a few riding lessons, and she even offered to board one or two of their horses in my barn for the lessons. I told her about how excited I was to start my new job. Then, I played tic-tac-toe with Blayze to keep him occupied while we waited for the check. Brock picked up the tab and told his father he could get it next time, to which his father argued back that Brock had said that last time he’d picked up the check.
I couldn’t help but notice how Ty’s mood had seemed to slip. He hardly said a word the rest of the night. After dinner, he mentioned something about heading back to the hotel and meeting up with a few friends for some drinks.
Brock invited me to go along with him and Blayze to see the bulls, and that made both me and Blayze happy campers. Stella and Kaylee excused themselves and acted like two schoolgirls as they set off for their shopping trip.
“You sure you don’t want to go with Mom and Kaylee?” Brock asked as we headed toward Ty’s truck. He was letting Brock use it since he would be with friends.
“I’m positive. I’d rather spend the time with you and Blayze.”
The way Blayze smiled up at me made my chest squeeze tightly with adoration. This boy had a way of wrapping you around his little finger.
As we walked along and looked at the bulls, Brock gave me their stats.
Ruthless Outlaw had been ridden the full eight seconds only once in the last six outs. Brock was the one who had gone the full eight on him last. Pride bubbled up inside me.
Steel Bullet was a spitfire bull. Small, but he packed a lot of power. Brock loved riding him.
“What did it mean when your father said one of the bulls was a left-hand delivery?”
“When we get to the event center tomorrow, I’ll show you. But basically, it means that the bull is left-handed, so to speak. He likes coming out of the chutes on his left side. Most bulls are left-handed. So, most of the bulls you see tomorrow will be a left-hand delivery.”
I nodded. “And him turning away from your hand?”
Brock smiled. He seemed to like me asking questions.
“If I’m right-handed, I’ve got my hand in my bull strap like this.” He motioned like his hand was slipping under a strap. “If the bull turns away from my hand, or to the left, he’s turning away from me. If he turns into my hand, goes to the right, he’s turning into me. Most guys like it when the bull turns toward his hand.”
My brow lifted. “And you?”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind either way. I just keep my chin tucked and keep my free hand in control.”
I leaned against a fence, taking in the smell of the small ranch just outside the arena. “I’m not going to lie: I’m nervous about watching. I pulled up some videos on the PBR site and searched your name.”
Brock’s face lit up. “You researched me, did ya?”
“Did you see my daddy winning?” Blayze asked, pride filling his voice. “He’s the best there ever was when it comes to riding a bull. That’s what Papa says.”
Brock reached down and grabbed Blayze, putting him on his shoulders. “Your granddaddy has to say that, buddy. I’m his son.”
Blayze laughed like that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. Even slapped his hand on his leg. “That’s a good one, Daddy!”
Brock and I looked at each other before laughing. It was evident how much Brock loved his son, and how much Blayze loved his daddy.
“You feel like hanging out with us tonight? We’re gonna watch Finding Nemo.”
I smiled. “That’s one of my favorite movies.”
Blayze shouted, “It’s mine too!”
I shot my gaze between both Shaw men. “I’ll watch the movie with y’all on one condition.”
“Anything!” Blayze offered up.
“We have to have popcorn and black licorice.”
Both Brock and Blayze scrunched their noses. “Gross,” they said at the same time. Except one sounded more like gwoss.
Like father, like son.
“Who likes black licorice?” Brock asked, a mock expression of horror on his face.
“Or popcorn?” Blayze said.
Gasping and placing my hand on my chest, I looked at Blayze. “You don’t like popcorn?”
He shook his head, his sweet little blue eyes beaming down at me. “Daddy doesn’t like it, so neither do I.”
How adorable is that?
“Well then, what will we eat while we watch the movie?” I asked.
It took only a nanosecond for them both to respond, “Pretzels and chocolate chip cookies.”
And I just fell a little bit in love with both of them.
Chapter Eighteen
BROCK
Blayze was passed out, his head on my lap and his feet on Lincoln’s. Finding Nemo had long since ended, and Lincoln and I had been sitting there, just talking. She asked me questions about bull riding. How the bulls were bred, the average bull age, if anyone rooted for the bulls. That one was my favorite.
“A lot of people root for the bulls. They keep stats on them and everything.”
“What happens if you draw a bull whose riders make eight on him a lot?”
“The stock contractors will usually put him down a level. He’ll go to some more inexperienced riders. That way, he can throw them and build his confidence back up.”
She nodded. “Get him a little ego boost, huh?”
“Yeah, something like that,” I replied with a chuckle.
Glancing down at Blayze, she asked, “Do you ever worry that you’ll get hurt?”
“I’d be stupid not to. I don’t so much worry as I try to focus on not getting hurt. I work out, do yoga, try to stay in shape. The better shape I’m in, the better I’ll heal when I do get hurt.”
“When, not if?”
“Yeah, baby. It’s always when.”
Lincoln looked to be in deep thought before she glanced back at me and smiled. “I’m excited to see you in your element tomorrow.”
I lifted my brow. “Oh yeah? I’m excited to show you.”
“I won’t be a distraction, will I?” she asked, suddenly nervous.
“No, just don’t wear any Daisy Dukes or tell me you’re not wearing panties, and I’ll be golden.”
Her face blushed, and she looked at Blayze. “Brock Shaw!” she said, playfully hitting me on the shoulder. She then shook her head and took in a deep breath. “I’d better get back to my room. I hope Kaylee is back.”
“I hope she wasn’t embarrassed about the whole Ty having a crush on her. My brother is a bit awkward around women. He’s never really had a girlfriend.”
Her brows rose. “Really? He’s so . . .”
I quirked my head. “He’s so what?”
“Um, I was just going to say, he’s so kind and . . . well, handsome. I find it hard to believe he’s never dated.”
I chuckled. “He’s had his fair share of women, if you catch my drift. None that ever caught his eye. Well, until Kaylee.”
“Kaylee’s caught his eye?”
I nodded. “I think so. At least, he sure looks at her like he’s interested, but then says he’s not.”
Lincoln thought on my words for a bit before she snapped out of it. Smiling, she moved Blayze’s feet off her lap and slowly stood. “What time should we be ready to go?”
“Let’s all meet down in the lobby for breakfast. Eight sound good?”
Her eyes lit up with what clearly was excitement. “Sounds perfect.”
I moved Blayze so that I could stand and followed her to the door. Before she had a chance to open it, I placed my hand on her arm.
“Lincoln.”
Her body trembled at my touch, and that did something to me right in the middle of my damn chest. Kaci had never reacted to me like Lincoln did. Her body hadn’t shaken under my touch. Her cheeks hadn’t flushed a beautiful pink when I touched her, and she hadn’t looked at me the way Lincoln did after I kissed her. That knowledge messed with my head, but I tried to push it aside. I knew Kaci loved me, but I was beginning to wonder if our love had been enough.
She turned and leaned against the door. Her chest moved faster as her breath quickened. She was so beautiful; it was hard to breathe when I looked at her. It was hard not to get lost in those green eyes of hers. Hard to forget how soft her lips had felt against mine. Even harder to forget how beautiful she was on the inside.
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