“When do I need to be there?”
“One.”
A pause. “I suppose I could help you out. Just this one time.”
She closed her eyes, glad he hadn’t tacked on since you’re desperate and McKay left you in the lurch. “Thank you, Deck. I really appreciate it. The paperwork will be in the secretary’s office.”
“I have done this before.” The phone clunked. “Hang on, Robert wants to talk to you again.”
“Will your mother be at this rodeo?” her father demanded.
Georgia held her hand over the phone and glanced at her mom, leaning against the doorjamb. “Are you coming with me today?”
“Better than sitting here doing nothing. Why?”
“Dad wants to know.”
Irina Hotchkiss slowly sipped her coffee. “Is he going?”
For the love of God.
“I am not the go-between. You two are adults. Figure it out. But I’m leaving in half an hour.” She handed her mother her cell phone and ran upstairs to finish getting ready.
When Georgia returned downstairs, her mother waited by the door. In a new outfit. A cleavage-baring outfit.
Do not ask why she’s got the girls out in full display.
“Ready?” Georgia asked brightly.
“Yes. But I’ve decided to follow you in case I get bored and want to leave.”
“Fine.” Georgia handed her mother a spare house key and a complimentary ticket. “I’ll be busy. Just text me and let me know what you’re up to.”
That way she wouldn’t have to run interference between her parents and deal with her ex-husband.
As Tell slipped on the official black-and-white PRCA judge’s vest, he heard Verna calling, “McKay?”
Both he and Chase said, “Yes?” then they laughed.
“I’m looking for judge McKay, not rider McKay,” Verna said, handing Tell a clipboard. “We’re just glad you’re here and didn’t have anything else goin’ on today.”
Nothing else going on. Right. Backing out on Georgia was a shitty thing to do, but he hadn’t lied exactly. Being here was a family thing. This was the first time he’d be a judge when his world champion bull riding cousin, Chase McKay, took to the dirt.
Chase had agreed to ride as an expo at the last minute. The promotion company was all over the place, scrambling to make the most of the opportunity. Which made him wonder what Georgia was doing.
Cursing your name, most likely.
He signed off on the paperwork. “What now?”
“We hang tight. There are a couple camera crews setting up for interviews.”
“Seriously?”
Chase shrugged. “Welcome to my life.”
He snorted. “Yeah, it sucks to be you. Married to a gorgeous movie star, livin’ the high life on a beach in California, and let’s not forget that teeny tiny PBR World Champion belt buckle you’re sporting.”
A big grin split Chase’s face. “It is good to be me.” He ran his finger over the big buckle. “I still can’t believe I won last year.”
“You deserved it. You had a great season. Are your brothers and folks here today to cheer you on?”
“Actually, no. Mom and Dad are in Phoenix, staying with Sierra since Gavin has a week-long conference in Atlanta.” He frowned. “That girl is givin’ Gavin fits and he can’t trust his ex with her anymore either. Ben and Ainsley are in Gillette for a wedding. And Quinn and Libby are in Spearfish today for Adam’s T-ball game.”
“How long are you stayin’?”
“Just tonight. I’m crashing at Ben’s place.”
“Ava’s not with you?”
“I wish.”
“How is she?”
Chase smirked. “Fuckin’ spectacular. I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
Tell punched him in the shoulder. “Lookit you, all in love and shit. Never thought I’d see you pussy-whipped.”
“And now I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Speakin’ of pussy… I stopped into AJ’s place early this mornin’ for a massage. She mentioned you were makin’ time with one Georgia Hotchkiss. Ain’t she the smokin’ hot cheerleader from your class? Her boyfriend was on the rodeo team?”
“Yeah. We’re hanging out sometimes. No big deal.” He gave Chase a cool stare. “How in the hell did that come up in conversation with AJ?”
“Evidently AJ is tryin’ to marry you off.”
“To Georgia? Jesus. It was just last week all them women were all gunning for her, afraid she’d break my poor little heart while she reached into their purses.”
“That’s changed. They’re singing her praises now. AJ thought with me bein’ the former bad boy McKay that you’d listen if I spewed hearts and flowers about how much happier my life is now that I’ve settled down.” Chase shrugged. “All true. But I remember bein’ pissed off when our cousins tried to tell me the same thing.”
“The McKays are a meddling bunch,” Tell grumbled.
“That ain’t gonna change. So is she here?”
“Nah. She’s working another rodeo event today.”
“Chase?” A smartly dressed woman stepped into the tent. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” He clapped Tell on the back. “Come on, cuz, it’s time for your close-up.”
An hour later, Tell had no idea how Chase did this bullshit every day, cameras filming and photographers snapping shots and microphones shoved in his face, recording his every word like gospel. Tell resisted sneaking behind him and making bunny ears. That would just be immature. Funny as hell, but definitely juvenile.
Finally the PR woman ended the interviews.
They wandered behind the chutes and split up. Tell got his head in the game, and it was time to rodeo.
Every event went like clockwork. Chase was last to ride. His ride was an exposition, but that didn’t mean it was a gimme. The bull they’d paired him with hadn’t been ridden and was a beast at almost two thousand pounds.
The bull went vertical out of the chute.
Chase held on. He spurred, one with the animal through every twist, turn and jump. The crowd went nuts, aware they were witnessing a textbook, picture-perfect ride.
Tell scored the bull and the rider very high. Not because Chase was his cousin, but because the man was sheer poetry on the back of a bull.
Final score was ninety-three points.
After the buckles were awarded, Chase gave his spiel about helmet safety issues, and a good portion of the crowd stayed to listen.
Tell checked out with the rodeo secretary, waiting for Chase to finish yet another interview. And he wasn’t the only one waiting. He casually checked out the women hanging on the corrals, anticipating Chase’s appearance. As if Chase was gonna look twice at any of these bunnies when he had the stunning Ava Cooper in his bed every night.
“That was some ride,” a busty blonde said.
Her redheaded friend nodded. Then she gave Tell a once-over. “Hey. You’re one of the judges.”
He smiled. “You caught me.”
“You’re really cute. God, I love them dimples.” Her gaze dropped to the waistband of his jeans and seemed disappointed he wasn’t wearing a buckle. “Didja used to compete in rodeo?”
“A few years back.”
“Ooh. I can tell,” the redhead cooed. She squeezed his biceps. “You’ve got the body for it.”
The blonde, not to be outdone, thrust her tits in his face. “You’re used to ranking bulls and riders. What would you rank me?”
He bit back the damn close to desperate comment that popped into his head. He let his gaze travel over her. “On a scale of one to ten? Pretty lady, you’re a solid fifteen. And that’s before I see how well you can ride.”
She tittered.
Next thing Tell knew, he was surrounded by half-a-dozen women. All laughing at his jokes, pawing at him. Making sexual promises with their mouths and their eyes.
What about Georgia?
What about her?
She’s not here. And all these lovelies wanted to do was hang out with him.
Because they like you? Or because they’re hoping Chase will show up?
And for the first time ever, Tell didn’t dread that scenario. Wouldn’t that be sweet? Seeing the surprised look on his famous cousin’s face when he finally realized that Tell wasn’t the scrawny runner-up in everything? That Tell had his own moves and his own group of hot chickies vying for a down and dirty piece of him?
Shallow, McKay, really fucking shallow.
“I’m thirsty,” brunette number one complained.
“Me too,” said the busty blonde.
“Ditto,” said the redhead.
The expectant looks leveled his way prompted him to say, “I can’t stand to see you beauties suffering from dehydration. How about if you all head on into Moorcroft and save us a table at Ziggy’s? The first round is on me.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Outstanding job, Georgia. We can’t thank you enough for going above and beyond for our little rodeo.”
Georgia beamed at Esther Theel, committee chair. “It truly was my pleasure. I hope the Pine Haven Rodeo continues for many years.”
“You can bet we’ll be moving it from this weekend next year, so we ain’t competing with the Upton Rodeo.” Esther gave her a shrewd look. “I should be glad that Barb Wyre PR isn’t promoting that one. Or else you wouldn’t have had time for us.”
Today had been full of lucky breaks. Not only that Deck had agreed to sub at the last moment, and he hadn’t been nasty, but due to her PR efforts the attendance at this rodeo exceeded initial expectations.
“As happy as I am with the gate, concession stand and beer garden receipts, I can’t help but wonder if our take would’ve been higher if we’d hitched our wagon to a celebrity rider like Chase McKay.”
“Why would you say that?”
“’Cause Chase was featured at the Upton Rodeo today.”
Instead of blurting, “He was?” Georgia meticulously straightened a stack of papers and wondered why Tell hadn’t mentioned it.
“All sorts of media coverage from what my spies tell me.” Esther ran her hand through her short gray hair. “Especially after that ninety-three point ride. But I gotta say, it’s a good thing the ride was for exhibition, because that score would definitely be called into question, bein’s Chase McKay’s cousin was a judge.”
Georgia stilled.
Tell. You lying piece of shit. A family thing my ass.
The Upton Rodeo was a much bigger event and PRCA-sanctioned to boot. Had he really thought she wouldn’t find out why he’d blown her off? Or didn’t he care that his defection had left her scrambling to fill his judge spot at the last minute? Especially after she’d gone out of her way to find him more judging gigs?
Or maybe this is finally payback for all the times you left him high and dry.
The knowledge lodged in her belly like a boulder.
Esther said, “I wasn’t gonna bring this up, but wasn’t Tell McKay supposed to judge here today?”
Now she had to try and save face for both of them. “Yes. He’d gotten double-booked and…”
“Oh, I ain’t surprised this dinky event wasn’t his priority since his cousin is big-time. I was just curious.”
“I understand Chase McKay is generous with his time and celebrity, especially with rodeos in his home state. You should look into booking him for next year before Upton gets ahold of him.”
“Or maybe we should have you look into it, so we’ve got you locked in for PR for us,” Esther said slyly.
Georgia forced a laugh and looped the messenger-bag strap over her shoulder. “Who knows where I’ll be next year.”
“If you are interested in having an early word with McKay, Ziggy’s is the hangout spot for the rodeo crowd after a performance. I was thinking of heading over there myself.”
No way. Georgia was not going to Ziggy’s. Forcing a public confrontation with Tell wasn’t smart, given that last time they’d had words he’d thrown her over his shoulder and carried her out of the bar.
So she’d head home, make plans with her mother and have a quiet evening. With lots of wine. With lots of whining.
The staunch self-warning did no good.
An hour later, Georgia found herself looking for parking in Ziggy’s lot.
She paid the cover charge at the door. As she made her way through the crowd, she caught her first glimpse of a familiar face: her father’s. That was weird. He’d never been the type to hang out in bars, even before RJ died. Georgia inched forward to see who shared his booth and her eyes bugged out.
What the hell? Her parents were having supper together?
She watched them for several more minutes. Although they were talking, neither looked happy about the conversation. Maybe it was better she wasn’t there to mediate; heaven knew she hadn’t done a great job in the past.
Still, the whole thing left her unsettled. Today’s issues and events left her out of sorts and on edge.
Of course, that’s when she heard his laugh. Deep, rich and strong.
Georgia turned toward the sound and saw Tell in a circular booth, surrounded by women. Laughing with them. Drinking with them. Charming them. Lapping up every bit of female attention.
A jealous rage rose in her. She wanted to punch him in his handsome face for his part in her tension-filled day.
But she had no idea how to handle this. Standing here, secretly shooting eye daggers at his female tablemates, was pointless. Should she storm up and introduce herself as Tell’s…what? High school crush? Or go all hard-ass businesswoman and demand an explanation of why he’d blown off a professional engagement?
The longer she wallowed in indecision, the more she understood…she wouldn’t do jack shit. That reaction sent her spiraling back in time. When Deck had done or said something wrong and she’d kept her mouth shut rather than confronting him.
When the single guys who’d been circling her started moving closer with that hey baby come here often? gleam in their eyes, Georgia decided to go. But in trying to avoid the sharks eyeing her like chum, she’d snagged Tell’s attention.
Their eyes met. She expected him to look away quickly. Guiltily. But he kept focused on her. Part challenge, part some other fucked-up male pride thing that she didn’t want to deal with.
Now she’d look even more pathetic if she fled.
Her fight or flight decision was postponed when a male voice said, “Georgia?”
Then she was face to face with Chase McKay. The man was built like a bulldozer. Eyes—the same mesmerizing blue as Tell’s—stared back at her. His wide smile was pure McKay too. She blurted, “You remember me?”
“Of course.” Chase didn’t shake her hand; he hugged her. Hugged her. “You look fantastic.”
“Ah. Thanks. So do you.”
He grinned at her like he had a big secret. “My cousin is a dumb-ass. Bein’ pigheaded is a rite of passage for us McKays, but this one is gonna be especially sweet to pay forward.”
Confused, Georgia just blinked at him.
“We won’t have much time, so we’ve gotta get maximum play outta this play.” He stepped to the side so they were both within Tell’s view. “I heard from Dalton that Tell got pissy when he thought you were hittin’ up our relatives for sponsorship money? Can you imagine how much it’ll eat at him, wondering if you’re tryin’ to sweet-talk me into makin’ an appearance at a rodeo for your PR firm?”
“Why do you want Tell to think that?”
“Because he needs to wake the fuck up. And since what goes around comes around, I’m doin’ him a favor. So, darlin’, look like you’re pouring on the charm.”
Georgia slapped on a smile. “Even when I’m ticked off at him?”
“Because he’s surrounded by them bunnies?” Chase scoffed. “He ain’t hanging around them chicks to make you jealous. It’s got something to do with me, which is all kinds of fucked up. Why are you so ticked off at him?”
“Because he left me holding the bag.” She told him about Tell backing out of the Pine Haven Rodeo.
“To be honest, I’m shocked. Two years ago, Tell wouldn’t let me compete in a PRCA event under another name. He’s always doing the right thing.”
“Not this time.”
“Let’s use it against him.” Chase mimed signing a document on his hand. “Wanna play a game?”
“What game?”
“Make Tell’s head explode.” Chase’s eyes twinkled. “Come on, it’ll be fun. We’ll just casually walk out the front door as if we’re deep in conversation.”
Georgia didn’t know what purpose this would serve. This wasn’t a sexual flirtation between her and Chase McKay. She’d followed his career and knew the bull rider was happily married.
They stopped in the middle of the parking lot.
“Won’t be long now,” Chase said.
“What am I supposed to say?”
“The bitchier you are, the more he’ll try to get you alone to sweet-talk his way outta the doghouse. But stay firm, Georgia, because he’s gotta learn how to do some serious groveling.”
“I will never understand men.”
Chase laughed. “Now that you’ve said that…I ain’t feelin’ manly. It’s fuckin’ bizarre that I just channeled exactly what my wife would say.”
And as Chase had predicted, Tell barreled out, straight toward them. “Just what in the hell is goin’ on?”
“I’m talking to Georgia.”
“About what?”
“None of your damn business,” Georgia snapped.
“The hell it’s not. What does she want from you?”
Despite the fact Tell towered over Chase by at least six inches, Chase herded his cousin back. “Are you always so damn suspicious?”
“Of the two of you becoming buddy-buddy? Yes. You’re a celebrity, Chase. She’s in PR. Do the math.”
“I did do the math and came up one judge short for the Pine Haven Rodeo today,” Georgia said sweetly. “Ring any bells?”
Tell froze. He blushed. He opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Chase shook his head. “Not cool, cuz. You ain’t the type to shirk your responsibilities.”
“I’m a PRCA judge. I should’ve been on the roster for the Upton Rodeo in the first place. Besides, the Pine Haven Rodeo is small-time.”
Kissin' Tell: Rough Riders, Book 13 Page 26
