Ava followed a link that directed her to articles about Chase. Happy as she was to hit pay dirt, the consensus in the last year of rodeo sports experts? Chase McKay was washed up. His riding percentage—whatever that meant—was rock bottom. Rumors abounded about the trail of broken hearts he left across the country. A couple of snarky reporters dubbed him “Chase’n Tail McKay” since his personal life overshadowed his professional career.
Welcome to the club, bub.
The next series of articles, dated the last three months, hinted at Chase settling into a relationship with Sheree Bishop, daughter of Lou Bishop, billionaire owner of Bishop’s Sporting Goods, the PBR’s new sponsor. During one interview, Sheree admitted she and Chase were “serious” but Chase neither confirmed nor denied Sheree’s claim. In fact, there were no pictures of Chase and Sheree together.
Were they keeping their relationship on the down low? Or was there nothing to report?
“Looks like you’ve found some interesting reading,” Chase drawled behind her.
Ava jumped. Heat rushed to her face and she fought the urge to slam her laptop shut. “Can you blame me for being curious? Since you were sleeping in the next room and wouldn’t confirm or deny you’re a serial killer?”
“I guess not. But you coulda just asked me.”
“You were asleep.” She watched him pour himself a cup of coffee. He wore athletic shorts, no shirt, apparently perfectly comfortable half-dressed with a woman he didn’t know.
Like you have room to judge. You were naked in front of him last night.
And wowza. With a slamming body like that? The man should waltz around naked all the time.
“So?” He pursed his lips and blew across his coffee. “Did you find proof I’m not a serial killer?”
“Yes. But it sounds like you’re some kind of lady killer.”
Chase rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it.
“I’ll plead total ignorance on what it means to be a bull rider, so I did some research. All the rest of this stuff popped up.” Ava bit back a girly sigh when his beautiful blue gaze connected with hers. “Are you really off the PBR tour because of an injury?”
Chase held her gaze long enough to make her heart speed up. Just when she thought he wouldn’t answer, he said, “Nope. I’m suspended indefinitely for inappropriate behavior.”
“What’d you do?” Another one of his intense eye locks. But he didn’t seem inclined to answer this time, so she tossed out, “I’m no stranger to PR nightmares. Regardless if I was the one at fault. If you’re looking for someone to commiserate with? That’d be me.”
He smiled. And holy fuck was it a smile that unlocked the gates of heaven.
Or the devil’s door. Which quite frankly, she preferred.
“Short version? Two weeks ago I was caught in a compromising position with a couple of ladies. I ain’t gonna make excuses, it was what it was, and I’m paying the price. I suddenly found myself with time off while I wait for the PBR to call me back. My folks and brothers live here, but I didn’t want to deal with their pity, so I asked Kane if I could hang out and make plans.”
“Sounds like you’re reading a page out of the story of my life.” Ava typed her name into the search engine and spun the laptop around. “Have a look.”
Chase scooted out the chair across from her and sat. His fingers clicked on the keyboard. His eyebrows went up a couple of times. But he didn’t speak for a few minutes.
She refilled their cups and braced herself when she sensed him staring at her.
“Your ex was gay?”
“Yes. It was quite a shock to me.”
“It wouldn’t have shocked me at all. He looks gay.”
Ava bristled. “You can’t tell that by looking at him.”
“Sure I can.” Chase spun the laptop around and enlarged the photo of Ava and Jake at an Emmy Awards after-party. He pointed at Jake’s feet enclosed in white patent leather clogs decorated with brightly colored polka dots. “No straight man ever wears shoes like them.”
“Shows what you know. Those are high-couture shoes.”
“Those are highly gay shoes.”
She wanted to laugh, she really did. It’d been ages since she’d met a man so willing to speak his mind. “Shoes are your gauge for determining sexual preference?”
“No, the best indicator is sex. How often did you have sex?”
“I don’t see how that’s relevant,” she snipped.
Chase leaned closer. “It’s the only thing that’s relevant. Because if he wasn’t dragging you to bed at least twice a day, the man was either a fuckin’ moron or totally gay. Probably both.”
That was kind of sweet…in a caveman sort of way. “Not everything has to do with sex.”
“Oh yeah? If that’s true, then this Jake guy wouldn’t have left you to have sex with a dude, would he?”
Ava’s mouth dropped open.
“Shit. Sorry. That came out wrong. What I meant—”
“No. Don’t.” She placed her hand on his arm. “I think you’re the first person who’s been totally honest with me.”
He relaxed. Smiled again and she bit back another sigh. “So this is what sent you running from California?”
“I got tired of the paparazzi.” Something kicked from what he’d said about his family. “I got tired of the pity. Of the trade mags making such a big deal out of it. I needed to get away and prove…”
There was that amazing grin again. “Don’t clam up on me now, Hollywood.”
Ava laughed at his impromptu nickname for her.
“And if you’re afraid I’ll judge you? Think again.”
“You were dead-on with the sex question. One of the reasons I’m here? To find a guy I can get wild with. To prove I’m hot between the sheets. To prove I can keep a man sexually satisfied.”
“Is that right?” he drawled.
Her brain slipped into seductress mode as she channeled the femme fatale she’d played on TV for two seasons. “Maybe…you’re the man who can help me with that.”
Bad karma is coming back to bite you in the ass, McKay.
Of all the times to have sworn off sex, this had to happen? Now? When the hottest woman on the planet sat right across from him? Burning him alive with her smoldering eyes? Oh, and she wanted to prove—with him—that she was a tiger between the sheets.
Fuck.
He wondered why God hated him.
He wondered if it was too early in the day to start drinking.
He wondered if Ava had any condoms because he hadn’t brought any.
No, no, no. He would not break the vow he’d made to himself. He’d been making excuses for his behavior for far too long. This “break” was supposed to get him back on track, not drive him off the rails completely.
“Chase?” she asked softly.
He tore his mind from the image of her oh so curvaceous body twined around his as he fucked her blind. “Ah, well, that’s the thing. See, after the last…incident, I swore off women.”
She blinked with confusion. “Forever?”
“No. For a while.”
“How long?”
He started to say two months to remove all temptation to get down and dirty with her, but amended it to, “A month.”
“I take it that’s a big deal for you, going without sex for a month?”
Chase nodded. “Go ahead and call me a dog. I deserve it.”
“We’re in the no-judgment zone, remember? But I’ve gotta admit…”
“What?”
“I’m disappointed.”
His dick decided to show disappointment at the lack of recent activity by instantly going rock hard.
“I am too, Ava. More than you can imagine. Any other time in my life I’d be stripping you to skin right where you stood.”
“That’s not helping, Chase.”
“Sorry. But we seem to be getting along. Can we be friends while we’re both hiding out here?”
Ava said, “Absolutely,” but
her sneaky smile said, Wanna take bets on how long you can hold out on that ‘friends’ thing, cowboy?
His eyes narrowed. “I’m not kiddin’, Ava. I am not sleeping with you.”
“I understand.”
“Seriously. We won’t be getting nekkid together.”
“Totally your call.”
“I mean it. We will not be havin’ sex.”
“Fine. I get it. Hands off. No hugs, no kisses, no holding hands, no hot looks, no copping a feel. No chance for a hard, fast, sweaty, screaming, raunchy fuckfest against the wall, or on the floor, or in the shower, and definitely not on the bed.”
For fucking Christsake.
“But I am curious as to how long you’ve been on this abstinence kick.”
Tempting to lie. But he admitted, “I’m two weeks in.”
She smirked. And Chase swore she was marking off the remaining calendar days in her mind with big red X’s.
Change the subject. “Do you have plans for today?”
“Not really. Thought I might go for a walk. Take in the clean air and the big sky. Moo at any livestock I happened by during my nature stroll. Run from the bulls. They are easy to tell apart from cows, aren’t they?”
He laughed. She was funny in that offbeat way that appealed to him.
“What are your plans?” she asked.
“I hafta make a call this morning. I figured I’d hop on a four-wheeler and take a spin later.” He frowned. “But I’ll have to be careful where I go, so as not to run into any of my family.”
“Could I tag along? There’s room for two riders on most ATVs, isn’t there?”
New images unleashed in his brain. Ava’s slim thighs gripping the outside of his legs. Ava’s crotch nestled against his butt. Ava’s arms circling his waist as they descended a steep slope. Ava’s bountiful tits pressing into his back. Ava’s breath teasing his ear. Ava’s fragrant, windswept hair drifting across his face. Ava flat on her back in the mud as he hammered into her.
No way could they ride double. No way. So he was shocked to hear, “Absolutely,” tumbling from his traitorous mouth.
“Great! I’ll just get ready so we can go whenever you are.”
Chase ended up dressing in the living room and brushing his teeth in the kitchen. When the shower kicked on, flashes of Ava’s wet, naked body had him fleeing outside.
Chapter Four
He wandered behind the barn and gazed across the pasture. Heavy winter snow allowed for green grass, a boon in the cattle business. Even the sagebrush had lost the dusty silver shimmer and looked brighter. The scrub oaks lining the creek bed were leafed out with dark green foliage. A few patches of wildflowers dotted the landscape, hues ranging from brilliant yellow to soft purple.
Stop admiring the posies and make the call, chickenshit.
Chase blew out a breath and dialed. As he listened to the rings, he paced in front of the fence.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Cash. It’s Chase McKay. Remember me?”
“Chase! ’Course I remember you. How you doin’? I heard you were on the PBR’s injured list.”
“Well, not really.” He forced a laugh. “It’s a long story. One we’re keeping on the down low, if you know what I mean.”
“So why you callin’ me, hey?”
“I need your help.”
A pause. Then, “Tell you what. You give me the truth about what’s really goin’ on with the PBR and I’ll let you know if I’m willin’ to help.”
“Sounds fair.” Chase let fly.
When he finished, Cash whistled. “Ain’t nothin’ the rest of us weren’t doin’ on the road, but things are different now. But I’m confused on how you think I can help you.”
“I need to get my ridin’ back on track. It seems I’m doin’ everything the same way I always have, but that ain’t the case or my scores would be better, or at least on par, not completely in the shitter like they are now. I wondered if you’re still holding a bull ridin’ school?
“Now and again. Why? You lookin’ to go back to school?”
“Yeah.” Chase slumped against the barn. “And before you get pissy and think this is a joke, I’ll tell you I’m dead-ass serious. I need an expert to look at my ridin’ objectively and help me figure out what the devil I’m doin’ wrong.”
“Expert.” Cash snorted. “But an old-timer like me ain’t immune to such smooth bullshit.”
Chase grinned. “You had a good run, what? Almost twenty years as a pro? With my buck-off average, I’ll be goddammed lucky if I make it another two.”
“So when you thinkin’ you wanna get started?”
“Bein’s I have time off and you’ve got a ranch to run, I’ll work around your schedule.”
“Sorry. I don’t have another training session scheduled until the end of next month. That probably don’t help you.”
Not only that, Chase didn’t want to train in front of rookies. Maybe it was an ego thing. A bratty thing. But he wanted one-on-one attention to his riding issues.
Before he could say thanks and hang up, Cash said, “But if you can get here in two days, I’ll put you on as many bulls as you can handle.”
“Really? That would be great. I wasn’t sure if you’d…ah, take offense to me offering to pay for a private session.”
Cash’s laughter boomed. “McKay, if I didn’t think you could afford it I wouldn’t’ve suggested it, because it ain’t gonna be cheap. But there’s one other thing.”
Seemed there always was a catch. “What?”
“I’m bringing your cousin Colby in on this. He’s been off the rodeo circuit for a while, but he’s still a pro to the core and I trust his judgment. Two sets of eyes would be better than one, doncha think?”
“Yeah. I guess.” Of all his cousins, Colby was the second least likely to blab to other family members, right behind his cousin Kane.
“Good. There’s a bunkhouse if you need a place to stay.”
“That’ll work. Thanks, Cash, I appreciate it more than you know. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
Soon as he hung up, Chase let out a whoop and spun around.
Ava stood in the open space between the barn and the fence. Her hands jammed in the front pockets of her hoodie, sunshine glinting off her hair. Looking so drop-dead gorgeous he almost forgot to breathe.
“That was a pretty enthusiastic whoop,” she remarked.
“I got some good news for a change.”
Ava didn’t ask him to elaborate. “You ready to rip it up on the ATV?”
Chase shook his head. “I’ve gotta eat first. Is there any food in the house?”
“Just the basic stuff I brought. Coffee, creamer, grapes, salad, bread and a couple cans of soup.”
“That’s what you call food? Please tell me you ain’t one of them actresses who starves herself to look like a heroin addict.”
“Do I look like I starve myself?”
His gaze might’ve lingered on certain curves longer than polite. “No, Hollywood, you look exactly like a woman ought to. Let’s head to town. The Shell station has the best chilidogs I’ve ever tasted.”
“Do they have tofu dogs?”
Chase’s smile fell. “Oh hell no. You’re not a vegetarian?”
“And if I was?” she intoned sweetly.
“I’d take it as my sworn duty as the son of a cattleman to send you packing off McKay land immediately.”
There was that little sexy smirk again. “Relax, cowboy. I’m a carnivore to the core. I seriously doubt Wyoming can boast the best chilidog, but I’m willing to give it a fair shake.” She pointed at him with her car keys. “You brag, you buy.”
“Deal.”
When Ava started to jerk on the handle to open the barn door, Chase gently moved her aside. He wasn’t sure if he expected to see her ripping it up in a Ferrari, but the vehicle behind the door was a letdown. A black four-door RAV4. With Colorado plates. “You didn’t drive here?”
“I flew to Denver, rented thi
s and drove the rest of the way. So I really don’t care if you spill chili and cheese all over the seats.”
There was another glimpse of her bizarre sense of humor, which made her seem normal and not movie starish.
In Sundance, Chase pulled his sweatshirt hood over his head. “You’ll have to go inside and load them up.”
“Why can’t you help?”
“Family. Fans. I’m on the down low, remember?”
“What exactly am I slathering on these dogs besides chili?”
“Mustard. Onion. A couple of squirts of that fake cheese.” Chase dug a crumpled twenty from his front pocket and pressed it into her hand. “And anything else that strikes your fancy.”
“Should I leave the car running in case you need to make a quick getaway from your adoring fans?”
“No, but I tell you what. I’ll keep it running in case you do,” he shot back.
She laughed. “We’re quite the pair, huh?”
Chase slumped into the seat, trying to stay inconspicuous.
After almost ten minutes, the car door opened. “Careful, those are hot and oozing stuff out the sides.”
“That means you did it right.” Chase peeked inside the bag she’d dropped on his lap. Two bundles wrapped in white parchment paper, two single-serving packages of nacho cheese Doritos and two Heath bars. When she shoved two bottles of grape soda in the beverage holders, he gave her a dubious look. “How’d you know this is exactly what I would’ve gotten?”
“Lucky guess?” She twisted the top on a bottle of soda. “Or maybe there’s an index card that lists Sundance’s own PBR bull rider Chase McKay’s favorites! on the wall by the hot food section.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yep.”
“Christ. That’s embarrassing.”
“Where to now?” she asked with a smirk.
“Follow the signs to Devil’s Tower.” They started the twisty ascent out of Sundance. After a few miles they entered a valley and he said, “Turn left and take the road until it stops.”
“This is considered a road?”
“In Wyoming? Yes.”
Once they came around the last bend, Ava said, “Oh wow. Look at that view.”
Chasin' Eight: Rough Riders, Book 12 Page 4
