The bull shot out of the chute and bucked three times before it tossed the cowboy off. The cowboy scrambled out of the way of the hooves, picked up his western hat that had flown off, and dusted it off on his chaps as the bullfighters worked the bull toward the exit chute.
She realized she had been gripping the remote control hard enough that her fingers hurt and she forced herself to set the remote on the coffee table as the channel went to commercial.
When they returned from commercial, Danica watched other cowboys ride bulls and get bucked off before the eight-second mark. Every time the rider ended up on the ground she tensed up even more as the bull’s hooves pounded the hard earth close to the cowboy.
Darryl Thompson was the first rider to stay on his bull the full eight seconds. The announcers talked about how great Darryl’s skill was and how he was hot on the tail of Creed McBride for the number one position.
Danica wondered if Kelsey was watching, too. She hadn’t talked with her friend since earlier in the week. Kelsey still sounded hopelessly enamored with Darryl. Danica had checked him out on the Internet, too, and when she’d looked up images there were plenty with Darryl and any number of buckle bunnies. Danica had wanted to talk with Kelsey about it, but wasn’t sure if she was overreacting. Just because she’d seen pictures of him with various women didn’t mean he was a player and would hurt Kelsey. Those women were “before”, like the women in Creed’s past.
Right?
Her phone rang and she glanced at it to see that it was Barry. She’d managed to dodge him all week. She sent the call to voice mail and then looked at the TV again.
Another commercial break, two more riders, and then a familiar figure was in the chute.
“Creed McBride,” an announcer said. “A legend in the making. He’s riding Destroyer and it’s the first time these two have been matched up. Not many cowboys get past two seconds on Destroyer. We’ll see how McBride handles him.”
“McBride is a real pro. I’d never bet against him,” the other announcer said.
Danica started chewing her nail again as she watched Creed in the chute on the back of the bull. The bull thrashed around in the chute and Creed had to adjust himself and continue his preparation.
He gave a nod and the gate was jerked open and the bull shot out of the chute and into the ring.
“Look at the way McBride handles Destroyer,” the first announcer shouted.
Danica wanted to cover her eyes but made herself watch every brutal second. She was amazed at how at ease Creed looked in the saddle of a beast that would kill him if he had half a chance.
At eight seconds the buzzer went off and the crowd cheered. The announcers talked in excited voices.
Creed dismounted, landing on his feet, and had to dodge the bull that immediately charged him. The cowboy clowns—or rather bullfighters as Kelsey had told her they were called now—had to work to get the bull’s attention off of Creed.
When a score of ninety-three was announced, Creed pumped his fist in the air then took his hat off and waved it at the crowd. He looked directly into the camera and winked.
Danica felt like that wink was meant for her, like he knew she was watching even though she’d told him she wasn’t going to. She shook her head. He was probably winking to swooning cowgirls all over the nation.
She picked up the remote and turned off the TV—she’d had enough bull riding for today, and enough of a certain cowboy that she was thinking about far too much these days.
A knock sounded at the door, startling her. She wasn’t expecting anyone and she wondered who it was. She went to the door and peeked out the peephole.
Barry.
Darn it.
He knocked again and she undid the chain lock and the bolt lock and opened the door. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“You haven’t been answering your phone.” He stepped past her and into her home and she faced him as she closed the door behind him. “I’d like to take you out tonight.”
“I’ve got too much going on.” She gestured to her laptop that was sitting on an end table. “I’ve been working.” If you could call watching a bull riding event on TV working.
Barry was a good-looking man. An inch taller than her, he had light brown hair and light brown eyes. He had nice features and a great build, but he didn’t seem as attractive to her as he had when she’d first met him at a beach party with Kelsey.
“You need some time off.” He gave her a smile. “You can change and I’ll take you out to that exclusive new restaurant downtown and then we’ll go to the theatre.”
She took a deep breath. “Barry, I told you I just want to be friends.”
It was like he hadn’t heard her as he said, “You have about thirty minutes to get ready.”
She settled her hands at her hips. “I’m not going. I told you I have work to do.”
He frowned. “Are you seeing someone else?”
For a moment she paused. “Yes.” Sort of.
His expression darkened a little. “And you didn’t say anything to me? Who is he?”
“That doesn’t matter.” She found herself curling a strand of her long hair around her finger then made herself stop. “As far as you and I, just friends, like I’ve told you before.”
“You’re making a mistake, Danica.” Barry’s frown deepened. “You and I—we’ve got a good thing together.”
“We don’t have anything. We’re just friends.” She gave an exasperated sigh. “Now I’ve got work to do.”
He looked like he was going to say something else then shut his mouth. He reached for the front door and held the knob for a moment. “We’ll talk about this later,” he said as he looked at her.
She folded her arms across her chest. “Bye, Barry.”
He gave a nod, opened the door, walked through the doorway, and shut the door hard behind him.
Danica groaned and leaned with her back to the door and banged her head against the wood. Getting rid of Barry was turning out to be even harder than she’d thought it would be.
Chapter 5
Danica hitched her backpack up on her shoulder and gripped her duffel tight as she walked up the ramp from the plane and into Sky Harbor Airport. Part of her couldn’t believe she was here, but for the most part she had to admit she was excited to see Creed.
They’d talked on the phone every day for the past two weeks and had emailed each other and sent text messages. She felt like a teenager again with a crush on the cute guy in school.
When she walked off the ramp and into the terminal, she slid her phone out of her pocket and dialed his phone number. He said he’d be waiting at the cell phone lot for her plane to arrive. Apparently the cell phone lot was where people could park while waiting for someone’s flight to arrive and it was time to pick them up.
“Hi, Danica,” Creed said when he answered.
“I’m here.” She smiled as she gripped the phone. “Where do I meet you?”
He told her which door to go to on the north curb and what kind of truck he was driving. She disconnected the call and headed for the pick-up and drop-off area of the airport, and for the first time she felt tingles of nervousness in her belly. She hadn’t seen him since the airport in Las Vegas and at that time she hadn’t planned on seeing him again.
When she stepped out of the building, a blast of heat hit her full in the face. She wasn’t used to Phoenix heat, especially after being in San Diego, and she felt a sheen of perspiration on her shoulders and arms that were bared by her white and red striped tank top. She wore a pair of royal blue shorts and red sandals, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
A red truck pulled up to the curb. She couldn’t help a smile when she saw Creed behind the wheel.
The moment the truck was parked, he got out of the vehicle and she caught her breath. He was even more rugged, more handsome than she remembered. He wore a white western shirt, dark blue Wranglers, and a brown belt with a silver buckle and brown boots.
He smiled and came around to where she stood. He took the backpack and duffel from her. He looked at her like he wanted to kiss her but knew it was far too soon for that. Instead, he gave her a quick hug.
After he set her things behind the passenger seat, he helped her into the truck.
“Come on.” He smiled and closed the door behind her after she’d slipped into the seat. One thing about most of the cowboys she’d grown up with was that they were gentlemen. She’d missed that in San Diego.
He strode to the driver’s side and climbed in then pulled the truck away from the curb and entered airport traffic. He glanced at her. “It’s damned good to have you here, Danica.”
“I’m glad I came.” Her lips still tingled as she studied his profile as he looked back to the road. “What’s first?”
“Hungry?” he asked as he guided the truck out of the airport and she realized it was after lunch.
“Yes.” One thing she’d never had a problem with was her appetite.
“I know a good Mexican place that I like to go to when I’m in this area,” he said. “A real hole-in-the-wall, but damned good food.”
She nodded. “Hole-in-the-wall sounds excellent.”
Spending so much time talking with him over the past couple of weeks made it feel natural talking with him. They picked up where they’d left off in the conversation they’d had yesterday afternoon about classes they’d both taken at the U of A and professors he’d had who were still around when she attended.
The city view sped by as they talked and he asked her about work yesterday. Over the short course of the time she’d known him, he’d expressed a great deal of interest in her career, always asking questions and inputting his own thoughts. He was especially interested in the work she did with genotyping and cloning.
“Do you miss the country and living on a ranch?” he asked as they pulled off the freeway.
“Yes.” She didn’t even hesitate. “I miss it a lot.”
He looked thoughtful. “Have you ever thought of moving back to the country?”
“I have.” She pushed a strand of hair from her eyes. “I enjoy my career but I miss country life and ranching, and of course family.” She smiled. “Maybe one day I’ll make the change. For now I’ll stay put because I really love what I do.”
She studied his profile. “What about you? Do you get tired of traveling and want to just go home and ranch and sleep in your own bed?”
“Yep.” He glanced at her. “But like you, I love what I do.”
She shook her head. “I still don’t get men and the need to put your lives in danger.”
He gave her a little grin. “Chicks dig it.”
A laugh bubbled up inside her as she thought about the popular song he’d just quoted from. “If you say so.”
He winked and pulled the car into a Mexican restaurant parking lot. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as he drove through the lot and parked.
She opened her door but in the next moment he was around and helping her out of the truck. Yes, she’d definitely missed cowboy gentlemen in San Diego.
He touched the base of her spine as they walked up to the restaurant’s front door. Heat spread from his fingers, through her shirt to her skin.
Warm scents of freshly made tortillas, refried beans, melted cheese, and other delicious smells flowed over her the moment they walked through the front door. It was late for lunch so the place wasn’t crowded. They were seated within moments in a booth with wooden bench seats and the server left them with simple one-page laminated menus in their hands.
“Smells wonderful in here,” Danica said as her stomach growled its agreement.
He skimmed the menu. “What are you going to have?”
“Cheese enchiladas.” She set her menu down almost immediately. “That’s my favorite Mexican dish and what sounds good right now. And a glass of horchata would be great.” The rice, cinnamon, and vanilla drink was one of her favorites when she could find it. Not all Mexican restaurants carried it.
“Beef chimichanga for me.” He placed his menu on top of hers.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket, but she ignored it. Probably Barry sending her another text message.
The server returned and took their orders, leaving them alone once more.
“So how many bones have you broken?” She hadn’t asked him those questions since the first night they met when she hadn’t waited for an answer.
He studied her. “Do you really want to know?”
She hesitated. “Sure.”
He leaned back in his seat. “I haven’t broken anything in my left leg.”
“I’m not so sure I want to see you ride this weekend.” She shook her head. “I’m crazy for being here.”
The server arrived with Creed’s beer and her horchata. Danica touched her glass but didn’t drink as she looked at him.
“Hey.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “I’m a pro. This is what I do for a living and I enjoy it.”
She nodded as she looked at their joined hands and his scarred up knuckles. She brought her gaze to his. “Two thousand pounds of fury out to kill you isn’t my idea of fun.”
“Just watch.” He gave her a grin. “Soon you’ll be addicted to it. You won’t be able to help yourself.”
“Ha,” she said but couldn’t help smiling back at him.
In moments their food arrived. One thing about little places like this one was that they tended to be fast.
Creed changed the subject and soon they were laughing and talking like they usually did. He had a great sense of humor and he could make her laugh, which was something she really liked about him.
When they finished, he insisted on paying. It was part of that cowboy code—most didn’t let women pay for meals when they went out. In San Diego she’d insisted on paying half when she dated men, but she knew better than to insist with a cowboy. Maybe it was a little antiquated, but it was something she’d grown up with.
It wasn’t long before they hit the road and were traveling along the I-17 Highway toward Prescott. The areas they drove through were isolated once they left the metro Phoenix area. It was a part of the state she’d only been through once and it had been when she was younger.
“Prescott lays claim to the world’s first and oldest rodeo that started back in 1888,” Creed said. “The professional bull riding event has been going on since 2005.”
He explained how professional businessmen and merchants had gotten together and organized a “cowboy tournament” with cash prizes a hundred and twenty-five years ago. Now Prescott sponsored year-round rodeo events. He continued telling her about Prescott Frontier Days and other interesting things about the town.
Just as she was digesting all he told her, he said, “Tonight you’ll get to meet some of my family.” She shot a look at him and he grinned. “They’re gonna love you.”
Chapter 6
The August summer afternoon was sunny and bright as they walked toward the Old Courthouse. Even though it was hot, the temperature was considerably lower in Prescott than Phoenix. She was bound to have a darker tan by the time she returned to San Diego.
Tomorrow, Saturday, would be the bull riding event and it was a one-day, rather than a two or three-day, event. That left them some time to spend in Prescott where she had booked a bed-and-breakfast for the weekend. She didn’t plan on sleeping with Creed this weekend, so she wasn’t taking any chances by staying with him. She was far too attracted to the man.
Their shoulders brushed as they walked down the tree-shaded walkway that led to the Old Courthouse. Plenty of people recognized Creed and greeted him while smiling and nodding at Danica.
In more rural or less populated areas of the state, strangers met each other’s eyes and gave nods in greeting, and Prescott was no different. Not everyone was polite in the old-fashioned country way, but most were.
When driving in rural areas, people raised their hand in greeting to anyone coming the opposite way as they drove past. It wa
s another world and another thing she missed.
Birds chirped in the trees they passed under and a light breeze rustled tree leaves.
“It’s a pretty town,” Danica said and smiled at Creed.
“I never appreciated it until I started riding pro and was on the road all of the time,” he said.
“One of those things you take for granted ’til you don’t have it anymore.” She nodded. “I know what you mean.”
After they passed another couple who greeted them with nods, Danica asked Creed, “Are you going to retire here someday?”
“Yep.” He smiled. “I plan to buy a ranch and work it somewhere between here and Wickenburg.”
“Creed!” A female voice came from behind them and both Creed and Danica turned.
A beautiful slender and petite blonde in her mid-twenties, about Danica’s age, rushed up to Creed. Her braless breasts bounced beneath a skimpy top with spaghetti straps and her jean shorts were rolled up high enough that her butt cheeks probably showed from behind.
Danica frowned inwardly. She’d seen that woman somewhere before. And then she realized it was the same woman who had been with Creed at the bar in Las Vegas, and she’d been crying.
The young woman threw her arms around Creed’s neck and she started crying again.
“I need to talk to you,” the blonde said with a sob.
Creed glanced down at Danica. “Give me a sec,” he said then walked away with his arm around the woman’s shoulders.
When they were a fair distance from her and she couldn’t have heard the conversation if she tried. Before she turned away, she glimpsed the blonde’s tear-stained face and red eyes.
Not much longer and Creed returned. He looked troubled.
“Everything all right?” she asked.
“It will be fine.” His phone rang, and he drew it from his holster and answered it. “Hi, Mom.” He was silent as he listened. “Yep, I’ll be there at seven Sunday night.”
When he’d holstered his phone he smiled at Danica. “Let’s go to Courthouse Plaza.”
“You lead, I’ll follow,” she said.
Roses and Rodeo (Rough and Ready) Page 4
