Boone was proud of his dad. He whistled through his teeth when his dad was done and hugged his mom when she and Riley sidled up next to him.
“Hey, stranger.” Riley hit his arm. “Heard you were dancing with a beautiful girl at Grey’s yesterday and then ran off with her over your shoulder.”
“Actually it was two women,” Boone deadpanned.
“And that you kissed her.”
“Keep going only keep it G for Mom.”
“As if.” Riley laughed. “You haven’t had a G rating since puberty. Girls have been chasing you since you were ten. I was just relieved that for once you were doing the chasing.”
“Stop fishing.” Boone didn’t look at his sister, but she was shifting her weight up and down to the balls of her feet like she did when she was excited, and her deep blue eyes shone.
He could feel his mom looking at him. “Your father said you looked quite taken with her. What’s her name?”
Boone opened his mouth to make an off-hand remark. But nothing came out. He didn’t want to dismiss Piper like she was nothing to him. And he’d never lied to his mom about anything as far as he could remember. But just the way she was leaning in intently and Riley was clearly eager for more information reinforced why he’d kept Piper to himself.
“Heard she was a redhead.”
“Strawberry blonde,” his mom corrected.
“You two sound like middle school girls,” Boone said, putting the kibosh on their teasing. “I need to work on my flank straps.”
“Is that what you’re calling a date now? Coward,” Riley called after him. “At least send me the wedding invitation. I’ll sing.”
Boone raised his hand high, threatening to flip his sister and her curiosity off.
“Boone Huntingdon Telford don’t you dare,” his mother called out behind him, and he heard her and his sister laugh.
He couldn’t help but laugh himself. He’d missed his family. He’d never been away from them so long, and now that he was back home, he was anxious to get out to the ranch and dig into his chores.
But that was more time away from Piper.
Idiot.
Damn. His head felt screwed on backward and his insides turned out. He just needed to get out of his head. Get on the back of a bronc so he could focus on what was important. Survival. Not to keep thinking about tomorrow or the day after.
He’d never planned for the future. Why should he? This feeling slushing inside him, this worry, this doubt sucked.
He made it to the stock building and immediately felt his cares fall away as he brushed Sundance and used a pick on his hooves. Taking care of Sundance was soothing, but he was used to doing so much more—working daily with cattle and horses, and now his mom had a small herd of alpacas that she was using for their wool—Serena Zabrinski had gotten her started and his dad would often end phone calls with the name of the latest alpaca herd member.
They were stinkin’ cute with their googly eyes and goofy grins, but cowboys did not herd alpacas. And with alpacas, you needed llamas, and his dad had funny stories about them as well.
Taryn Telford was enjoying his ranch—living the life he wanted with his wife. He didn’t technically need Boone home. His dad had ranch hands. It was not as if Boone were leaving him overworked. Plus, his dad was in the prime of health since he’d healed from his injury from a bull this past winter.
Boone headed back out to the lot set up for the competitors to stay during the rodeo. It was getting crowded, and Boone felt the anticipation building.
“Boone.” He hadn’t been paying attention, but a large hand was thrust into his and pumped. “Kane Wilder. Been partnering up some with your dad. We met at the rodeo two years ago.”
Boone looked into familiar pale blue, almost silver eyes and nearly laughed. Like Kane Wilder had to introduce himself to anyone in Montana or to anyone on the rodeo circuit anywhere in the world. Kane was a world champion bull rider on the American Extreme Bull Riding Tour. His skills were as famous as his face and his smile. He’d had another killer year and word was he was sinking most of his prize money and endorsement money into buying up land and stock and bringing the new Wilder Dreams ranch up to top standards.
“Good to see you, again. Thanks for all the efforts you’ve given to rebuild the grandstand and the rodeo grounds and outbuildings,” Boone said sincerely. His father had been so impressed by Kane. They were practically best buddies now that they were working together on breeding bulls. Kane was still very active on the tour so Boone’s dad was doing most of the work, but Kane’s two sisters-in-law and brother Luke were working with Boone’s dad.
Kane waved his hand dismissively. “It was a group effort. My part was small. You going on any of the stock-buying trips with your dad and Tanner?” he asked, naming his sister-in-law who had already started making a name for her bulls before she lost her ranch and most of her stock due to her father’s illness, addiction and gambling debts.
“This winter yes,” Boone said. “But I’ll be heading out again spring and summer for the rodeo.”
Kane nodded. “Your dad values your opinion. Hoping you’ll be on board full time next year.”
Everybody did. But him.
“You’ll be back in the AEBR Tour, right?” Boone deflected and ignored Kane’s searching gaze. “You’re still on top.”
Kane shrugged fluidly. “That’s the trick isn’t it? To quit when you’re ahead. I heard there was a masseuse with the Montana tour this summer. Usually Sky helps me to stretch out each morning, but this is her big weekend with her statue dedication and the press and her agent and manager Jonas are out for the dedication, so I’m trying to keep out of her way.”
Boone respected Kane for that.
“Yeah, there is a masseuse. She’s damn good. Piper,” he said. “Piper Wiley. Her tent is the blue one right over there.” Boone started toward Piper’s tent that was set up near the entrance of the changing area a short ways away. “If the door is tied back she’s open. I’m not sure if she’s working now, but she has an appointment book. I’ll…”
Boone didn’t finish his sentence. Piper was there at the mouth of her tent waiting, stylish and sexy in skinny jeans and an off-the-shoulder floral blouse that skimmed her slim curves. She smiled at seeing him, but immediately her warm gaze moved to Kane, and her smile was more professional.
Piper ducked back in the tent and came out wearing the soft white wrap jacket she wore when she was working.
She should have looked plain, but no, Piper rocked that look too.
She approached them, smiling professionally again, and held out her hand to Kane. Boone felt like a stranger and that chilled him to the bone.
Kane introduced himself, and asked about availability of a massage.
“Now’s good.” Piper untied the side of her tent that kept a flap open as a door.
“See you later, Boone.” The fabric swished shut behind her.
*
“Shirt on or shirt off?” Kane asked.
“Your choice,” Piper said. “Normally massage works better if I don’t have fabric in the way, but a lot of you cowboys are tough. It took me two months to get any of them to lie on the table. It was only the chair.” Piper found herself smiling even though her heart hadn’t quite settled down from seeing Boone. It was ridiculous to be nervous. But it was even dumber to not talk things out with him. She should trust him enough to ask what was bothering him. Or to tell him her feelings. If he ran, well, at least she would know her feelings weren’t returned.
“Shirt off.” Kane shrugged out of his shirt one-handed as he spoke. “And I’m definitely on the table.”
Piper blinked and looked away. Wow. Even after four months of looking at Boone’s perfection, Piper was a little stunned at how cut her new client was. Funny how she’d never seen him on the tour before.
“Pants too?” His hands were on his buckle. Oh, he was disrobing. Right here. Piper spun around. She was used to cowboys not being super modest, but
this was over the top.
“Ahh, I’ll wait outside. There’s a blanket you can…um…cover yourself with and um…a robe.” She’d not been prepared for him to start stripping in front of her, and Piper scurried out of her own tent.
And straight into Boone.
“What’s he doing?” Boone demanded, holding her shoulders and trying to peer into the tent. “He’s taking off his clothes? All of them?”
Piper pulled herself together.
“That’s not uncommon with massages,” she said. She and Boone had talked about this, and he’d always seemed cool with it, if a little dubious. But usually in the rodeo setting, the cowboys had a tendency to not completely disrobe.
“He’s married. Has two kids.”
Piper stared at Boone.
“Good for him. Why are you being so weird?”
Boone looked a little embarrassed.
“I just… I wasn’t expecting him to, you know, strip like right away.”
She hadn’t either.
“Maybe I should stay here.” Boone looked rather imposing already.
“Are you nuts? Privacy is imperative. And I am a professional.” Piper pointed at her certificate and kinesiology degree, both of which Boone had had framed for her.
“Nothing Kane Wilder does is private. He’s famous. N.O.T.O.R.I.O.U.S,” Boone spelled out. “Well at least he was before he got married last year.”
“Man crush much?” Piper rolled her eyes at him then she spun her finger in a circle and pointed in the opposite direction.
Boone stayed put.
“You are being ridiculous. You said you’d see me tonight for the picnic so see me tonight.”
Boone was still lightly holding her shoulders and he pulled her in roughly and kissed her. Piper shouldn’t have been surprised. But she was and her lips parted, which Boone rather passionately took advantage of. Piper almost felt dizzy. First he was cool and distant; now he was in her space and hot.
“I missed you,” he breathed against her mouth.
“Hey, Boone, you still trying to get a threesome with me?” Kane poked his head out of the tent. He wore the robe Piper had left out for him. One thing in her favor today.
Boone jumped back, his face immediately washed with pink. Piper was sure she was even redder.
“In your kinky dreams, Wilder,” Boone managed.
“Boone was just leaving,” Piper stammered.
“Looks like he wanted to be coming.” Kane laughed. “Sorry, ma’am, cowboy humor.”
“Ha. Ha.”
“I like her.” He grinned, creased eyes and a huge smile, perfect white teeth, a left dimple and a cleft chin. She suddenly remembered where she’d seen him. In magazine ads. Cologne. High fashion and western wear. And a special type of wicking men’s sports briefs that probably left no one noticing the underwear.
“You good to go, baby?” Boone asked her leaning down to look into her eyes and her no doubt flushed face.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Really.” And at his concerned look she realized that she was. She loved him. And if he didn’t love her, it was going to hurt for a long time, but she would find her way. She always had. Knocked down, pop back up. In her own way she was a little like a rodeo cowboy.
“Okay, you staked your claim, cowboy.” Kane held up his left hand that had a large gun-metal-colored thick wedding band that was etched with some sort of design. “And I definitely staked mine last year. So back off and let my masseuse do her job. I got finals in a month and I’m tired of driving to Bozeman because the hospital’s massage therapist ran off with a married occupational therapist. God. Small towns.” Kane shook his head and popped back into her tent.
*
Piper put her elbow on Kane’s left trapezoid and pushed down, allowing her weight to settle. It took a while, but she felt the muscle release.
“Thanks.”
Piper had imagined Kane would be chatty considering the way he’d razzed Boone, but he’d been all business. Telling her where he hurt and what worked best. He knew his body and was in phenomenal shape. She leaned into his right trapezoid and waited for the tension to ease. That one took longer. And by the tension flicking up his back, it hurt. She eased the pressure, letting her eyes drift briefly to the tattoo of the bucking bull scrawled across his upper back.
“Beautiful art,” she said softly easing up even more.
“No don’t ease up,” he said softly. “Harder’s good.”
Piper dug her elbow in deeper and leaned.
“Thanks, my wife’s design.”
Finally, Piper felt the release, and she shifted the pressure a little lower.
Kane hissed. “Perfect—don’t stop.”
Piper looked at his back, mapping out a path that she thought would be most effective. She’d asked about new injuries, and he was having more trouble with the tendons in his right arm and shoulder. No wonder considering his profession.
“She toured with me one summer too,” Kane said. “I hope Boone’s not as big of a stupid ass as I was.”
Piper tried to let the words wash over her. Keep her professional focus and not let herself slip into her personal space.
“He’s young. Probably dumb,” Kane added with a laugh. “Been there done that.”
Piper bit back the need to defend Boone. She wasn’t sure how Boone knew someone so famous.
“But I’ve heard good things. Boone’s solid. Good to his bones.”
Piper tried not to let the words get her personally, but she was curious. Kane sounded like he knew Boone, but he was a top-tier bull rider. He didn’t work the Montana pro tour. He looked to be close in age. Maybe they grew up together. Temptation. Boone always lived in the moment. She could barely get him to nail down a plan for the day so he rarely talked about the past or the future. Rarely he’d allude vaguely to his family. Here was a chance for her to learn more.
But Boone would tell her if he wanted her to know.
And maybe the bull rider was fishing for more information about their relationship. Piper had grown up around so many secrets—her father’s profession was all about a ‘need to know basis.’ And he’d never talked about her mother or the feelings he had about her walking out on their marriage and toddler, or losing a son he never got to know.
She wondered if her dad had ever held her twin brother, Pace.
She hoped so.
She wished she’d had a photograph. She’d asked once—screwed up her courage when a school assignment required pictures of her family. She’d asked to see a photo of her mother and if there was one of her twin brother. Her father hadn’t bothered to answer. He’d just told her to shut the door on her way out.
Piper spread out Kane’s right hand and began to work the pressure points in his palm.
“Piper, you are so much more skilled than the masseuse who recently left at the hospital’s PT facility. No wonder Boone’s upped his game this season.”
Piper laughed a little at that. It was true Boone did get special treatment, and she’d learned so much about how cowboys hurt from massaging and icing him and getting him to finally talk to her when he hurt. Cowboys who rode bulls or broncs really got beat up, and even though their bodies healed, their musculature compensated for the stress, and they were phenomenal athletes, it was eventually a losing battle.
She hated to think of Boone hurting. Or of being permanently injured, which she’d learned was a risk.
“I do my best. I’m fully certified, but have focused my studies and practice on athletes.” Piper worked his other hand, which didn’t have the same tension in the tendons. She handed Kane a bottle of water. “Drink all of this and another one within a couple of hours to help flush out your system. I’m sorry I don’t have a longer appointment. I’d like more time with your shoulders, but I have a client due soon. I have time later this afternoon if you want to come back.”
“Sounds good.” He sat up quickly, and Piper was relieved he pulled the blanket up with him so that his lap was cov
ered. She started backing out of the tent.
“What time?” he asked. “I’d love a go with the reformer. You trained?”
“Four.” Piper nodded. “Certified to teach yoga and Pilates and I earned my massage certification in May. I was a dancer for years.”
His beautiful but eerie gaze was unnerving. She felt like he could see through her—all of her insecurities that she tried to button up tight.
“You get tired of the tour, Marietta’s a great town to build a life in. Plenty of call for your services here—with all the sports enthusiasts who visit and the cowboys who live here, and then the moms.” He smiled, and this time it reached his eyes. “You’d have no trouble getting bookings. Witt could get you in tight with the hospital, especially now as they’re down a masseuse. Tell Boone not to fuck it up like I did. Took me four years to dig out of that hole. Four years wasted.”
Piper didn’t know what to say to that. And she had no idea who Witt was, but Kane acted like she should.
Kane reached for his jeans, and Piper turned around to leave to give him the privacy he seemed far too casual about.
“Piper.” His voice was rich and deep and seemed like it should belong to a mellower, older man.
“Men make mistakes.”
“And women should forgive them?” Piper kept her back to her client. She stared at the slit in her tent. Freedom. She wasn’t sure why this conversation was making her tense. Maybe it was the way Kane had dangled the vision of her setting up a practice in Marietta so casually, but he hadn’t mentioned Boone. Or maybe it was that he effortlessly belonged, and she didn’t.
He came up behind her, and Piper startled. He was fully dressed, and she hadn’t even heard him move.
“But forgiveness has to flow both ways,” he said easily and tipped his hat. “I learned that the hard way. See you at four. Thanks.”
Chapter Seven
Boone stood at the bar at Grey’s. He’d never felt so out of sorts. He wasn’t used to analyzing his thoughts, emotions or actions. And he didn’t like feeling in the wrong.
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