"I'll be seeing you around," he told the girls as he headed to work—still unable to tear his eyes away from Weezy.
A few moments later, the announcer's voice boomed over the stadium speakers. "And now it's the time you've all been waiting for! Announcing our favorite bad boy, Bucking Brady Rockwell.”
He took a deep breath, as the gate released him into the ring.
The cinnamony scent of fresh-fried elephant ears swirled around Louise's head as dust kicked up from the fairgrounds and whipped about in the wind.
"I can't believe we're at a real-life rodeo," her friend Missy gushed. She’d been born and raised in New York, and had insisted she come along for the journey the moment Louise had told her about the plan for a visit to Anchorage. “I didn’t know Alaska was so country.”
Louise's heel snagged on a discarded cotton candy cone. “Yeah, well… Thanks for coming along with me. This trip would have been unbearable without you."
"Hey, I needed a break, too. Wedding planning is so much harder than you'd think. Maybe I should just let my sisters plan it. They love this stuff, but all it does is make my head spin."
Louise felt every man's eyes turn toward them as they entered the stadium and took their seats. While Louise commanded the attention of everyone who dared enter the courtroom, Missy tended to have the same effect times twenty, no matter where they went. It was hard not to stare at the beautiful up-and-coming actress as she passed through, full of the confidence in knowing exactly who she was. Sometimes, Louise found herself staring, too.
But she loved the way Missy shook her life up. Sure, they both clocked long hours at work, but her friend always found new ways to pull Louise away from the office and get her out on the town. In fact, that's what she had done the moment they arrived in Anchorage.
"We're here!" Missy trilled as the plane touched down on the runway. "What should we do first?"
Louise set her book down, making sure to hold her place with her thumb as she talked to Missy. “Let's go straight to check out the rental place, order takeout, and unpack our bags. Have a quiet night in. I'm so close to finishing this book and really want to know what happens. We'll be in town for a few days, and I promise we'll find something fun to do. It's just that, aren't you supposed to be taking a break from all the chaos of your life?"
Missy took out her phone, and moments later was sticking it in Louise's face and waving it around. "Oh, the rodeo is in town! We are so going."
Louise laughed. "Okay, okay. We'll go."
They'd stopped quickly by the rental to drop off their bags, and then come straight to the fairgrounds. Missy was thrilled by their surroundings, but Louise couldn't help searching the many faces in the crowd.
Would he be here? No, he'd probably moved back to Austin long ago. Besides, he'd never been one to blend into the crowd. If he were here, he'd make absolute certain he had everyone's attention—including hers.
The announcer's voice boomed over the speakers, "It's the time you've all been waiting for!" Cheers rose from the crowd as they stomped their feet on the bleachers and chanted.
Louise missed the name of the performer in all the ruckus that ensued, but when he came tearing into the ring, she recognized him at once. Brady.
The bronco moved at a furious pace, but it was as if time slowed around them. Louise focused on Brady's hips as they rose up and down to accommodate the bucking movements, one hand gripped the saddle refusing to let go while the other held steady high over his head, his muscular legs hugging tight to the horse.
It was a sight to behold.
But this was crazy… She dated wealthy men in business suits who rode in luxury cars, not cowboys from her past life. But, still, there was no denying Brady's rugged, manly appeal as he worked the bucking horse to his will. She wouldn't put up nearly as much of a fight if she had the chance…
The chance to what?
She was not that girl anymore. She'd moved on to bigger and better things. She'd chased her dreams and caught them. So why couldn't she tear her eyes from this reckless boy from her past?
She wasn't ready to settle down. At least not until she'd settled comfortably into the partner role at her firm—that is if this whole interruption hadn't completely botched her chances altogether. But still there'd be other firms, and they'd be lucky to have her. And when she was ready, there would be other men, more compatible men.
This one was definitely off limits.
Chapter 2
"One Mississippi …" Brady muttered each count under his breath as he inhaled, exhaled, leaned forward and back, swayed left and right.
"Two Mississippi, three…" The bronco kicked and spun beneath him, but Brady anticipated his movements and clung tighter with every twist and turn. They didn't call him Bucking Brady Rockwell for nothing.
He trained hard before the show, and relied on that training when go-time rolled around. Then he would completely let himself go, let himself get absorbed into the horse, become a part of it. His mind stayed blank while his instincts took over. He just had to focus on the count.
"Four Mississippi…"
The audience blurred before him as the bronco took off in a series of tornado-like spins. A flash of purple caught his eye. He squinted for a better look on his next turn-through, and, sure enough, Weezy stood wearing that same purple silk blouse that would, no doubt, get destroyed by the dusty fairground winds.
"Five…"
Her eyes were wide as she watched him, a slight smile playing at her lips.
His heart picked up its pace and his palms grew sweaty. All these years later and she could still do a number on him.
Speaking of numbers, where was he in the count again? Six. No seven. Had it been eight yet?
That momentary lapse was all it took. He'd lost his sync with the bronco and got tossed.
Hard.
The audience moaned in disappointment. Not only wouldn't he be winning as expected, he'd actually managed to get himself disqualified—something he'd hardly done even in his rookie days.
The medics rushed over to check him for bumps, scrapes, broken bones. "Looked like a hard fall. You all right, Brady?"
He answered their questions distractedly as he searched for that familiar swatch of purple in the audience, but Weezy had disappeared.
"We about done here, fellas?" he grumbled. Not only were they in his way, but the fact they seemed insistent on checking up on him was a huge embarrassment.
"You know we can't hurry through our checks. Just give us a moment here, and we'll be set."
As the medics continued making slow work of his examination, Brady practiced what he'd say once he caught up with her. Because there was no question, he would be catching up with her again.
His pulse quickened at the thought, and one of the medics made a note on his chart.
"What's got you so worked up today, hey?"
Brady let the question roll off him with a smile, but inside a million thoughts clawed to get out. Why was it that he could get any woman he wanted without a second thought, but could only focus on this one out-of-reach girl from his past? And why was he already as tongue-tied as he'd been back in his school days when he'd first asked if he could kiss her on the playground?
Well, tongue-tied or not, he refused to miss the chance to follow up with the girl who could take his breath away faster than a hoof to the chest. One way or another, he'd find something to say.
"I can't watch this anymore," Louise declared, getting up and pushing her way toward the end of the bleacher where she and Missy sat. As they made their way toward the exit, a collective gasp rose from the crowd. Louise looked over just in time to see Brady get thrown from his feisty bronco.
Her heart ached, just as she was sure every single part of his body did. This is what he does for a living, she reminded herself. He chose this. He knew the risks when he saddled up. In fact, his insistence on putting himself in harm's way was part of the reason they hadn't worked out.
She still reme
mbered the time Brady had convinced each of their classmates to pay a dollar to watch him do a back flip off the top of the monkey bars.
Sure, he'd pulled it off, but he'd also broken his leg in the process.
Of course, he should have listened to her when she told him what a terrible idea it was, but then again that was Brady. If he wasn't doing something crazy, stupid, dangerous, then he wasn't living.
She paused long enough to make sure he was okay now—long enough for her friend to realize something was up.
"A cowboy, huh?" Missy jabbed at Louise playfully. "He's totally gorgeous. I can see why you're smitten."
"Smitten, Missy? Really?" Louise rolled her eyes and strode briskly ahead. Why did she still care? She shouldn't give a lick about what happened to him after the way he'd treated her, but somehow, she couldn't help herself.
With her long legs, Missy easily matched her pace. "So, you don't deny it? I mean, why would you? That man is God’s gift to women everywhere.”
Louise shook her head. "If you say so.”
“I can tell you like him, so dish already. Don’t hold out on your best friend!” Missy offered Louise her signature pout, the one that landed her role after role and made her one of the top rising stars in the film industry.
"Look, Missy, I love you, but I'm not here to rehash the past, and I'm definitely not here to flirt with some rough-and-tumble cowboy, okay?"
"Okay, okay. I just want you to be happy the way I am." Missy sighed as she looked down at the magnificent diamond wrapped around her finger. "But I'll drop it, I swear. Ooh, look! Let's play some Skee Ball."
They paid the carnie, and Louise stood back as Missy wound up and tossed the worn, brown ball toward the loops at the end of the small runway.
Louise giggled as the ball rebounded and flew back. "It's not baseball."
Missy stuck out her tongue and threw again, this time scoring ten points.
"Give it another try, darlin'," the carnie coaxed. "I bet you'll get fifty this time. Just focus on where you want the ball to go, then give it a good, firm toss."
Missy drew the ball toward her chest and took a deep, meditative breath. She was so competitive that even this silly game was approached just as seriously as one of her casting calls. Of course, Louise would have handled it the exact same way—except that she'd land a fifty pointer her first time out of the gate. Skee Ball had always been one of her favorite pastimes at the county fair.
"Go, Missy! You can do it!" Louise cheered and gave a small jump, enjoying the fact that her friend was every bit as much of a fish out of water here as she was.
Missy exhaled and released the ball. It zoomed down the track and landed in the large, outer loop once again.
"That's another ten points for you, darlin'. But I think you deserve a prize anyway." The carnie smiled, revealing tobacco-stained teeth, and used a long hook to grapple a large plush toy for Missy.
"Oh, I love it so much!" Missy cooed and hugged the pink unicorn to her chest as soon as he offered it to her.
“Nice try, rookie,” Louise joked, giving her friend a congratulatory pat on the back. "Now let me show you how it's really done."
"I can take it from here," said a low, husky voice from behind them.
Louise spun, recognizing the familiar boy's voice wrapped within its deeper, more adult version.
Brady's boots left a trail of starry imprints on the ground behind him. Dirt clung to his jeans and flannel shirt while sweat clung to his brow—yet somehow, he managed to look irresistibly handsome covered head to toe in grime.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," he said, taking Missy’s hand. "They call me Bucking Brady Rockwell. Pleased to meet ya." His teeth shone brightly against his tanned features.
"Charmed, I'm sure," Missy said affecting a Southern drawl she probably hadn’t used since her role in a stage remake of Steel Magnolias.
"Weezy." He turned to Louise and laid a kiss on the back of her hand. "It's been a long time."
The warm kiss lit her skin on fire. Surely, he hadn't had this same effect on her as a girl. She flushed, but then reminded herself that if she could handle the most belligerent opponents in court, then surely, she could handle a simple conversation with this harmless flame from her past.
"Actually, it's Louise now."
"Nah, I think you'll always be Weezy to me." He winked with a self-assurance she found irritating.
She frowned. "I'm not that little girl you once knew, Brady. A lot has changed since then."
"Well, you're still the most beautiful girl around. No offense, ma'am." He quickly smiled toward Missy. "So how much else could have changed?" He ran his eyes up and down her lean body and gave a grunt of approval.
Louise looked away, embarrassed by his attentions. "Well, for one thing I'm a woman, and I'd prefer you treat me like one rather than some hunk of meat."
His dark eyes peered out from beneath his cowboy hat, and a boyish smirk spread across his face. "I can treat you like a queen, Weezy. Just give me one night, and I’ll—”
"How dare you talk to me that way! Just because I was interested in sixth grade doesn't mean I'm interested now." Louise crossed her arms over her chest and took a step back. She couldn't believe he'd talked to her that way, especially considering their history.
A frown overtook Brady's handsome features. "Wait, I didn't mean—"
"I'm with her on this. You can't talk to my friend that way," Missy cut in. "And how dare you call me, 'ma'am'? I'm only twenty-eight!”
"Please just hear me out," Brady drawled, but his attempt at charm was lost on them.
"Actually, I think we've heard enough. Ready to go home, Missy?”
She linked arms with her friend and strode away, but internally she felt relieved. Thank you, Brady, for being such a chauvinistic perv. Now I'll have no trouble getting you off my mind, focusing on my work, and getting out of this crappy little town as fast as humanly possible. Good riddance.
"Yuck. What a creeper." Missy brought a finger to her face and made a gagging sound.
"I honestly have no idea what I ever saw in him," Louise said as she hopped into their rental truck and revved up the engine. "Well, he's in the past for a reason. And looks like he's staying there for good." Louise peeked in the rearview mirror, but Brady was nowhere to be seen.
"Dang it." Brady cursed under his breath and kicked at a candy apple core that littered the ground. What was I thinking? Of course I mucked it up the first chance I got.
A classy woman like Louise needs to be treated with respect. She needs…
"Hey, I waited for you after the show. Are you all right?" The cobalt-eyed blonde swung her hips in a purposeful strut as she made her way over to him.
Great, this is just what I need. I need to move fast if I want to give my apologies to Weezy. Seriously, what in the heck was I thinking? It would've been better to say nothing at all! Now she's probably thinking about the last time, we… And why we… I messed up big time.
Brady plastered a smile across his face. Well, he could put on a show, too.
Or maybe this is what I need… Weezy—no, Louise, she asked me to call her Louise—clearly wasn't falling for his charm, or lack of it. Might as well move on to the next pretty young thing that trod his way, and—lookie here—she was standing before him that very moment.
"I think I'll be just fine." He fixed his eyes on the woman's mouth as he continued. "That is, if you'll keep me company this evening to make sure I'm all right." He held open his arms, and she took the invitation, snuggling into his side and looking up at him as if he were the only thing that mattered in the world.
See, why couldn't Louise be like that?
His new lady companion said something in a high-pitched trill, but he missed it.
"How's dinner sound?"
Again, he missed her words, but her sultry smile said it all.
He walked with her to the parking lot as she chattered on at a galloping pace, but, no matter how much he tried to
focus, he just couldn't get Louise off his brain.
Looked like it was going to be a long night, after all.
Chapter 3
Louise squinted at the glowing red alarm clock. Only five in the morning, but she was wide awake, thanks to the four-hour time difference between New York and Alaska. They didn't need her in the office until nine, and she had no doubt Missy would sleep in as long as she could, so she crept out of the house and headed to the closest megastore for a quick supply run.
She'd already prepped ingredients for a salmon dinner, packed a lunch for her workday, and set about fixing a four-course breakfast by the time Missy appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Do I smell bacon?" she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Even though Louise had a full face of makeup and Missy had none, there was no question as to which of them looked more glamorous that early morning.
"And moose sausage and eggs benedict and pancakes," Louise answered as she deftly flipped a cake in the griddle.
“Moose sausage, huh? You can take the girl out of Alaska, but you can't take the Alaska out of the girl."
Louise chortled. "More like you can take the girl away from her law firm, but you can't take her law firm away from the girl. I wish you would've let me bring my case notes. I did at least finish my book, but after that I was up for hours with nothing better to do than cook.”
"Seems like it worked out well for me then." Missy grabbed a piece of bacon and dabbed off some of the grease before crunching into it. "Besides, you're here to work anyway, and you needed some form of break. All those eighty-hour work weeks just aren't good for you."
"You're one to talk about work-life balance." Louise smirked as she laid the finished griddle cake on an empty plate.
"Hey, you know things have been different since Jordan stole my heart away. Besides I didn't bring an ounce of work with me on my carry-on. You know that means I win, right?"
The Alaska Sunrise Romances: A 9-Book Sweet Romance Collection Page 43
