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Miss Demeanor shouted over the applause. “Trey Stuart is the big winner in the bull riding event for the weekend. It’ll be the gold and silver buckle for him, but don’t feel too bad for Smoke Carter and Dolly Miller. There were only four qualified rides in the final go-round, so the money for the top ten will be divided among those four riders.”

“What a nice payday!” Jordan said. “Congratulations to you, Trey Stuart, and to all the other winners in all the events here tonight.” He shook Trey’s hand and gave him the buckle.

Trey’s hands trembled as he took the buckle. This one meant a lot to him. He’d defeated Smoke, and on a bull that would surely move up to buck in the big leagues.

Miss Demeanor shook his hand and handed him the actual check. “One thing’s for sure, Trey Stuart, no one who saw you ride this weekend will ever forget it, mostly because of that sexy bra, but also two great ninety-point rides.”

“Thank you,” Trey managed to choke out. “This sport has given me so much, I can’t—just—thank you all.” The check he held in his hand might just be enough to make his dreams come true at last.

She patted him on the shoulder. “Great ride, Trey.” She looked up at the crowd in the stands. “If you’ll keep your seats, the closing ceremonies will begin. Then if you’d like to get autographs from your favorite rider, there’s a meet-and-greet by the gate. And of course, if any of you want to get to know fabulous me—”

Trey walked down the ramp, clutching the buckle so hard the box hurt his fingers. He looked at the check again. Twelve thousand, eight hundred, and sixteen dollars. A better payday than he’d had for a long while, and a big step toward buying his own place.

He caught sight of Smoke standing by the gate and letting fans get pictures with him. Trey wanted to rush right over there, pick him up, and swing him around, but the sight of Rowdy Stetson standing next to Smoke as if he belonged there made him pause. Rowdy laid his hand on Smoke’s arm, and a fan crowded in next to them and took a selfie.

Filled with sudden rage, Trey ducked behind the gate to get a grip on his temper. He was the one who’d always said Smoke wasn’t his, so he had no right to feel jealous now.

Two cowboys walked by without seeing him. “Rodeo’s a great place to hook up.”

The other cowboy pointed. “Yeah, get a load of that. Rowdy Stetson’s a lucky dog. Getting off with Smoke.”

“You into black guys?”

“Not usually, but Smoke’s so hot, who wouldn’t be into him?”

“I thought he and that other black rider had a thing going on.”

“Trey? Nah, they’re just friends. Known each other for years.” The cowboy laughed. “Trey seems like kind of a cold fish. Not much action going on there, if you ask me.”

Nobody asked you
, Trey thought. Just friends. Hearing that made Trey realize how desperately he’d been hoping their hookup might turn into something more. Dolly and Alex were right. He was fooling himself, and now it was too late.

Suddenly the buckle didn’t seem so shiny anymore. Watching Rowdy act as if he was going to crawl right inside Smoke cut Trey to the quick. After all the time he and Smoke hung out and fucked, Trey had never made a public claim like that. He had no fucking right to. Trey turned away and went to the locker room to collect his gear and his composure. He coiled his ropes and packed his vest. He had thought of putting the buckle on his belt, but now he just tossed it in his bag.

After a quick shower, he got dressed. At least he was clean. Not the way he expected to feel after a big win. He shouldered his bag.

To his surprise, Rowdy was waiting outside in the hall when he emerged from the locker room. Trey paused next to him. “Smoke’s not in there.”

“I was waiting for you,” Rowdy said with a shy smile.

“Why, you want my autograph?” Trey snorted with bitter laughter at the thought.

Rowdy slid closer to him and dropped his voice to a whisper. “I just wanted to say, like, let’s get Rowdy.”

“Jesus, is that line working for you? You need some new material.”

Rowdy got up on tiptoes to press his pink lips against Trey’s. Startled, Trey lunged back and found himself pinned against the wall. He dropped his bag. “What the hell?”

He gently freed himself from the slim body pressed against his. Catching movement at the end of the hall, Trey looked up to see Smoke staring at them. Then Smoke was gone. Trey was ready to punch someone out. He clenched his fists and turned on Rowdy, ready to smack the satisfied smirk off his face, and realized that he’d noticed Smoke too.

“What the fuck are you up to?”

“Just checking the water,” Rowdy said. “Seeing which is the deep end.” He turned to walk away, deliberately swaying his hips. He looked back coyly over his shoulder and blew Trey a kiss before he turned the corner.

“Well, I thought I was riding a winning streak, and it looks like I was right,” Trey muttered sarcastically. “What the fucking fuck was that about?”

“You really have to ask?”

Trey whipped around, his heart beating a million miles an hour. “You sure know how to sneak up on a guy.”

“Don’t change the subject.” Dolly jerked a thumb at Rowdy. “He’s a star-fucker.”

“Listen, Dolly, I’m no—”

Dolly shoved the palm of her hand at him. “Save it. I’ve heard it already. You’re nothing special, Smoke is a star, blah, blah, blah. But you won tonight, not him, you moron.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.” With a visible effort, Dolly turned her glare into a slightly scary smile. “Listen, I covered two, count them, two bulls this weekend in the men’s division, and I want to celebrate. You can keep that buckle for now. I will snatch it away from you at some future event, but tonight I’m buying you dinner.”

“You bought last night.”

“My check may not be as big as yours, but maybe you missed it. I won more than enough to buy dinner for the four of us and still take some home to the bank.”

“The four of us?”

Dolly rolled her eyes. “Me and Alex, you and Smoke.”

“You asked Smoke? He was kinda busy the last time I saw him.”

“He’s coming,” Dolly said firmly. “Dump your gear at the motel and we’ll go out for a nice dinner.”

Trey stiffened when he saw Smoke come around the corner.

Dolly glanced over her shoulder when she noticed him staring. “Oh hey, Smoke. Alex already headed over to the motel. She needs to change into something more glamorous, so you have time to stash your gear.”

Without his usual smile, Smoke jerked a thumb toward the locker room. “Great, I’ll get my stuff.”

“Should we wait for him?”

Before Trey could answer, Rowdy Stetson drifted down the hall. He gave Trey an innocent smile, as if he hadn’t just tried to force his tongue down Trey’s throat. “Hello, Mr. Stuart.” Once again, he ignored Dolly and vanished into the locker room.

“Like a hound dog tracking down a coon.” Dolly shook her head.

“Let’s go. It might be a long wait.” Trey started walking. If he had to witness Rowdy’s next move on Smoke, he might not be responsible for the consequences.

Dolly rolled her eyes. “Don’t you think you should pink slip that white boy’s ass?”

“Nah, Smoke’s used to a lot of attention from his fans. He can catch up later. If he wants to.”

“Don’t kid yourself.” Dolly snorted. “He’s your man—go shake Smoke loose from that brainless bloodsucker.”

“Smoke should have whatever he wants.” Trey charged down the long hallway into the arena, forcing Dolly to trot to keep up.

“Smoke wants to know you care. You blow him off all the time and Smoke treats it like a joke, but if you’re too dense to notice, I guess you lose. Men!”

DOLLY HAD
not only chosen a nice restaurant, but she also broke out a brand-new plaid flannel shirt in honor of the occasion. Luckily Alex more than made up for it by wearing a simple but stunning evening gown with her cowboy boots. Even though they were both basking in the glow of Dolly’s success, they were clearly aware of the tension vibrating between Trey and Smoke.

While they waited in the bar for their table, Dolly said, “I thought I’d take you someplace really nice, so I can bribe you to keep up the lessons.”

After a brief pause, Trey realized she was talking to him. “You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” Dolly said firmly. “I actually earned some money today for the first time in two years, and it’s all on you.”

“It’s been a long time, babe.” Alex put her hand on Dolly’s. “And you did great.”

They leaned closer, looking at each other without speaking. Whatever went on between them for a moment, Trey envied it and hated it at the same time. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Smoke watching them also, his expression unreadable.

Trey had nothing to add. When the bartender came to take their order, he asked for a beer.

“Make it two.” Smoke seemed unusually subdued. Not like him not to ask what was on draught.

Alex ordered two cosmos for her and Dolly. She glared at Trey and then shifted over to glare at Smoke. “Well, this is festive. Not.”

“Sorry,” Trey mumbled.

“I’m here with the three big winners of the bull riding event. The entire purse was split between y’all, but you’d never know it. Snap out of it, will ya?”

The bartender returned with their drinks, and Dolly put a bill on the bar.

Smoke straightened up on his stool and gave Alex a forced smile of apology. “You’re right. To Dolly’s success!” He raised his beer to make the toast.

“Now you’re talking.” Dolly clinked her glass against Smoke’s and then held it out to Trey.

Quickly Trey picked up his beer. His timing was off, and he slopped beer over her arm when they missed. Trey set his glass down and grabbed a napkin to dry Dolly’s shirt, leaving Smoke holding his glass in the air. Smoke shrugged and took a sip.

Alex took the napkin away from Trey and blotted Dolly’s sleeve.

“It’s okay, I’ll live. Just a little damp,” Dolly said.

“Sorry,” Trey said again. He looked at the floor.

Dolly and Alex clinked their glasses and then linked arms to drink, staring into each other’s eyes.

“You did it, babe,” Alex said.

“I didn’t win the event, you know.” The glow in Dolly’s eyes belied her statement. “Fell off in the first round and came in dead last in the second.”

“You’re a winner in my books, love.” Alex looked so proud and relieved at the same time. “I know you’re just going to keep this rolling, now that you believe you can do it.” She tilted her head enough to glance at Trey. “I have to think of a proper way to thank you. One dinner just isn’t enough.”

Trey looked at Dolly. “Dolly’s ride was all the thanks I need. But you can return that damn bra for me. I don’t think I’ll be needing it in the future.”

“Wait a second, wasn’t Dolly supposed to wear it if she rode?” Smoke shot Dolly a mischievous look but spoke heavily, as if it was an effort.

“Who says I’m not? Dolly giggled.

“I can’t see it,” Trey said.

“You never said anything about seeing it, just that I had to wear it.” Dolly stuck her tongue out.

“Besides, I’m the only one who gets to see Dolly’s undies.” Alex slid her barstool closer to Dolly’s.

“Sequins and plaid flannel. Sexy combo.” Smoke seemed to be trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“Damn sexy, and all for me.” Alex slid her arm around Dolly’s waist.

Trey had to admire Alex’s evident determination to make the evening enjoyable. By turning the focus to Dolly’s success, she’d found at least one topic they could all agree on. Even Smoke’s smile was genuine now.

“To Dolly.” Trey raised his glass, although he wasn’t going to try the clinking thing again.

When he looked over, Smoke shifted his smile to him. “And to Trey, winner of the event.”

“Thanks.” Trey looked away quickly, uncomfortable with the warmth he saw in Smoke’s eyes.

“I’m starving,” Smoke said. “Winning is hungry work, that’s what I always say.”

“I guess you would know, Smoke. You win so much of the time,” Dolly said.

Trey was aware of Smoke’s gaze on him, but he kept staring into the fascinating depths of his beer.

“Don’t always.” Smoke reached out as if to slap Trey’s shoulder and then snatched his hand back. “My man Trey here made off with the buckle this event.”

“It was just a fluke.” Trey winced. Alex may have been wearing a gown, but a kick in the ankle with a cowboy boot hurt.

“I thought you felt lucky.”

Trey glared at her, knowing he was being a dick, hating himself for it, but unable to pull himself out of his mood. Alex smiled in a ladylike way and mouthed the words “fuck you, asshole.”

Unwillingly, Trey smiled. His mouth felt as if it had rusted in a permanent frown. “Yeah, I did say that.” He flicked a glance at Smoke and then focused on Dolly. “Sorry, Dolls. I guess I’m not such good company tonight.”

But Dolly wasn’t looking at him. Instead she was glaring at something she saw past Smoke’s shoulder. Alex turned to see what she was looking at and groaned.

“Jeepers, that lamebrain must think you’re his mother, Smoke,” Alex said. “He’s imprinted on you.”

Smoke looked up sharply, and Trey heard the sudden intake of breath when he noticed Rowdy Stetson making his way toward them. Anticipation? And who wouldn’t be excited with that walking wet dream coming toward him?

As if Smoke was sitting at the bar alone, Rowdy looked up at him demurely from under ridiculously long lashes, his lips curving into a seductive smile. Rowdy put his hand on Smoke’s bicep. He petted Smoke’s muscles as if he owned him, for crissakes. “I’ve been looking for you all over. Are you ready to go?”

So they had a date? Trey’s jealousy went to anger in a flash. Just when he started to think about staking a claim, and Smoke made a date with Rowdy?

“Don’t fuck this up,” Alex hissed at Trey. He shook his head. He wasn’t the one fucking anything up.

Smoke stood up to face Rowdy, and angel-boy grabbed the front of Smoke’s shirt to pull him closer. Smoke put his hands over Rowdy’s, and Trey couldn’t stand this another second.

If he stayed here, he was going to hit someone. Instinct told Trey to run, get out of this situation. He slapped his pockets as if looking for his wallet. “Forgot something. ’Scuse me,” he mumbled. Alex grabbed his sleeve, but Trey broke away from her.