Momentum (17 page)

When she began to yawn, Marco helped her dress in a tank top and her panties and then tucked her in. He got in the other side and piled pillows between them, telling her he didn’t want to inadvertently bump her in the night. Though she actually felt a little lost not having him snuggled up next to her, she still slept well knowing he was there with her.

In the morning, Marco fussed over the bandage on her head and made sure the Ace bandage around her ribs was comfortable. They finally left for the competition and Marco was just kissing her goodbye before going to do his prep when she heard, “Oh my God, what happened to you?”

Natalie froze. That voice was familiar. Why? She turned slowly. Her mother. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“We need to talk.”

Straightening with difficulty, she said, “We have nothing to talk about. Now, if you don’t stop harassing me, I’ll call security to have you removed.” She made a move to leave, but her mother called after her.

“I’m still your mother, girl,” her mother said. “Don’t you walk away from me.”

Natalie turned. She was completely done dealing with this woman. Considering that the bull riders and their significant others had treated her more as if she were family than her mother ever had or ever would, Natalie didn’t need her mother. She hadn’t had her for the past eighteen years, why should anything be different now?

“You are the woman who gave birth to me, that’s it.” Putting up a hand to stop her when her mother began to protest, she went on. “You are nothing more to me.”

“We share blood. We’re family,” her mother insisted.

“Well, being with the bull riders these past few weeks and seeing how they treat someone they hardly know, your brand of loving me pales in comparison.” Raising an arm, index finger pointed toward the exit, Natalie said, “Go, before security throws you out.”

Natalie looked up and saw three men in uniform heading their way.

“Natalie, please. I want to reconcile with my only child.”

They’d drawn quite a crowd by now, and Natalie sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. “You’re about seventeen years, eleven months and twenty-nine days too late for that. And you know damn well Daddy died. We all lived in the same town. If you wanted to reconcile with me, why didn’t you come to the wake or the funeral?”

“We didn’t even hear about it until after that stuff was done,” her mother said, and Natalie rolled her eyes. “Then I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome.”

“Well, you would’ve been right about that. But even after you left us and ran off with one of Daddy’s ranch hands,” she looked at the man in question in disgust, “I’ve heard plenty about you. If you’re looking for money, I don’t have any.”

Her mother’s mouth fell open. “B-but you sold the ranch.”

“Yes, to get out of debt. You have nothing to offer me, and I sure as hell don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Wait!” Natalie looked up, raising an eyebrow. Her mother jerked her head toward Marco. “What about him? He brings home a lot of bread.”

Marco briefly squeezed her waist but otherwise remained silent. She was grateful he wasn’t interfering.

“How
dare
you come here after eighteen years away and try to get my boyfriend to give you money because you and Kevin drank yours away. No fucking way am I giving you one red cent.”

Her mother’s eyes glowed and Natalie didn’t have time to figure out what was going on before her mother said, “And don’t you want to know about your little brother or sister?” She patted her stomach and Natalie shook her head. The woman was amazing.

“If I believed you were pregnant, Linda, which I don’t, my answer would still be the same. No. No, I don’t want to know anything about him or her. But if you are pregnant, I hope to hell you’ve at least stopped drinking and plan to give the baby up for adoption. God knows how the poor kid would survive with the two of you for parents.” Her mother gasped and Natalie pointed toward the exit. “Leave or I’ll have you thrown out.”

She started to shake and Marco took her face in his hands. “
Tesora
, are you all right?”

She nodded. “I need to get them out of here.” Natalie regarded her mother. What a pathetic woman she’d turned out to be—weak-willed, helpless. Her mother was only in her mid-forties, but looked easily ten years older. It was a shame what hard living did to a person, both on the outside and the inside. “If you ever try to contact me again I will call the police and file a harassment report.” Her mother gasped and Natalie went on. “You made your bed, Linda, now lie in it.”

The security officers stepped in then, and after talking to Natalie, escorted her mother and her even more pathetic man to the exit.

Marco took hold of her hand and squeezed. “You are the strongest woman I know. I’m so proud of you,
cara
.”

Natalie turned into Marco’s embrace, a small sob escaping.

“Shhh,
tesora
, you did great.” He asked one of the people near them who’d obviously witnessed Natalie’s humiliation to get her a bottle of water. Together they sank to the floor, leaning against the wall. “I’m so proud of you. I know they’re your only family that’s left, but sometimes you’re better off without family, you know?”

Natalie nodded, wiping at her eyes angrily. “There’s no way she didn’t know about my father. Nine hundred people live in that town, Marco. Everyone knows everything about each other. There’s no way she didn’t know.”

“Forget about her,” Marco urged her, taking the proffered water and then opening it and handing it to her.

Conner squatted, putting him at eye level with Natalie. “That took guts, honey. Jess and I wanted you to know—both of you—that we’re here to help. Anything you guys need, just ask.”

“You’re a sweet guy,” Natalie answered, sniffling.

Conner grinned. “Don’t let it get out.” With a squeeze of her knee, he rose and headed for the riders’ area.

“Too late for that,” Jessica murmured.

Everyone else had dispersed after her mother left, and finally Natalie began to relax. Laying her head on Marco’s shoulder, she said, “Thank you for not saying anything. I’m sure you wanted to, but I appreciate you staying quiet.”

“Maybe we can get back to normal now that both of our families have been dealt with. What do you say,
cara
?” He trailed his lips lightly along her forehead.

“Normal? What the hell is that?”

Marco tipped up her chin and gave her a gentle kiss. “I need to go get ready.” He helped her to stand once again. “Can you make it to your seat by yourself? Would you prefer if I escorted you in case your
madre
comes back?”

Jessica touched her arm. “I’ve got her. Go prepare.”

After briefly rubbing Natalie’s shoulder, Jessica helped her up and asked, “Now how about we find our seats and veg for a while?”

“I’d like that. I’d also like to talk to you about something we could maybe do together to make money. I can’t allow Marco to pay my way forever.”

“You and me? Sure! I’d love that,” Jessica answered. “You know, I don’t have any sisters. Three brothers”—she made a face and Natalie barked out a laugh—“but no sisters. Leah feels like one to me, and now you do too.” Jessica put her arm around Natalie’s shoulders and something calmed inside Natalie. Maybe she’d finally found some people other than herself whom she could count on.

* * * * *

She and Jessica had a great time comparing notes on their likes and dislikes and came to the conclusion the only thing they were both good at and loved was jewelry-making. They planned to approach the NBT about setting up a table in the concourse during events or having a table in the vendors’ area.

Natalie had drunk a huge lemonade Jessica had insisted on buying for her, and wanted to hit the ladies’ room before all the other spectators poured out of the stands after the competition was over. Conner and Marco had already ridden, and after Marco scored an 89 he’d looked right at her in the stands and given her a silly grin.

Jessica needed to go too, so they made their way down to the concourse and then hung around the chutes until everyone had finished the first round.

After the guys had drafted their bulls, they all grabbed a quick bite. By the time she and Marco made it back to their hotel room Natalie was exhausted.

Looking over the pillows he’d insisted on stacking between them again, Marco said, “Sweet dreams, darlin’.”

Natalie huffed out a laugh. “Darlin’?”

“I figured if we were going to live in the States permanently I should figure out how you guys talk.”

“Us guys? I don’t talk like that.” Lifting the pillow, she scooted closer to Marco. “Aren’t you going to kiss me goodnight?”

Marco ran a fingertip down her cheek and then over her lower lip. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t hurt me.”

“Not for anything in the world,
amante
.”

Three months later…

Natalie was so excited for Marco she could hardly stand it. He’d qualified for the finals of the NBT and they’d just walked into the arena in Las Vegas. It was a festive, lively atmosphere, and Marco’s mood reflected that. Normally before a ride he was calm and focused, but today he was almost manic. She wished she could help calm him down, but with her own emotions so high she was worried she’d only make it worse.

“You going to be okay today, hon?”

Marco smiled down at her. “As long as you have faith in me, that is all I need.”

“I have complete faith, and I’m not the only one. Paolo’s rooting for you too.” She made a face. “Plus hundreds of female fans, but we’ll just forget they’re around.”

“I see no one but you,
tesora
.”

“Nice save,” she retorted with a grin.

They waited around as some other riders took their turns, and Marco became quiet. In addition to the best riders, the best bulls had been brought in for the event, and it wouldn’t be easy to stay on them. These bulls often had buckoff rates of ninety percent or more, but if you could stay on them you were usually guaranteed a high score for that part of the ride.

Marco had drawn Black Magic, who had an eighty-eight-percent buckoff rate. He had yet to successfully ride the beast in competition and Natalie prayed today would be different. She was too nervous to sit in a seat, so she stayed close to Marco without trying to talk to him. When it was his turn to get on the bull, her stomach churned. He wanted this so much. His family might never understand his desire to be a great rider, but she did and prayed for the best for him.

He climbed onto the beast and Natalie’s hand crept over her heart. After adjusting the bull rope to his liking, he nodded to the chute man and the door swung open, the animal already bucking with all four feet in the air. Black Magic shot forward and then went welly, spinning like a top, with one side leaning toward the dirt. This was when most riders lost it, but Marco held on, and when the bull changed direction, Marco went with him.

Natalie died a thousand deaths waiting for the infernal buzzer to signal he’d made it through the eight seconds, and when it finally came, she jumped up and down as if she’d won the lottery. She was so proud of her man, and when he jumped from the rail to the other side and then headed toward her, his arms outstretched, she met him halfway and jumped into his embrace.

He was virtually assured a share of the total prize purse at the end of the competition since it was extremely rare for any of the riders to complete both rides. More than that, it would be a great end to one season and an awesome way to start the new season in a couple of months.

Marco laughed, catching her legs as she wrapped them around him. He bent his head to take possession of her lips and the kiss quickly turned heated as their tongues battled for supremacy. Natalie heard a cough behind them and, with difficulty, she disengaged from Marco. Paolo was standing there with a huge grin on his face.

“You did it,
fratello
. I knew you could.”

The two men clasped hands, and Natalie couldn’t remember ever being happier. These people, from Marco and Paolo to the rest of the guys and all the women she’d met on tour—they were her family, and she didn’t need anyone else.

The End

About Cassandra Carr

Cassandra Carr is a multi-published author of erotic romance. She thinks the best part of being a writer is how she writes about love and sex all day (and all night!) while most everyone else she knows is struggling with daily commutes, micro-managing bosses and cranky coworkers. The inspiration for her stories comes from everywhere, but she’d particularly like to thank the Buffalo Sabres, the hockey team near and dear to her heart. Yes, she knows way too much about the Sabres and hockey in general, but hey, everyone has to have a hobby, right?

Cassandra lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing, she enjoys watching a few select shows on television and hanging out on Twitter. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website.

Cassandra welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her
author bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.

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