Wild Ride: BBW Western Romance (Under Open Skies Saga Book 2) (2 page)

Not to melt over him like some rodeo groupie. A buckle bunny.

Hank paved the way for her, moving through the crowd seamlessly as he waved and tipped his hat to several riders and their families. He seemed to know every single person in the business. Her dad used to be that way. He and Hank were always working the circuit, first coaching and then sponsoring so many different acts. They were great partners.

“
Ah, Hunter. This here is the lady I was talki
n’
to you about earlier, Kat Brooks. Daughter of John Brooks
.
”

Hunter tipped his cowboy hat up so that she could see his face. She could
n’
t help it, she immediately began assessing him, much like her father taught her. What to look for in rider, physically. He had a set jaw, strong and chiseled, and eyes with a deep wisdom to them.

She was
n’
t the only one assessing. His grey-blue eyes looked her up and down. He was probably a couple of years older than her, twenty seven or twenty eight. At least. Hank was right, he was still young enough that he had quite a few good years left. His stance was strong, like his grip on the bull.

She held out her hand to him, looking him straight in the eye as she waited. He assessed her for a moment, his own eyes moving over her body. Damn, he was impossible to read. What was this man thinking?

Finally he reached out and shook her hand, his grip firm, the handshake of one man to another. She could tell a lot by a ma
n’
s handshake, and this man meant business.

“
I knew your father a good bit
,”
Hunter said, nodding to her
,“
he was a good man. Sorry for your loss. To be honest,
I’
m glad to see one of his own is taki
n’
over the business. Not those greedy vultures like Hank
.”
Ah. A smart ass.
That
she could handle.

“
Hey, you watch your mouth, less you want me to knock out some of those fancy teeth
.”
Hank punched him in his shoulder, a gesture which he returned.

“
I, uh, thank you
,”
She felt a little off balance. It was hard to accept. No matter how many times she heard someone give their condolences, the pain never went away. So she just stored it away, refusing to address it.

Back to the task at hand. It was the only way she knew how to cope.

“
I have
n’
t seen your kind of talent in a good long while
.
”

A smile tugged the corner of his mouth.

“
Taught by the best
.”
He stayed tight-lipped as he looked her up and down, judging her.

Well who the hell was his coach?

“
Hunter, we talked earlier about you being willi
n’
to sign up under our sponsorship. Well, Ms. Brooks seems pretty intent on maki
n’
sure that this happens
.”
Hank smiled like he just got a bite on fishing line cast out into the middle of a pond. Almost his, as long it was reeled in right.

“
I am, I would be willing to speak to you about the prospect of joini
n’
a sponsored progra
m
…
”
She barely got the words out of her mouth.

He interrupted her without so much as a polite nod
,“
I really gotta be headin
g’
out
.
”

He grabbed his ball cap and replaced the cowboy hat he rode with. She got a peek at raven locks before he switched them out
.“I’
m late for my nex
t‘
social engagemen
t’
. Think you could swing by the dance hall tonight? It is the end of the rodeo and I should be there. We can talk then
.
”

“
Hunter
.”
Hank said, tipping his hat.

“
Hank
.
”

She could
n’
t help but notice the muscles in his body, particularly his tight ass moving back and forth in those tight cowboy jeans. Heat pounded into her cheeks, leaving her dumbfounded.

“
What the hell just happened
?”
She furrowed her brow and looked at Hank who responded with a chuckle.

“
I think you just got asked to a dance
.
”

“
Bu
t
…
”
She had to resist the urge to run after him and tell him what kind of opportunity he was letting slip out of his fingers.

“
I know what yer thinki
n’
. Let him go. H
e’
s a tough one, Kat. Yo
u’
re da
d’
s been tryi
n’
to get him to sign on for years
.
”

She hesitated, turning on her heel to face Hank
.“
Years
?
”

“
Yeah, about ten
.”
Ten years was a long time in the business. Especially for a bull rider.

It peaked her interest
.“
Why has
n’
t he
?
”

Hank chewed on his check for a moment, thinking about it
.“
Hunter was a loose cannon for a while, and when he wanted to be signed, well, your father was
n’
t ready. Then, after that, it was nothing but no. Foolish pride? Wanti
n’
to go it alone? I do
n’
t know. I just know he has the talent and he is on fire now. He is finally looking to be sponsored. Do
n’
t want to lose his talent
.
”

She straightened her shoulders and looked Hank square in the eyes
.“
I do
n’
t give up that easily
.
”

Kat did
n’
t like parties. She entered the large barn to see crowds of people gathered about, standing in small groups as they talked over the music and sipping from bottles or red cups. She could see the dance floor just a little ways off and it looked like there was no shortage of people on it. Country music blared, pounding so hard she could feel it in her chest, vibrating her body across the floor. It was a lively group, excited and animated after a successful show. Rodeo folks did everything big.

She tried to take it all in, but it was overwhelming. Kat did
n’
t realize that many people were involved in the rodeo on a day to day basis.  She should have been, her business was exceedingly lucrative, but she never thought about it. Not really. Plus, she had never been to any of these shindigs. Her dad expressly forbid it, knowing firsthand what went on at these parties.

He wanted to keep his daughter as far away from what he calle
d‘
the dark side of the rode
o’
as he possibly could. She rolled her eyes when she was fifteen, thinking he was being too strict. But as she watched the women and men dancing together, she was no longer so sure about her assessment. The way they pressed together, their bodies close and their legs moving to the music, the looks in their eye
s…
it was deliciously sinful. She fought the urge to throw herself into the mix, abandoning all pretense of business and acting like the twenty-five year old she was, deep down inside.

As she was about to go and find herself a partner she felt a gentle touch on her arm. Hunter looked at her from underneath his ragged ball cap, a smile on his face.

“
I take it you have never been to one of these dances before
?”
His mouth quirked up into a handsome smirk. The kind that made her want to roll her eyes.

“
I was never in the rodeo, remember
.
”

He handed her a beer bottle and looked out over the crowd
.“
Neither have most of these kids. Maybe they want to, maybe they have family who is. Figured you might want something to drink first
.
”

“
First
?
”

“
Thought we could have a drink, maybe a dance. Then discuss terms
.”
Hunter took a large swing of his beer and then winked at her. Actually winked.

She wanted to tell him no just to be spiteful, but that hard jawline and those strong muscles were more than she could resist.

Kat took a big swig of her beer and set it down on the table
,“
What the hell, why not
?
”

Hunter pulled her out onto the dance floor, taking her up in his arms and spinning her around in a fast paced two step.

Moving around the dance floor with the tall cowboy felt as natural to her as walking. She did
n’
t need to worry about stepping on toes or having to lead. He was strong and confident as he led her across the floor, in a sea of people also following the same steps. She could have closed her eyes and just moved along with him. But then sh
e’
d miss studying every inch of him. Her eyes were locked on his as they moved around the room. And each moment she had to fight not to let those eyes wander down his entire body.

“
Yo
u’
re pretty good
.”
He whispered in her ear, bending down and breaking eye contact. His voice was the kind of thick deep baritone that made her want to melt into a puddle.

Keep it together, this is business.

“
Taught by the best
.”
She answered. Damn, he had a way of getting under her skin, but she refused to let her emotions overwhelm her.