Wrecked (2 page)

Finally, the hate and pain of a bitter divorce trumped the emotions of a lover scorned. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

Tony looked surprised before he recovered his composure. “That’s great. Everyone back at the association will be very happy.”

“Glad to hear it.” Her tone was flat in spite of her words.

“I’ve taken enough of your time.” He turned to go when CeCe panicked.

She didn’t know anything about this event named after her company. Certainly not when and where it was being held. “Wait. What day is it? And where?”

“At the arena. The event starts Friday and runs for three days, but the ceremony you’ll be presenting at is after Sunday’s championship round.”

Three days long. The same as the event she’d spent in Aaron’s company in Georgia, until he’d crushed her, coincidentally right after Sunday’s championship round.

Well, the best revenge was looking fabulous, and she did. She’d come home from that trip and gone directly to her doctor for a little maintenance.

Time did things to a woman, but with some help from modern day science she intended to fight it every step of the way, kicking and screaming.

A few shots for the crow’s feet around her eyes, some injections to plump her lips and lift her cheeks, and she felt like a new woman.

Of course, she’d have to go to the hair salon for a touch-up before Sunday, but she had no doubt she looked good enough to make Aaron realize, and regret, what he’d lost.

“I’ll leave VIP passes under your name at the ticket booth at the arena. I just need to know how many you’ll need.”

CeCe remembered the last event she’d attended with someone from the company by her side. It had been that boyfriend-stealing marketing manager Jill.

That bitter memory aside, CeCe had so few moments left in the spotlight at her age there was no way was she bringing anyone with her to steal it.

“Just one ticket is fine. I’ll be attending alone.”

“All right.” Tony nodded. “The opening ceremony starts at two on Sunday. Your ticket for the VIP section will be waiting for you when you arrive.”

“Fine. I’ll be there.” She’d just have to hope that Aaron, Jill and her ex-husband weren’t VIPs too. That damn section was too small for them to be in it with her.

She’d also have to hope Maggie was competent enough to find the location of the event. CeCe wasn’t about to admit to the man in front of her that she had no clue where this
arena
he kept referring to was. Otherwise, Maggie would have to call the association and find out.

“Have a good day, ma’am.”

Only half paying attention as the older man tipped his head to take his leave, CeCe nodded. “Thank you. You too.”

This was no doubt the worst decision she’d made in a long time. At least since her last bad decision of letting herself start to get attached to a bull rider half her age.

Aaron Jordan definitely took the prize as her worst decision of the year.

CHAPTER 2

“Wade.”

The sound cut through the blissful haze of sleep. He ignored it in favor of sinking back into peaceful oblivion for just a little longer.

“Wade.”

His name was accompanied by what felt like the toe of a boot nudging him in the ribcage.

“What the fuck? Why’re you poking me?” Wade cracked open one eye.

Through the glare of the rider’s room fluorescent lights and the haze of sleep, he saw two of the younger bull riders, Aaron Jordan and Garret James.

“You gonna work this event, or you sitting this one out?” Aaron grinned down at him.

“Just taking a little cat nap.”

Garret laughed. “Yeah, that’s what they all say.”

“I’m ready to rock and roll. Don’t you worry about it, kid.” Wade swung his feet off the narrow wooden bench where he’d been stretched out.

After fifteen years of working protection in the arena as a professional bullfighter, Wade Long knew exactly what he could get away with and still perform at peak capacity.

He also had developed a talent for sleeping anytime and anywhere, no matter how uncomfortable the setting.

Yeah, he had rolled into bed at the hotel after closing time last night, and today was an early start since it was Sunday, but he’d be fine.

No rider was getting hurt on his watch. No fellow bull fighter either. Protection—keeping both riders and bulls safe and healthy—had been his life for too long for him to risk his career for a night out.

But truth be told, after he’d hit forty the aches and pains started to get pretty bad. If having a few shots of whisky after an event to soothe his old battered body helped him sleep at night, then that’s what he was going to do.

Now, the two girls who had kept him at the bar until closing and then had waltzed off together, leaving him alone and lonely—that was another story.

They’d been too young for him anyway. He preferred his women to be just that—grown women. Not some girls with the ink barely dry on their driver’s licenses.

As Wade was trying to wake up, as well as stand up since his knee was killing him, Aaron’s phone buzzed.

The young cowboy glanced down at it. “That’s Jill.”

“New girlfriend?” Wade asked. Not that he had to. Judging by the way the kid’s face lit up just from a text it had to be a girl.

Aaron wobbled his head. “Yeah, kind of. I mean we haven’t talked about it officially. Not yet, anyway.”

Garret let out a snort. “But he’s sure hoping she will be his girl. Especially once she moves to the East Coast. And he did spend the night at her place here in California Friday and last night. You’re still paying for half that hotel room, you know. Not my fault you didn’t sleep there.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Aaron rolled his eyes. Wade resisted the urge to do the same.

It must be nice having your only worry be about where to spend the night and with whom. He remembered being young. He hadn’t appreciated how good he had it back then. Just like these guys didn’t know how good they had it now.

Meanwhile, Wade had an ex-wife and child support payments yanked out of his paychecks monthly for a daughter he saw far too seldom thanks to his life on the road.

That weight on his soul combined with the pain he suspected—when he let himself think about it—was the beginnings of arthritis, didn’t help him stand up. He rose off the bench anyway, stifling the groan as he did.

Wade had pulled on his shorts, sponsor jersey and sneakers before his little snooze, so he was ready to work. Bullfighters didn’t wear as much equipment as the riders. No mouth guard. No helmet. No spurs or gloves. No chaps or safety vest.

Just man versus beast with not a whole lot in between them. Well, except for that lately Wade’s kneepads had turned into knee braces. That was a concession to his body’s aches and pains from years of abuse, not a safety concern.

After grabbing his cowboy hat from the end of the bench, Wade planted it on his head and he was good to go.

As he’d promised these two kids, he was ready to rock and roll. “You boys ready for show time?”

“Hell yeah.” Garret grinned, his riding rope in his hand.

“Then, let’s get.” Wade swept a hand for the boys to go ahead of him.

Aaron was too busy texting to answer but he managed to follow Garret out into the hall without walking into any walls.

Wade shook his head at the twenty-something kid. Aaron had succumbed to what was obviously a serious case of young love.

After all these years, Wade knew love was just an illusion brought on by lust.

No need to douse their world in reality. He’d let these boys have their fun now while they were young. They’d learn one day, probably the hard way in a divorce court just like he had.

Fuck, he’d become a cynical bastard.

Time to go play with some bulls for a few hours. A good dose of adrenaline generally made everything seem better. Facing off head-on, eye-to-eye, with a massive animal was certain to get the blood flowing.

Wade decided to hit the head before the event started. Rather than follow the two riders out to the chutes, he turned into the bathroom for a quick precautionary pit stop.

Better to go now before the event started even if he really didn’t have to piss. He hadn’t drunk nearly enough water today to rehydrate after last night’s drinking. He’d have to grab a bottle of water.

While washing his hands at the sink, Wade stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

Last night still showed clearly on his face in the dark shadows beneath his bloodshot blue eyes. Even in the way his hair stuck out from beneath his cowboy hat from his nap.

Maybe he’d grab an energy drink instead of that water.

Since the company that made the power drink sponsored some of the riders, there were iced bins of the shit all over. Might as well take advantage of it and replenish the electrolytes he’d lost while overindulging last night at the same time.

Yup, working the pro bull riding circuit was a pretty sweet gig. One he was going to hold on to as long as his body didn’t give out. It sure beat working his family ranch on a daily basis like his brother.

Three generations worked the Long family ranch in Texas. Wade was the first and only male to jump ship. That hadn’t gone over too well. Not with his dad. Not with his brother.

Gramps tended to live and let live.

At least one family member wasn’t on the verge of disowning him for his career choice.

Wade dried his hands and tossed the paper towel in the trash. Now he was ready to hit the arena—or at least as ready as he was going to get.

He pushed through the door of the bathroom and into the hallway, and walked smack into a woman nearly as tall as he was, which was saying something since he was six foot two.

“Whoa, there. Watch where you’re going, darlin’.” He reached out and grabbed her forearms as the redhead teetered in front of him.

It was no surprise she was a little wobbly, both from their collision and from the insanely high heels she wore.

She lifted one perfectly shaped brow. “I could suggest the same. You walked into me.”

Two could play at the attitude game. He raised a brow of his own. “Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.” She focused big blue eyes down, staring at where his hands wrapped around her arms.

He liked a woman with some attitude. It made things more interesting.

Amused, Wade dropped his hold on the woman and tipped his hat. “Well then, my apologies, ma’am.”

He didn’t mention that, in spite of the VIP pass hanging by the lanyard around her slender ivory neck, she was the one who didn’t belong in the hallway that led from the riders’ area to the arena floor.

Back here was the dressing room and the sports medicine room. She wasn’t with the press. He could see that from the pass she wore.

That left the question of who she was—and who she was with. She was probably sleeping with one of the riders or the stock contractors. That would explain the VIP pass and the fact she thought she could barrel down the hallway in a restricted area, but she was older than the typical buckle bunny.

Maybe she wasn’t somebody’s squeeze after all.

She seemed to accept his apology for bumping into her, when in reality it had been her who’d run into him. Her attitude ratcheted down a notch as she nodded.

“So, is there something or someone I can help you find?” Wade asked.

“No.” Her answer didn’t answer anything.

She wasn’t exactly forthcoming. She sure was pretty though.

Some men were into tits, others were into asses, but long legs were Wade’s downfall and the lovely lady had them in spades. Mile long legs that he couldn’t help but imagine wrapped around him.

“All righty then.” Wade crossed his arms and waited, wondering what she’d do next since she hadn’t admitted to having somewhere to go or anyone to see.

She frowned. “What are you doing?”

Wade lifted one shoulder. “Waiting for you to go wherever it is you’re going. I wouldn’t want to get in your way again.” Her scowl was adorable. It inspired him to extend his right hand in her direction. “I’m Wade.”

She cocked a brow and glanced at his hand but didn’t shake it. Finally he gave up and pulled his arm back. He should be calling her every name in the book, or at least thinking them.