Page 30 of Never Left You

Nineyearsago

I never wanted to run towards a woman faster. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, looking soft enough to run my fingers through, and her blue plaid shirt hugged her just right. Her jeans were tight, showing off her perfect ass, and her boots and hat topped off the buckle bunny look. I needed to talk to her, and more than that—I needed to kiss her and feel her.

She leaned up against the gate, lifting a boot up to rest on the metal, leaning forward towards the arena. Her profile hit, blueeyes that caught my attention even from several feet away, and a smile that made my knees turn to butter under my weight.

Taking a deep breath and narrowing my eyes, I stalked towards her. She was here for a cowboy and damn. If my chaps and sponsor vest didn’t give me away as a cowboy, I didn’t know what did.

“Is this your first rodeo?” I asked, my voice smooth as I leaned against the gate next to her. I bit the inside of my lip, wishing I could take back that stupid cliché line. I dropped my chin with embarrassment.

I was Cash Callahan. I knew how to pick up girls. I knew how to be sexy and exactly what the bunnies wanted. So whythe helldid I start off with that line.

“I mean…” I stammered. “You…look like this is your first rodeo.”

I finally looked up, making eye contact with the gorgeous woman in front of me. The expression on her face was comical. She was doing everything in her power not to laugh at me. Her eyebrows were pinched, her lips were forming a tight smile as they held back the laugh. This girl was already getting in my head in more ways than one. I started to question everything I had ever said to a girl at a rodeo. Embarrassment started to seep through my veins, yet I couldn’t bring myself to move away from her.

“It looks,” she said softly, a pause in her voice as she eyed me, “like this is my first rodeo?”

“Ok, maybe not my best pick up line.”

“That’s your pick up line?” Her chuckle floated between us, and I couldn’t help but laugh with her. It was contagious, and while she laughed, every other sound muted. “That was a terrible pick up line because I mean…” She looked down at herself, a hand gesturing down her body. “Look at me.”

I eyed her up and down, taking her in. She looked like she carefully planned her outfit, even down to the mud on her boots.

“No offense, but you look like you dressed up for this, like the other bunnies around.”

“Bunnies?” She snapped, her hand flying to her chest. “You think I’m a buckle bunny?”

Ok, this was not going the way I planned. But even as she was beginning to argue, she was still gorgeous. I still wanted to know who she was, and damn, I wanted to kiss her. I could turn this around. I could turn on the charm.

I raised a corner of my lips, giving my best suave smile.

“Nah, I mean…” I moved my body, my elbow raised to the top of the gate, but she kept going.

“You thought I was here just waiting for a cowboy to come and sweep me off the gate and take me to their trailer, or truck, or hotel and then move on to the next rodeo and the next cowboy?” She gave me a coy grinned. “Right?”

“I didn’t…” I stammered.

Oh shit. This isn’t going my way at all.

“I’ll have you know…” she turned towards me, taking one single step closer. I inhaled, breathing in her scent of cinnamon and maple, forcing myself to stay focused on the task: turning on the charm and at least getting her name. She continued, “I was raised on a ranch in Idaho. My family owns a small arena, and we have a rodeo every year. This”—she waved her hand up and down her body again—“is how I dress on a daily basis. I muck stalls. I feed pigs and goats. I milk cows, and more often than not I have some kind of shit under my fingernails. If you are looking for a buckle bunny, I suggest you go find some other blonde who’s wearing a tight skirt with her boobs hanging out of her tube top. They dressed up for you, not me.”

Oh man…I think I’m in love.

“Nah, I don’t want a buckle bunny.” My voice came back, smooth as silk as my accent rolled off my tongue.

Her lips twisted as she licked the bottom one, the wet of her tongue turning them pinker, more teasing. “OK then.” She cocked her head to the side. “What do you want?”

You.

“Cash!” A voice I knew all too well called my name from the side. It was a new bull rider who I had grown to enjoy having around. Sure, he was a bit eccentric, childish at times, but my rodeo pal, Lachlan, insisted he was the best addition to the rodeo. “I’ve been looking for you, please tell me you’ll be there with Lach while I get on that bull?”

Sylas Acosta.

“You bet,” I answered him as he approached, but his eyes weren’t on me, they were onher.

And as soon as her head turned, her smile widened as she watched him.

“Mi Reina.”As soon as he was close enough, he slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her close, knocking her hat off to the side as he kissed her temple. It was then I noticed the ring on her finger. “Have you met Cash?” Sylas slapped my shoulder.

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