Page 64 of Reckless Hearts

Eight years ago, I’d been too young and stupid to understand what these feelings meant.

What it means to feel empty when someone’s not around, then complete the second they walk into the room.

When they’re having a hard day, so your sole goal becomes making them smile—not because you pity them, but because it physically pains you to see them sad.

I didn’t know back then that everything I was doing was because I was in love with Callie.

I hadn’t figured out how to separate what we had from friendship.

Fuck, I’ve spent all this time miserable, thinking I missed her.

It’s so much more than that.

Having her here feels like earning the gold buckle while winning the lottery at the same time.

It’s such a one-in-a-billion impossible opportunity that I’m not fucking it up.

This time, I’m going to tell her how I feel.

I’m going to convince her to stay after the circuit’s over.

Or whatever.

We’ll figure it out.

I can go where she is and commute during the season.

Anything, so long as I don’t lose her again.

This time she’s going to know exactly what she means to me and if she still wants to leave…

Colt groans. “She’s doing this on purpose.”

I laugh, my dick still rock-hard. “Definitely.”

Chapter 20

Colt

“You hitthe dirt hard last week but looked locked in out there today. How much sweeter does this ride feel after the last event?” Jimmy fromPro-Rodeo Magazineasks from the front seat.

I lean into the microphone sitting on the table in front of me, plastering on my best country boy smile. I can’t count the number of post-ride press events I’ve been to, and I know exactly how to give them what they want.

“I’ll tell you, Jimmy. It sure hurts a lot less,” I joke, earning a few chuckles. “In all seriousness, it felt great up there tonight. Like that bull was made just for me. Couldn’t have been sweeter.”

It’s a lie. It felt like my shoulder was being torn apart the entire time, but I keep that shit to myself. No fan wants to hear their rider whine. They see us as something inhuman. Unbreakable. I catch movement at the back of the room. Callie slips in and leans against the wall, arms loosely crossed. She looks tired, not used to the constant days on the road movingfrom one place to the next. I’ll make sure we stay another night here, let her get some rest before heading out.

But she still looks damn good in those jean shorts, cut high up on her thighs, revealing inch after inch of golden skin that has my mouth watering and my cock growing stiff. The table is the only thing saving me from embarrassment. She smirks when I nearly miss the next question I’m so stuck staring at her.

“A few points behind Kane, momentum on your side, feels like blood in the water. Do you think this rivalry brings out your best?”

Kane… they’re never going to get over asking me about Maverick, always looking for that juicy sound bite, and I’m here to give them what they want.

“There’s no slacking off when going up against Kane. He’s a good opponent. He’s smooth on the bull and works hard, but I work harder. I don’t need him to show me how to be the best. I’m already the best,” I answer, giving them the cocky bull rider they expect.

Does Kane bring out my best? Yeah, he fucking does. Competing against him, crushing him, has been my main motivation for a while now. Not that I’m admitting that to anyone. He knows exactly how to piss me off and drive me harder to kick his ass the next time. Rinse and repeat.

My fingers drum against the table as time drags on while they run through the standard questions. I haven’t been able to pull my attention away from Callie this entire time. A rider I’d like to kill has been leaning in close, whispering in her ear for the last five minutes. He brought her a water, and the smile she gave him damn near had me off this stage. Jealousy is not a good look on me, but at this point, I’m so far gone I’ve accepted it.

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