Page 26 of Head Over Spurs

She bit down on the inside of her cheek. Being friends with Riley certainly sounded appealing. “No, there’s no harm in that, I guess.”

“Good, then tell me, has this been better than that trip to Gin Mill you were contemplating?”

“With the French fries here? No contest.”

13

JULES

Sundays in Sterling Ridge reminded Jules of a simpler time. Everyone slowed down and came together. First at the white steepled church on the edge of town, then at the dirt arena for an afternoon at the round-up.

And today, she was going to be up in those stands as well.

Riley had shown up for her, turning out last week to come to her rescue. So, she had been determined to show up for him today.

“Every other guy is going to be so jealous when I walk in with you two on my arms,” Cooper said with a smirk, turning his elbows out to Maddie and Jules. They each looped an arm through his, flanking the confident cowboy, before they all started through the parking lot.

“When are you going to find a nice girl of your own?” Maddie asked him with a breezy laugh.

“Encouraging him to find a nice girl? When did you become his mom?” Jules teased.

“Mads, are you worrying about me?”

“I’m worried about the rotation of women I’ve seen comingout of your cabin since I moved in,” she scolded. “And if that makes me a mom, so be it.”

“The ladies love me, what am I supposed to do?” Coop grinned as they reached the stands.

Leaning forward, Jules looked past him to make eye contact with her best friend. The women shook their heads in unison as a scoff escaped Maddie. But Jules had to admit, quite a few heads turned their way as they climbed the stairs to find an empty spot.

No sooner had they taken their seats than the stadium speakers crackled to life. Before them, two cowgirls rode by on horseback, one with the flag of Wyoming, the other with the stars and stripes. The air hummed with excitement, children laughing over corn dogs and people greeting their friends as they took their seats. Jules always loved the energy of the small towns she visited—it was as if the smaller the population, the larger the collective sense of heart.

But she was here for one townsperson in particular. Her eyes scanned the scene, looking for his familiar, bone colored cowboy hat. It was Cooper who located Riley first, though. He bumped his shoulder against hers and pointed over to two men across the way.

“That’s Colton, he taught Riley everything he knows about roughstock events. Used to be a roughie himself.”

“Did you know Riley when he was a roughie?” Jules asked.

“Sure, in the way that kind of everyone knows Riley. He was a hometown hero out there on the pro circuit. We were friendly enough, but not like since he joined the team.”

“Did he… leave anyone behind in town when he left for the circuit?” She felt her face flush as the words left her lips. Maddie and Cooper noticed as well, studying her as he replied.

“He was either with his horses, his mentors,” he paused tomotion towards Riley and Colton still deep in conversation, “or his family. He’s a big family guy.”

“His niece, Paisley,” Jules recalled.

“Yeah, and his sister Piper.”

As if feeling her eyes on him, Riley turned and looked up at the stands. Colton was leaning in to say something to him before nodding in their direction in the stands. The moment Riley’s eyes locked onto hers, a wide smile stretched across his face, spilling over with sunshine and swagger.

Damn, that man was handsome.

There was something so exhilarating about watching Riley compete. The way he handled the rope, specifically the way he held it between his teeth, had her hormones ablaze.

But the cowpoke’s sex appeal aside, Jules could also see how much pure talent coursed through him. Just like the first time she watched him compete, she was enamored by the way he moved with confidence and precision.

When his next round came up, she leaned forward, her elbow balancing on her knee and her chin resting on her hand. Fully mesmerized by the action before her, she took in his steadiness as he waited for the calf to reach its advantage point. And the moment it did, he was off.

Landing his lasso on his first try, his horse stopped on a dime and then Riley’s boot hit dirt. He flanked the calf and tied the legs quickly, throwing his hands in the air to signal that his run was complete.

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