Page 27 of Head Over Spurs

Jules tilted her head, a grin on her face as he remounted his horse and proved that the calf had indeed remained tied.

“He’s damn good,” Cooper said, respect heavy in his tone. She nodded in agreement, still watching him closely as he madehis exit. Her smile slipped though as she watched a girl their age rise from her seat and disappear in his direction.

Her blood boiled when two more followed suit.

“Let’s go talk to him,” Maddie suggested. “He’s done now, right?”

“He’s done now,” Cooper confirmed, standing.

The metal stairs clinked with their steps as the group worked their way down towards Riley. Rounding the corner, Jules came to an abrupt halt, her mouth pulling into a tight line. He wasn’t alone. Far from it.

Standing in the center of a cluster of women, Riley had his hands shoved down into his front pockets and a warm smile on his face.

A brunette in a pair of daisy dukes threw her head back in exaggerated laughter while a Barbie look-a-like practically licked her lips looking him up and down. Heat scorched across Jules’s cheeks as anger roiled just below the surface. If looks could kill, she’d have struck down these buckle bunnies in an instant for throwing themselves at him.How dare they? Did they have no regard for if he was committed to someone?

But he wasn’t.

He wasn’t hers, she reminded herself in an attempt to calm her heightened feelings. These ladies had a right to come on to him like this.

While the third Charlie’s Angel was pulling a hair flip maneuver, Riley’s gaze lifted. He spotted Jules, his head tilting in interest and his expression calculating. Then, apparently reaching a conclusion that satisfied him, that warm smile of his stretched twice as wide. And just like that, he went from handsome to breathtaking.

Even more breathtaking was that it seemed this smile was reserved for her, because he kept his focus trained on her as hetook a step forward from his fans. It was as if everything around them disappeared, it was only her and Sundance.

Riley

If he didn’t know any better, he’d think that Juliette was jealous. He shouldn’t be this pleased by the daggers she was glaring, but he was. He was absolutely delighted. This was proof that she hadn’t moved on so easily from their night together either.

Of course, there was no reason for her to be jealous. He was well aware of the type of attention he was receiving, and he was happy to leave it for a different cowboy.

Approaching her, Riley wrestled with the appreciation he felt for Cooper and Maddie coming, and the competing feeling of wanting a moment alone with Jules.

“You were so good,” Maddie said, pulling him into a hug. He hugged her back, keeping his eyes on Jules over her shoulder. She softened under his gaze, leaning back against the fence at their side.

“You were really good,” Jules offered as Cooper clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s like that’s been your event all along.”

“I can thank the ranch for that,” he replied, coming to stand at her side. Riley positioned himself so they were pressed together, shoulder to shoulder.

“Drink to celebrate?” Coop asked, motioning to the stand behind him. “On me.”

“Yeah, thanks, man.”

“I’ll go with you, I want a pretzel,” Maddie said.

And just like that, he got his wish. He had a moment alone with Jules, kind of. Leaning over, he murmured, “Hey Juliette, why did you look upset when you walked up?”

“I didn’t.” Her jaw set with determination.

“I’ve never shown any interest in them. I was just being courteous.”

“Whatever you say, it’s not like you owe me an explanation,” she replied. The edge was absent from her tone this time. “But you looked happy to be talking to them.”

Satisfaction washed over him. And a hint of amusement. Stretching his fingers out, he caught her waist and tightened his grip. “Let me make this clear,” he started, waiting for her to look up at him. “I’m only looking at you.”

She stiffened for a split second before leaning into his embrace. A silent understanding passed between them as she rested her head on his shoulder. She didn’t need to admit she was jealous today. He didn’t need to admit that keeping his heart closed off to her was proving impossible.

There was one thing he needed to say though. “Thanks for being here, it meant a lot to look up and see you in the stands.”

“It meant a lot that you walked away last week to help me,” she replied in a hushed voice.

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