Page 59 of Head Over Spurs

Jules’s smile started to pull wider until her eyes flitted over his shoulder. She dropped her hand and veered back just a fraction. But it was enough. He got the message. Nothing changed after their romp in the tack room, after all.

He slid into the chair beside her just as Cooper and Maddie appeared. An amber bottle was deposited before him as they took seats as well.

“Started a tab for you with Waylon. This round was on you,” Cooper told him with a crooked grin.

The chuckle that escaped Riley helped ease some of the tension tugging at his chest. He could do this. He could hang out with their friends and keep his hands off her. Even if what he wanted was to throw her over his shoulder and take her home.

Riley always imagined himself to be a patient guy. Jules had him questioning that.

Across from him, Maddie and Jules were huddled together, conspiring. “We want to dance,” Maddie informed them as the girls rose from their seats.

He raised an eyebrow in the direction of Jules, unsure if that was an invitation. She threw her arm over the other girl. “We’ll be back,” she responded to his silent question.

Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his ankle over his kneeand watched them jump into a watermelon crawl already in progress.

“So, what did I walk in on with you two the other day?” Coop asked, settling in himself.

“Do I have to explain what happens when a man—” Riley started through a smirk as his friend’s scoff cut him off.

After another long drink, he shrugged and answered honestly. “I don’t know. There’s clearly something there. But she’s not sticking around and doesn’t want anyone to think she’s just in town to hook up.”

“Why would any of us give a shit about what she does with her free time ‘round here?”

“It’s her rule for traveling,” Riley answered, a knot twisting in his gut at the idea of her in this situation somewhere else. He knew it wasn’t the case. What was happening between them now was real. The question was—how could he convince Jules of that?

“From what I saw, you’re already breaking that rule.” Cooper tilted his head, as if taunting Riley to challenge him.

“Doesn’t matter.” He slammed his empty bottle down on the table harder than intended. “I don’t want what I can’t keep.”

“I call bullshit on that.” His friend laughed.

Riley watched the object of his affection swinging her hips in perfect time with the music. Her long, strawberry blonde hair dancing around her as she moved. “I don’t,” he replied, never taking his eyes off her. “Until she comes around. Then all my resolve goes right out the window.”

The song rolled into another. Then another. And Maddie and Jules remained on the dance floor. It was fine, he was happy to hang out with Coop while they had their time.

He watched the two women fall together with broad smiles. Jules laughed with her friend, her hand on her arm and their heads pressed together.

He watched as a guy he knew from the rodeo circuit walked up to her.

Knox. A guy he previously considered a friend.

His jaw felt as if it was going to snap as he saw Jules turn towards the bull rider. Knox leaned in close to whisper in her ear. It felt unnecessary, considering the band was between songs while the lead singer was at the bar.

Legs itching to rise and move to her side, Riley forced himself to remain rooted in place. He closed a tight fist around the empty beer bottle in front of him, desperate for something to do. Something other than watching another guy try to winhisJules over.

Rule be damned—shewashis.

And it was high time he stopped sitting back while she tried to deny it. Riley had never been one to get sidelined by fear. And he was prepared to be hurt by her if that’s what it came to.

“Yeah, you seem fine with another guy hitting on her.” With a smirk that was fighting to be a full-blown grin, Cooper added, “But hey, what do I know? Nothing. Everyone will tell you that.”

Despite being a few years into his twenties now, he still acted like the kid on the team. He managed to flit in and out of things on a whim, feigning youth when necessary. But as a foster kid who ended up with Brett and Grey as surrogate brothers, Riley imagined it would have been hard for him to act any other way. Talk about impossible boots to fill.

He tore his gaze away from where Jules and Maddie were still talking with Knox to assess his friend. Cooper’s shoulders were stiff as he avoided eye contact.

Everyone will tell you that.

“Well, Coop. You’re right this time.” Riley shoved his chair back and stood as Jules and Maddie moved back towards the table—sans Knox. In only a few strides, he closed the distance between them.

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