Page 12 of Buck Me, Cowboy

Just as we’re about to kiss, a tremendous crash echoes through the hall. One of the other competitors has dropped a pot, the metal clanging against concrete loud enough to wake the dead.

We spring apart like guilty teenagers, the spell broken by the intrusion of reality. But my skin still burns where he touched me, and the look in his eyes suggests he wants me as much as I want him.

“This is getting real,” I whisper, touching my lips with shaking fingers.

“Maybe real is what we’re supposed to be.”

He stands, putting a little distance between us. “But you’re right. This is complicated. You have a competition to win tomorrow, and I don’t want to be a distraction.”

“You’re not a distraction.” The words come out quickly. “You’re the opposite of a distraction. You make everything...better. More real.”

His expression softens, and his hazel eyes meet mine. “Rebecca.”

“I know. I know it’s crazy. We’ve known each other for three days.”

“Sometimes you don’t need a lot of time to know that something is real.”

The certainty in his voice sends my pulse racing. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that whatever this is between us, it’s worth exploring. After you win tomorrow, after the magazine story comes out, after all the performance is over—I want to find out what we have when it’s just us.”

As he walks away, leaving me alone with my prep work and my racing thoughts, I press my fingers to my lips where his kiss would have landed. The ghost of what almost happened sends heat coursing through my body.

I need Amos.

CHAPTER 6

AMOS

Man, you should’ve seen me last night. Hooked up with this barrel racer from Oklahoma.”

Wyatt Callahan falls into step beside me as we leave the arena, both of us dusty and coming down from the adrenaline from our rides. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows as we walk across the fairgrounds, with crowds of families streaming all around us.

“She rode me all night long, if you know what I mean.” Wyatt grins like he’s won the lottery instead of describing another meaningless hookup. I bet he won’t remember the woman’s name a week from now. Though I can’t fault him too much—there was a time we were both out there tom-catting around, having fun with all the women who said yes.

“Yeah, sounds great.” The words come out flat, distracted. My mind keeps drifting to Rebecca’s booth, wondering how the voting is going, whether she needs help with anything. They’re doing the semi-finals today, which I’m confident she’ll make it past.

“What’s with you? You find a sweet piece of ass yet? This fair’s got plenty to choose from. Don’t tell me you can’t get it up anymore…”

The crude description makes me wince. Three days ago, I might have responded the same way. Now it feels wrong, disrespectful to the way I want to live now, not the past me who saw women as conquests and used my fame to get laid.

“Watch your tongue, boy,” I warn, but I know Wyatt is just giving me a hard time, not insulting me. “Actually, I met someone. Rebecca. She’s different.”

It feels strange to say that I’ve met a woman who has gotten under my skin. I’ve spent so long chasing a good time that even admitting I like a woman for more than just a good time conjures a strange vulnerability in me. This is new ground for me.

Wyatt stops walking and stares at me. “Different how? She not putting out?”

“Different like special.” I adjust my hat, suddenly unsure about the wisdom of having this conversation with Wyatt. “She’s got me thinking about a different kind of future.”

“Whoa, hold up.” Wyatt reaches out and grabs me by the arm, turning to look at me like I’ve announced plans to join the circus. “You’re talking about settling down?You?”

The question hits hard. Six months ago, the idea would have been laughable. I’ve spent nearly twenty years avoiding anything that looked like commitment, following my father’s path of temporary everything. Yet watching Rebecca and seeing her passion and commitment to her family, listening to her talk about Sunday dinners and belonging, has awakened something I didn’t think I could ever have.

“Maybe. I don’t know. She makes me want things I never thought I wanted.”

“Huh. More power to you, man. I’ll never settle down, but if that’s what makes you happy, I hope she feels the same way.” Wyatt shrugs, already losing interest. “I’ve never met a woman who’d make me consider giving up my freedom.”

“What about—”

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