Page 13 of Buck Me, Cowboy

“Don’t say her name.” His expression shuts down completely, his eyes darkening in an instant. “We’re not talking about that.”

I’ve known Wyatt for five years, and in all that time, he’s only mentioned the woman who broke his heart so badly once, when we were shit-faced after a night we both lost.

“All right. But you know what I mean about finding someone who changes everything?”

“No,” he says quickly, adjusting his hat brim to hide his eyes. “And I plan to keep it that way.”

As we reach the gates leading back to the main fairgrounds, my thoughts drift to yesterday morning’s conversation with Rebecca at the diner. The way she talked about her family’s Sunday dinners, with lots of family gathered around the table. The casual invitation to join them sometime, like belonging was something she could offer.

“You heading to find your girl?” Wyatt asks, nodding toward the exhibition hall.

“Yeah. Want to see how her competition went.”

“Good luck, man. Hope she’s worth all this soul-searching you’re doing.”

As Wyatt heads toward the beer garden and I walk toward Rebecca, I know with absolute certainty that she is. Worth the soul-searching, worth the risk, worth changing everything I thought I knew about my future.

“You came to watch me ride.”

I find Rebecca as she’s leaving the arena. I’m still dusty from the event, and my eyes search her face.

“I wanted to see if you could back up all that swagger,” she says, her voice breathy and sexy as hell.

“And?”

“I’m impressed.” She steps closer, her eyes fixed on mine.

This woman has no fucking idea how much her opinion means to me. Every time she shows up, smiles at me, just fucking shares the same air I’m breathing? Nothing else matters.

“Enough about me. Tell me about the semi-finals. How did you do?”

“I’m going to the finals!” Rebecca’s face lights up and she jumps up.

My heart leaps as I watch her excitement and enthusiasm. “I knew you would, Spice Girl. Your chili is going to win you a lot of awards.”

“Awww,” she says, a beautiful blush spreading from her chest to her cheeks. “Walk me back to my hotel?”

“It would be my pleasure,” I say, tipping my hat to her before extending my arm for her. When she slides her hand in the crook of my arm, my body lights up with the rightness of how it feels. This right here, Rebecca on my arm, telling me she’s impressed? Best fucking day, ever.

Now, we’re outside her hotel room, and I’m reluctant to let this evening end. My craving for Rebecca shakes me to my core. Every moment in her presence tugs at something deep inside—a need for a future with her, for something strong and lasting.

“I had a good time tonight. Watching you was thrilling. I know it’s dangerous, but you make it look…noteasy, but like you’re completely in control.” Her voice is softer than usual as she searches for her key card.

I lean against the doorframe, drinking in the sight of her. “It pleases me to hear you say that. I wouldn’t say I’m in control, but when you’ve done this as much as I have, you learn how the bulls react and how to read the way they move. Your event went well. I hear a lot of folks talking about your chili.”

“Thanks to you helping.” She finds the card but doesn’t immediately move to unlock the door. “You didn’t have to stay for as long as you did.”

“I wanted to,” I say, and it’s the honest truth. I genuinely crave her company and will do whatever it takes to be with her. Nothing else in my life ever has felt as right as being with Rebecca. “I can’t seem to get enough of you, Rebecca.”

The admission slips out before I can stop it. My eyes find hers, and I see my hunger reflected in her eyes.

“Amos.” My name comes out soft, uncertain. “What we talked about earlier, about this feeling real—”

“I meant every word.” I step closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of vanilla and spice that always surrounds her. “Rebecca, I know this is probably taking you by surprise. It’s sure as hell like that for me, my feelings for you consuming me. Being with you is the only thing that feels right.”

“What do you feel for me?”

How I answer her question is loaded with possibility and risk. Looking at her face in the hallway’s soft lighting, I realize I have to lay it all out.

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