Page 6 of Hung Up
“She will stay in the office and only help you from here when necessary.”
“Good.” I smile as I look at Kate, and she mouths a thanks. I simply wink in response. “Now, if that’ll be all, I have a ride to prepare for.”
Kate pushes away from the table, her attention solely on me. “I’d like to come today, if that’s alright. I’ve never been to a bull-riding competition before, and I’d quite like to experience it.”
“Of course,” I tell her, opening the door and giving her room to walk through first like the gentleman I am. “Let’s go.”
I send a wink at a fuming Henry, overly satisfied when his skin grows darker than it had previously. Kate grabs her bag and tosses her notebook inside before she slips out of the room past me. I trail behind her as we make our way through the lobby before stepping out into the parking lot. She wordlessly lets me guide her toward the truck I rented and gives me a soft smile as I hold open the passenger door for her. Once I climb in behind the wheel, she slips a hair tie off her wrist and throws her hair up on top of her head in a complicated-looking bun.
“Thank you for that,” she says as I pull out of the spot and begin the drive to the arena.
“No need,” I tell her as I change the radio station. “But, if you don’t mind me asking, why do you put up with that?”
“He’s my uncle.” Kate sighs loudly as she readjusts in her seat, kicking her heels off to tuck one leg underneath herself.Well, okay then.“I’m technically interning at his firm, so what he says goes until I graduate.”
My eyebrows lift. “How old are you?”
“Don’t you know you’re never supposed to ask a woman her age?”
“I only know that asking them their weight is a big no-no.”
Kate laughs, and the sound makes a smile tug at my lips. “That is also true. I’m twenty-three. Changed my major at the end of my sophomore year, so I’m a little behind.”
“You definitely seem older than that.” She whips her head in my direction, a crease forming between her brows as I stumble from embarrassment. “I don’t mean like, in a bad way. No, I just meant that you seem?—”
“It’s okay,” she interrupts, humor evident in her tone as my shoulders relax slightly. “I know what you mean.”
I turn and give her a shy, apologetic grin, and we drive the rest of the way to the arena in silence, only the songs on the radio filling the truck. Ten minutes later, we’re pulling up to the security booth to enter the arena’s underground parking and loading area. Taking one of the last available parking spots, Kate and I walk side by side up the ramp to the door that reads ‘Player Entrance’ to enter the arena.
The second we round the first corner, I can hear the sound of laughter and loud conversation, easily picking out Kai’s voice among the others. As we approach, I sling an arm around Kate’s shoulders.
“We ready to ride, boys?” I say in greeting, smiling as all eyes turn to me.
“Fuck yeah, I know I am,” Kai responds, his excitement palpable. He’s one of the youngest bull riders in the PBR this year and is already second in the standings. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Kate.” I glance down at her and gesture to the boys in order. “Kate, these are some of the other riders: Kai, Wyatt, Bryce, Lee, and Stetson. Kate is Henry’s niece. She’s interning at the firm.”
Bryce chuckles. “And how is that going for ya, Kate?”
“Let’s just say if I could get away with putting something in his bourbon, I’d consider it.”
All the boys bark out laughs and I bite back a smile; that’s something I’ve contemplated myself. Once their laughter dies down, Wyatt turns to Kate. “Why don’t you head into the media room and get comfortable? We still have about an hour. Maxine, the photographer, will make you feel right at home. She’s giving a bull-riding crash course to the new reporter.”
“Perfect,” Kate says as she steps out from under my arm and adjusts her bag. “I could benefit from one myself. Thanks.”
“New reporter?” I ask once she’s disappeared into the designated media room. “What happened to Rachel?”
“Her boss found out she was sleeping with one of the riders,” Wyatt informs me as he turns and narrows his eyes on Kai.
He throws his hands up. “How was I supposed to know she wasn’t allowed to? She never said anything.”
“Common sense?” Bryce responds with a raised brow.
“Common sense,” Kai mocks. Bryce twists and goes to swing at Kai’s shoulder, but he quickly steps out of the way, his laughter echoing loudly in the hallway.
I turn my attention back to Wyatt. “Who’s this new reporter? Anyone we know?”
“Personally? No.” It’s Stetson who answers. “But you can tell she’s just another city girl trying to prove something to her boss. She screams ‘stuck up’, that one.”
