She had come to understand people in a different way than she ever had before. And it was harder and harder to keep her focus narrowed on her goals in the rodeo. Not that they didn’t matter. But they felt a little bit less like life and death. And she felt like a little bit more than a cowgirl. She didn’t know why that felt sad. Somehow more dangerous than riding bucking broncos ever could.
“Are you ready to head back?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’m ready.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
IT HAD TO be done. He’d had to put an end to the thing between him and Callie, but it had been difficult when they’d gone back to the cabin that night. He’d gone straight to his room and shut the door, locked it for good measure. Not against her, but against him. And now it was Christmas Eve, and he had it on good authority that they would be spending the day on various family pursuits. And Jake had decided it was time for Callie’s family to see her ride. She had fallen at his place, but she hadn’t fallen badly. She did know what she was doing. And maybe this was more for him than it was for her. To prove to himself that she could be safe, because since he’d given her the path to doing this, he had to make sure she could do it safely.
He didn’t know why the hell he’d told her about the plane ticket. Nobody knew about that. Not even his brother. What had been the point of sharing that? That their dad wasn’t who they thought?
Colt had his own guilt and issues surrounding the situation and Jake hadn’t wanted to make it worse.
But he’d done the right thing, pulling away from her. There was nothing else to do. He could give her this, though. He could give her this.
She emerged from her room, looking freshly scrubbed and young, a long-sleeved white top and tight jeans her uniform for the ride.
A kick of lust burned through him.
He still wanted her. He thought back to what she said to him yesterday. About how she couldn’t unsee him naked. He was familiar with the problem. Because every time he looked at her, he saw those gorgeous breasts, totally bare. Her pink nipples. Before, that had been theoretical. The color of her nipples. Now it was a reality, and it was one that he couldn’t stop imagining.
“You ready?”
“I was born ready,” she said, taking her black hat off the peg and pushing it down hard on her head. He fought the urge to tug on one of her braids. He couldn’t just touch her like that. Not anymore. Not for a while. Because he lost all the control that he had around her. And he might be able to talk some kind of big game and say that they were done, but his body was having a tough time recognizing it.
It was time for them to see what she was made of.
“I’m more than ready. It’s everybody else that seems to be worried about it.”
He chuckled. “True enough.”
He had the horse in the chute ready to go. And his cowgirl was ready to ride. And he couldn’t... He wanted to do something. Wanted to touch her. Squeeze her, kiss her before she got on the back of the horse, and he couldn’t. Because it just wasn’t what was happening now. Wasn’t what could happen. Though her brother Kit was already out there, his boot resting on the bottom of the fence. So he probably should give her a kiss. He leaned in, and dropped one on her cheek, and her skin turned scarlet.
“You should try to look more used to that,” he said, looking over at Kit, who had been joined by her dad. Just like he figured.
“I’m not used to it, though,” she said. She looked away, and he felt a heap of regret about being the one to hurt her.
That’s how it is. That’s how it is for you.
He pushed that to the side, because it wasn’t time for him to get all sorry for himself when Callie was about to get on the back of a horse.
“All right, princess. Show them what you’re made of.”
Callie climbed up the side of the chute, and dropped on the horse. He began to jump, to kick back against the metal railings. And she looked up at him, her expression determined.
This girl.
She was far too stubborn by half, and too full of piss and vinegar for her own good.
And he... He could only respect her. Stand in awe of her.
“You make sure to man the stopwatch,” she said.
“I will. I’m not going to let you get shorted on your ride.”
“Good. When you’re ready.”
He could see that she was ready. Her arm was poised, her body falling right into position. She’d punished herself, and she’d worked harder than any one person should. But he could see that it was worth it. That this place she’d gotten herself to made it worth it.
It humbled him. Because he’d never worked so hard for anything in all his life. Never. He decided to jump on the back of a bull, and the rest was history. No one had stood against him. No one had tried to stop him. Muscle built easily for him, and the strength that it took to stay on the back of the animal was easy. He looked the part, so everyone assumed he had it.
Callie...
She had to work so hard just to get here. She married him just to get here.
“Go,” he said. He pushed the button, just as he let the chute fly, and the horse went sailing out the front.
He was a spinner, moving in circles in one spot, around and around and around. And Callie was leaned as far back as she could go, her arm working in time with the up and down of the animal. Her entire family was out there now, standing against the fence.
Her mother had her eyes covered, and that was all that Jake could take in, because he had to put his eyes back on Callie. Eight seconds. It was all she needed. But eight seconds felt like forever in a moment like this.
And then the clock rolled over.
“You did it,” he said.
Callie shifted on the saddle, and timed her dismount, hopping down off the animal. And then he ran forward, urging him back into the enclosure. Her brothers were already there, ready to get him out of his gear. And everyone was hollering.
“That was amazing,” Boone said, hopping the fence and clapping around the back. “A good ride, Callie.”
“Incredible,” Kit said.
“You about gave me a heart attack,” said her father, taking a step forward and grabbing both of her shoulders. “But you’re damn good.”
“Thank you,” she said, her cheeks coloring.
“I’ll try to be stronger,” he said. “Okay?”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m strong.”
“I’ve always known that.”
Callie walked to where her mother was, her expression guarded.