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  In CeCe’s defense, she had aged well. She was still as firm and slender as she’d always been. Staying in shape was a priority for her, but she didn’t go overboard and keep herself too thin, knowing that would have made her look older. She never went in the sun without sunscreen or a hat. And though Jill suspected CeCe might have gotten some help from plastic surgeons, it was subtle. Not at all obvious like some aging women trying to look younger.

  There was no doubt CeCe Cole was an attractive woman and she knew it and expected to be treated accordingly. Luckily, most men were eager to comply.

  Speaking of men—Jill was more than a little relieved to see Tom Parsons, the head of the bull-riding organization, heading toward them. If CeCe’s presence had been ignored any longer, there might have been hell to pay and, deserved or not, Jill would have been the one to take the heat.

  “CeCe.” Jill touched her boss’s arm to get her attention. “Tom Parsons from the association is here.”

  “It’s about time.” The snark in CeCe’s attitude disappeared as soon as Tom was within hearing distance. She donned her trademark smile that only those closest to her recognized as being completely fake. “Hello. So nice to finally meet you, Mr. Parsons.”

  “Please, call me Tom.”

  CeCe extended her hand to the man. “And you must call me CeCe.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He took CeCe’s offered hand and shook it. “I’m so happy you could come to our event.”

  “My pleasure, though I usually do like my sporting events a little less…dirty.” CeCe glanced pointedly down at the dirt, into which her high spiked heels had long ago sunken deep.

  He laughed, looking completely charmed by CeCe. “Be glad it’s before the competition. Afterward, there’s more than just dirt on the arena floor.”

  “Yes, of course.” CeCe’s laugh tinkled charmingly, though Jill was pretty sure Tom’s alluding to the bullshit that would soon be intermingled with the dirt was lost on her. CeCe Cole didn’t tend to think about inconvenient things that were usually taken care of by hired help, such as disposing of manure. The bullshit CeCe usually dealt in was of a different variety.

  Tom finally released his hold on CeCe’s hand. Since it didn’t look as if CeCe was going to bother introducing her, Jill took a step forward. “Mr. Parsons, I’m Jill Malone. We’ve been emailing back and forth for the past few weeks regarding this visit.”

  “Of course. Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Malone.”

  Jill noticed as she shook his hand that the man didn’t suggest she call him Tom the way he had with CeCe. Nor did he take quite as long to release his hold on her as he had with her former-model boss.

  What else was new? Jill was used to this. Women like CeCe, with flaming-red hair, an over-the-top personality and the body to go with it, always got treated differently than girls who blended in with the crowd like Jill did.

  She didn’t mind. It was just one reason why CeCe had made a successful living in front of the camera, while Jill was much more confortable and productive being behind the scenes.

  “Shall we go on up?” Tom asked, gesturing to the stands. “We can get you something to drink or eat before the event starts if you’d like.”

  “That would be lovely.” Before CeCe was able to hide it, Jill saw the look of shock and horror on CeCe’s face at the thought of eating or drinking anything from the fast food vendors they’d passed on the concourse.

  The woman was always concerned with maintaining her figure, and picky about everything, food included. Keeping CeCe happy and finding something for her to eat on the road was always a challenge, even when they were at the finest restaurants.

  As they walked, Tom continued talking, unaware that the nearer they got to the beer and nacho window, the more horrified CeCe would become. “I’ve arranged for one of the bull riders to stay with you during the event to explain the sport.”

  “Oh, really?” The genuine interest resonating through CeCe’s comment had Jill pausing. Being given a bull rider all of her own was the first thing CeCe had looked enthusiastic about since arriving.

  Apparently, good old Tom was no dummy when it came to manipulating women. In particular, recently divorced women newly in control of their ex-husband’s large corporation and its sponsorship funds.

  “Aaron Jordan. He’s here somewhere.” Tom looked around them. “In fact, let me text my assistant and see if he’s in the rider room. I’ll have him come up and join us.”

  As Tom pulled his cell out of his suit pocket to no doubt summon the bull rider, CeCe smiled.

  “That sounds lovely. Thank you.” This time, CeCe’s smile looked completely genuine at the mention of the cowboy whose job for the night was to tend solely to her. CeCe loved nothing more than being the center of attention. If that attention originated from a handsome male, even better. Jill was pretty pleased with the situation herself.

  She could have explained the sport to CeCe, but it was doubtful her boss would have been interested enough to care to hear about it. But with one of the bull riders doing the explaining, CeCe was sure to be all ears.

  Jill’s evening just got a whole lot easier.

  Chapter Three

  Aaron leaned back from the table, resisting the temptation to polish off the rest of the fries. He really shouldn’t stuff himself right before a ride. If he finished what was on his plate, he’d be full enough to bust a gut.

  Really good French fries were his weakness. A temptation he couldn’t resist.

  Hell, why was he resisting anyway? There was still a bit of time left before he had to ride, and the fries were too damn good to let go to waste. He’d just reached for one more fry when an incoming call made his cell phone light up and vibrate on the table.

  Aaron didn’t recognize the number on the readout, but he hit to answer it anyway and pressed the phone to his ear. It could be a girl he’d given his number to at a past event. He had no intention of missing that.

  “Hello?”

  “Jordan, where are you?”

  Aaron drew his brows low at the sound of a man’s voice. “Who is this?”

  “It’s Tom Parsons.”

  Tom Parsons? What the hell? First the boss was asking Aaron for favors, and now the man had his cell phone number and was calling him? What sort of weird shit was going on today?

  Garret, Chase, Skeeter and Riley all watched Aaron as he said, “Oh, hey. I’m just finishing up eating.”

  “I need you back at the arena, ASAP.”

  “Um, okay. We just gotta get the bill and pay—”

  “Just get here as soon as you can. The Cole folks are here.”

  “A’ight. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Aaron disconnected the call and glanced up at his friends. “I gotta get back right away.”

  “Why?” Chase looked down at the time displayed on the face of his cell phone.

  Aaron scowled. “It looks like my babysitting—or former model-sitting—duty is starting early.”

  “Your what duty?” Chase frowned.

  “Aaron has to play welcome wagon to the Cole Shock Absorbers folk. I’ll find the waitress and get the bill.” Skeeter squeezed Riley’s hand on the table before he stood. “I’ll be right back.”

  She smiled sweetly. “Okay.”

  Aaron resisted the urge to roll his eyes that these two couldn’t even be apart for thirty seconds without a big goodbye scene.

  Next to Aaron, Garret turned in his chair. “I sure hope you get something outta this gig.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like the name Cole Shock Absorbers embroidered down the arm of your riding shirt and a big old sponsor check in your bank account, that’s what.”

  More sponsor money to help cover expenses would be nice. With the cost of travel seeming to go up every time he booked a flight or filled his truck with fuel, Aaron sure as hell wouldn’t say no t
o a Cole check.

  Aaron looked for Skeeter with the bill. He had to get moving. He was getting anxious that he was falling down on the duties assigned him by the boss.

  “Dude. You’re hopping around in your chair like you’ve got ants in your pants. Go. I’ll take care of the bill and Chase can give me, Skeeter and Riley a ride back.”

  “You sure?” Aaron asked Garret. He turned to Chase to confirm. “That all right with you?”

  Chase nodded. “Of course. I got room in my truck.”

  Aaron turned to check with Riley.

  She nodded. “Sure. Skeeter and I can go with Chase.”

  “A’ight. Thanks. I will feel better once I get over there.” It wasn’t every day a rider got an assignment, or a phone call, from Tom Parsons personally. Pushing his chair back, Aaron stood. “See y’all there.”

  “Yup. Then you’ll have to introduce us to the lovely former Mrs. Cole.”

  Aaron ignored Garret and strode toward the door, but the comment had him wondering, what was he supposed to call her? If it had been a bad divorce, like Riley said, was Mrs. Cole appropriate?

  He didn’t know her maiden name. What he did know was that he was completely out of his comfort zone playing ambassador of the association, but there wasn’t much he could do about it.

  With that in mind, he jogged for the truck in the parking lot.

  He probably risked getting a ticket by speeding to the arena, but he got there safe and sound and without any flashing police lights behind him, so it was all good.

  The front lot was getting busy. Even this long before show time, fans would start cruising the lot, looking for the perfect parking place for their cars and trucks.

  People were already streaming between the rows of parked vehicles. A lot of them were families with kids in tow. It was nice that bull riding was a family sport, but Aaron didn’t have time to navigate at a crawl through the chaos and worry about a kid running out in front of him. He had to park and find Tom Parsons—and Mrs. Cole Shock Absorbers herself.

  He pulled directly around to the side of the building to where the riders had their vehicles. He threw the truck into park and hopped out, pocketing his keys. Striding past stock trailers, he headed for the rear door.

  While walking past the bull pens, Aaron kept his eye out for anyone who looked like they might be a divorced former model and new owner of the largest sponsor on the tour. He didn’t see anyone except a stock handler.

  “Hey, Clint. You guys see Tom Parsons bringing a woman around back here?”

  “Nope.” Clint lifted a brow. “Why? Is Parsons into impressing the buckle bunnies with behind-the-scenes tours now?”

  Jesus, Clint spreading rumors about the head of the association because of Aaron’s one innocent but poorly worded question was the last thing anyone needed.

  Aaron scrambled to clear things up. “No. She’s a sponsor. I thought maybe he was showing her the bulls or something.”

  Though now that Clint had mentioned it, a behind-the-scenes tour wasn’t a bad idea. If Aaron ran out of things to talk to her about, he might consider it.

  Would a rich model like that? What the hell did Aaron know? He hung around with guys and girls from his own world. He didn’t generally rub elbows with multi-millionaires.

  Drawing in a breath as his task seemed more daunting than ever, Aaron headed for the arena. If he didn’t find the Cole people soon, he’d have to call Tom back and ask where they were.

  They could be in some green room where the association mucky-mucks hung out. He didn’t know what those people did while he was behind the chutes with the other riders. He’d never had any reason to care, until now.

  “Jordan!”

  Hearing his name shouted across the arena was a welcome interruption. Glancing up, Aaron spotted Tom waving at him from the VIP seating above the chutes.

  Show time. At least for him. The actual bull riding wouldn’t start for a little while yet.

  Aaron lifted one arm in a wave and strode across the dirt. He still had to get his gear bag from the rider room. Clean and rosin his rope. Strap on his spurs and his chaps. He wasn’t nearly ready to ride, but it didn’t seem as if Tom cared about that.

  The older man stepped forward as Aaron reached the top of the stairs. “Aaron Jordon, this is CeCe Cole. CeCe, Aaron is one of the top riders in the world.”

  Aaron tipped his hat. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

  An older redhead shot him a smoldering smile with lips painted blood red. “You too.”

  “And this is CeCe’s assistant…” Tom continued the introductions but stopped when it came to actually providing the younger woman’s name.

  “Jill.” A pretty brunette took a step forward, arm extended. She shot Tom a glance. “And technically I’m manager of media and public relations.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Aaron smiled and shook her offered hand. “And technically I’m only one of the top twenty-five riders in the world currently so…”

  Tom didn’t look all that pleased at the revelation as he continued, “I’ve got a couple of things to do in the back, but Aaron’s going to stay with you for the event. If there is anything you need that he can’t get for you, just call. Aaron has my phone number and so does…”

  “Jill.” She smiled indulgently.

  “Jill.” Tom nodded. “Either one of them can give me a call.”

  CeCe leveled a heated gaze at Aaron. She started at his boots and worked her way up all the way to his hat. “I think Aaron can provide me with everything I desire.”

  She sounded every bit the cougar Garret had joked about, but Aaron figured that she had to be joking.

  There was no way a woman who looked like her would be interested in a struggling bull rider half her age. She was all polished and sophisticated, while Aaron was dressed in old boots and dusty jeans. She was powerful and rich and could probably buy anything she wanted. While Aaron was happy just to be able to pay all his bills every month with a little left over. But it was nice of her to pretend to flirt with him.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Aaron laughed. He liked when women had a good sense of humor.

  CeCe leaned closer. “You might think I’m kidding, but I assure you I’m not.”

  He opened his mouth but had no idea what to say. As both Tom and Jill watched, Aaron finally managed to respond. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “All right then. I’ll leave you in Aaron’s capable hands.” Tom nodded his goodbye and left, just when Aaron wished he’d stay.

  Then there was only Jill, wide-eyed and looking like she’d rather be anywhere rather than there. He didn’t hold much hope that she’d save him from whatever CeCe requested of him. He was starting to suspect that might be a lot more than a tour, especially when CeCe trailed a finger down his arm.

  “So, what do cowboys like you do for fun?”

  “Um, not much. You know. Hang out. Ride bulls.” He shrugged.

  “I’ve got something you can ride.” She smiled like the devil was inside her and continued to run one long fingernail over the sleeve of his shirt.

  Wow. What to say to that? He was having trouble coming up with a single response. No surprise since his blood was rushing to parts lower thanks to her sultry low voice near his ear and the feel of those nails scraping his flesh even through the cotton of his shirt.

  Aaron could talk a pair of jeans off a girl within the span of two drinks. Sometimes less. Unfortunately, it appeared he was not equally as skilled in convincing a woman to keep her pants on.

  He was so tense the phone vibrating in his pocket had him jumping. “Excuse me.”

  He pulled it out and saw a text from the same number Tom had called him from.

  “I want Mrs. Cole happy. Whatever she wants you give her. Understand?”

  The text only ramped up Aaron’s already agitated state. Swallowing ha
rd, he shoved the cell back into his pocket before CeCe, standing much too closely, read it.

  Glancing up, he noticed her watching him. “Uh, that was nothing important.”

  Nope. Not important, unless he thought about all those few sentences implied.

  She smiled, her lids heavy over blue eyes as she flipped a long fall of red hair over her shoulder. “Good. I wouldn’t want you to have to leave.”

  “Nope, I’m not leaving.” Not if he wanted to keep the head of the association happy.

  “Good.” As she latched on to his arm with both hands and hung on, he began to wonder if she was going to let him leave long enough to ride.

  Not knowing how much rich city folk knew about bull riding, he figured he’d better bring up the subject. “I am riding in the fifth section, but I won’t be gone long. Just eight seconds if all goes well.” He forced a laugh.

  “I certainly hope that’s the only thing that will last only eight seconds tonight.” She lifted one thin red brow.

  Holy shit.

  His heart pounded, pumping blood to other parts of him. Parts that liked the idea of what she was suggesting whether his brain did or not. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She treated him to a satisfied smile.

  Chapter Four

  Tom Parsons had provided them great seats, as befitted a sponsor the size of Cole Shock Absorbers.

  From the VIP seating right above the chutes, Jill could see all the action happening out on the dirt, and also what was going on before and after the rides behind the chutes. In this area, they could choose to sit or stand along the rail to get an even better view.

  Before the event started, Jill had been able to look down and see all the riders getting prepared for the event—including Aaron Jordan. That had been the one time CeCe had let go of his arm. Even then it had only been long enough for him to run down and take care of business. Now that the event was in full swing, Aaron was back at his post next to CeCe along the rail while his fellow competitors were down below them.