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  A few guys were stretching, likely because they were about to ride in the next section, which would be the fourth of the night.

  One young cowboy slipped a safety helmet on and strapped it beneath his chin right before climbing into the chute. Some guys wore helmets and some didn’t. Looking down, Jill could see another rider clamp his cowboy hat tighter onto his head while he balanced on the rails above the back of the bull within the narrow metal chute.

  Aaron was watching this section intently. He faced the action, gripping the rail with both hands. He was pretty much ignoring CeCe as she sidled up next to him, holding on to his forearm as strongly as Aaron held the rail in front of him.

  The rider in the helmet called out, “Go!”

  A gateman pulled a rope that swung the chute open before he scrambled to the side.

  The big, horned bull leapt into the arena, surprisingly agile and quick on his feet considering his size. The animal settled into a spin as the rider balanced atop him.

  Aaron leaned forward as he watched, shouting encouragement to rider. “Go, go, go!”

  The sound of the eight-second buzzer cut through the air and the crowd reacted. A collective cheer reverberated off the walls as the bull continued to spin. The rider reached down. He pulled the tail of the bull rope wrapped around his riding hand. The rope released and the rider leapt to the ground on the outside of the spin. The three bull fighters in the arena moved in to draw the animal’s attention while the rider ran for the rails and leapt onto the metal gate of an empty chute.

  Jill held her breath until the rider was safe, but she needn’t have worried. The bull had stopped its motion shortly after the rider jumped off. Now, it stood in the center, pivoting to look for the exit. When the gate swung wide, the bull trotted out.

  The rider finally pulled off his helmet, grinning wide that he’d covered the ride.

  “Aaron, I asked you a question.” The displeasure in CeCe’s tone was clear to Jill.

  Apparently, CeCe’s displeasure was clear to Aaron, as well. He turned immediately away from the rail to face CeCe. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to see that one ride. That was my friend Skeeter.”

  “Oh. Well, he did fine, didn’t he?”

  Aaron wobbled his head back and forth. “Eh, we’ll see when the score comes up.”

  Jill shook her head. “Yeah. He made the whistle, but I’m not sure the score will be high enough for him to place. The bull was a real flat bucker. He probably should have tried to dress up the ride a little bit so he’d score better.”

  At her unsolicited evaluation of his friend’s ride, Aaron’s gaze whipped to Jill.

  She cringed that he might be offended. She’d basically just criticized his friend’s riding. “Sorry. It was a good ride though.”

  “Eighty-four points for Skeeter Anderson. Not enough to put him on the leader board for tonight’s event.” The announcer’s amplified voice bounced off the walls of the arena just as the numbers flashed on the big screen high above the arena.

  Aaron shook his head. “Don’t apologize. You were dead on. He had a cold streak a few months back so he needs all the points he can get before the Finals. Tonight won’t add as much as he’d like. Not if he can’t ride in the short go.”

  “Yeah, I remember when he was riding in the Touring Pro Division for a while. Those extra points from the final round would have been nice to have.”

  Aaron looked at Jill with even more interest than before. As if he was really noticing her for the first time. “You follow the sport?”

  “Of course.” Out of the corner of her eye, Jill saw the unhappy expression on her boss’s face.

  The one thing that irked CeCe the most was not being the center of attention. Jill had made the unforgiveable faux pas of drawing some of Aaron’s attention away from CeCe.

  Instead of telling him she’d been going to rodeos since before she could walk or that she’d been mutton bustin’ at five years old, she scrambled to make it right. With as casual a shrug as she could manage, Jill said, “But I’m very happy you’re here to explain the finer points to CeCe since I’d never be able to do it as well. Um, for instance, maybe you could tell CeCe what that rider is doing over there?”

  Aaron swiveled to glance in the direction Jill had indicated, where a Brazilian rider was bouncing up and down, going from a squat to standing repeatedly. Jill knew damn well he was warming up his muscles for his ride, but Aaron explaining it to CeCe would go a long way to soothe her ruffled feathers.

  “Oh, sure. He’s just warming up and stretching. We riders don’t always break bones when we’re out on the injured list. Sometimes it’s just from stuff like a pulled groin muscle.”

  “Oh, my. We definitely don’t want that to happen tonight. Make sure you stretch very well before you ride.” CeCe grabbed right on the topic of Aaron’s groin, twisting it into a flirtation.

  It was just as Jill expected from her, and it worked perfectly for Jill to extricate herself from the spotlight and thrust her boss back into it.

  Truth be told, Jill had enjoyed basking in the warm glow of Aaron’s attention for the short time she’d gotten to experience it. Sad that the plain old girl next door that she was couldn’t outshine a woman twice her age. Sure, CeCe was a rich, powerful, beautiful woman, but still it kind of hurt.

  Even if Jill could out-flirt CeCe, to do so would mean a guaranteed spot on the unemployment line.

  Glancing at Aaron, with his brilliant eyes so blue they seemed almost violet beneath his dark brows, Jill had to wonder if losing her job over him might be worth it. The strength of his jawline drew her attention as Jill watched him turn to CeCe to answer some question she’d asked. The fantasy of running her lips over that chin on the way to his mouth hit her hard.

  CeCe leaned closer to him, looping her fingers through his belt loops. He didn’t move away. In fact, he rested one hand on CeCe’s shoulder and leaned in to point something in the arena out to her.

  Yup, even if it had appeared that he’d started the night out surprised at CeCe’s hardcore pursuit of him, it seemed he’d settled into it quite nicely now.

  Jill sighed and decided she might as well check her email, for lack of anything else to do while they waited for the next section to start.

  The freelance photographer they’d hired to do the publicity shots when they’d first arrived had already uploaded the photos to the web and sent her the link. At least she’d have something to do tonight after the event. She sure as hell wouldn’t have CeCe to entertain. Aaron was clearly going to take care of that.

  Jill should probably be grateful to not have anything to do for the night. She wasn’t. Not even close.

  “I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave you for a little bit. I gotta go downstairs and get ready for my ride.”

  Jill felt an overwhelming sense of relief at Aaron’s announcement. If CeCe got any closer to Aaron, she’d end up inside his clothes with him.

  “All right. But come right back when you’re done?” CeCe finally released him from her clutches.

  Thank goodness. The woman was bordering on being inappropriately handsy with him in what was a very public venue. There were other people in the VIP area with them and the television cameras were rolling.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Aaron nodded and then turned to leave.

  He’d only taken one step toward the stairs before CeCe called after him, “I’ll be cheering for you.”

  “Thank you very much.” Aaron didn’t stop, but continued down the stairs as he spoke.

  Jill felt a little too satisfied at how unhappy CeCe looked that he’d left her side.

  Maybe Jill was a little envious of her boss. Hell, what woman wouldn’t be? Aaron was a good-looking man, not to mention a good bull rider with a bright future…in a sport CeCe knew nothing about.

  Jill fought the scowl and stepped closer to her
boss, ready to take over entertaining her again. It wasn’t in her job description, but it had become clear to Jill rather quickly that handling CeCe would be as big a part of her position as handling social media and the press.

  “The riders can get disqualified if they’re not ready when their turn comes.” When CeCe looked at her with a blank expression, Jill continued. “That’s why Aaron had to leave early for his ride. To make sure he was ready in time.”

  She lifted one red brow. “Believe me, I’m quite sure he wouldn’t have left my side if he didn’t absolutely have to.”

  All righty.

  That was the last thing Jill intended to explain to CeCe for the duration of the event.

  Chapter Five

  “So…”

  When Garret let that single word dangle with no follow up, Aaron was forced to take his attention off the chaps in his hand, the ones he needed to put on before his ride, and look up. “Is there a question in there somewhere?”

  “Yes. How are things going with Ms. Cole Shocks?” That question from Garret was definitely not just a casual one.

  If Aaron hadn’t figured that out immediately from Garret’s tone alone, he would have from his pointed stare in the direction of the VIP seating.

  “Things are going fine.” Aaron glanced up at the seats above the chutes.

  He didn’t spot CeCe along the rail. Only Jill. That was a relief. At least Garret wouldn’t be able to ogle CeCe and get them all in trouble with Tom. Aaron didn’t need anything else to worry about. He had to get ready for his ride and do it fast too.

  Turning his concentration back to his pre-ride prep, Aaron worked extra hard to ignore Garret, hoping to squelch any further questions about a subject he didn’t want to talk about.

  It was pretty apparent that Tom Parsons expected Aaron to keep CeCe Cole happy. Just as it was becoming more and more obvious that his efforts to keep CeCe happy would not end after the final ride of the event.

  He wasn’t sure how to feel about getting pimped out. CeCe was hot for her age. If the situation were different, if he’d seen her in the stands, he definitely would have taken a second look. So why did this feel wrong? Aaron knew the answer to that. Because it hadn’t been his idea. Because it felt like it was expected of him. And what CeCe expected was more than he ever thought he’d have to give.

  Maybe he was reading the situation all wrong. Of course Tom wouldn’t require him or even expect him to go home with CeCe tonight. That would be crazy.

  Tom probably meant that Aaron should make sure CeCe was happy during the event. Like if she got hungry or thirsty, Aaron should get her something.

  And if she was hungry for Aaron himself? Then what?

  An image of CeCe stripping off her already-revealing clothes hit him just as he was trying to get his head on straight before his ride.

  That’s what was the most important—his ride.

  If he climbed into that chute with his little head doing the thinking, Aaron could very well end up being taken out of the arena on a stretcher. Then nobody would be happy. Not CeCe Cole. Not Tom Parsons. Certainly not Aaron himself.

  He pushed all thoughts of CeCe Cole, naked or otherwise, out of his head.

  Garret, arms folded as he watched Aaron, said, “So we’re all going out after the event. There’s a bar right next to the hotel.”

  “Who all is going?” Aaron asked.

  “The usual crew. Skeeter and Riley. Me. Chase.”

  Aaron frowned. “Riley’s not twenty-one yet. She’s not legal to get into a bar.”

  “Skeeter found a place that has a full menu so they let everyone in. She just can’t order a drink.” Garret lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “She doesn’t like to drink anyway. And since when are you the liquor police?”

  “I’m not. I was just wondering.” Aaron tried to seem casual as he deflected the conversation away from him and on to Riley so Garret wouldn’t notice Aaron never said he’d be there.

  He couldn’t promise to go out with the guys in case he was elsewhere. Somewhere with CeCe. She wouldn’t go for the bar across from the hotel where he was sharing a seventy-nine-dollar-a-night room with Garret and Chase. She’d want him to take her somewhere better…or to her hotel room.

  And why was he thinking that? Maybe she was just being friendly. Or yeah, she was flirting, but maybe she never meant for him to think it would go anywhere. She was so much older than he was and she was newly divorced.

  Aaron glanced up again and saw Jill still alone as she looked over the rail. She worked for CeCe. Maybe Jill would have some insight into her boss. Like about how CeCe usually acted with men. In particular, men whose asses she liked to rest her hand on when she talked to them.

  He couldn’t ask Jill outright, but maybe he could hint around a little. But how embarrassing would that be if he was totally off the mark and CeCe was only being friendly? Aaron didn’t need to look like an idiot in front of Jill. She was cute—the kind of girl he’d totally go for if he wasn’t being overwhelmed by the likes of CeCe Cole.

  “Why do you look so miserable?” Garret’s question brought Aaron out of his thoughts and back to the present.

  “I’m not.”

  “Yeah, you are. Come on. Spill. Talk to me.” Garret leveled a stare at Aaron. He even sounded sincerely concerned for once.

  Aaron glanced up at the VIP section and back again. “It’s CeCe Cole.”

  “What about her?”

  “I don’t know what to make of her.”

  A wrinkle creased Garret’s brow. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “She’s real flirty. Like some of the things she says…” Aaron shook his head. “I don’t know if she means them the way they sound or not, but it could be taken as kinda dirty. And she’s always touching me.”

  Garret’s eyes widened. “Can you hear yourself talking?”

  “Yeah.”

  “If I came to you and said a hot, rich, former model was flirting, talking dirty and had her hands all over me, what the hell would you tell me to do?”

  “But this isn’t a normal woman. She’s the tour’s biggest sponsor.”

  “Sponsors have needs too.” Garret grinned.

  Aaron scowled. “Thanks a lot. You’re a real big help.”

  “Seriously, bro. Just go with it. Let her lead and you follow.”

  That was actually good advice. If he let her take the lead, then he couldn’t fuck it up. If she asked him to do something after the event, he’d say yes. If she didn’t, he’d say goodbye and that would be it.

  “Okay. That’s a good plan. Thanks.” Aaron’s head was still spinning with possible scenarios when he noticed Garret watching him. “What?”

  “You gonna finish buckling your chap straps or are you planning to ride with them flapping around loose like that?”

  Mumbling a cuss, Aaron reached for the leather strap he’d forgotten to buckle.

  Garret let out a snort. “Damn. Ms. Shock Absorber has really gotten to you.”

  “I’ll be fine for the ride.” Aaron could have handled CeCe Cole and her flirting a hell of a lot better if he wasn’t afraid of messing things up and pissing off Tom Parsons.

  “You’d better be. You’re on Bad to the Bone. You know he’s rank, bro.”

  “I know. You don’t have to remind me.” Aaron was well aware of the bull’s reputation and eighty-five percent buck-off rate. But the riders who did make eight scored high. That’s what Aaron was hoping for.

  “I just don’t want you landing face down in the dirt and looking bad in front of your admirer.”

  Aaron blew out a breath. “I can’t really worry about that, now can I? You know damn well face-planting in the dirt could happen whether I cover the ride or not. But CeCe doesn’t seem to follow bull riding, so she probably doesn’t know that.”

  “I wasn’t talking a
bout Ms. Cole.”

  “What are you talking about?” Aaron asked.

  “The pretty young thing who hasn’t taken her eyes off you since you came down.”

  “What pretty young thing?” Frowning, Aaron turned to see who Garret was talking about.

  “The cute brunette dressed way too fancy for a bull ride and hanging over the rail of the VIP section to get a look at you putting on your chaps.”

  “Jill?” Aaron dismissed Garret. “She’s the Cole Shocks marketing person. That’s all.”

  “No, man. I don’t think that’s all. She’s interested.”

  “You’re nuts.” Aaron glanced up again and sure enough, Jill was looking his way. “She’s probably just supposed to watch for her job.”

  “Yeah, whatever.”

  “Whatever.” Aaron sighed, not knowing what to think anymore.

  It didn’t matter if Jill was watching him. This CeCe situation had him all confused, not to mention frustrated. Usually, he loved women. Loved everything about them. How they smelled. How they felt, so smooth and soft beneath his hands. Everything. Usually…but not today. If someone had told him yesterday that he’d be this thrown just from some female attention, he’d never have believed them, but that was exactly how he felt.

  He grabbed his vest and rope from the rail. “Come on.”

  “Where we going?”

  “Over to my chute.” Aaron needed to get clear of the estrogen in this arena for a bit and be surrounded by men for a little while. He needed a big dose of male companionship before he got on the bull, and before he had to go back up and be surrounded by the most confusing being God had ever created—women.

  Chapter Six

  The flash of fringe below was what had caught Jill’s attention in the first place as Aaron slung a pair of chaps around his hips. He’d buckled them at the waist and then secured them around each one of his thighs.

  It shouldn’t have been hot, but it was.

  The denim. The leather. The hat. The boots. The shadow of stubble on the strong chin. It was a deadly combination. One Jill shouldn’t be noticing.