Montana Gold. Genell Dellin

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СКАЧАТЬ too.”

      So when the band struck up a slow one, she just naturally moved into his arms. He started to say something but then he didn’t. He didn’t want to ruin this yet.

      She was warm in his arms, small and just the right height to lay her head on his chest. She didn’t, though. She kept a little distance.

      He pulled her to him and brushed his legs against hers as they danced. She threw him a surprised glance, as if to say she wasn’t quite sure if she liked it, but she didn’t pull back. After a while, she even moved a little closer and slid her free hand higher onto his shoulder.

      But instead of looking at him, she stared off into space. At first he thought she must be looking for somebody else who was on the dance floor, but then she tilted her chin up, met his eyes and held them like she was thinking him over. Her eyes were so clear and deep they made him think, too.

      No matter what, the whole time they were moving in sync. Perfect partners.

      “You’ve got the moves,” he said.

      That made her grin.

      “Yeah,” she said dryly. “I have the moves.”

      “In the arena, too. I watched you and Smoke ’Em after I got off.”

      “Thanks,” she said. “You made a good ride. What was his score going in? Smoke ’Em thirty, riders two?”

      “Sheer luck,” he said. “When he started that really hard whippin’ around with his hind end, he came within a hair of scooting me down off my rope.”

      “Yeah,” she said. “He is one strong boy who loves his work with all his big old ugly heart.” She flashed an impish grin. “Nearly as much as you.”

      He raised his eyebrows at her. “Are you saying I’m big and ugly? Or big and strong?”

      “Whatever,” she said, with a definitely flirtatious tilt of her head.

      Her soft laugh mingled with the music.

      “You looked like you were having a pretty good time, yourself,” he said.

      She nodded. “I love it. Everything and everybody fades away and it’s just me and el toro.”

      Then she bit her bottom lip—a really nice bottom lip—as if she’d said more than she meant to.

      “Me, too.” Then he said way more than he’d meant to. “I don’t know what I’ll do when I can’t ride anymore.”

      She shot him a look. “I noticed the announcer mentioned that you’re thirty-eight.”

      He laughed. “I’m gonna jump him out about that. I’m sick of hearing it.”

      And he was. He still had the want-to and he still had the talent.

      “To be fair,” she said, “earlier, he also called you a great champion.”

      “Fear’s what makes a rider good,” he said lightly, “and I’m scared.”

      He took the conversation back to tonight’s ride. Which, after all, was the reason they were dancing together right now.

      “I was really glad when Smoke ’Em finally started to spin. I couldn’t believe how high he could kick and how hard he could buck.”

      “Yeah, the spin’s what kept you on,” she said. “I sure thought you were hung up bad there at the end, though.”

      Good. Great. She’d brought it up herself. Maybe he could get his message across without stirring her up.

      “Well, you did come in too soon,” he said. “I was okay.”

      She stiffened and gave him a narrow-eyed look.

      “You’re the first customer I ever had that complained I tried too hard to keep him alive and healthy. And you looked pretty much hung-up with your hand there in the rope.”

      “I wasn’t.” He brought out his most charming smile. “I don’t mean to be critical,” he said. “I like to be in control as long as I can. I was just looking for the best way to get off.”

      She was staring at him like he had two heads. “What happens after the buzzer, Chase, doesn’t get you any more points. I could drag you away from the bull by your hair and it wouldn’t change your score.”

      The image—and her tone—sent a quick shot of anger through him. Wasn’t it always the cavemen who did the dragging?

      “I’m not talking about points. I’m talking about control, and I had it all covered. Winning is all about control.”

      “You’re talking about image,” she said, and now she was mad, too. “This is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Ty Murray or Tuff Hedeman or Donnie Gay or Larry Mahan or any of the best bull riders in history never felt any shame at running from a bull, much less being helped to get loose from one.”

      “Look,” he said, “I’ll run from a bull just like anybody else. I’m not proud. But I don’t want any help if I don’t need it.”

      She studied him, eyes full of fire, but her body still moving flawlessly with his.

      “What is the deal here? Tell me, would you be talking to Rocky or Junior like this?”

      “Of course.”

      “Of course not.” She glared at him. “I’m thinking you just don’t like to be rescued by a woman.”

      “I wasn’t,” he snapped. “You didn’t rescue me because I didn’t need to be rescued.”

      “You’re criticizing me because I’m a woman in a man’s job. It’s as simple as that. I know it.”

      He shook his head and opened his mouth, but she was too quick for him.

      “Since when does a cowboy second-guess a bullfighter? At least to his face? If he’s not a woman? I can tell you right now that I intend to be the best. I’m gonna win that new championship contest Bob Moss and those other money men are putting together for this fall. Have you heard about it?”

      He spoke without thinking about what he was saying, because what he was thinking about was how good she felt in his arms.

      “Yeah, but from what I’ve heard, no way can they call it a world championship. Not compared to what the Wrangler Tour used to be. Rob Smets won that five times and you can’t let somebody who hasn’t fought very many bulls hold the same title as he—”

      She interrupted him, snapping each word off like a shot.

      “Last I heard, you’re a bull rider and a bronc rider, not king of the world. No matter what the title’s gonna be I am going to win it. Remember that, Lomax. I know what I’m doing whether you think so or not.”

      Damn, СКАЧАТЬ