Chasin' Eight: Rough Riders, Book 12 (39 page)

“Checking my email. Imagine my shock when I accidentally clicked on your account and an email from Jackie Ackerman showed up.”

“You had no right.”

He was looming above her almost before she could blink. “No,
you
had no right. I had no idea what you were filming would be used for a movie.”

“A documentary,” she corrected.

“When you offered to help me, I had no fuckin’ clue you were really helping yourself, weren’t you? Getting some juicy stuff, taping our private moments. Asking those annoying personal questions at every turn. Now I know why.”

“You were eager for my help, if I recall. And if I’d stayed focused on Chase McKay all the time—that would’ve been acceptable?”

“None of this is acceptable. Using me. Using Taz. Using Ryan.” Chase stared at her as if he’d never seen her. “You couldn’t tell
me
what you were doin’ when we’ve been together every damn day for almost two months? But you told Ryan’s mom? How did you get Jackie on board for this exploitation? What scene did you set? Did you promise this ‘documentary’ will bring her money?”

Her hand cracked into his cheek.

He slowly straightened and backed away.

Ava scrambled after him. “Oh God, Chase. I’m sorry. Let me see—”

“Don’t fucking touch me.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve never hit another person in my life. I don’t know what got into me.”

“You were acting. Playing the part of the outraged woman. Setting the scene. It’s all second nature to you.”

Again her face rivaled a statue’s for stillness.

“Was any of this real?” He laughed harshly. “No. Of course it wasn’t. I’m the typical dumb cowboy, believing a beautiful, filthy rich, famous woman like you could fall for a man like me. I probably deserve this. Maybe especially after my womanizing ways over the years. But knocked flat and humbled on camera before millions of people seems a harsh comeuppance.”

“I wasn’t acting.”

“Not when it came to sex. Some things can’t be faked.”

Ava wrapped her arms around herself and looked away.

Then Chase knew. She couldn’t fake her body’s reaction to him, but she could set the scene to force his hand. “That first time… Now that I think about it, the loser bar rat in our room. He was a total plant, wasn’t he? A guy supposed to drive me into a jealous rage. Force me into taking you to bed before another man beat me to it.”

She didn’t deny anything.

“I’ll take the lapse in judgment. I’ll take my licks for bein’ played for a fool by you. But I will take them in private.”

“What do you mean?”

“After bein’ in the PBR for years, I know enough about release forms to remember that I didn’t sign
anything
that allows you to use any images of me. No pictures, no sound bites, no videos, no quotes, nothin’. You go ahead and make your documentary, Ava, but leave me out of it. There better not be a single word, a single image or a single reference to me anywhere. And if there is? I will file a lawsuit the likes of which you’ve never seen. You may have money, honey, but in the court of law, it’s all about who has the best lawyer. And I guarantee you the one I have on retainer, from the last unauthorized use of my image incident? Lives for shit like this. He’ll make your previous skirmish with the press look like a fuckin’ picnic.”

“You’re wrong, Chase.”

“Not about this I’m not.”

“No. You’re wrong about me. And if you’d stop acting like the wounded male and let me explain, instead of jumping to the worst possible conclusion—”

“Too late,” he snapped.

“Will you shut up and listen?” Ava drew herself to her full height and looked down on him. But her eyes strayed to the red mark burning on his cheek. Her face held that delicate thread of a woman about to crumble. “I didn’t pull a fast one on you. From the first day I left Denver and stopped periodically to dink around with my cameras, I had no idea what to do with the footage I’d shot. I’d vaguely considered using the scenery as inspiration for a screenplay, which I freely told you the first day we spent together. When I started taping your rides? That changed everything for me. Not because I wanted to exploit you, but everything about your life as a bull rider fascinated me. Scared me. I’d never met anyone like you. That’s not me bullshitting you. That’s not me acting, for Christsake.” She poked him in the chest hard with her perfectly manicured fingernail. “And
fuck you
for thinking what happened between us, either between the sheets or on the road, was acting on my part. It was real. As real as it gets. At least I can admit it. At least I’m not freaking out and backtracking like you are, because you’re scared shitless you admitted I’m more than another fuck-and-run encounter.”

Damn woman saw too much. “Get to the fuckin’ point, Ava.”

“After seeing the events at that first rodeo, I thought maybe I was on to something. Especially after meeting Ryan and Taz. The three of you were in different places in your riding careers. The new footage became more focused. I asked questions that would support the images I’d gotten. But my ideas were still being processed. I didn’t tell you what I was working on, not because I was creating some big, goddamn, rip-your-life-to-shreds secret video. I couldn’t tell you because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.” She retreated to gaze out the window. “That changed when Ryan died. I knew some of what I had could be molded into a documentary. A look at Ryan’s life and the tragedy of his death. But I’d never do something like that without his mother’s consent. Taz approached me at Ryan’s funeral about compiling some of Ryan’s rides for Jackie. He must’ve told her about it, because
she
contacted me. So that’s where I am. Trying to help a brokenhearted mother put the pieces together.”

Her voice caught and Chase fought the urge to go to her.

“So maybe I don’t know you as well as I thought I did either. I can’t believe after what I’ve been through you’d consider, for even one nanosecond, I would willingly, gleefully put another human being though that bullshit.”

Now Chase was really confused.

His cell buzzed and he plucked it out of his pocket. He put a fake note of cheer in his voice. “Elroy. I hope you’re calling me with good news?”

“Yes. You’re officially back on the PBR roster and scheduled to compete in Wichita next weekend.”

“No kiddin’? That’s great.” He allowed a tight laugh. “I was getting worried. No word from the powers that be. And then, I’ve, ah, been in the press the last few days a little more than you’d like, I’m sure.”

“To be honest, the coverage of you and Miz Cooper weighed in your favor for a change.”

Talk about a shocker. “It did? Why?”

“Because you’re finally with a woman who’s newsworthy in her own right, and not by virtue of her association with you.”

“Did that make sense in your head before you said it? ’Cause that didn’t make a lick of sense on my end.”

Elroy laughed. “You two are a match made in PR heaven. Even though some tabloid rags are claiming your whole relationship is a publicity stunt.” Elroy paused. “Is it?”

“No. And here’s fair warning: that is not a topic of discussion. With you. Or anyone else.”

“Never thought I’d be happy to hear you say ‘no comment’ and mean it. Warms the cockles of my cold PR heart, McKay.”

“You’re a riot. What else?”

“The PBR is picking up your transportation expenses. You’re in New York now?”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t get you to Wichita directly—”

“Book me into Omaha. I left my truck there. I’ll drive to Wichita.”

“Done. What day you wanna leave?”

“Today. As soon as possible.”

Ava stared at him with shock.

“The event isn’t for another couple days.”

“I’m aware of that. But there are other things I need to take care of first.”

Elroy sighed. “Fine. Contact me when you get to Kansas. And I don’t gotta remind you no press unless you’re escorted by a PBR media liaison.”

“I get it. I’ll keep in touch.”

“Good.” Elroy hung up.

Chase returned to the bedroom and picked up his bag.

“You’re leaving? Just like that?”

“Yep.”

“No discussion. No yelling, no hashing it out?”

“What is there to hash out? You knew I’d be gone the second the PBR called me back. Getting my bull ridin’ mojo back was the
only
reason we were even traveling together.” Chase held out his bag. “
This
is my life, Ava. Not this.” He gestured to the fancy digs surrounding them.

“You told me there were more important things in life than being a bull rider.”

Chase looked her in the eye and said, “I lied.”

Although it pained him, he shouldered his equipment bag and walked out.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ava had been mindlessly staring out the window, crying and wallowing in self-recrimination, when her phone buzzed. Hoping it’d be Chase, she answered without checking the caller ID. “Hello.”

“Ava Cooper?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

“I’m calling on behalf of Nina Beal, senior VP of Montieth Associates. Nina is requesting an in-person meeting with you regarding a possible audition for a new sitcom slated to start production next week.”

Why were they calling her directly? “This request was approved through my agency?”

“Marnie Driscoll was contacted and gave us this number.”

This was Marnie’s way of giving Ava full responsibility for declining the audition. “What is the in-place date for the meeting?”

“Thursday. One o’clock. At the Burbank office.”

Looked like she’d be home sooner than she’d planned. “That will work.”

“Good. We look forward to seeing you then, Miss Cooper.”

A casting call. For a new sitcom. She could throw herself into familiar work for the next year and put this summer behind her. Chase had been right about one thing, they both needed to get back to their real lives. And for her, that mean a major overhaul of the way she’d been living. She intended to make changes across the board and start with a clean slate. In both her professional and personal life.

She blew her nose and hoped she didn’t sound as if she’d spent the last two hours bawling when she dialed her parent’s home number.

“And to what do I owe the pleasure of a phone call from my beautiful daughter?”

“Heya, Dad. I just wanted to talk. I know it seems like the only time I call you is when I want something.”

“Do you want something?”

“No. Well, maybe. I want to ask you a question.”

“Shoot.”

“Does it bug you that I don’t take an interest in Dumond Racing? That every time you’ve asked me in the past decade to come to a race or hang out at an event I’ve said no?”

Silence. Then, “I know you’re busy.”

“That’s not an answer. Be honest.”

“Okay, as long as you asked, yeah, it does bug the crap out of me. It’s almost like you’re embarrassed that your dad is a former grease monkey.”

“I’m not embarrassed. God, I’m embarrassed for myself for being so oblivious to anyone’s feelings but my own. You raised me better than that.”

“No kidding.” He paused again. “Ava, what is this really about?”

His voice was so soft and gentle, more tears fell. “I’ve had a lot of time to think over the past couple months. I’ve watched my…friend come to terms with family issues and I saw a lot of myself in him. I realized I haven’t been a good daughter, or a good sister, or even a halfway decent supporter of Dumond Racing. I’m so mired in my own stupid, petty problems that I’ve let important things slide. Important people.” She sniffled. “You are important to me Dad, and I love you. And I’m sorry for acting like such a brat. But I can change. I want to change.” She took a deep breath. “Can you forgive me?”

“Of course. And I will let you make it up to me in two weeks when you attend the Dumond Racing Team trials at Breakwater Speedway. I’ll warn ya. Lots of media. Oh, and your brother is in charge.”

“I can handle it. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good. Although, in all fairness, I’ve gotta point out that you ignore your mother’s business just as much as you do mine.”

Ava laughed. “Well, she’s next on the apology chain.”

“I’m right here, sweetie, so there’s no need to go through this twice.”

“Am I on conference call?”

“Of course. I’m tired of hearing about your life third or fourth hand,” her mother chastised.

“Yeah, so why don’t you tell us firsthand how in the devil you hooked up with a bull rider?” her father prompted.

She tried to keep things light lest she start bawling again. “I take offense to your term ‘hook up’ Dad.”

“You know what I meant. Start talking.”

“I met Chase McKay in Wyoming through Ginger Paulson. I traveled with him on the rodeo circuit for a few weeks and he came to New York with me.”

“Bull riding is a damn dangerous job.”

You don’t know the half of it.

“What’s he like?” her mother asked. “Because I’m sure the pictures in the papers don’t do him justice. He looks buff. Mysterious.”

“Oh, for the love of God, Eileen, really? This is the direction you’re taking this conversation?” he demanded.

“If your father is offended by the graphic details you want to share with your mama about that hot cowboy’s attributes, we’ll kick him off the line.”

Her dad snorted. “As glad as I am you called, Daughter, this is where I hang up.”
Click
.

Her mother snickered. “Too easy. Now. Spill your guts because this Chase guy. He’s the one, isn’t he? That’s the reason you’re keeping him to yourself.”

Just like that, Ava broke down. She wished she could crawl through the phone line onto her mother’s lap. “I never thought I’d find someone like him. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had and he drives me crazy. He’s bossy and so sweet that I melt whenever he touches me even when I want to scream at him. I’m so in love with him it’s scary. And funny. And pathetic. And what the hell am I gonna do?”

“Does he feel the same way?”

“He says he did, until… I don’t know how to explain because it still doesn’t feel wrong to me. I think he’s overreacting, but he’s pissed off. And he just left.”

“Tell me what happened.” After she finished, her mother said, “Hmm,” not in a good way.