Ride (2 page)

That thought put an added little spring in his step as he exited the long hallway between the locker room and the arena and the full force of the sold-out event hit him.

Pausing in the area behind the chutes, Chase flipped his rope over the top rail and took a moment to look around. The packed sports center, the noise of the crowd, the television cameras and crew—it could easily overwhelm a twenty-two-year-old kid from Oklahoma. Chase simply couldn’t let it get under his skin. Sometimes that was easier said than done.

The sound of boots and spurs directly behind him had Chase turning to see his friend Garret approaching. “One more ride then we’re done for this season. You know what that means, don’t you?”

“I get to be home for more than a few days in a row before I have to leave again?” Living on the road was fun, but there was something to be said for Mama’s cooking. And Chase missed his older brother.

“Well, yeah. But it also means we can get wild tonight because we don’t have to ride or even travel tomorrow.” Garret grinned.

Chase nodded. “Yup. I guess it does. What d’ya wanna do?”

“I wanna do anything and everything. This is Vegas, baby! We can stay up all night and sleep all day tomorrow if we want.” With the scrape of metal on metal, Garret leaned back and hooked the spurred heel of one boot on the bottom rail.

“Not exactly. We’ve got that charity event tomorrow. Remember?” Chase laughed at the stricken expression on Garret’s face. “Don’t act like it’s the end of the world. I’m still looking forward to downing a few cold ones the minute we’re done riding here tonight.”

This being the last competition before their break, they could afford to do some major destruction to their bodies partying for a night or two—Chase would have plenty of time to hit the gym when he got home to Oklahoma—but they couldn’t miss the fan event or they’d be in big trouble.

“I was planning on getting totally shitfaced tonight myself. Damn. I forgot all about that meet-and-greet thing tomorrow. It was your birthday yesterday and we didn’t get to celebrate hard because we had to ride today.”

“We did spend some quality time at that all-you-can-eat buffet. That was good.” Chase had gone to bed happy and fuller than a hog.

“I know, but tonight I thought we could really take you out in style.” Garret’s pout was worthy of any five-year-old who’d just been told he couldn’t have his own way.

“Garret, we can still go out. We just can’t get so annihilated we won’t wake up for tomorrow.” Chase knew damn well the fans had paid a ton of money, all of which was going to a good cause, just to meet him and the other riders at tomorrow’s charity autograph-signing event. That didn’t mean he and Garret couldn’t indulge in a beer or two tonight though.

“Yeah, you’re right I guess. You think Skeeter’s fake ID will work here?” As he spoke, Garret’s gaze followed the progress of a girl in tight jeans as she climbed the stairs until she finally took her seat.

Chase gave the object of Garret’s attention a quick perusal and decided the back view had been superior to the front. Besides, she looked about seventeen, maybe eighteen. Chase preferred girls with a little life experience under their belt, and a bit less beer belly there too.

He wasn’t opposed to curves. He just preferred they be in other places besides a beer gut. Generous hips, lush thighs, a nice round butt, tits that made a man take notice, those were all very good things, but he couldn’t think too much about that now. He had a ride to prepare for and plans to make with Garret.

He turned his attention back to Garret’s question. “I don’t know about Skeeter. They’re a little more careful about checking IDs here than at the usual bars we hang out at. If it doesn’t work, we’ll just pick up some supplies and drink in the room.”

Garret’s mouth twisted at that. “Yeah, but there ain’t no chicks up in our room.”

Chase laughed. “There will be if you invite them.”

His friend grinned in response. “I like how you think.”

Accepting Garret’s compliment with a nod, Chase glanced around the area behind the chutes. They were getting close to starting the final round. The Brazilians were off to one side warming up and stretching. Some of the others were busy getting their gear ready.

A few of the veteran riders emerged from out of the locker room. Mustang Jackson positioned himself behind the chutes next to Slade Bower. Both began working the rosin into their ropes in preparation for the upcoming ride. It reminded Chase he should be doing the same. He turned back to the rail and grabbed the dangling section of his bull rope. With his glove, he started rubbing up and down the portion of its length he’d later wrap around his hand.

“I suppose we can do a few shots up in our room, then go down to the casino and see what, or who, is around.” Garret followed Chase’s example, turning toward the rail to prep his own rope.

“Sounds good to me.” As Chase worked the rosin into the rope, making it sticky for a better grip during the ride, the announcer’s amplified voice reverberated off the walls and ceiling of the cavernous space.

The stock handlers ran the bulls for the first flight of the championship round into the chutes and Chase felt the now familiar surge of adrenaline begin to rush into his bloodstream.

Garret glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the girl he’d been watching before. “Ya think if we ask her to come back to our room with us she’d say yes?”

“I guess.” Chase shrugged, not at all interested in that particular girl. He looked up and found Garret frowning at him. “What?”

“You don’t sound very enthusiastic.”

Probably because Garret would talk about girls twenty-four hours a day if he let him. Chase had learned to nod and agree with Garret without really listening too closely.

“Sorry. I guess I’m just focused on the ride.” Not to mention he and Garret usually had pretty much the opposite taste in women. Chase liked sophisticated ladies. Bimbos turned Garret on, unless there were special circumstances like a few too many post-ride shots with the guys. In that case, all bets were off on whom Garret would go for. Case in point, last year in Tulsa when Garret had come home from a bar with the phone number of a woman he normally wouldn’t have looked at twice.

The girl in the stands wasn’t doing anything for Chase, but she was obviously doing it for his friend. Garret glanced at her again before focusing his attention on Chase. “Ya know, Chase, I really hope you’re not still interested in that author chick.”

“Jenna? No, of course I’m not.” Where the hell had that question come from? Chase had been interested, but that was a year ago. A year to the day to be precise. He’d met her on the night of his birthday during last year’s finals, and shortly thereafter discovered she was dating Slade Bower, a fellow bull rider with a jealous streak a mile wide and the fists to back it up.

“I saw you talking to her last night.”

Chase let out a short laugh at Garret’s suspicion. “Yeah, so? You’ve been texting Jenna’s friend Barb all year.”

Garret’s brow rose in doubt. “Yeah, but that’s just texting. She’s not showing up at any of the competitions. And Jenna’s writing that book about you.”

“Jenna and I are just friends, and the book’s not about me exactly. It’s just a romance novel based on a rookie bull rider. She’s a writer. That’s what she does. Write. Doesn’t mean she’s in love with me or anything. She just thought it was a good story.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Garret shook his head and went back to his rope.

“Whatever,” Chase echoed. He needed some new friends. He also needed to get moving because his bull had just been loaded. He unlooped his rope from the rail. “See ya in a few.”

“Need me to help?”

“Nah, looks like Skeeter is already up there. You got a ride coming up yourself to get ready for.”

“All right. Try not to eat too much dirt when you fall off.” Garret grinned.

Chase laughed. “Yeah, you too.”

The cowbell attached to his bull rope hit the dirt with a clanging
thunk
. Chase wound the excess length around his hand and headed toward the chute. As he neared, the bull inside reared and rattled the rails. Chase’s level of adrenaline kicked a notch higher.

He set one knee to the ground and said a quick, silent prayer for a safe ride for both himself and the bull, then climbed up. After handing his rope to a stock handler, he pulled his mouth guard from his vest pocket and slipped it between his teeth.

Mentally Chase reviewed how the ride would go. The bull was loaded for a left-hand delivery out of the gate, which would likely mean the animal would spin first to the left and into Chase’s riding hand. If Chase kept spurring him with his outside leg, the bull would hopefully not reverse directions. He’d have to stay on top of his rope, try not to slip into the well and keep his eyes off the ground. A lot to think about during a bone-jostling eight seconds when any thought at all was difficult. Piece of cake.

Straddling the metal rails, he lowered himself onto the back of the antsy animal.

Skeeter leaned over and helped pull the rope tight so Chase could wrap it around his gloved left hand. With his weight centered on the animal’s bony back, he was ready.

“Chase Reese aboard Moonwalk. This is one rank bull, ridden only twice in ten outs this series.”

As Chase heard the announcer speak his name and talk about the upcoming ride, he felt the usual thrill he never experienced at any other time in his life, not even when he was with a woman.

Still amazed he got to do what he loved for a living, Chase felt like the luckiest man on earth. With a surge of pride, he realized he never wanted to do anything else and then nodded to the gate man.

Chapter Three

All dressed up and with nowhere to go until their shift began, Leesa and Holly each grabbed a cup of coffee from the pot always on behind the bar. Back in the dressing room, they sipped the bracing caffeine out of paper hot cups and continued talking about everything and nothing, killing time until the start of another long work night.

One of the day shift girls breezed in amid a cloud of perfume and interrupted their conversation, but not Leesa’s serious consideration of what they’d discussed earlier. Holly’s solution to Leesa’s financial problems tantalized her.

“Hey, Holly. Hey, Leesa. The two new girls aren’t here yet?”

Holly scowled and shook her head. “Nope. They’ll wander in late as usual.”

“Then I guess you two are up. I’m done for the day and Tiffany is just finishing now. Oh, and you’ve got a birthday boy out there so you’re gonna need the handcuffs. Tiff will point him out to you.”

Holly grinned, grabbing a pair of furry cuffs out of her locker. “I do love a birthday boy.”

Leesa couldn’t say she loved their birthday-boy routine, but it was a fun change from the usual. At this point, after strutting up and down that stage for months, anything different was good, she supposed.

She followed Holly out. The fringe of the short skirt hit her bare ass cheeks with every step she took.

Up on the stage, Tiffany was collecting the discarded pieces of her costume and the last of her tips. As the music changed she made her way back toward Leesa and Holly. She paused in front of them with a fist full of singles. “The shy guy in the big white hat has a birthday. His friend said to give him everything we’ve got, including the back room. The rest of the guys are paying. Wish I could stick around, but I gotta pick up my kid from the sitter.”

“That’s okay. We’ll take good care of him.” Holly glanced at the loud group of about half a dozen cowboys and smiled at Leesa. “You wanna take him in the back later?”

“What?” Leesa spun to face Holly then couldn’t help but look back at the cowboy in question.

“Come on. It’s perfect. He’s painfully young by the looks of him. Probably never had a lap dance in his life. He’ll be the perfect guy for you to cut your teeth on.”

“My teeth?” Leesa gasped at that suggestion.

“Relax. I didn’t mean use your teeth literally, unless you want to of course. It’s just an expression. I meant he’s perfect for your first foray into making a little extra cash. Look at him. He’ll probably come the minute the air touches his thing. The young ones finish real fast if they’re not too drunk. If he is, well then you may be in for a long haul. But he’s cute. It wouldn’t be that bad spending some extra time on him.”

Leesa glanced in their direction again and tried to estimate how long they’d been there and how much they’d consumed. She realized what she was doing and dragged her gaze away. She couldn’t seem to tell Holly no, mainly because she was still seriously considering going through with it.

“You wanna think about it? No pressure. I do love me some cowboys. Looks like there are plenty to go around, but I’ll be glad to take him back if you don’t want to.” Holly paused and waited for an answer while eyeing the group of young men and practically drooling.

A bouncer had already put a chair up on the stage. They needed to get up there and start the show. Leesa took another look at the group of men in the birthday party, downing beers and laughing. Could she go through with what Holly wanted her to? Did she have another choice? Maybe she could get a shift at a local restaurant to make more money. Maybe she was being foolish, just like Holly said. What was just a few minutes in the back? What happened and with who would be her choice. She could pay off her bills and save enough to go back to college and finish her degree.

What was she worried about? She was safe enough in the club. Glancing back at the cowboy, she saw again that he didn’t look like the dangerous type.

Even as it felt like a rock had landed with a thud in her stomach, Leesa shook her head. “That’s okay. You don’t have to take him, Holly. I’ll do it.”

She tried to swallow away the sudden dryness in her throat.

Holly grinned. “Good for you. Now come on. It’s show time.”

They had done this birthday show dozens of times in Leesa’s months at the strip club. Usually one man was just like another. She never paid very close attention to them as individuals, but as Holly led their subject onto the stage by the hand, Leesa found herself really studying this one.