“You’ve got the prettiest blush I’ve ever seen.” He runs two fingers down my cheek, looking at me like I mean more to him than just a hotdog date by the river. “Seeing you let go and laugh, it makes me so happy.”
Chapter 11
There was This Girl
Cash
Callie’s blush was the most adorably sexy thing I’ve seen in a long time. I didn’t even need to say anything, and she broke out in goosebumps, her nose and cheeks pinking. I can feel my cock twitching in response.
She’s definitely interested and intrigued. I want to get on my knees, right here next to the river, and worship her like she deserves, taste her on my tongue. Feel her quiver beneath my hands.
Too soon, Cash.
Slow down. She isn’t ready just yet.
Hearing talking behind me, I look over my shoulder and see a couple standing there. Now that they have my attention, the man steps forward.
“Hey, Ashley, big fan, man. World Championships last year, a ninety-four? So unbelievable. I can’t wait to see what you do this season.” He holds out his hand for me to shake. Ilook over at Callie and see confusion written on her face. Doesn’t seem like anyone has told her yet.
“Hey, nice to meet you. Always nice to see people out and about. Yeah, it was a good show. It was Colossus as much as me.” I see his girlfriend standing awkwardly behind him. I hold out my hand. “Ashley Colter, ma’am, nice to meet y’all.” She smiles and sensing my dismissal, she drags him away. He looks a little starry eyed.
“Ashley?” is the first thing Callie says to me when she has closed her mouth.
I chuckle. Of anything she could have pulled out of the conversation, it was Ashley?
“That’s me, darlin’.”
“But every single person I’ve met calls you Cash,” she tells me a little stilted.
“Well, for the past week you’ve been around people who have known me since I was practically in diapers. Those people,” I point to the retreating couple, “they don’t know Cash. They only know Ashley.” I try to explain it in a way she will understand.
“But who is Ashley? What was all that?” I honestly can’t believe no one has mentioned it to her. Maybe I’m not as big a deal as I think.
“Well, Cash Colter is a small-town rancher. I run Colter Ranch, a 5,000 head cattle operation out of Inspiration, Montana.” I duck my head, a little embarrassed to have to even say this part. “AshleyColter is a rodeo champion. I’m a bull rider, darlin’.” I lean back and grab my buckle and tilt it toward her. “I won this last year at the Bull Riders World Finals.”
Her jaw drops open again, before realization dawns across her face.
“That’s what Kayla meant.”
“What?”
“She told me to ask you about the buckle since you didn’t get it from your good looks, though she found that part debatable.” She huffs out a laugh.
“Yes, that’s what she meant. When I’m home, I just want to be a rancher. I don’t want to deal with all this stuff.”
She nods her head sagely. “I get it. It makes sense. I bet you’re hot shit on a bull.”
The laugh bursts out of me without me even realizing it. “I’m alright.”
This time, she laughs. She pulls out her phone. “I’m totally going to find some videos.” She starts typing furiously.
“Oh Lord,” is all I can say before she starts playing the first video—it’s my ride from the finals two years ago. The ride that got me second place in the world. Watching it over her shoulder, I try to picture what she’s seeing.
“It’s so…scary. Scary is what it is. Oh my God.” When it’s over, she looks at me. Awe in her eyes, like she just discovered something amazing.
“It’s a little scary. I’m just Cash to you,” I tell her, pointing my finger at her. “The season just started Tuesday. I had my first ride right before the snowstorm. I came in second, behind Miles Wilkes,” I say resentfully. “I won calf roping though, so there’s that.”
“Calf roping?” She looks at me horrified. “What are you doing to calves? You can’t hurt babies, Cash.”
