I pick up my burger and smile at the juicy goodness. I take a bite but regard my friend. Raquel looks behind me, an annoyed look on her face
“That woman was brazen,” Raquel says with a scowl.
I shrug. “Caine says the buckle bunnies can be aggressive.”
“But isn’t Kyle a doctor?” Raquel asks.
“Yeah, but this bar is a cowboy bar. Caine once said that Kyle always got his leftovers,” I say with a smirk. Kyle’s hot, not sure why he always stood in Caine’s shadow.
“That man clearly has no problem getting laid,” Raquel says, but her voice is full of distaste.
I quirk a brow at my hypercritical friend. “Neither do you.”
Her eyes dart to me and she nods before picking up her burger and taking a bite.
Epilogue
Caine
One Year and Three Months Later
I’m not getting any younger, and these fuckers aren’t helping. “When is Jason up?” Mikayla asks as she jumps up and down from beside me. The amount of energy she has is insane! I’m tired just looking at her.
Weston just finished his ride, scoring eighty-eight points. But this competition is about Jason.
Last year, he wasn’t ready to ride competitively. He was honest and real about his challenges,not ready to be around the booze and women.
That’s not to say he didn’t train like he was going to the next rodeo. His training was more precise, more athletic, and he actually seemed to be having fun.
But this season we started out a bit rocky and with every rodeo Jason’s been scoring higher than anyone else. All the things I saw in him four years ago are shining through.
“How you doin’?” I ask Jason as he secures his saddle on Zena.
“Just focused.” I watch his eyes, his face firm. He’s okay.
“Jason Bender,” the announcer calls. “This young man is making a comeback after taking the year off. Jason was a rising star in bronc riding, and we are thrilled to see him ride again.”
Jason climbs over the chute and settles on Zena. He adjusts her rein, settles and taps the brim of his hat, nodding his head. When the buzzer sounds and the chute opens, Jason leans back and lifts up his heels.
“Look at the kick on her!” yells one announcer as we watch Jason.
Zena bucks hard, kicking and twisting as Jason stays in rhythm. When the buzzer sounds and the pickup men grab him, Jason seems thrilled. The grin on his face as he walks out of the arena says it all.
“We have a new leader on the board!” the announcer calls. “Jason Bender with a score of ninety-two!”
“Fuck yeah!” Jason yells, jumping up. And, fuck it, we hug and jump because we both know what he’s done.
In our hotel room, Mikayla and I cuddle under the covers. I reach for her hand and look at the ring I placed there in front of our friends and family not three months ago.
I think about where I’d been mentally two years ago. I hadn’t even known Mikayla. I was lonely and bitter, so fucking angry.
“What a day,” she says against my chest.
“I know, can you believe it?” I ask, a grin on my face. “I don’t think this day could have been more perfect.” I sigh, the smile not going anywhere.
“I’m so proud of Jason,” she says. “He’s doing so well. And he won! Caine, aren’t you over the moon! Jason won!” Her smile stops my heart, full and true. “It just doesn’t get any better than this.”
Mikayla leans back on her hands, her breasts right in my face, full and firm. If I hadn’t just fucked her brains out, my dick would be hard as fuck. Alas, I’m not a twenty-something cowboy anymore.
