“You know I’m not a doctor, right? I’m assisting Dr. Seth.”
He shrugs. “You will be.”
“No. I’ll be a doctor of physical therapy. Not a medical doctor. So, you can just call me Jovie.”
“Okay.”
He jumps down from the railing and stands at the gap between our cabins, raising his arms over his head in a stretch.
It’s a glorious sight.
For a moment, neither of us speaks.
The air feels strangely charged.
“Night, Doc.”
I start to protest again, but it dies on my tongue. The endearment shouldn’t affect me, but it does.
“Night, cowboy.”
His laugh follows me all the way to my cabin door.
“Oh, for future reference, you’ll know when I’m teasing you,” he calls after me.
I don’t respond. Instead, I hurry inside and shut the door.
Oh my God.
Was Axle Trust flirting with me?
Was I flirting with him?
I shake my head.
No, he wouldn’t. All he’s ever seen me as is Cabe’s annoying tagalong.
He was just teasing his little brother’s friend because he could.
Minutes later, lying awake under my blankets and listening to the ranch come alive, I realize something that should probably concern me.
Until tonight, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed being unable to sleep.
Axle
The gym is empty when I walk in at six o’clock sharp.
Royce was supposed to meet me, but I knew his ass wouldn’t show up. I usually have to drag him out of bed to work out in whatever town we happen to be in.
Admittedly, I used to be the same. But now I prioritize my workouts.
I drop my bag by the door and take a slow look around.
Bryce spared absolutely no expense when he built this place.
The facility sits on the west side of the rodeo academy and rivals anything I’ve seen in professional training centers. Rows of treadmills. Stair climbers. Weight machines. Free weights. Recovery equipment.
Everything a rodeo athlete could need.
