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He’d done it!
“If he doesn’t win after that, I’m going to shave my head,” Lexi shouted at us.
“I’d love to take you up on that bet,” Beth said with a laugh, “but I think he’s going to win. Plus, you’d look awful bald.”
The insulted expression on Lexi’s face made me giggle. We quieted down just in time to hear the announcer’s voice booming across the arena with Hunter’s score.
“Looks like McNally just rocked the socks off of Ol’ Boots, the bull. We’ve got a score of 90 from the judges. And that makes him tonight’s winner!”
All three of us jumped and squealed with glee. I took off down the bleacher to the arena fence. Hunter had already shed his helmet and was pumping his fist in the air. The moment he saw me heading toward him, he ran to meet me. And when he got to the fence, he easily climbed over it and took me in his arms.
“I knew you would win,”
I said, my face pressed against his shoulder.
My own arms had wrapped tightly around his torso. The scent of dirt and sweat was heavy on his shirt. A rumble of laughter came from deep within his chest. He squeezed me tightly and then pulled back.
“Winning doesn’t matter anymore,” he said, his gaze capturing mine with an intensity that took my breath away. “Proving that I’m strong doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is you.”
I stared up into his eyes, feeling totally and absolutely at peace in his strong arms. In a way that I hadn’t felt for months.
“That’s good to know, cowboy.” I tipped my chin up to brush a kiss over his lips. “But I’m still glad you won. I always knew you’d look pretty sexy with a shiny belt buckle.”
His mouth curled into a tempting grin. “Is that so?”
“Hmmm.” I nodded and licked my lips. “I think Lexi and Beth were right. Cowboys are pretty hard to resist.”
His hands on my back pressed me a little closer to him. “All cowboys, or just one in particular?”
I held back my smile as best I could and winked at him. “Just one. But you can’t get me to tell you who.”
With a grin that made my heart flutter, he dipped his head and kissed me again. Only this time, there was no hesitation in the way he held me. And no hesitation in the way I kissed him back. There was only him, and me, and the overwhelming sensation that I was falling head over cowgirl heels for that bull rider.
I guess I’d been lying to myself.
I was a rhinestones and leather kind of girl after all.
Epilogue
Lexi
I stared up at the massive glittering chandelier hanging from the ceiling above. Excitement buzzed throughout my body as if I’d just stuck my makeup brush in an outlet. With a muffled squeal, I tugged on Beth and Charlotte’s arms, and danced in my red pumps.
“Can you believe this place? I told you this was going to be legit.”
It wasn’t often that my dad’s boring job as an attorney came with glitz and glam, but this was one of those rare opportunities. A party! And not just any party—but a party with movie execs, and film makers, and actors from the new movie that was going to be filmed at Rock Valley High in the next few weeks. Dad was representing the school’s interest. That was the only reason he’d been invited to this little pre-filming party
Best of all—Alanis Nori was supposed to be in attendance. She was the makeup artist hired for this movie gig. I’d stalked her website before tonight’s party. Tall, brunette, with sculpted thick black eyebrows that made my tweezers tremble in their snug place inside my makeup bag. She was a graduate from the L Makeup Institute in Los Angeles. And my one-way ticket to getting an acceptance letter for after high school.
I was so getting a spot on her squad for this movie—even if that meant making coffee for the next six weeks.
“This is definitely legit.” Charlotte’s eyes widened as she scanned the crowded room. “Aren’t you glad you came with me tonight, cowboy?”
Hunter shifted restlessly beside her; his hand stuffed deep in his jean pocket. I’d tried my best to get Charlotte to convince him to wear a suit for the party, but I guess she’d failed. Miserably. At least he’d left the cowboy hat at home. Still, I couldn’t be upset at either of them. Especially not when he met his girlfriend’s gaze with such a hopelessly-in-love kind of expression on his face.
“I’d go anywhere with you, Char Char.”
Beth made a face and pretended to choke herself with her hand. I giggled silently, and then we both broke into happy grins. The whole love-sick thing going on between Charlotte and Hunter had lasted the entire summer. They were sugary-sweet and meant to be. I’d ship them anytime—even if it meant seeing them make goo-goo eyes at each other all the time.
