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“Speak of the devil, look who just walked in.”
Turning and watching him saunter towards Bailey’s table, Rick thought he looked like any other guy, though he sported a gleaming gold watch on his wrist. But as he grabbed Bailey by the arm, pulled her to her feet and roughly hustled her out the door, Rick quickly slid off his stool to go after them.
“Rick, leave it,” Dan warned urgently. “It’s none of your business.”
“When I see a guy treat a woman like that, he just made it my business,” Rick retorted, and marched out after them.
CHAPTER TWO
Holding his hand across his forehead to shield his eyes from the late afternoon sun, Rick stared around the parking lot, finally spotting Duke and Bailey standing next to a Mercedes SUV. Though Duke was at least 6’2”, Rick had no qualms about confronting him if he had to. But as the thought crossed his mind, the lanky guy abruptly towered over Bailey. Cowering in front of him, she moved her hands over her face.
“If he lays a finger on her I’ll break his neck,” Rick muttered, dodging quickly around the parked cars as he hurried towards them. “Hey! Bailey! Are you okay?”
Abruptly dropping her hands, she jerked her head around.
“What business is it of yours, and who the hell are you?” Duke demanded before she could respond. “Wait, you’re that bull rider, Rick Carter.”
“Campbell, Rick Campbell,” Rick corrected him, drawing closer and clenching his fists..“Bailey, is he threatenin’ you?”
“Hey, this is none of your business,” Duke exclaimed, stepping in front of her.
“Funny, that’s what the bartender just said, yet here I am. But I wasn’t talkin’ to you, I was talkin’ to Bailey and she can answer for herself. Bailey, do you wanna stay out here with this asshole, or would you like to come back inside with me?” he asked, softening his voice. ‘
“I’ll go with you,” she replied, bolting forward to stand behind him.
“Well, Duke, it looks like the lady made her choice,” he declared, putting his arm around her shoulders, then turning, he started back towards The Tavern.
But his years of bull riding had given him sharp instincts and even faster reflexes. Sensing Duke behind them, Rick spun around with his fist closed and ready to fight, but to his shock, Duke just looked confused.
“Bailey…what the hell?” he said with a deep frown. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s over, Duke.”
“How can it be over when it barely got started, and I’m not even talking about—”
“It just is,” she snapped, cutting him off. “Come on, Rick. I’d love to tell you about the horse I’ll be looking at. His name’s Curly. That’s what he does. When he’s racing he curls his body around those barrels like no-horse you’ve ever seen.”
Taken aback by Duke’s odd behavior, and even more surprised Bailey had suddenly changed from a damsel in distress to a woman in charge, it took Rick a few seconds to gather his thoughts.
“He’s over at Lucky Charm Stables,” she continued, looping her arm through his as they walked towards The Tavern. “Do you know it?”
“Yeah, I know it. Ben, the owner, is a friend of mine, but Bailey, what the hell was all that about?”
“What?”
“When I walked up you looked as if you were terrified, and the next—”
“Sorry,” she said softly, interrupting him and catching his gaze with her mesmerizing eyes, “I didn’t thank you for coming to my rescue.”
“I guess that’s the question. Did you need rescuin’? It sure looked like you did, but then—”
“Of course I did. When you came up it gave me the courage to walk away.”
“How long have you two been seein’ each other?”
“Long enough,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “But can we talk about Curly or something else?”
“Sure,” Rick said agreeably, though still thinking something wasn’t right. “When are you tryin’ this horse?’
