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Blayze laughed. “Cocky like his daddy.”
My nerves were on edge again as I watched Blayze ride two more times. He covered one bull, and was thrown six seconds in on the other. I nearly screamed when I saw him get tossed in the air, the bull almost stepping on his neck.
After the riding was finished, I watched them all gather up the bulls and guide them out into different pastures. Once the animals were out there eating the deep green grass, they looked innocent. Not like the giant beasts they were when they were in the arena.
“You ready to ride?” Blayze asked as he came up next to me. A chill ran down my spine at the sound of his voice—or maybe it was from the warmth of his breath on my neck.
Turning to face him, I made a pouty face. “Bummer, looks like they put up all the bulls.”
That brilliant smile of his lit up his face, and my heart fluttered in my chest. “It’s a damn good thing I know the owner. Come on.”
He took my hand in his, and I tried not to react to how good it felt to have our hands intertwined. Or how he rubbed his thumb over my palm just like he did when we were younger. How many women had he done that to? Did it make their stomachs dance with excitement like it was doing to mine?
“Where are we going?” I asked as I followed Blayze along the fence line.
“Going to say hi to Steel Bullet.”
“I’m guessing that’s a bull.”
“He is, indeed. A world-champion bull. He’s retired now and living the good life.”
I laughed. “Standing around eating grass?”
Turning to look at me, a devilish smile appeared on his face. “And making babies.”
With a roll of my eyes, I said, “I’m pretty sure they don’t need him to do that the old-fashioned way.”
“Nope, they don’t,” he said, “But Ty’s a good man, and he lets ol’ Bullet have a bit of fun every now and then.”
He unlocked the gate, and it was then I saw the bull grazing about twenty yards away.
“Don’t be afraid of him,” Blayze said as we walked toward him. “He was raised on this ranch from the get-go. He’s Ty’s pride and joy, and he’s spoiled. See the pile of sand over there?”
“Yes.”
“He loves to play in it. Always has.”
I smiled as we drew closer, and Steel Bullet lifted his head and looked at us.
“If he thought we had bread he’d come charging over to get it.”
Even though my heart thundered in my chest, there was something in the bull’s eyes that said he wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t angry we were there. He wanted us there.
“When Steel Bullet was competing, Ty said if he wasn’t loaded up to leave with the other bulls he’d be pissed and very vocal about it.”
“So he enjoyed performing?”
“Loved it. Most of them do.”
As we drew closer I slowed my pace, but Blayze walked right up and started petting the bull.
“Some bulls can be moody,” he said. “Not all of them like people unless you’re feeding them or breeding them. So you always need to be careful around them. But a bull like this is a gentle giant.”
Blayze held out his hand, and I took it. With a soft tug, he pulled until I was next to him. “He likes his ears scratched.”
It didn’t take me long to figure out ol’ Steel Bullet was a sucker for a good scratching. He loved my nails and made it clear he wanted me to scratch him instead of Blayze. Before I knew what Blayze was planning, he lifted me up and put me on the back of the bull.
“Blayze!” I whispered, terrified I’d spook Steel Bullet.
With a lighthearted chuckle, he said, “Keep petting him, Georgie.”
After a few deeps breaths, I started to use my fingernails to scratch Bullet. He threw his head back, clearly enjoying what I was doing. Then Blayze walked forward a bit and Bullet followed him. I nearly panicked, but when I saw how gentle the bull was being, I relaxed and enjoyed the fact that I was on the back of a world-champion bull. This was a bull that had thrown some of the best riders around—and I was riding him.
“Now you can say you went more than eight on the back of a bull,” Blayze said.
“A champion one at that!”
He grinned and gifted me with that dimple. “Are you still scared?”
I shook my head. “No, not like earlier when I was watching you ride.”
The words came out of my mouth before I even realized I’d said them. I wasn’t about to look at Blayze after I let that little statement slip free.
“Being fearless simply means taking chances on something, Georgie. Trying something new. Not being afraid to jump even though you’re not sure of what’s going to be on the other side.”
