Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(10)

Shit.

With a mix of annoyance and embarrassment, Dirk pulled his hat over his eyes and dug his hands deep into his pockets, hoping to slink past the group surrounding the TV. Was it only an hour ago he’d been lying in the arena splattered with his own blood? Now the sounds of jangling spurs were replaced by the clink of crystal, and the noise of lowing cattle with the buzz of conversation punctuated with ripples of laughter.

He scanned the crowd for Rachel, locating her across the room with her mother and a group of expensively dressed women he didn’t recognize. A photographer was snapping pictures as they sipped champagne. Rachel flashed her rodeo queen smile for the camera.

He stopped in his tracks. God, she was gorgeous.

The sight of her always stole Dirk’s breath, but tonight she was particularly hot in a body-hugging red and white leather dress. A white felt Stetson topped her head and her hair fell in a sexy blond cascade over her shoulders. His gaze lingered in appreciation of a sight he thought he’d never tire of—and one he longed to get a whole lot more of in private. His imagination took hold, conjuring a vision of her wearing only the hat, the boots, and the smile—a smile that instantly froze when she noticed him.

Her gaze raked him head to toe. She broke from the group and rushed toward him. “My God!” she whispered. “What happened to your face?”

“A bull named Magnum Force happened.” He jerked his head to the TV. “Hard to believe you missed it.”

She looked chagrined. “I got here late and only saw the replay after the ride was over. Of course I was concerned, but Wade said you were fine.” Her forehead wrinkled. “By the look of you, he lied.”

“I’ve been a helluva lot better, but I’ll survive.”

“Poor baby.” Her lips formed a sexy pout. “Maybe there’s something I can do to make it all better?”

“Oh yeah, Sunshine. I can think of all kinds of things.”

He leaned down to kiss her mouth but she turned her cheek instead.

“Remember Mama and Daddy,” she hissed under her breath.

“You don’t think they know we kiss? We’ve only been dating four years.”

“Almost five,” she corrected. “And of course they do, but I have to take my reputation very seriously. You know how people like to gossip. As the new queen I have to be ultracareful. Speaking of which…” She stepped back, eyeing him with a downward turn of her mouth. “I can’t believe you walked in here in a T-shirt! Where’s the new button-down I bought you?”

“This is fine,” he said. “It’s clean.”

“No it’s not, Dirk, and you know it! Maybe you don’t realize how important this is to me. That photographer over there is doing a spread on all the state rodeo queens for American Rodeo Today. He’s been waiting to get shots of us together. Why don’t you just be a sweetheart and run back upstairs and change.”

“Why don’t you just let me have a beer or two first, Sunshine. I could use one after getting mauled tonight.”

“It was only a matter of time,” she retorted. “You know how I hate the bulls. I wish you would quit the rough stock.”

“You never minded before,” he said. “As I recall, it’s how I caught your eye to begin with. You used to even come out and watch me.”

“All the girls watched you, Dirk. You were the hottest thing out there—you still are. You wanted to ride bulls this year and you did. You even won the overall. Now you can move on to other things while you’re still on top.”

“Who says I want to move on?”

Her gaze locked with his. “Don’t you?” She twined her left arm around his neck and ran an index finger gently over his broken nose. “Maybe this time it wasn’t serious, but you can’t afford to take these kinds of risks anymore.”

“Says who?”

“Says me,” she insisted. “If you won’t give it up for your own good, then do it for me. I don’t want you getting hurt again.”

Although he hadn’t planned to ride any more bulls in the summer circuit, he bristled at her attempt to manipulate him, to use his dick to control him—not that his dick had ever gotten its full reward for his compliance.

“I could get hit by a truck crossing the street. I could get struck by lightning walking across my front yard. Point is, I’m not going to live my life in fear of what might happen to me.”

She withdrew her arms. “I’m not asking you to, but why tempt fate? That bull could have killed you tonight, Dirk! He might have gored you to death. Do you want to end up like Lane Frost?”

He waved his good hand in annoyance. “You worry too much.”

Her brows met in a frown. “I’m talking to a brick wall, aren’t I?”

“Don’t you think this conversation is a mite bit hypocritical coming from someone who aspires to be the face and voice of American rodeo?”

“Maybe so, but you have no idea what it feels like to have the one you love risk his life for an eight-second ride. Besides, you know how people tend to judge by association—birds of a feather and all that. You should think about that now.”

His gaze narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Just that the rough stock cowboys are so…so…” She made a face.