Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(7)

“That may be but I damn sure rode better than him, and you know it. Hell, it was the bull that made his ride. I had to spur the shit out of the dink I drew to get anything out of him.”

Janice grudgingly acknowledged that Grady had milked the most out of his ride. Rio was a highly respected bucking bull, but he was approaching retirement.

“Let me on that badass motherf*cker”—he nodded to Mag—“and you’ll see a real ride.”

“If you’re going to Thermopolis, you might get your chance.”

“Is that where you’re headed next?”

“Yup,” she said. “My ol’ man scored a contract with a bigger outfit. We’re to supply a dozen bulls for the summer circuit. I’ll be hauling them down the road—Thermopolis this week, then Sheridan, Cody, and Cheyenne for Frontier Days. After that, we’ll be back in Montana from Cowboy Christmas till the finals.”

“Then you’re in luck, Sweet Cheeks. I’m heading to Thermopolis too. I need to rack up some points and paychecks if I want to get into the pro bull circuit.”

“You planning on ridin’ bulls full-time now?”

“Yeah. Unlike Pretty Boy there, with his ranch to fall back on, I got nothing else. I gotta earn my own bread and ridin’ bulls is what I was meant to do. I’m hoping that by summer’s end I’ll qualify for the new Rough and Rank circuit out in Vegas. That’s where the real money is.”

“And bulls no one can ride,” she countered.

“Hell, they’re all just some cow’s calf, ain’t they? ’Sides, some cowboy’s gotta ride ’em.”

“And you think that’s you?”

He smirked. “All the way to Vegas, baby.”

“What about Dirk? Is he going to Thermopolis too?”

“Nah. Says he has other plans.”

“But I thought you were traveling buddies.”

“We were. We’ve been rodeoin’ together ’bout four years, but I’m bent on doing only bulls and he ain’t no pro bull rider. Too big for it. He only rode this year to qualify for the All-Around, so it looks like we’ll be parting ways.”

“What’s he going to do?”

He shrugged. “Hell if I know. Probably a bunch of that PR fundraising shit with Rachel. Says he’ll probably meet up with me for Cowboy Christmas though. We’ve always done that circuit together. The situation really sucks for me since we’ve always shared expenses.”

“Guess you’ll be looking for a new buddy?”

He considered her for a moment and grinned. “Think I already found one.”

“Who?” she asked.

“You, Sweet Cheeks. Given you and me’s goin’ in the same direction, I’ll be ridin’ with you now.”

“With me? Funny, I don’t recall inviting you, Grady.”

“We’ll split the expenses. Only makes sense to share a ride. Whadaya say we talk about it over those drinks you promised to have with me.”

“I never promised anything. Besides, I can’t drink if I’m driving, especially not while hauling stock.”

“It’s only two hours to Thermopolis,” he said. “We can party tonight and head out first thing in the morning.”

“But I don’t have any decent clothes,” she protested. “I can’t exactly show up at the Plaza with shit-covered boots.”

“Who you lookin’ to impress? You already got my attention.”

She snorted. “Am I s’posed to be flattered by that?”

He considered the question. “Maybe flattered ain’t quite what I had in mind.”

“No? Then what am I supposed to feel?”

“This.” Grady’s mouth came down on hers in a confident, almost aggressive kiss that tasted vaguely of wintergreen tobacco. Taking advantage of her surprise he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Warm, wet, and slick, it tangled with hers. Caught off guard, Janice softened involuntarily. Shutting her eyes she imagined for a moment that it was Dirk kissing her and Dirk’s arms around her. Grady deepened the kiss, cupping her ass, and hauling her against him. He was growing hard and his mouth more insistent.

Realizing where this was headed, Janice panicked, shoving hard against his chest to break the kiss. “I didn’t invite that, Grady.”

“Liked it though, didn’t ya? Seems to me you took your sweet time deciding when to quit.”

She flushed, furious with him, but even more with herself. “I told you I’d have a drink with you, and a drink is all I meant.”

“C’mon, Janice,” he cajoled. “I only want to show you a good time. Sweet thing like you shouldn’t spend the evening alone.”

His words weren’t without effect. She’d spent countless nights alone watching her portable TV and staring at the ceiling of her stock trailer.

“What makes you think I’m looking for that?” she retorted.

He grasped her shoulders, his fingers firm and his gaze hard. “You seein’ someone?”

She hesitated, her gaze darting to Dirk who lingered in the background. His eyes met hers in a scowl that made her bristle. “No. I’m not.”

“That’s good news, Sweet Cheeks.” Grady brushed a thumb over her lips. “’Cause the way I see it, we might as well get to know each other better—being that we’ll be doing the circuit together and all.”