Seducing Texas (So not Prince Charming #2)(58)

Tanner jumps off his horse and in no time pulls the steer to the ground and ties its hooves together. Damn. That was impressive. He runs over to the judges’ box and blows Fay a kiss, and she returns it. I think she honestly likes this bloke.

That’s when Wyatt jumps over the fence and waltzes up to Willa. Her back is to him. He twirls her around, dips her, taking her completely by surprise, and kisses her. Jealousy boils over, and I want to jump over the rail to break them apart.

She smiles for him, and I f*cking hate it. Only my lips should touch that delicious mouth.

Several barrels are put out. What are those for? I continue filming, tamping down the rage of Wyatt locking lips with my girl. He finally leaves and heads to the bulls trapped in the chutes.

Hell, I would never ride one of those beasts. This bull snorts, blowing snot, and its eyes flash crazy anger. The powerful odor of sweat, beast, and hay fill my nose.

Wyatt climbs up and onto the bull, puts on a rawhide glove, and locks that hand under the rope. His knees hug the bull’s barrel chest. The bull kicks the pen’s planks, rattling them like an earthquake.

That bull is none too happy.

Willa and the clowns are entertaining the crowd with silly antics. Willa playfully kicks one in the rear, and he goes over into the dirt. The fans seem to be enjoying the show.

The bull kicks the shoot, and Wyatt holds the rope tightly. The chute opens, and the bull bucks out of the opened gate.

Shit. I glance at Willa and then at the bull. The two are on a collision course.

Willa is standing toward the middle, and her eyes are wild with fear. Another clown tries to pull her out of the way, but there’s nowhere to run. The bull bucks and kicks while Wyatt holds on for dear life, his body leaning back and his ungloved hand thrown in the air. He doesn’t even notice her because his concentration is on riding that damn beast.

Without thinking, I leave my camera and jump over the arena fence. I have no idea what the hell to do, but I run for Willa. The bull spins around, stares her down, and the clock for Willa is ticking down in my head along with my heart.

I sprint toward her and feel the distance growing further apart as the bull sets its hard gaze upon my wee lass.

Shane hops over the fence and is running for her too.

Wyatt’s eight seconds must be up because he hops off the bull and sees the confused bull and stock-still Willa. She isn’t moving. She’s only looking blankly at the bull.

“Willa move,” Wyatt yells. It doesn’t deter the bull’s intense stare-down.

Aren’t the clowns supposed to distract the bull? Where the hell are they?

I keep running toward Willa. She finally moves, hurrying to the far fence, but the bull charges toward her. I sprint on my toes. Several women scream in the crowd.

Shane waves at the bull and yells. It stops and paws the ground, considering who to charge.

I throw my arms around Willa and pick her up. I carry her to the fence and help her climb over it. She’s breathing hard, and I can smell her fear. I clamber up after her.

Shane is facing off the bull, and Cyn is screaming.

I yell at the bull, pounding on the slats. “Over here.”

Finally, the other clowns engage the bull, but its eyes target Shane. He’s out in the open with nothing to protect him. He slowly moves to the side where a barrel stands.

The bull charges at him. Shane rips off his shirt that’s blood red. A few women swoon in the stands and must think the drama is part of the show. This guy is built like a tank.

Willa throws her arms around me, and I almost forget about Shane.

“I can’t watch,” she cries.

The bull locks onto the shirt, which Shane waves to the side of him.

No matter what the clowns do they cannot divert the bull’s attention. It’s completely focused on Shane.

Cyn has left the judges’ box and stands outside on its porch, clutching the railing. Her normally olive skin has paled.

Willa buries her face into my shirt, so I wrap my arms around her. The bull snorts, blowing the dust from its broad nose.

The clowns use horns and bang pans, but the bull has its sights on Shane. When it bears down this time, its sharp broad horns are pointed at Shane’s gut. I don’t know how the animal will miss this time.





Chapter Shane


The bull has made me its target. It lowers its head and rushes toward me. Sweat lathers on its withers. I run to the side where the barrel could lessen the impending blow.

My heart pounds like it could explode from my chest.

I race toward the barrel, but there’s no way I’ll make it. The animal’s rank odor assaults my senses. I could dive for the barrel, but exposing my body to the bull’s hooves is not a good choice.

As the bull slams into me, knocking the breath from my lungs, I reach for its horns. It snorts in my face and its wild eyes glaze over. It pushes its one horn into my side and pain like a sharp knife rips into me. I can’t hold this damn bull any longer. I smash the bull in the nose, and f*ck, it only makes it angrier and dig its hooves in harder.

An explosion rings in my ears. The one horn sinks into my ribs, and I can hear it crack from the pressure. Before the other horn pierces through my flesh, the bull drops. Its front hooves buckle underneath the massive weight of its broad chest.

The bull topples over, pinning my shot leg with its side. I clench my teeth in agony. Blood pumps from the hole in its side, penetrating the heart.