The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(105)

As they drove up to the fairgrounds, Lars asked. “Have you been to a rodeo before, Eddie?”

“No,” Eddie admitted.

“Well, you’re in for a treat. There’s all kinds of great events, but I am going for my fifth win as a bronco rider. If I get this win, I’ll tie my daddy. That would be a great honor for me.”

Eddie nodded once. “Okay then, I’ll root for you.”

Lars introduced Eddie to all of the regulars he saw. He tried to avoid the ladies with whom he would usually fraternize with, and he could see by their faces that they weren’t too happy with him.

Tanya pulled him aside. “What are you doing, Lars? Who is the black chick?”

“Don’t worry, darlin’. She is a means to an end. You hang in there, and you’ll see why. I’ll come back to you, I promise. I won’t withhold this from you for long.” Lars cupped his crotch and Tanya laughed.

“You better not.” Tanya dragged her tongue up the side of his face and tickled his ear with the tip. “I have some dirty plans for you, lover.”

Lars felt tingles up and down his body. He knew what this girl was capable of making him feel and he wanted it. He put his hands on her round behind and pushed his crotch up against her. He looked down at her cleavage showing proudly in her tight white spandex top.

“Oh, mama.” Lars wiggled his tongue and aimed for Tanya’s breasts. Tanya groped Lars’ hips.

“Excuse me.” Lars looked over to see Eddie looking at him with her arms crossed, her weight on one side of her body and tapping her toe. “Am I interrupting you?” Lars quickly took his hands off of Tanya and walked toward her. “No, just got a bit distracted for a moment.”

“That’s right!” Tanya yelled out.

Eddie stared hard at him. “We need to talk.” She stomped into the trailer and Lars followed like a puppy in trouble.

She slammed the door once he sat at the table. “Let me make something perfectly clear, Lars. If we are even going to consider marriage, I will not stand for your distractions. You either choose to be with me exclusively, or the deal is off. I will go home right now.” Her voice was firm, but not loud. Her message was clear.

Lars felt ashamed. He looked at her with true sincerity. “You are right. I regressed. I’ll do better. I promise. Please give me another chance.”

Eddie turned away from him and was silent. Lars wasn’t sure if he should say anything else. After a full minute of silence, he got up from the table and gently approached her.

“Eddie, I’m so sorry I disrespected you.”

He turned her around and could see she was crying. He pulled her close to him. “You deserve better, and I will prove to you that I can be the man you deserve.”

He held her and she cried into his shoulder. His heart melted. For the first time in his life, he wanted to change.

Chapter 6

Rodeo Upset

Eddie sat next to Lars in the stands for the Bareback Bronc Riding competition. He had softened and was being attentive and caring. Now this was the Lars she could get used to.

“What is the difference between this event and the one you are competing in?” Eddie asked.

“These guys ride bareback. There is no saddle. They hang on with a leather handle and focus on using spurs to control the animal. I personally don’t like spurs. I ride a saddle and focus on finding the rhythm of the bronco and joining him.”

Eddie nodded. She liked that.

“Are these wild horses?”

“Nah. These broncs are just horses who like to buck. It’s a game for them.”

“You think so, huh?” Eddie wasn’t too sure. She really didn’t like the whole rodeo concept, but she was trying to be open-minded and learn more about the culture in the area.

Just when Eddie was starting to feel more comfortable with Lars, Tanya stepped up into the bleacher and sat right behind Lars and spread her legs on either side of the back of his head.

Lars looked down. “Tanya, I need you to give us some space. I’m with Eddie now.”

“Since when did you go for chocolate over vanilla?” Tanya rubbed her fingers through his hair.

Lars stood up and faced her. He pointed his finger in her face. “You disrespect her again and you’ll wish you never met me. Got it?”

Tanya backed up and put her hands in the air. “Fine. I didn’t mean anything by that. Sorry.”

Eddie put her arm in Lars’ as he sat down again. She whispered in his ear, “Let’s just go.”

Lars put his hand on hers and started to rise.

Tanya put both her hands on his shoulders and lowered him back down. “Not so fast, cowboy. I need to tell you something.”

Lars and Eddie sat back down.

“Just you, Lars, not your new girlfriend,” Tanya said.

“It’s both of us or not at all, Tanya,” Lars said.

“Fine.” Tanya leaned down and put her face in between Lars and Eddie. “I’m carrying your baby, Lars. If you want me to go away, you need to give me a big lump of money and I’ll quietly take care of your child in style. If you don’t, I’ll go straight to the media and cry about the billionaire who dumped me and rejected his own baby.”

Eddie was flooded with emotion. She couldn’t let Lars or Tanya see her. She stood up and ran off without a single word. This news cut deep. Deeper than anyone could understand. She needed to get away.