the best part. The best part was I finally got to do what I’d always dreamed: ride bulls.”
“What name were you riding under?”
He grinned. “That’s the ironic thing. Jet’s last name was Chase. His brother’s name was Bill Chase, so we figured it was meant to be.”
“So no one besides Jet knows you did this?”
“I didn’t tell my family or my friends. Back then it was all about getting on as many bulls as possible and learning the basics. That’s what I need to relearn now.” He slipped his wallet from his back pocket and thumbed through a stack of cards until he found the one he wanted. “I’m still a member of the PRCA. So I figured it’s time to bring out Bill again.”
Ava angled closer and pushed up the brim of his hat. “Ah, hate to break it to you cowboy, but this face you got going on? Ain’t exactly forgettable. I’ll remind you that you’ve been on TV. And you’ve built a sizeable fan base. You are recognizable. You should worry about PBR fans recognizing your megawatt smile. And this beautifully chiseled face. And this remarkably distinctive hair.”
“Easy fix. I’ll frown all the time. I’ll grow a goatee. I’ll even shave off my hair.”
“You’re really serious about this.”
“Yes, I am. Never been more serious in my life.”
She removed his hat, setting it on the table—upside down, as she’d seen him do. She fingered the ends of his hair, then sifted her hand through the soft strands to stroke his scalp. “I’d hate for you to cut this. Even though the length reminds me of a swashbuckling pirate and not a cowboy.”
He didn’t back away from her touch. “It’ll grow back.”
“If you’re sure about hacking it off, and if you own a pair of clippers, and if you’ll let me come along on the road with you, I’ll cut it for you.”
Chase looked at her oddly. “You’re a barber too?”
“Axel went through a punk stage and I got pretty good at trimming up the sides of his Mohawk.”
“You close to your brother?”
“He avoids being seen with me in public these days because of the bad press.” Maybe that’s why Chase was dragging his heels. Ava slowly let her hands drop and glanced away.
But Chase grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes, and that little show of force thrilled her. “I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you, Ava. Far from it. But it will reflect badly on you in the press if I get caught impersonating another bull rider and you’re with me.”
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take. What will happen to you if you get caught?”
“I don’t know. Which is why I have to be damn careful that no one recognizes me.” His eyes turned a hard. “This is more than an adventure for me, Ava. This is my life, my livelihood. My entire future is at stake. You understand?”
“Yes. I promise not to do anything to jeopardize this chance for you, Chase. But please, I’m asking for the same chance. Let me be someone else for a while too.”
Just when she thought he’d remind her of his “no sex” decree, Chase retreated. “Fine. You’re in. Before we take off tomorrow, I need to stop in and see my folks. And my brother and his family.”
“Great. That’ll give me time to burn a CD of road tunes.”
He groaned. “I’m already regretting this and we haven’t left yet.”
“But this will be the soundtrack to our buddy trip. Like Thelma and Louise . Or those old Bob Hope and Bing Crosby movies.”
“Or Mel Gibson in The Road Warrior .”
Ava bumped her knee to his. “That doesn’t count. He had no buddies. He just drove around killing people.”
“Maybe we’ll wanna kill each other after a few weeks on the road together.”
“Highly unlikely because we are gonna be the best friends in the history of the world.” She tacked on a fake smile. “How far is the bull riding boot camp?”
“About two and a half hours.”
Something occurred to her. “Will the people putting you up have a place for me to
“What name were you riding under?”
He grinned. “That’s the ironic thing. Jet’s last name was Chase. His brother’s name was Bill Chase, so we figured it was meant to be.”
“So no one besides Jet knows you did this?”
“I didn’t tell my family or my friends. Back then it was all about getting on as many bulls as possible and learning the basics. That’s what I need to relearn now.” He slipped his wallet from his back pocket and thumbed through a stack of cards until he found the one he wanted. “I’m still a member of the PRCA. So I figured it’s time to bring out Bill again.”
Ava angled closer and pushed up the brim of his hat. “Ah, hate to break it to you cowboy, but this face you got going on? Ain’t exactly forgettable. I’ll remind you that you’ve been on TV. And you’ve built a sizeable fan base. You are recognizable. You should worry about PBR fans recognizing your megawatt smile. And this beautifully chiseled face. And this remarkably distinctive hair.”
“Easy fix. I’ll frown all the time. I’ll grow a goatee. I’ll even shave off my hair.”
“You’re really serious about this.”
“Yes, I am. Never been more serious in my life.”
She removed his hat, setting it on the table—upside down, as she’d seen him do. She fingered the ends of his hair, then sifted her hand through the soft strands to stroke his scalp. “I’d hate for you to cut this. Even though the length reminds me of a swashbuckling pirate and not a cowboy.”
He didn’t back away from her touch. “It’ll grow back.”
“If you’re sure about hacking it off, and if you own a pair of clippers, and if you’ll let me come along on the road with you, I’ll cut it for you.”
Chase looked at her oddly. “You’re a barber too?”
“Axel went through a punk stage and I got pretty good at trimming up the sides of his Mohawk.”
“You close to your brother?”
“He avoids being seen with me in public these days because of the bad press.” Maybe that’s why Chase was dragging his heels. Ava slowly let her hands drop and glanced away.
But Chase grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes, and that little show of force thrilled her. “I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you, Ava. Far from it. But it will reflect badly on you in the press if I get caught impersonating another bull rider and you’re with me.”
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take. What will happen to you if you get caught?”
“I don’t know. Which is why I have to be damn careful that no one recognizes me.” His eyes turned a hard. “This is more than an adventure for me, Ava. This is my life, my livelihood. My entire future is at stake. You understand?”
“Yes. I promise not to do anything to jeopardize this chance for you, Chase. But please, I’m asking for the same chance. Let me be someone else for a while too.”
Just when she thought he’d remind her of his “no sex” decree, Chase retreated. “Fine. You’re in. Before we take off tomorrow, I need to stop in and see my folks. And my brother and his family.”
“Great. That’ll give me time to burn a CD of road tunes.”
He groaned. “I’m already regretting this and we haven’t left yet.”
“But this will be the soundtrack to our buddy trip. Like Thelma and Louise . Or those old Bob Hope and Bing Crosby movies.”
“Or Mel Gibson in The Road Warrior .”
Ava bumped her knee to his. “That doesn’t count. He had no buddies. He just drove around killing people.”
“Maybe we’ll wanna kill each other after a few weeks on the road together.”
“Highly unlikely because we are gonna be the best friends in the history of the world.” She tacked on a fake smile. “How far is the bull riding boot camp?”
“About two and a half hours.”
Something occurred to her. “Will the people putting you up have a place for me to
Similar Books
