off.
She wanted to look around for Ryder. Her skin still tingled from the rough scratch of his five o’clock shadow. But she didn’t dare miss the chute opening because her father would ask her opinion about Cody’s shoulder set, his grip, the position of his legs. How a man left the chute often dictated his entire ride.
Cody had it all, though. He moved with every whip and turn just as he’d been shown for weeks on their ranch. But he was no Ryder Calhoun. Everything about Ryder—from his vintage chaps to the crown of his Stetson screamed champion.
From behind her, she heard a deep throat-clearing noise that raised the hairs on her spine. Was he standing right there? She issued a shaky breath just as Cody completed his eight seconds.
That’s not a ride that will beat Ryder’s. Was it terrible that she hoped it didn’t? Ryder’s run would forever be emblazoned on her mind. Long after they stopped this insane thing they were doing, she’d draw on that memory and recall his strength and skill in everything he did.
She remembered to open her mouth and cheer and clap for Cody as he came off his bull. He did a victory dance that entertained the crowd before falling to one knee in a prayer of thanks.
She knew from the Rope ‘n Ride show that the Calhouns all did this in private—together—after the closing events.
She glanced to the side to see them all clustered around Ryder. With only the tip of his hat visible, she had no idea what was going on—until the bodies of two cameramen parted and she was given a look at his straining shoulders and stiff spine.
Oh no. Now what?
His rumbling tone reached her even over the din of cheers for Cody. Then Wynonna and Lane turned and looked straight at her.
Heart dropping, she nearly swallowed her tongue. What was going on?
Before she could think, Cody was standing before her. Without asking first, he took her in his arms and yanked her off her feet. The toes of her boots dangled, and it felt as if every eye in the place was on her.
Please don’t let that be on the rodeo highlights later.
When she pushed away from him and he set her back on her feet, her face burned. Daddy was staring at her, and as soon as they were alone he’d blister her ears for something that was only going on in Cody’s mind.
Then she looked over to see Ryder swiping the camera down and away from him just as he shot off toward the exit.
More than a few Calhouns were looking at her. Great, now they think even worse of me.
This whole attraction between her and Ryder had to end. She wasn’t strong enough to withstand the Calhouns’ ire, let alone her father’s. She hated drama—did everything in her power to avoid it.
Their non-relationship was like Romeo and Juliet’s, a twisted mess of family intrigue, and going against their wishes wasn’t worth it. Or was it? Being with Ryder was…
Well it felt like standing on a cliff edge, scary and exhilarating at the same time. While she was on the ledge, she never wanted it to end. And like an adrenaline junkie, she would risk almost anything to get back to that spot.
She met Wynonna’s gaze and saw the disgusted curl of her lip before the woman turned away and disappeared with her family. Leaving Joy looking between a beaming Cody Gonzales and her father, who’d gotten his name for more than his bull rides. She wasn’t about to just experience the thunder and lightning but a whole super-storm.
* * * * *
“What the hell’s going on with that woman?” Buck demanded.
When Ryder didn’t respond, he clamped his fingers on his shoulder and forced him around. Ryder had barely held it together back there when Gonzales had locked Joy to him and pulled her off her feet in a victory hug. Only his siblings had kept him corralled like a wild animal. He still felt out of his head, deranged by jealousy.
In the back of his mind, he had a good glimpse of Joy’s feelings when she’d learned about a past lover who’d tried to foist her baby on
She wanted to look around for Ryder. Her skin still tingled from the rough scratch of his five o’clock shadow. But she didn’t dare miss the chute opening because her father would ask her opinion about Cody’s shoulder set, his grip, the position of his legs. How a man left the chute often dictated his entire ride.
Cody had it all, though. He moved with every whip and turn just as he’d been shown for weeks on their ranch. But he was no Ryder Calhoun. Everything about Ryder—from his vintage chaps to the crown of his Stetson screamed champion.
From behind her, she heard a deep throat-clearing noise that raised the hairs on her spine. Was he standing right there? She issued a shaky breath just as Cody completed his eight seconds.
That’s not a ride that will beat Ryder’s. Was it terrible that she hoped it didn’t? Ryder’s run would forever be emblazoned on her mind. Long after they stopped this insane thing they were doing, she’d draw on that memory and recall his strength and skill in everything he did.
She remembered to open her mouth and cheer and clap for Cody as he came off his bull. He did a victory dance that entertained the crowd before falling to one knee in a prayer of thanks.
She knew from the Rope ‘n Ride show that the Calhouns all did this in private—together—after the closing events.
She glanced to the side to see them all clustered around Ryder. With only the tip of his hat visible, she had no idea what was going on—until the bodies of two cameramen parted and she was given a look at his straining shoulders and stiff spine.
Oh no. Now what?
His rumbling tone reached her even over the din of cheers for Cody. Then Wynonna and Lane turned and looked straight at her.
Heart dropping, she nearly swallowed her tongue. What was going on?
Before she could think, Cody was standing before her. Without asking first, he took her in his arms and yanked her off her feet. The toes of her boots dangled, and it felt as if every eye in the place was on her.
Please don’t let that be on the rodeo highlights later.
When she pushed away from him and he set her back on her feet, her face burned. Daddy was staring at her, and as soon as they were alone he’d blister her ears for something that was only going on in Cody’s mind.
Then she looked over to see Ryder swiping the camera down and away from him just as he shot off toward the exit.
More than a few Calhouns were looking at her. Great, now they think even worse of me.
This whole attraction between her and Ryder had to end. She wasn’t strong enough to withstand the Calhouns’ ire, let alone her father’s. She hated drama—did everything in her power to avoid it.
Their non-relationship was like Romeo and Juliet’s, a twisted mess of family intrigue, and going against their wishes wasn’t worth it. Or was it? Being with Ryder was…
Well it felt like standing on a cliff edge, scary and exhilarating at the same time. While she was on the ledge, she never wanted it to end. And like an adrenaline junkie, she would risk almost anything to get back to that spot.
She met Wynonna’s gaze and saw the disgusted curl of her lip before the woman turned away and disappeared with her family. Leaving Joy looking between a beaming Cody Gonzales and her father, who’d gotten his name for more than his bull rides. She wasn’t about to just experience the thunder and lightning but a whole super-storm.
* * * * *
“What the hell’s going on with that woman?” Buck demanded.
When Ryder didn’t respond, he clamped his fingers on his shoulder and forced him around. Ryder had barely held it together back there when Gonzales had locked Joy to him and pulled her off her feet in a victory hug. Only his siblings had kept him corralled like a wild animal. He still felt out of his head, deranged by jealousy.
In the back of his mind, he had a good glimpse of Joy’s feelings when she’d learned about a past lover who’d tried to foist her baby on
Similar Books
