Page 9 of Big Obsession
“Congratulations,” I tell him with my head leaned back to look up at him. His eyes search mine, and there’s a heat in them that I hadn’t noticed before.
He doesn’t let me go far. His hand finds mine, and he threads our fingers together. “Thanks. You know, you might be my good luck charm.”
Damn, it would be so easy to fall head over heels in love with this man. Shoot, who am I kidding? I’ve been a goner for him for a long time. Afraid he’s going to see how I feel, I look away to Ace. “We probably need to get you to practice.”
Ace is looking between me and his dad with a huge smile on his face, but when he realizes that we really should be leaving, he nods reluctantly. “Yeah, I guess.” He nudges his dad. “Can I go say bye to the team?”
Tucker nods. “Yeah, go ahead. We’re right behind you.”
As Ace walks in front of us, Tucker explains, “We’ll let him say bye to everyone, and then I’ll help you get out the back door that leads straight to the parking lot. It will knock off a few minutes.”
I nod as I fall into step next to him. People are all smiles, praising Tucker’s ride as we walk through the people. When we get toward the back and the crowd has thinned out, I look around us. “Do you think we can talk later?”
He takes his hat off and holds it in his hands. “About what?”
I shrug. I definitely don’t want to talk to him about all of this here. Heck, I’m not even sure what I need to say to him at this point. I can’t just drop the bombshell that his son thinks we’re an item. No, I need to do that when we have some privacy. My hesitancy has him stopping and pulling me to a stop next to him. “Are you rethinking taking Ace to practices? I know it’s a lot to ask and?—”
I cut him off. “Of course not.” I look around again. “I just think it’s something we should talk about in private.”
He smiles and then takes his hand and brushes a piece of hair off my face. “Sure. How about I bring dinner when I pick up Ace?”
I nod. “Sounds good, but is it okay if I take Ace to your house after practice? He’s been wanting to show me the new barn cats and… I mean, or you can just pick him up at my house. Whatever you want to do.”
A slow, heated smile forms. “Yeah, Dolly. I’d like that. I’d like for you and Ace to be waiting at the ranch for me when I get home.”
I scrunch my nose up. “Are you sure?”
He leans toward me. “Yeah, honey, I’m sure I want you on my ranch, in my house. The only thing that would make it any better is if you were in my bed.”
I gasp, and he puts an arm around my shoulder. “Close your mouth, honey. I guess whatever it is you’re wanting to talk about later we’re going to include a conversation about what’s happening between us.”
I gulp. I’m freaked out but in the best way possible. “Okay,” I mutter.
He chuckles. “Now come on. You have a kid to get to practice, and I have one more ride to get ready for.”
With his arm around me, he walks us to Ace and then to the back door of the arena. He hugs Ace and me bye with a promise to see us later.
The whole way to the car, Ace is smiling ear to ear, and I can’t help it, so am I.
CHAPTER 7
TUCKER
“What time is it?” I ask my team.
One of them calls out, “Five-thirty.”
I grit my teeth. We’re running behind. I’m the last ride of the night, and as soon as I’m done, I’m going to go and pick up dinner and then head home to Ace and Dolly.
Thankfully, my team will take care of my horse for me. I sit astride Bullet and run my hand through his mane. “I know we haven’t done this in a while, but I thought it could be fun. What do you think, boy?”
The horse neighs. I haven’t participated in a barrel racing event in a long time, but when I got the call they were short a rider, I thought why not?
When the gun goes off, Bullet starts sprinting. I grip him with my thighs, lie forward, and lean into the curves. The first two barrels are a piece of cake, and from the roar of the crowd, I know my time is good. It’s as we’re going around the third barrel that things go off the rail. I’m leaning too close, and either Bullet or I trip up.
I remember a collective gasp from the arena… and then everything goes black.
When I come to, I’m surrounded by my team and emergency personnel that had been hired for the event.
