Page 6 of Hooking Up

Chances of this interview getting air time were slim—he and Quint weren’t big names. Not yet. But if they kept going like they were, they might see some big money. Right now he was happy to be paying cash for all their travel expenses and entry fees. Thankfully their truck and trailer were paid off, but it would be nice to start building a little emergency fund.

“The rodeo life is hard. You’re always on the road. How do you stay in touch with family and friends?” Tammy asked in a sultry voice.

“Same way anybody does. I call them. Text them.”

She sidled closer until he felt the press of her thigh against his. “Is there a special someone on that list?”

Immediately Bella’s face popped into his mind. Dark lashes fringing her wide gray eyes and all those tormenting freckles. Damn, he could still taste her. So much passion, barely harnessed. It didn’t surprise him that a woman as feisty as Bella would have such an untamed response to his kiss, but he couldn’t deny it stroked his ego too. He wanted her undone, panting, begging for him.

“Oh look, there’s Jeb Anderson. I hear he has someone special. Maybe you should ask him.” Carter barely got the words out before Tammy shot after Jeb.

Shaking his head, Carter returned to checking his gear for his upcoming performance. A bad start would mean he and Quint were pushed out of the standings today. The pressure to perform better and faster each time was like shaking a bottle of champagne—he felt about to burst after every ride.

He and Quint always vented their frustrations to each other, but what about Bella? Who did she confide to?

The jangle of spurs made him look up. His partner shot him a grin, and Carter returned it.

“Tammy get you?” Quint asked, arching one dark brow.

Carter shot him a look. “You sent her after me. Asshole. Jeb’s stuck with her now.”

They shared a chuckle.

“Are you ready for this?” Carter asked.

Quint knew exactly what he was talking about. After working together and being best friends for five years, there weren’t a lot of mysteries between them. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Carter coiled his rope, whipped his arm and tossed it. The perfect circlet fell on the ears of the cow in his imagination. Quint took a couple practice throws too.

“Did you see Bella Roberts ride that bull? Fucking crazy woman.” Admiration infused Quint’s tone. From the corner ofhis eye, Carter studied his partner. Same old Quint—slightly mussed, looking as if he’d just rolled out of bed. Carter saw nothing in his expression to alert him to a crush.

Good thing. The last thing he needed was a pissed-off partner. They’d never found a woman to fight over and they had to keep it that way. One hiccup out in that arena would throw them off.

“No, I didn’t see her ride. Heard about it, though.” It was all the guys could talk about. How Bella had sworn only a bull could handle her, and she’d jumped on to prove it. Sure, she hadn’t made the full eight-second ride, but she hadn’t been killed.

“That wasn’t her first time on a bull,” Quint said, his thoughts running close to Carter’s. “I can’t imagine what her childhood musta been like.”

“Doesn’t she have a brother? He could probably tell you some stories.”

“Yeah, but he’s not a rodeo guy. I heard he’s a cattleman back in Arkansas.”

“Is that where Bella’s from?” Carter didn’t know nearly enough about her. He planned to uncover all her secrets tonight over dinner. Then later—right after he made her yodel at the ceiling in pleasure.

Quint lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. “I don’t know exactly. She’s got some walls up, that woman.”

“I think it adds to her popularity.”

“Yeah, both with the guys and the fans.” Quint scuffed his knuckles over his jaw and tossed his rope at an invisible target again.

“Whatever her story is, she’s good at keeping it under wraps.”

“Tammy hasn’t gotten to her yet.”

They exchanged a look and burst into laughter. “Tammy’s afraid of Bella, I reckon,” Carter said.

“Why do you say that?”

“Haven’t you noticed how the other women give Bella such a wide berth?”

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