Page 7 of Hooking Up

Quint crossed his arms over his chest and looked downright grumpy. Alarm bells sounded in Carter’s brain. When Quint found a cause worth championing, he didn’t back down easily. With him in Bella’s corner, Carter would have a harder time keeping anything from him. Like the fact that he planned to lasso Bella.

“I know she and Wynonna Calhoun don’t have any love between them.”

The Calhouns were a whole family of rodeo people. Five brothers and a little sister, each of them neck-deep in competition. Since Wynonna competed directly against Bella, things were strained between them.

“But the Calhouns are all prickly. That doesn’t mean anything,” Carter offered. “Buck’s been giving us lip service for a year.” Buck Calhoun and his team roping partner, Asher Franklin, were at the top of their game—and his and Quint’s biggest challenger.

Quint shrugged as if his denim shirt was too tight. “Either way, I don’t think Bella should be treated badly.”

Uh-oh. Carter’s alarms blared now. “I don’t see any harm besides the normal teasing that goes on between rodeo people. Don’t get your thong up your ass.”

“Dickhead. You know I go commando.” He shifted as if swinging his free balls.

“Yeah, I’ve seen enough of you to last me a lifetime.” Carter threw the loop of rope over his shoulder and started walking away. “Going to check the horses.”

“I’ll come along.” As soon as Quint joined him, they settled into their old rhythm. Suddenly, Bella wasn’t a tension between them. They had a job to do, and Team Fallon-Lopez was going to kick ass.

* * * * *

The Bella Roberts cheering section was out of control. She had so many cowboys lined up watching her, Quint thought he might need to apply for an official fan club membership card just to stand alongside them.

He hung off to the side. From her position, he knew she could see him. Good—he wanted his touch, his kiss, to be the last thing she thought about before she got into the saddle.

Damn, she looked glorious tonight. Most of the girls primped themselves for the competition. Plenty of guys too. Bella didn’t need much to bring out her natural beauty, though, and the way she held herself so gracefully commanded everyone’s attention. Her freckles alone could bring a man to his knees, though.

Hell, even Carter stood a few feet away, observing her. His friend didn’t think Quint knew, but Carter was as obvious as a dog with porcupine quills in its nose. He’d been sniffing around Bella a lot lately. Carter thought Quint didn’t notice that he kept disappearing, but he knew Carter kept putting himself in Bella’s path.

Let him try. He won’t get anywhere.

Not when she’d already given Quint that stolen moment. And there were many more to come. He stared at her wiggling hips as she strutted to her horse and mounted with an ease only a true cowgirl could manage.

A knot in his chest tightened, tugging an invisible rope connected to his cock. Having her body molded to his while he kissed her wasn’t something he’d forget easily.

“Come on, beautiful,” he murmured.

She gave a saucy wave to the crowd, which erupted into cheers. The cowboys waved and shouted to her as she trotted past them. Then she stopped playing with her onlookers and got down to business.

Quint noted the set of her jaw and tilt of her head. The long lines of her back spoke of total dedication to her sport. She was going in with the gold buckle already fixed in her mind. Nobody was going to take it away from her.

The buzzer sounded, and she was off. Looping the barrels with such skill and speed that the knot in his chest broke free and he fist-punched the air. “Yahhh!”

Carter was grinning. A group of fans near the front was on their feet holding up individual letters that spelled Bella’s name.

She skidded to a stop and performed a magnificent and Disney-princess-like bow from the saddle that had everyone roaring. Quint looked around to see Carter leaving the arena.

Oh hell no.

He tailed him, closing the gap in seconds. They were almost of equal height, but Quint’s longer legs always run the races. “Where ya going, Carter?”

“Just getting a drink. I’m mighty thirsty.”

“I bet. Watching Bella probably does that to everybody.”

Carter’s bored expression was totally an act. “I reckon.”

Quint didn’t know whether he wanted to punch his friend or join him in finding Bella. “They got some of those power drinks back there by the gate. Want me to grab you one?”

Carter eyed him. All of a sudden, they were like two bulldogs circling the same little French poodle. Each aware of what theother was doing but not willing to take that first lunge at the other.

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