Page 11 of Rough Ride

I did a double-take. It was tough to tell without his cowboy hat, but there was no mistaking the mop of blond hair and statuesque jawline. It was one of the guys from last night. Johnny Armstrong.

I stopped at the next light, and he passed me again. Yeah, it was definitely Johnny.

When the light changed, I asked my passenger, “Do you mind if I pull over for a minute?”

The woman in the back seat muttered something, but I was already pulling off to a side street at the next block where Johnny would cross. I rolled down my window and stuck my head out as he approached. He frowned at my car, which was blocking the walkway, but then broke into a huge grin when he recognized me.

“It’s forty degrees out. You’re going to catch a cold.”

He came to a stop next to my car. “I’m a Colorado boy, Sky Eyes. This weather is downrightpleasant. Besides, my body runs hot.”

I couldn’t stop myself from admiring the body in question. He had an even tan, with a few splotches of red because of the cold, but that was the only blemish. His six-pack—no,eight-pack—was so well-defined it could have been painted on, like a tray of delicious dinner rolls. His arms were strong and proportional, hanging loosely from broad shoulders. And peaking up from his running shorts were those irresistible V-lines so few men had.

This man wasfine.

“If you head west from here, you’ll hit the Trinity Trail,” I told him. “It goes along the river for a while. Great for running.”

He looked in that direction, bringing his perfect profile into view once more. “That way?” he pointed.

“About a mile.”

“Appreciate the tip,” he said, touching his hand to his eyebrow in a friendly salute. “Hope you’ll be at the opening ceremony tonight.”

“I’ll be serving beer in the crowd.” I couldn’t resist teasing him a little, so I added, “Looking forward to seeing Eli get a bigger cheer than you.”

Johnny’s smile deepened. “Trust me. The crowd reaction to my entrance is always bigger.”

I let my eyes drift downward to the outline in his running shorts. “I’m sure it’s bigger.”

“I was going to come get that victory drink at Billy Bob’s, but if you’re at the rodeo…”

“I’m working both,” I found myself saying. “My shift at Billy Bob’s begins after the rodeo.”

“When do you get off?”

“Usually after my date leaves,” I joked.

Johnny barked a laugh. “I’ve never had that problem.”

My eyes flicked down to his running shorts for a millisecond. “I’m sure you haven’t.”

He gave me another casual salute. “See you tonight, Sky Eyes.” Then he took off jogging in the direction I had recommended.

“Sorry about that,” I said to the customer in the back seat. “I won’t mind if you don’t leave a tip, as long as you don’t give me a poor rating.”

The woman leaned forward to talk to me. “Are you kidding? I want to tip youextrafor that show. He’s in the rodeo?”

“Apparently.”

“How long have you two been dating?”

I chuckled. “Oh, no. We’re not dating. I just met him last night.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” she said with a knowing smile. “He has a cute nickname for you. And you two have alotof chemistry.”

Flustered, I said, “I don’t date rodeo guys.”

She leaned back in her seat and scoffed. “If there was ever a time to break that rule, it’s forthatguy. He’s into you. And you seemed like you were into him.”

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