Page 89 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

The energy is high, and if any of our crew had great performances, we ride that post-performance like the biggest wave in the ocean. Tonight, I might as well be an Olympic-level surfer.

I had the best ride of my life, and I’m finally making it to the National Finals. But that’s not the best part. The best part stands in the corner chatting with a barrel rider from town. As if he feels my gaze on him, Griff swivels away from the pretty brunette and meets my stare. He smiles at the woman again before politely excusing himself and walking my way.

Griff, I’ve only recently come to realize, is my lighthouse. At the rodeo, in the bars, and even just in life. When things are tough or uncertain, it’s always Griff I’ve reached for. My heart should burst right now, but it’s heavy as I watch him work his way through the crowd towards me. All the nights I put him through watching me hook up with people, keeping me safe, when all this time it should have been him.

“Jamieson! Are you singing tonight?”

A nameless roper slaps my back a little too hard, but I smile at the mention of singing, anyway.

“You bet! Just need to figure out which one.”

The man leans in closer and slides a hand across mine. A gesture I never would have picked up on before unless Griff pointed it out to me. Stepping away from the touch, I search for Griff again, and I meet his blue gaze only a few steps away.

When he reaches me, he slides his hand into my back pocket and presses a kiss to my lips. “You’re on your third drink, Jamie. Shouldn’t you be singing by now?”

“That’s what I said!” The nameless man grips my shoulder and leaves his hand there for an extra beat and I want to think it’s just him being friendly, but there’s more to it. When I glance at Griff, his eyebrows furrow, and there’s a spark in his blue eyes as he takes in the man’s prolonged contact.

“He’s not available, Pauly. In case the kiss didn’t give it away.” Griff almost growls, and that’s sort of hot.

Pauly laughs and removes his hand while stepping back. “Sorry, sorry. I heard you two might be a thing, but a guy can hope.”

When Pauly leaves, I turn to Griff. “You can use that voice anytime, babe. It’s hot.” Dipping my mouth next to his ear, I whisper, “I like it when you get all possessive, and I like that flush on your neck right now. Why did we come here when we should’ve gone home and gotten naked?”

Griff’s lips, so close to my ear, send a shiver down my spine. “Because you want to sing and celebrate like always, Jamie. I’ll still take you home after.”

He presses a kiss to my neck, and the only thing I want to sing right now is his name as he comes all over me.

“Follow me?”

“Always.”

Turning on my heel, I head to the hallway towards the bathrooms. It’s cliché and not romantic, like Griff deserves, but I just want to have him to myself for a few minutes. The hall is quieter than the bar, and Giff laughs.

“You want to get off in the bathroom? Really?”

“If that accessible bathroom is open, yes. But just for a few minutes. We don’t even have to come. We just have to…”

My words trail off as we reach the bathroom in question because Hunter charges out of it like a swarm of bees is on his ass…with Gabe right after him. They both notice us and say nothing, but Gabe runs to catch up with Hunter.

“Wow. So Diamond was right about something going on with those two,” Griff says as he grabs my hand and pulls me away from the door of the bathroom. “That’s not who I am, Jamie, even with you. Let’s sing your song, then I’ll dump the rest of your drink and take you home.”

“You always take care of me, Griff,” I croak.

His smile is soft as he cups my cheek. “That will never change, Jamie.”

“I’m sorry. I never noticed how much this hurt you.”

Griff smiles and presses a kiss to my lips that lingers. “Don’t be sorry. I put myself in that position and yes, it hurt, but I kept you safe and that was far more important than my feelings.”

Resting my forehead against his, I sigh a shaky breath. “I don’t want you to do that anymore. I want to know how you feel, and I don’t want you to hurt because of me again.”

“Okay.”

“Promise me, Griff.”

Griff nods against me and runs his hands up my chest. “I promise.”

My tongue feels thick, and the warmth of his hands on me is all I can think about. When he moves to drop his hands and step away, I grab his wrists and pull him back to me.

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