Page 43 of Headstrong Cowboy
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.I’ve seen you and Ranger work together on numerous occasions, but today, you were unbelievable.You’ve got the fastest time.”
“I do?”All Chrissy had been aiming for was to be in the top ten.She would’ve been happy if she’d been in fifth.Heck, even in tenth, she would’ve been whooping it up, because being there would mean she was coming back and had a chance to get into the cash winning positions.
“Yep.Your nearest competitor did a 15.725.”
Chrissy took in it.That was about the time she and Ranger had been doing when they were training.“So, the time of 15.552 that I thought I heard was really mine?”
“Yep.”
“Wow.”She turned to Ranger, who was standing patiently waiting for her to rub him down.“You deserve an extra apple after that run, boy.”
“I’ll let you go and fix Ranger up.Your sisters and I will be waiting for you at the autograph stand.You’re going to be needing to sign a few things, seeing as you finished first in your heat.”
“Okay, but I doubt many people will come and see me.They’ll be disappointed that their favorites didn’t make it.”
Ryder reached out and tapped her on the nose.“Hey, don’t underestimate yourself.You’re a Marietta local.You’ve got the whole town cheering for you.”
“That makes me feel better—not.”She grimaced at the thought of disappointing the whole town if tomorrow she flaked and did an awful time.
“I really am proud of you, Chrysanthemum Bloom.”He gave a soft kiss on her lips before he tipped his hat and strolled away.
Whenever Ryder used her full name, it didn’t bother her the way it usually did in the past.It was a caress when he called her that and, like everything he did, she felt special.
Once Ranger was settled, she made her way to the area set aside for competitors to sign whatever the rodeo fans wanted signed.
“Oh my God, Chrissy, you were amazing.”Tilly rushed up to her and gave her a huge hug.
“Really impressive, sis.It didn’t even look as if this was the first time you’ve competed in years.”Sunny shoulder-bumped her.Her sister wasn’t much of a hugger, only handing them out on special occasions.When she did, Sunny’s hugs were restorative and comforting.
Ryder stood behind her sisters, looking as if he wanted to be anywhere else but there.She went up to him.“Are you okay?”
Such a silly question when she could tell he was anything but okay.Yet, she still needed to ask it.
Ryder sighed, and Chrissy wrapped her arms around him, giving him a tight hug.She was aware that she needed to get to the table and that people were possibly waiting for her.But this was more important.She needed to let Ryder know that she had his back, like she had her sisters.That she would do anything for him.
She may have thought before that she was falling in love with him, but now she knew for sure that she was.He was here, in a place that was hard for him to be.A place that represented all that he’d lost.A place where the friends he knew were still able to follow their dreams when he couldn’t.
“I’m okay.I can’t deny it’s not hard, but if I’m going to move on, I have to face being at the rodeo as a spectator and not a competitor.”
Chrissy leaned back to study him, knowing that having to admit that had to have been difficult.“You being here means so much to me, especially knowing all of that.If you want to go, I’ll understand.”
Ryder shook his head.“Nope, we’ve got some celebrating to do.Besides, I need a date for the steak dinner.”
A teasing glint had entered his eyes, and she loved seeing it there.“Really?I’m sure I can fix you up with someone.”
“There’s only one person I want to go with and she’s right in front of me.”He nuzzled her neck and her body lit with desire.Chrissy wished they were anywhere but standing in a packed arena.How many people were watching their PDA?Did she even care?The answer was easy—no, she didn’t.She didn’t care what anyone saw or said.Ryder was holding her, and that was all that mattered to her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The music swirledaround him as he and Chrissy swayed on the spot.They’d enjoyed sharing a table with her sisters at the dinner.Sunny had looked a little uncomfortable and had made her escape as soon as she could.Tilly, on the other hand, was happy to flit between tables, flirting with some of the competitors and generally having a fun time.
All the Bloom sisters were different and that was what made them unique, which was why his decision to purchase their property wasn’t simple.
Lucinda had called him while he’d been waiting for Chrissy to compete.He’d told her he’d let her know in the next couple of days, but he was very interested, and he knew it was a lot to ask, but could she put off showing it to other buyers until after the weekend?She’d been more than happy to accommodate him, saying that she wouldn’t likely show anyone until the next weekend, after the town had returned to a sense of normalcy after the rodeo.
It also gave him time to attempt to work out how to tell Chrissy what he had planned.After how well she’d done that day, he knew he needed to wait until the competition was over.If anyone should know about how distractions could be disastrous, it was him.After all, his mind hadn’t been fully on the beast between his legs when he’d had his accident.
But that was in the past and he couldn’t change it.In the end, he was alive and able to walk, and that was the main thing.
