Page 25 of Rodeo Rivals
18
McKayla
Dropping her saddle in the line, McKayla scanned the men chatting with one another while they stretched before their turn in the chute. If she were honest with herself, she would admit that she wasn’t surveying her competition. She was looking for one rider in particular.
It’d been hours since she left his camper, but her heart still raced in her chest at the thought of seeing him. That wasn’t good. She thought if they slept together again, she would’ve gotten it out of her system.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Wyatt repeatedly strolled through her thoughts the moment she let her mind wander. She had to willfully shoo him out of herbrain so she could concentrate on her workout. Even the simple act of adjusting the buckle on her chaps reminded her of Wyatt’s belt and what he hid behind it.
Closing her eyes, she lifted her head to the sky and let out a bit of a frustrated groan. She couldn’t have a crush right now. There wasn’t time for anything like this. She chased a dream. Starting anything right now was out of the question.
“You alright there, kid?” Seth asked as he approached.
Did he have radar or something? Was she wearing an AirTag? Why was he always popping up wherever she went?
McKayla glared in his direction. She was not in the mood for his bullshit and placed her hands on her hips. “What do you want?”
Holding both of his hands over his chest, near his heart, he gasped exaggeratedly. “I’m trying to be nice. We got off on the wrong foot yesterday. You looked like you might be in pain or something.”
Sure. He came over out of concern. Like she’d believe that. She wasn’t born yesterday.
“I’m fine,” she snapped and turned away from him to stretch out her legs.
He leaned in closer to her.
She recoiled. What the hell was he doing now? He was far too close to her. “Excuse me.”
“My sisters get cranky, too,” he whispered.
“What?” She stepped away from him.
“You know.” He gestured in her direction. “Duringthattime.”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. He didnotjust say that.
“You know. I heard the animals can sense it, and it makes them crazy,” he said.
“Where do you find the audacity?”
He cocked his head to the side like a puppy. “I’m not sure what you mean, but I think it might be best if you sit out the events that are happening while you’re…” He paused and waved his hand as though searching for a word. “On your cycle.”
“First of all—”
“If the bulls are all wild, someone will get hurt. It’s really for everyone’s safety.”
The rage bubbled through her blood. Her fingers curled into fists, and she rocked back and forth from the balls of her feet to her heels. She had to keep calm. There were strict rules against clocking someone. No matter how badly he deserved it.
She narrowed her eyes. “I can see you’re having a hard time dealing with a woman competing against you. Do you need a hug?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Do you think your presence concerns me?”
“Why else would you be here being this annoying?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t think it’s safe for you to be around the bulls when you’re on the rag.”
She copied his stance. “I’m not arguing with you. You have every right to be wrong.”
