Page 29 of Fool for You
“I’m sure it will.”
“It will,” I agreed with him. “I made a few mistakes, but I won’t be making them again.” I looked over at him, noticing the way his eyebrows pinched.
“Made a few mistakes? You mean, you knocked over a few barrels?”
“Oh, what?” I tilted my head and let my hair fall. “Did you watch it on theCowboy Channel?”
He gave a soft laugh. “No, I didn’t. Just guessing by the way you came home last night.”
“I was tired. It was a long drive.”
“What happened?” His voice was soft, calming almost. The same chill flowed through my body with the way he spoke that did when fictional characters declared their love for each other. It was uneasy, yet completely comforting.
I pursed my lips and dropped my arms to my side, then began. “I messed up the reservation at the stables, and they almost wouldn’t let my horses share a stall. I thought I booked a hotel, but I got the days mixed up and ended up sleeping in my truck. I came in last, knocked over barrels, saw my mom—you know…” I took another deep breath, not believing I just mentioned my mom in front of Wyatt. I tensed and forced myself to continue. “All the normal things.”
“You messed up reservations? Stable and hotel? How?”
My shoulders relaxed, and the fact that that was what he chose to ask me about changed my entire demeanor. I wasn’t exactly sure what I would do if he asked about my mom.
“I just mixed up the days while I was booking, an honest mistake. And I swear I booked two stalls, but…I guess I didn’t. It was just the one place, though.” I ducked under Hook’s neck, giving him a soft caress. “They let them stay in the one stall, but they upped my price and made me sign a waiver in case anything happened that they wouldn’t be responsible.”
“Make sense. But—did you just overbook yourself, so…it slipped your mind?”
I shrugged my shoulder. “Cash did this for me last year. He finalized everything. I guess I was overconfident.” I sighed, looking over at him. He opened his mouth to speak, but I pointed at him. “Don’t say anything. Mistakes happen. I just can’t let them take over.”
“Mistakes do happen, but you don’t have to do this alone, you know. I’m sure Cash would still help you book things, at least until you get the hang of it. Hell, I can help.” He stood, dusting off his jeans and his palms. “But I gotta ask, why travel with both horses. You did last year, too, right? I know seasoned riders travel with two or more, but this is only your second year—why take both?”
“It’s…” I looked at the gelding in front of me. Hook was fast, he was energetic, and he was a spitfire who got the best scores. Then I turned to Charming in his own stall. He was calm, he was precise, he was everything Hook wasn’t all wrapped into one package. I had to have both of them. “It’s important to me. I can read the arena and get a good feel as to who will perform better. The louder the crowd, the more Hook gets pumped. He runs faster, he performs. The smaller the rodeo, Charming’s my man. They are my heart and soul, and it’s really important to methey both come. I need them.” Looking back to Hook, I scratched behind his ears, and he let out a soft groan.
“Who were you riding when you knocked over the barrels?” Wyatt asked.
Twisting my lips, I responded, “Hook. I made the wrong call.”
“No, I wouldn’t say that. I haven’t really seen you ‘make a wrong call’ since you got here.” He air-quoted right before shoving his hands in his pockets. “Well, except not going out with me, but that’s beside the point.”
“Really, Wyatt?” I raised a brow and shot him a glare.
“Come on.” He cocked a devilish grin. “Just trying to make you smile.”
I shook my head, actually feeling a smile tug at my lips. I tightened them, keeping that particular emotion down.
Wyatt cleared his throat. “What’s your next step? You have more events this weekend, right?”
I nodded. “I’ll be gone for seven days, five rodeos.”
“And everything is booked?”
“I hope. I’m going to double-check as soon as I’m done here.” I answered, my hand gliding down Hook’s back. I’m not sure why I felt compelled to talk, why I felt comfortable with Wyatt, but I swallowed and said, “What if I can’t do it? What if I am overconfident? What if I make the wrong call again and again and ruin my shot? You have no idea how much this means to me. I can’t mess up again.”
Wyatt’s eyes grew hooded, his chin dipping as he looked at me, his contact not once faltering. He inhaled, a deep, slow breath. “You won’t but—”
“But?” I stopped him.
“No, it’s not a bad but.” He chuckled. “There’s no harm in having someone there to root for you and hype you up and take care of things when you can’t.”
“And who’s that? My mom? My dad?” I laughed at the thought. “Cash?”
“I can come. I can help. Truly Quinn, this isn’t about me chasing bunnies like you seem to think I do. I want to help. No more mess-ups. No more fallen barrels. I know you can do this; I’ve seen the determination. Not many women can say no to me, but you’ve managed to shoot me down several times, and that takes more determination than barrel racing—”
