Page 88 of Jump Back On

He meant us. He meant our relationship. Scrubbing at my overgrown beard, I tried to think of something that wouldn't make her daddy hurt me too bad. Considering I was at his mercy? Yeah, this had to be a real good line.

"Tanner also talked to me last night," Dean went on. "I got a lesson in bi and pan-something."

"Pansexual," I said, feeling a little tension ease.

Cody's dad bobbed his head. "Yeah, that. I just figured you wouldn't be too scared to let me know what I need to know."

So I leaned onto my left arm, giving my right side a little rest, and decided to just drop it out there. "Well, I'm fucking that boy. I'm making love to your little girl. It ain't a fling for me, but I ain't about to hold her back none either. See, I'm in love with that girl, and I think I really like that boy. So if you got a problem with that, I'll get an Uber and keep doing exactly what I'm doing."

"Why would I have a problem with it?" he shot back. "You gonna hurt her?"

"Naw." I shook my head to make the point. "See, I'm gonna hurt anyone who tries to slow her down. I'm gonna make sure they know better than to ever try it again. Tanner's willing to throw down for her, but me?" My lips curled and a cold, hard smile took over. "I'm rich, Dean."

"Cody don't care about that none," he pointed out. "She's gonna be plenty rich herself real soon."

"No," I corrected. "I'm real rich. The kinda rich that lets me get outta shit. And you know what? I'm gonna make sure Cody don't ever need to learn that lesson." Then I pushed myself up and leaned closer. "But if anyone goes after her again, I'll do a hell of a lot more than put stitches in his face. I'll kill him."

"You love her?" he asked.

I just scoffed. "Fuck, yeah. Been in love with her since I sat down at the Elbow and saw her on her own turf."

Dean smiled, and it was the good kind. "Gonna convince her to stop riding and settle down? I mean, you've been doing this a bit. She'd be a good momma, you know."

"She'd be a hell of a lot better bull rider," I pointed out. "And when she's done with that, she's got bigger dreams. I ain't about to get in the way, and she sure as shit ain't gonna stop because I say so. Nope, I'm gonna make damned sure she knows how to make her own decisions. Ain'tno manever gonna make her decisions for her."

"What about when she decides she wants kids?" he pressed.

I just smiled. "Then I sure as shit hope I'm the man she wants to have them with. Or one of them, because I'm ok with me, her, and Tanner sticking together. Ain't gonna complain at all if she don't get tired of us."

"Then you've got my blessing," Dean said. "Not that she needs it, but I figure you might."

The last of the tension in my body evaporated, because Dean was right. I'd been braced for a fight. I still wouldn't back down, but I'd been ready for this man to tell me why I wasn't going to be any good for her. Instead, he'd said that?

"Thanks," I said softly, my arrogance gone.

"Welcome." He reached over for his coffee, and for a moment, I was sure that was all I was going to get, but he paused before it reached his mouth. "She's not done, though. Cody's going to go all the way. She's not going to stop until she's convinced herself she's as good as you boys, and that might take a few years."

"Might," I agreed, "but she'll convince the world a hell of a lot faster. See, she's the best I've ever seen. She's better than me, and I hold all the damned records." I pulled in a breath. "Dean, you did real good with her. You taught her how to ride just right."

"And you're teaching her how to go for it," he pointed out. "Together, we might just make a world champion, huh?"

"Already did. You watch her ride, because we already did, and there ain't a damned thing gonna stop her. The PBR's tryin', but not even they can get in her way. That girl? She's the real deal, and it's chappin' all their asses, because not only is she damned good, but she's real pretty while she's doing it."

Chapter33

Tannerand I had to split once we got to the arena, but I was still on a bit of a high from our quickie. I figured I might want to add a morning fuck to my pre-show routine every weekend. A good orgasm sure had a way of pushing back all the shit that should be worrying me and letting me concentrate.

That didn't mean I was stupid. Without J.D. around to watch my back, the last thing I wanted to do was set up my gear in some back corner with no one around. Instead, I turned my feet for the main area outside the locker rooms.

There were too many of us to all pack in where the cameras would be. I also didn't want to be cramped. I just wanted to make sure I had a few eyes in my general vicinity, so when I saw a collection of blue and green flags on the waiting gear, I decided setting up near the Brazilians was as good as it got.

Then I headed for the line to check in. Things were moving a little faster this morning. That was probably because we'd all paid for shit yesterday, so today was just drawing our bulls and checking in. As I shuffled forward, I scanned the faces around me. I didn't really know any of them, but I knew their names. Still, they smiled when they saw me looking, so I smiled back. It was the friendly kind, like two people passing on the street. I'd still take it.

When I reached the window, the woman on the other side asked for my ID, but began smiling before I even passed it over. "Cody! How's J.D. doing?"

"Mostly in one piece," I assured her. "He won't be riding for the rest of this weekend, though."

"Oh no..." She passed back my PBR card along with some paperwork. "Well, I got you checked in. Take care of that man, ok? He's had a few too many injuries."

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