“I’ve never watched another human ride a bull until two weeks ago,” I remind him with a chuckle. “I think I’ll stick to my nook that a very pushy and convincing bull rider had the crew build for me. That’s close enough for me. For now, anyway.”
“Oh, come on, Sweetheart.” He surprises me as he grabs my hands between his own and gives me…puppy dog eyes?You’ve got to be kidding me.“We don’t know if it’ll work until you’ve tried.”
“You’ve had people watch you from above the chute before,” I point out, trying to get my heart to slow down as he gives my hands a little squeeze. “We literally just covered that it wasn’t working.”
Jesse’s eyes bore into mine, an intensity behind them that has my breath hitching. “Yeah, I have. But they weren’t you.”
“Jesse—”
“Please, Faith.”Damn him and those beautiful eyes.
I groan and tip my head back, and once our gazes reconnect, he’s sporting a victorious grin. “Fine. But if you don’t get a near-perfect score, I’m back to my nook for the rest of the season. Got it?”
“Got it.” He drops my hands and grabs his vest off the bench, slipping his arms into it. “Okay, it gets a little hectic up there, so just be careful. A few guys are holding ropes to keep the bull steady enough for us to climb on and another helping us riders. Just make sure to steer clear of them and you’ll be just fine.” He grabs my hand and brings me around toward the chute just as the second rider completes his ride. “See that platform up there?” He points up to the right and I nod. “You can sit up there.” Jesse glances down at me and gives my media lanyard a gentle tug. “If they give you a hard time, just show them this.”
“This is a lot of instructions to follow for something that’ll only last eight seconds.”
His smile grows as he cocks a brow. “You think I’ll make it the full eight seconds?”
Before I can stop myself, I tell him, “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
Jesse’s gaze softens as he studies me. I shift my weight between the soles of my feet, my hands growing clammy as we stare at one another. Before he can speak, however, Titan is being ushered into the chute as they announce Jesse’s name over the loudspeaker.
“Go get ‘em, cowboy,” I say with a wink.
Jesse tips his hat at me and returns my wink before spinning on his heel and approaching the chute. I trail behind him and walk over to the platform, climbing the ladder to perch on top. Glancing over, I watch as Jesse climbs the rails ‘til he’s straddling the top, looking down at the bull as it thrashes against the confinement. My eyes widen as I watch him try to lower himself down just as Titan arches his back upward, causing Jesse to fall back into the guy beside him.
Once the bull is back on all four feet, Jesse wastes no time as he climbs on. He slips his gloved hand into a rope that’s around the bull, yanking on the excess to tighten it around his grip. He jerks his right hand a few times before appearing to be satisfied. Jesse looks up, our gazes connecting immediately, and gives me a smile I can’t help but reciprocate. Glancing back down at his hand, he nods, and the door flies open.
My thumbnail finds its way between my teeth on its own accord as the bull leaps out of the chute and starts to spin as he tries bucking Jesse off his back. With each twist and leap, Jesse keeps his left arm in the air, his body moving with Titan as if they are one, even as he continues to get closer and closer to the rails instead of further into the ring. My heart rate increases as the buzzer sounds, and I leap to my feet, watching as Jesse tries to remove his hand from the rope. He struggles for a moment before finally breaking free and getting launched into the dirt. I swear I stop breathing until he jumps to his feet and his eyes meet mine. I’m cheering loudly now, and the smile on his face increases tenfold as he runs toward the rails on the other side ofthe platform and climbs them while the rest of the men redirect Titan out of the arena.
I climb down the ladder and meet Jesse behind the chute. He gives me a cocky, boyish grin just as the announcer comes over the loudspeaker. We both look up at the screen as the scores come in, and I have to bite my lip as I reconnect my gaze with Jesse’s.
“Well, would you look at that,” he says, taking a step closer to me. “A near-perfect score.”
“I guess all that effort you put into getting me that nook just went to waste,” I tease, my hands on my hips.
“Looks like I’m going to have to convince them to build you your own special platform.” I continue to fight back a smile. “You looked like you belonged up there.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, don’t push it, Pretty Boy. You already got me.”
“Do I?”
My smile falls as I stare up at him, a sudden seriousness in his expression. I spin on my heel and begin to walk away from him, avoiding whatever conversation was about to transpire, when I practically feel the letter he wrote me burning a hole in the front of my bag. I stop, turn back around to face him, and say, “I like lilies and daisies,” before I disappear toward the media room.
But I feel his gaze on my back the entire walk there.
8FAITH
JACKSONVILLE
are we making waves?
I’m standing nextto my newly rented vehicle with my arms crossed, my beach tote hanging off my arm as I stare at a small bouquet of daisies and another note resting in the driver's side door handle. I pluck the note out—which has Sweetheart scrawled on it—and unfold it.
I knew you liked me. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.
I can’t stop the laugh that escapes me as I fold it back up and slip it into my tote. Grabbing the flowers, I take a small whiff before opening the door to the blue Jeep and climbing in, tucking the bouquet into my bag so it won’t blow away since I requested onewithout a top. Sliding my sunglasses onto my face, I start the car and begin the drive out to the beach.
