"Tanner, you aren'tthatnice," Jorge told him.
"Naw, I'm spice," I said. "He's sugar. Cody? She's everything nice."
"So what am I?" Jorge asked, lifting a brow in a taunt.
"The rescue squad," Max said as he rocked out of his own chair. "Pretty sure most bull riders call that their savior."
"Oh, I like it," Isaac said. "And I'm getting a few beers, Cody. Nothing too hard, but a tiny little celebration."
"Not until the deal is done," Tanner warned.
Jorge scoffed at that. "This celebration is for getting the team together. Tomorrow's will be for getting back on the dirt."
"And youwillget back on the dirt," I told them.
Because we needed these guys back. I was pretty sure Max wasn't giving himself enough credit with this, but I would. Hell, I'd give Rhaven plenty too. Even that Chance guy could have some. Fuck, I'd throw all the credit out there if it meant I didn't need to be scared shitless to get on another bull.
Never mind letting my girl ride. Not that I could stop her, but I'd worry. Fuck, I'd been worrying, and so had Tanner. But this? If Deviant Games could actually make this work out?
Then I'd put their logo all over my fucking body for free, if that was what it took. Hell, just on principle, I'd give 'em half price! Let them spend their money on Cody. Let them get the bragging rights of claiming me too. I didn't fucking care about any of that shit. What mattered right now was making this work.
And I was not gonna say how scared I was that Donald Merrill would fuck it all up. Shit, I needed to talk to Jake too. Sadly, I had a feeling he wouldn't be able to help none with this. Nope, it was all on the men with the money. And Max. Couldn't forget him, because he sure as shit hadn't forgotten us.
Chapter 42
We stayedout talking for a few hours. Cody slapped down a credit card, saying it was all on her. My guys ordered their drinks, and the beer kept flowing. Surprisingly, none of us had too many - not even J.D. And seeing Max enjoy a fruity little cocktail with Cody felt oddly right.
Even better, the conversation wasn't all about the what-ifs. Nope, Max asked if Cody and J.D. would be willing to help him sign a few more riders. Wes Gilbert, Jackson Cloutier, and Jake Cunningham were on his shortlist. When J.D. asked why, Max had smiled. Cody had nodded like she could see right through him.
I could make a guess as to what they were planning, but I didn't want to. Nope, my complete attention was on catching up with Jorge and Isaac. It had been weeks since I'd seen them last, and it felt like an eternity. I got to tell them about J.D.'s mom's place, that we were still going strong, and all the good things.
But eventually, the night had to end. We headed back to our massive suite and picked a room. Then the three of us shared a very nice and relaxing shower. That may have led to some rolling around in bed together, so when I woke up the next morning, it was tangled up, naked, with both of them. My phone wasbeeping softly, warning me I needed to make sure I looked good for this.
Deviant wanted us in the jerseys they'd brought. We'd all agreed to pair it with jeans and our properly-colored Chucks. Maybe it wasn't the most country look, but it was ours, a nice reminder that we weren't like the rest of the cowboys here.
I made sure to shave, tucked my hair back under my straw hat, and then it was time to go. J.D. gave me his approval. Cody ran her eyes over me in a way I liked a little too much. Then, I headed across the hall to bang on the door of room 3302.
I wasn't even done knocking before Isaac opened the door, inviting me in. Jorge was still lacing up his shoes, but other than that, we were all ready - and early. But since we still had to find this conference room, I was willing to head there ahead of time.
Naturally, it was at the end of the hall and truly impossible to miss. The building was curved a bit, which made it easy for them to have a few closed-off offices. I counted three doors and two windows. So while I wasn't sure how those were walled off, someone had the sense to make a seating area out here. We took it.
"What now?" Isaac asked.
"Uh, we wait?" I guessed, because the Deviant people weren't here either.
Jorge checked his phone. "Fifteen minutes. Do you think they're meeting with all of the directors or just the president?"
"I'm actually hoping it's more than just Merrill," I said.
"Fuck, but if it's Sousa?" Isaac asked. "I don't think he likes you, Tanner."
"No, but I've gotten quite a few good arguments since they suspended me." And I explained about what Ty had said, and Jake. Cody and J.D. had made some good points too.
Jorge nodded, taking those in, but Isaac had another question. "What do you know about this Chance Hunter guy?"
"His company is massive," Jorge said. "I play a few of their games. Good stuff. They've also been in the middle of some serious shit in the gaming world. I'm talking death threats and shit."
"Damn," I breathed. "Well, I know Chance threw money at Cody the moment he heard J.D. and I are both with her. When he realized we're together too?"
