I pause. Okay . . . thatsoundslike her. I really am losing my mind. I shake my head.
“Trey!”
I turn as she rounds the corner, running down the stairs toward me.
“Jessie?” I ask, like an idiot, as I swing my leg back over. I take off my helmet, dropping it and my rope into the arena. I jump off the fence and onto the bottom stair of the stands.
Jessie stops two steps up from me. She opens her mouth, then closes it. I see the panic in her eyes. Like she just now realizes where she is and what she’s doing. Neither Knox nor Kacey arehere, so there is only one reason she’s here—and we both know it.
The crowd noise dies down around us, and I take the two steps to her. I don’t hesitate. I grip her face with both hands and kiss her. And thankfuckshe kisses me back.
The crowd goes absolutely nuts. Shouts and whistles chorus all around us. I kiss her far too long and far too deeply to be considered appropriate for the public. I always hated that PDA rule.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away,” she says only for my ears when we finally pull back.
“It’s okay. I was always coming back for you.”
“Good, because I’m done running. I have so much to tell you.”
I kiss her forehead. “We’ve got time.”
“Trey, son, come get your buckle,” the announcer says with a deep belly laugh.
I don’t want to let her go, but I have to do an interview and thank the rodeo committee.
She notices my hesitation and smirks. “Go on, cowboy.”
“I’ll be right back,” I yell as I jog down the steps. “Don’t move.” I point at her as I climb the fence. She and the crowd around her laugh.
Dax meets me in the arena with my cowboy hat and takes my helmet, rope, and vest for me. “Looks like you won more than a buckle tonight,” he teases.
I lightly shove him on my way past, fighting my megawatt smile. I shake the hand of the committee member who gives me the buckle before the interview.
“Congratulations, Trey. This win should secure you a spot to your third National Finals Rodeo.” The cowboy network reporter stands in front of the bucking chutes with me. “It was a great bull ride, but we have to talk about what happened after.” She smiles and nods Jessie’s way. Then, to my delight, they replay our kisson the big screen. I can see Jessie turn red as a strawberry from here.
I chuckle. “That moment tops any bull ride or any finals. That’s me getting my girl back.” She didn’t say the words, but I could feel it in that kiss. We have a lot to talk about, but I know we’ll be okay.
Two thousand women in the stands swoon, but not my girl. She rolls her eyes.And I love her for it.Come to think of it, I need to tell her that as soon as possible.
“Well, congratulations on both fronts. We look forward to seeing you back in Las Vegas this December.”
I thank her and jog out of the arena. I need to get my gear packed and get back to Jessie. I grumble when my phone rings as I’m stuffing my gear in my bag.
“I told you the super glue would work—”
“AHH!”
I yank the phone from my head at the ear-piercing scream.Kacey.I laugh. “That was on TV, wasn’t it?”
“Yes!” she exclaims. “She’s missed you so much, Trey. I knew she was flying down there, but that was even better than I imagined. You did great.”
“Please tell her that and continue to remind her of it for the next twenty years.”
“Are you talking about me?”
I practically jump out of my boots when Jessie pops up behind me. “How did you get back here?”
“Walked.” She shrugs and takes the phone out of my hand.
