“I didn’t do anything. Yet. I just thought of a brilliant plan. All thanks to you.”
I tapped my head against the headboard several times out of frustration. “I cannot believe I’m asking you this, but what’s the plan?”
She crowded closer, excitement in her eyes. “Forget a tribute. We could make the event for charity. For the most part anyway. Like fifty percent of the proceeds to local animal rescue organizations. Including the sanctuaries for retired rodeo animals. Or we could save funds for people displaced by fires. With the press we’d get, the good will, the rodeo associations would eat it up. There’d be photo ops with the stars. That would be excellent for their reputations. Think about it. Just think about how much money we could bring to the various organizations. We could even have a few of the local places have an adoption event on the day of the charity. Or for victims like the family of the little girl you mentioned.”
Now she was pulling on the heartstrings. “Not a bad idea, but…”
“I know. I get it. I’m out of my league, but imagine what it would do for the city, including convincing the folks in town the stadium isn’t all that bad.”
“Okay, don’t get that cart before the horse. That’s a lot of work.”
“Yeah, but I’m up to the task. As long as I have a partner in crime.”
Huffing, I was going to balk at the idea, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was very excited about the prospect. “An amazing idea, but there are a lot of moving parts with a rodeo.”
“I know. Which is why…” She crawled her fingers up my chest, dragging her nail across the scruff on my jaw.
I snatched her hand, pressing kisses against her soft skin. “I can’t ride. You know that. If that’s what you’re asking me to do, you can forget about it.”
While disappointment crossed her face, her eyes flitted to the side. “Okay. I understand that, but you are an expert with all those details you mentioned. You could help sell the rodeo to the city council and the two rodeo organizations even better than I could. You knew a lot of the riders. At the same time, you could talk about bringing the needed equipment to the fire departments. That’s something else. We could get their involvement with the event, pictures and more with firefighters. More good will and shaming the city council.”
“You are a devious woman.”
“Yes, I am. My rodeo expert.” She could make me laugh like no one else.
“That was years ago.”
“And we want stars from the past as well. You’d be a grand stand-in for photographs.”
“Stand-in, my ass.” I couldn’t believe I actually thought it was a good idea. Although I had a feeling her father wasn’t being completely honest with her. Damn if she wasn’t excited. Still, the arson with the Dallas stadium stuck in the back of my mind.
So did the one at the old mill. The reason for the earlier look in her eyes was her understanding of the proximity of her father’s stadium to the old mill. I was no detective, but I was no dummy either. Something smelled and she was determined to walk right into the middle of it.
“This could really work. Your help would be invaluable.”
“I don’t know about that. Your father will have a cow if he has any clue I’m helping you.” I lifted an eyebrow and sensed by how her nose wrinkled that she couldn’t care less about anything her father said. She was furious with him. My guess was that he’d had a lot to say about her spending time with me.
“Fuck my father.”
“You turn me on when you talk dirty. Unfortunately, I’m not kidding. He’d be furious.” And I had my doubts I could control my anger if he said a goddamn word to her.
“Neither am I. If he wants my help, then he’s going to do things my way. He has no other choice. His back is against a wall.”
I brushed my hand down her cheek and her shudder was exaggerated. “I’ll need to think about it. Can you handle that?”
“Mmmm… Maybe. I understand, but I’ll make it worth your while if you help me.”
“You will, huh?” When she flashed me her tits, I licked my lips in appreciation. “I’m hungry.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’ll need to decide before I allow you to touch me.”
“You’re a brat.” How long had it been since I’d enjoyed a night as much as I had this one?
The frivolity shifted and she looked away. “I’ll understand if you don’t think you can help me. I really will. I’m not sure I want to get involved.”
“You’re suggesting your father will lose his ranch if you don’t help him?”
Her frown was followed by a brief look of sadness, an emotion I could certainly understand. “I don’t know why I should care. He did this to himself.”
