“Your hat, Mr. Nash.”
He looked up, and it was all I could do to keep my jaw closed.
That cowboy was gorgeous.
He was dripping with sweat, causing a few strands of chestnut brown hair to stick to his forehead. He was tall and muscular to divine perfection.
Half jogging, he ran to the fence and stopped in front of me. He reached out, and I slowly put the hat in his hand. His green eyes looked up and caught mine, staring into my soul. It was as if the rest of the world faded away, becoming silent and blurry, and all I could see was him
He smiled, and the dimpleinhis left cheek made me want to melt in his rigid arms. “Thank you, ma’am.”
I swallowed, even though my mouth was bone dry. “That was an amazing ride.”
He smiled even wider. “I appreciate that, ma’am. Thanksfor coming out to watch.”
“You’re welcome.”
We were both still holding on to the hat, neither of us making a move to give or take. I could feel heat rising to my cheeks. He smelled like a man, sweaty and intense.
Finally, the sound of the announcer clearing his throat snapped us out of our trance. I let go of the hat.
“Eighty-Five points for our regional champion! Let’s hear it for Colton Nash, folks!”
Colton looked back at the replay of his ride and put his hat back on his messy hair.
“Congratulations,” I said, barely able to hear myself over the crowd.
He turned back to me, smiling again. “Thank you, ma’am.” He finally nodded and started walking away, turning to the crowd and pumping his fists, egging them on.
I thought of the woman on the plane, with her champagne glass, giving a shiver.
She was right about the rodeo: sweaty men, adrenaline pumping, the sounds, the smells.
It was driving me mad.
Chapter Six
“Room 225. Elevator is broken, sorry, ma’am.”
I took the key, thanked the man, and walked away. I was so tired, I could barely stand. Despite my long day of traveling, the thumping headache, and the exhaustion that filled my body, I had managed to stay for the entire rodeo.
It was two and a half hours and just as beautiful as I remembered it.
The bronc riders were so athletic, the barrel racers so fast, the bull riders so tough, the team ropers so in sync. It was like a ballet; I was unable to take my eyes off it for a second. Between each section, I had to remember to get footage and take notes.
The “Nash” name was more popular than any other, I had noticed.
Colton Nash shattered the bareback bronc riding record, Alan and Dean Nash came in second for team roping, and Jimmy Nash was the only bull rider who stayed on the entire eight seconds.
What a family.
I walked down the outdated carpet and stopped in front of my room, my feet aching in my dirty heels. I used the key to twist the knob and sighed when it opened.
There was a single twin bed, wood paneling, and a radiator.
This room had to be haunted.
I dropped my bag inside and locked every lock behind me. It had a bed, a bathroom, and a small desk. That’s all I really needed.
