His spurs graze Maria’s shoulders repeatedly, high and easy, his hips rolling with her instead of working against her. They move together, almost like a choreographed dance, as Landry’s hand stays high in the air, counterbalancing every attempted buck by Maria.
“Three… four…” I count the seconds quietly, my brain dulling the roar of the crowd, zeroing in on the sound of his leather chaps slapping the mare’s back as she tries her hardest to throw Landry off.
At six seconds, Maria gives up, drooping her head, giving one last lazy kick of her hind legs, which Landry rides out like a pro. When the buzzer sounds, the pickup men storm the arena, and moments later, Landry is off Maria, standing on the bars of the chute, waving at a cheering crowd.
Looked like his easiest draw of his training, but I keep myeyes on him as he watches the scoreboard, shoulders heaving as he works to de-escalate his breathing. A moment later, the numbers appear.
NINENTY-TWO.
I jump and scream, celebrating his victory, and that he’s one step closer to the final ride, to his comeback coming true, to saving his farm, to having all the happiness in the world.
I leave my camera and shove through the crowd, random townspeople complimenting us as I pass.
“He did it!”
“Your husband is so cool!”
“That’s Landry’s wife!”
Pride lifts my shoulders as I move through the crowd, my fingers aching to hold my husband, to ease the ache from his muscles with my fingers, to unburden his desires with my body, and to celebrate him and all the wonderful things that he is.
“Landry!” I call out right before I spot him, leaned up against the back of the arena, talking to another rider. A smile is stretching my lips, waiting to be kissed by him, but by the time the crowd clears again, my face falls.
Landry is still where he was before, only now, he’s got a woman hanging from his neck. Not just any woman, but Jenna.
The woman he went out with before.
She unlinks her arms from his neck, thank heavens, and steps back, wearing a massive grin. She pats his chest, and he says something, but I’m not sure what. She takes her hand back but nods, as if they’re in the middle of something important. Jenna nods, points to his phone as he fishes it out, and finally, walks away, joining a cluster of men nearby.
I saunter up, shoving Jenna out of my thoughts, because Landry just got one step closer to his goal, and I’m so proudof him. “Landry!” I call, and he turns, blue eyes landing on me.
His arms open, and a smile curves his lips, wide and genuine, and all thoughts about Jenna truly fade. He embraces me as I praise him, and I make sure he knows how proud I am.
“Congratulations, you did amazing, I’m so proud of you,” I beam, reaching up with my lips to kiss his chin. He smiles down at me, pride radiating from him in waves. I love seeing him this way, accomplished and happy.
“She wasn’t so bad, Maria,” he says, plucking his hat off his head, dropping it onto mine before bending at the waist to plant a kiss on my lips. Pride shimmies through my shoulders at his post-win affection.
“You were perfect,” I tell him, snaking my hands beneath the number pinned to his chest. “Absolutely incredible.”
He smirks, his hair looking glossy and vibrant beneath the quick falling moon and gentle arena glow. “You aren’t just sayin’ that because you want in my pants, now, are ya?”
I dance my eyebrows playfully, and very quickly cop a feel. He doesn’t even flinch when I cup his cock and let go, and doesn’t bother to look around to see who saw, either. He just winks.
“You wanna stay? Get some drinks? Dance a little?” I peer around at the excitement that’s only just starting. Live music, beer gardens, the rodeo is a lot more than bulls and broncs, that’s for sure.
He nods. “I’d love to twirl you around and show everyone here how beautiful my wife is.”
“Landry.” I smack him. “That was so sweet.”
He nestles into my ear, stroking big, skilled fingers through my hair. “Gonna be real sweet to you while we’re here, because once we get home, all bets are off.”
Mabel Sable strolls up, and Landry rights himself so well, not even Mabel could tell he was just in my ear promising to fuck me right. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Winner.”
Landry smiles. “How ya doin’, Mabel? How’s the inn?”
She cools herself with a paper fan she picked up on the way in, Elena’s veterinarian practice information printed on the front, a bail bondsman company on the back. “It was peaceful for a few days.”
I wince. “Sorry we had to bring Mr. McCharger back.”
