Chapter Twenty-One
“What are you doing up?” Chase asked, groggily rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he walked into the sitting area of the suite they occupied in Las Vegas.
“Work,” Jessie said, taking a sip from a cup of hot tea, not bothering to look at Chase in the muted light cast around the room by the single lamp she’d flicked on beside her laptop. If she did, his thick, wavy hair, all tousled and inviting, and those bulging muscles fully exposed on his upper torso, provided too much distraction and caused her to lose her train of thought.
Out of self-preservation, she’d pushed Chase away since his birthday party. The incident with Donna had confirmed what Jessie already knew. Chase was a desirable, handsome man that beautiful, worldly women would constantly pursue. She had no place in his life, at least not the rodeo world. Even if she fit in well at the ranch and would rather do anything than leave, she had to give up her dream that Chase would someday fall in love with her. It just wasn’t going to happen. She had to let go of what she wanted and move on with her life.
It had been hard to remain indifferent to him, especially when he’d gone out of his way to be kind to her when he was at the ranch. Then again, she’d been so swamped with work since the end of September she barely had time to notice his comings or goings. She worked six days a week, sometimes up to fourteen hours a day. Sunday was the one day she tried to rest. After church, she wanted to take a nap or read a book, but Sunday afternoons often turned into the time she caught up on things like laundry. Sunday evenings she planned meals for the week and completed a little baking.
Thank goodness, Chase had insisted on keeping the housekeeping service. Earlier in the year, it seemed silly to have them take care of the cleaning when she was perfectly capable of doing it. But the past ten weeks, they’d been a lifesaver. She didn’t have time to worry about scrubbing sinks or dusting furniture as she worked at a frantic pace to keep up with her workload.
When Chase mentioned they’d be in Las Vegas for more than two weeks, Jessie had nearly gone into a nuclear meltdown. She didn’t have time to be gone. Not with all the projects that had to be completed in the near future.
Rather than tell him he could go by himself, she brought her work with her. Jessie rose at three each morning and worked a solid four hours while Chase slept in their luxurious suite. Because they both would be modeling in Lasso Eight’s exclusive fashion show planned for the last day of the rodeo, and Chase would model during a benefit event and at the company’s vendor booth, the owner of the company paid for the suite. With two bedrooms complete with private baths, a large sitting area, a full kitchen, and a gym, their accommodations seemed more like a posh condominium than a hotel room.
Since their arrival the previous week, Jessie spent the majority of her time at the desk in the sitting room, working from her laptop.
The routine she and Chase had fallen into included her working unbeknownst to him while he slept. Once he arose, she’d shower and dress, and join him for a simple breakfast. He’d work out in the gym then try to talk her into going with him to visit friends, shop, or see the sights. She’d refuse and he’d leave, coming back with lunch for her before he’d leave again for the afternoon.
She enjoyed watching him ride each evening as she sat with Ashley, Jack and Amy. After the rodeo, they often went to events that honored that night’s winners.
So far, Chase was leading in the bull riding. If the winning streak he was on held, he’d go home as the champion.
As Jessie designed a book cover for one of her favorite clients, she took another sip of tea and ignored Chase’s presence until he moved closer and his warm, masculine scent tantalized her senses.
“I know what you’re doing. I want to know why.” He hunkered down beside the desk chair and rested his big, warm hand on her back. Jessie had twisted her hair into a messy knot on top of her head and wore a pair of soft pajamas Stacey had sent her a few weeks ago with a note to burn all her ugly nightwear. The heat from Chase’s hand felt as though it might sear right through the thin cotton.
Jessie ignored the tingles racing through her from his touch and focused on adjusting the color in the background of the cover image. “I’ve got obligations and responsibilities to my clients that I have to see through. None of this can wait until we get back to the ranch.”
“I’m sure they would understand if you told them why you can’t work on their projects right now.”
She glared at him and turned back to the screen, tired of the same conversation they’d had every day since they arrived in Las Vegas. Chase didn’t seem to understand she couldn’t just set aside her business during one of the busiest times of the year. Her clients depended on her and she was not going to let them down. She was close to getting everything done and would then be able to devote more time to being the adoring rodeo wife, but today wasn’t that day.
The annoyed look on his face matched his gruff tone when he spoke. “How many days have you gotten up this early?”
She shrugged. “What day is it?”
He scowled and lines furrowed across his brow. “Thursday.”
“Then I’ve gotten up early the past twelve mornings. Or is it thirteen?” She took another drink of her tea. “How long have we been here?”
Chase sighed and took the tea from her hands then pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her. “Jessie, you look exhausted and this is ridiculous. You need your rest. If I’d known you were only getting a few hours sleep, I’d have made sure we came back earlier each night. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because this,” she waved her hand around the hotel’s living area, but the gesture encompassed the rodeo and everything tied to it, “is what you live for. It’s who you are, what you do. I don’t want to disrupt it in any way. Besides, I should be caught up with work later today then I can enjoy the rest of the week.”
“Jess, we only have today, tomorrow, and Saturday left. In case you’ve forgotten, we have the benefit luncheon and fashion show today. Then Saturday is the special Lasso Eight fashion show and reveal of the new women’s line. I was hoping to have some time to just, you know, hang out with you, show you some of my favorite places. Other than the rodeo, you’ve hardly left the room.”
“We’ll have time to do stuff tomorrow, right? And this afternoon? I promise I’ll be ready for fun as soon as I finish up these last dozen projects.” She turned her gaze from him back to the screen of her laptop and pushed against his chest.
“No, Jess. No more work until we go home. You’re so tired you can’t think straight.” In spite of her splutters of half-hearted protest, he picked her up and carried her to her room, depositing her on the bed.
Stunned by how easily he swept her into his arms and overwhelmed by the glorious sensations rocketing through her from the experience, she relaxed against him.
Although her limbs felt languid and her thoughts muddled, she battled against the yearning to close her eyes and sleep. To pull Chase down with her and rest in his arms. Instead, she rolled off the far side of the bed and glowered at him. “I have work to do. The sooner you let me get back to it, the faster I’ll finish.”
“Jessie, I swear, if you don’t climb back in that bed and get some rest, I will personally make sure you stay there.” Chase took a threatening step toward her.
Anger simmering, she gave him a long look, trying not to let the vision of his bare chest and the worry on his face dissuade her from what she needed to do.
“I appreciate your concern, Chase, but I have to do this.” She started to walk past him, but his hand shot out and grabbed her arm. Coolly, she looked from his hand to his face. “Let me go.”
“Not this time, Jessie. I’ve let you go the past few months and I can’t… I don’t want to.” He slid his hand up her arm and cupped the back of her head, tilting her face up to his. “What I want…” He took a step closer and wrapped his other hand around her waist, “is this.”
Slowly, sensually, his mouth moved over hers, sending the ever-present butterflies in her stomach into a frenzied path of flight. Within seconds, Jessie released her stiff posture and responded to him with an eagerness that matched his own.
For several blissful moments, she forgot about everything. There were no waiting clients, no rodeos, no fashion shows or obligations. There was only Chase and the incredible feeling of being held in his arms.
His hands roved over her, caressing, teasing, encouraging, while his kisses transported her into a state of euphoria unlike anything she’d ever dreamed possible.
“Jessica Rose,” he whispered, kissing a fiery trail down her jaw and along her neck. She tilted her head to give him better access and allowed herself to surrender to the enticing spell he wove around her.
“Come to bed, darlin’. Please?” Uncertain what he was asking, but willing to find out, she allowed him to lead her two steps closer to her bed when the full realization of what she was doing, what he was doing, hit her like a slap to the face.
She sucked in a gulp of air and jerked away from him. Daggers of accusation shot from her expressive eyes as she continued backing toward the door. “I’m not one of the floozies who flirt with you all the time, Chase. You can’t seduce me into doing what you want, so don’t even try.”
On the verge of a complete emotional breakdown, Jessie tamped down her tears and returned to the sitting room.
Chase caught her by the hand and spun her around before she made it to the desk. “I’m not trying to seduce you because I want you to do as I say, you infuriating, mule-headed woman. Did you ever think that maybe I want you? So help me, Jessie, I want you like I’ve never wanted anyone in my life.”
“No, you don’t. You don’t want me, Chase. You’re just…” Convinced he was too tired to know what he was saying, she shook her head. “Just leave me alone, Chase. Please.”
“Fine!” he shouted and stomped back to his room.
She plopped down at the desk and blinked several times as she stared at the ceiling, trying to clear the tears from her eyes and get a handle on the emotions threatening to bubble over the edge of her control.
Before she did, Chase stalked back into the room, threading his belt into the loops of his jeans as he rushed toward the door with his hat on crooked and an unfastened shirt blowing in the breeze his rapid movements created.
“Where are you going?” she asked, standing to her feet and taking three steps toward him.
“Out. I’m sure in this whole big city there has to be at least one woman who doesn’t find my company as repulsive as you do. You wanted to be left alone. Well, you’ve got it, honey.” He slammed the door so hard Jessie cringed.
Determined not to cry, not to give in to the panic and pain washing over her, she sat down and went back to work.
By nine, she’d finished the last design project and sent it to her client. Numb from what had happened with Chase and uncertain how to make things right, she took a shower and spent extra time doing her hair. She even added a little more makeup than her typical preference of just mascara and lip balm.
Dressing carefully in a denim dress accented with pale pink roses amid a gray and white southwestern pattern, she pulled on her favorite pair of cowboy boots, fastened a wide leather belt around her waist, and slipped the rose bracelet Chase had given her on their wedding day around her wrist.
She stared at the bracelet, recalling every sweet moment of the afternoon they’d spent together last year, wondering how she could have handled things differently. Not falling in love with her hunky husband would have been a good first step.
After gathering what she needed for the day into her purse, she left the room and took a taxi to the hotel hosting the benefit luncheon.
Jessie didn’t know how she’d let Chase, Ashley, and Paige talk her into modeling at the fashion show. Paige had assured her she’d be perfect as one of the models, with her curvy figure and height. Ashley had added her input that it would be great publicity for Chase to have her among the rodeo wives and girlfriends modeling. Chase had commented that he’d be modeling anyway and wanted her to join him.
Part of Jessie thought it would be fun, and stretch the boundaries of her comfort zone. The shy, introverted part of her wanted to run back to the hotel and hide in her room.
Once she arrived at the venue, she found the event director who showed her where to go to get ready for the fashion show. Paige and Cooper were backstage, organizing the models who would wear Lasso Eight’s designs.
“Jessie! You look fabulous!” Paige said, giving her a hug then standing back to admire the dress. “I’m so glad Elliott insisted on you wearing that dress today. You make it look amazing.”
“You’re so sweet, Paige. Thank you,” Jessie said, slightly embarrassed by the attention. “What do I need to do?”
Paige pointed in the direction of a room where Jessie could hear women giggling. “If you go in there, they’ll give you a little stage makeup. Your hair is perfect. Oh, and the other two outfits you’re going to model are in that room on a rack. They are bagged and tagged with your name.”
Cooper chuckled. “Bagged and tagged. Makes it sound like you’ve taken down a prize trophy, PP.”
“Maybe Jessie is going to be my prize model today.” Paige shot her husband a coy smile then winked at Jessie. “Don’t be nervous. You’ll do great. Besides, Cooper and Chase will both be on the stage, too, if you need them.”
Jessie nodded then hurried back to the room where a woman with huge hair and a bigger smile sat her down in a chair and did her makeup. When she finished, Jessie hardly recognized herself. Her eyelashes were so long, they looked like wings as they feathered her pink-rouged cheeks. Her lips were a deep, rosy shade of red and her skin appeared both bronzed and flawless.
“I didn’t need to do much to you, hon. You’re lovely just as you are,” the woman said, patting Jessie’s shoulder.
Jessie thanked her and went to look at the two outfits she’d model in addition to the one she was already wearing. One looked like an evening gown of sorts and the other was a pair of jeans with a sassy cotton top that she loved.
Nervous and anxious, she visited the restroom. She returned to the area where the models waited and found a spot to stand out of the way where she could watch what was going on right behind the stage curtain without being noticed.
As people bustled about, she tried not to think about the fashion show or how much she hated being in the spotlight. She also tried not to dwell on how angry Chase had been when he’d left their suite in the wee hours of the morning. What if he really had run into the arms of another woman? In spite of herself, Jessie experienced a wave of jealousy that left her so upset and ill, she wrapped her arms around her stomach against the sudden pain.
A warm hand touched on her arm as a familiar scent settled around her. “You okay?” Chase asked, glancing down at her with concern in his captivating eyes.
Unsettled by his presence, by his gentle touch and care, she blinked back tears and nodded her head.
“You’ll do great, Jessie. Don’t worry about it. Just pretend the room is empty and you’re a little girl, playing dress up. Did you ever do that?” he asked, draping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her against his side. “I remember Ashley loved to play dress up when we’d go to Granny’s house. She even tried to make me participate, but I wasn’t keen on her girly games.”
Jessie smiled. “I played dress up with my grandmother. We had a lot of fun.” She glanced at her husband and released a long breath. “Look, Chase, about this morning, I’m…”
He placed a finger over her lips, silencing her. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper and I’m sorry. Let’s just forget and forgive, and get through this fashion show. Okay?”
She nodded, wanting to ask him a dozen questions, but willing to let things go, for now.
He hugged her tighter to him and pressed his lips close to her ear. “You look incredible. That dress is perfect for you.”
“Thank you,” Jessie whispered, feeling heat tingle over her cheeks at his praise. “You look good, too.” In fact, the dark green and pale blue paisley print of the gray shirt Chase wore brought out green and blue flecks in his hazel eyes and accentuated his tan. Golden locks of his hair waved around his ears beneath the brim of his hat, making her desperate to bury her fingers in it.
Before her thoughts began rolling down a path they didn’t need to go, Paige motioned for them to get ready to go out on the stage.
With a prayer for strength to get her through her first modeling experience, Jessie took a deep breath and stepped from behind the curtain into the spotlight.
Chase had to work to keep his mouth from dangling open as Jessie walked onto the stage at Saturday’s exclusive Lasso Eight fashion show.
The black dress she wore hugged every single one of her curves. There was lace, curves, and more curves. And legs… oh, man. Where had she been hiding them the last year? The short skirt hit her mid-thigh and showed off a pair of incredible legs he’d somehow failed to fully appreciate until that very moment.
Knees weak, he didn’t realize he’d let his reaction to her show until Cooper elbowed him and whispered, “Easy, Tiger. If you ask nice, Paige will let her keep that. You can enjoy it later.”
Chase scowled at his friend as Jessie made a flawless walk along the runaway then exited the stage.
Despite how nervous she’d been at Thursday’s benefit show, she’d done great and the audience couldn’t get enough of them posing as a couple. Chase had nearly tripped and fallen off the stage when Jessie came out wearing a long red dress with a pair of red and black boots. The dress seemed simple in design until she executed a spinning turn and it fanned out, revealing a deep slit on one side that showed off just enough leg to make his mouth go dry and the breath choke right out of him.
Although he liked her fresh appearance with the minimal makeup she usually wore, it was something else altogether to see her in full stage makeup. Beautiful didn’t even begin to describe her.
In spite of how badly he’d acted Thursday morning when he’d done his best to seduce her, she hadn’t brought it up again and he sure wasn’t going to. He didn’t know if it was exhaustion, desperation, the thrill of doing so well in competition, or just how adorably sexy she looked when he’d stumbled out of his room and saw her working, but something had made him want her so badly, he couldn’t stand it. The longing and desire he felt for Jessie wasn’t just in a physical sense, either. He felt some inexplicable need to connect with her heart, to know her mind, to bask in her very essence.
Yet, she’d shot him down so fast, it had wounded his pride and left him angry. Angry at her for telling him no. Angry at himself for not being able to keep his love for her hidden. He’d long ago admitted how much he loved her, at least to himself, but he’d never tell Jessie. Not when everything about him and his lifestyle was so wrong for her. She needed a husband who would be home every night, one who paid attention to her work projects — to her. One who didn’t come with a truck load of baggage and dozens of zealous female fans.
“You got yourself quite a girl, Chase,” Cooper said, tipping his head toward the door where Jessie had disappeared to change. “Paige and I both think she’s terrific.”
“She is pretty awesome,” Chase agreed. He felt off balance after the shock of Jessie’s sexy appearance on stage, not to mention catching the appreciative glances so many men cast her way. He wanted to punch each and every single one of those guys right in the nose for ogling his wife.
“Glad you think so. Girls like Jessie, and of course my beautiful bride, are few and far between. You better hold onto her with both hands.”
“I plan to.” But did he really? He hadn’t even tried to hold onto Jessie with one hand. He’d flirted with her, teased her, desired her, but he hadn’t tried to hold her. She deserved so much better than the likes of him and he knew it. That’s why he would let her go no matter how much he wanted her to stay.
Paige motioned for the two men to come out on the stage to model more designs from the men’s line.
When they’d made it up and down the runway, the emcee motioned them over to stand by her as a handful of women, including Jessie, walked up and down the runway, then moved into the positions where they were supposed to stand on the stage so everyone had plenty of time to see the outfits they wore.
Dressed in a pair of jeans that fit her perfectly, Chase couldn’t take his eyes off Jessie’s backside. He missed the fact the emcee wanted to talk to him until Cooper gave him a push toward the podium and the woman holding a microphone.
Chase was a pro at doing interviews. Shove a mic in his face and ask about his ride, and he could make a statement that made him sound humble, grateful, and elated all at the same time. If they wanted to know about his career, his rodeo experiences, his plans for the future, or his ranch, he could give an intelligent statement seasoned with wit and humor.
Unfortunately for Chase, the emcee had an entirely different topic in mind as she smiled at him. “Chase Jarrett. Thank you for being here with us today.”
He plastered on a charming grin and waved to the crowd. “It’s my pleasure. What a great cause, too, with Lasso Eight supporting children’s hospitals across the country.”
The crowd cheered then settled down.
“We’ve all been admiring your lovely wife, Chase. She’s just beautiful.” The woman cast a friendly smile at Jessie and motioned for her to join them.
Jessie forced a bright smile and walked over to stand next to Chase. Automatically, his arm slid around her waist, his fingers resting on the curve of her hip.
“Have you all met Jessie? Isn’t she something?” he asked. Proud of her, of how well she’d done in both fashion shows, he was about to pop the snaps open on his shirt. He knew she hated being in the spotlight, but she’d done it because both shows were for a good cause and because he’d asked her to.
Thoughts of all the times in the past year she’d been shoved beyond her comfort zone because of him sent a wave of guilt crashing over him, leaving him even more rattled than he’d already been.
He still hadn’t recovered from seeing her in that little black dress and the outfit she currently wore left him wondering what she’d do if he glided his hand down a little further and cupped her delectable rear end.
Distracted by thoughts of his wife, Chase gave the emcee a confused look when she asked him a question. He would have missed what had been said entirely, but Jessie subtly slid her hand down to cover his and gave him a slight pinch.
“I’m so dazzled by my wife, I missed your question, ma’am,” he admitted, drawing laughs and cheers from the crowd.
“I just asked if you two plan to continue modeling for Lasso Eight’s campaign in the coming year. Will we be able to look forward to seeing you in advertisements together?”
Balls of nerves bounced around in his stomach. Combined with his overload of emotions concerning Jessie, two weeks of adrenaline highs and lows, and the fatigue of being non-stop on the go, something suddenly short-circuited in his brain. At least, that was the only plausible excuse Chase would later derive for the comments that burst out of his mouth.
“Heck no, I plan to keep her hidden away at home.” He spun Jessie around and pointed to her bottom. “You think I’m letting something like that go on public display after this fashion show? Not going to happen. Besides, you should see what this girl looks like at three in the morning with her hair all…” Chase waved his hands around his head, making it clear Jessie’s hair went everywhere, “and her granny jammies on. It’s amazing what these makeup techs can do. Why, I almost didn’t recognize her when she came out a little bit ago in that little bitty black dress.” Aware of the hideous words pouring out of his mouth, Chase was helpless to hold them back. “You know one good thing about Jessie, though, is she doesn’t talk much. She’s never once asked if something makes her butt look big, and that’s a good thing, especially with those granny jammies.”
Gasps sounded throughout the room, the loudest coming from the emcee. Painfully aware of every stupid thing he’d just said, it was too late to reel the words back in. Men laughed and a few spiteful women giggled, but Chase knew Jessie would never forgive him for embarrassing her so thoroughly and publicly. What he meant to say came out in a convoluted mess that made it sound like he thought Jessie had hips as wide as a semi and needed all the makeup help she could get. His true thoughts on both subjects were completely opposite of what he’d just said, but at the moment no one would believe him if he made an attempt to clarify his muddled thoughts.
A quick glance at his wife showed her smiling, but the light that normally shone in her eyes had dulled and her face appeared incredibly pale while her cheeks blazed with twin spots of bright red. It looked like someone had placed a Christmas berry on the curve of each smooth cheek.
Chase wanted to apologize, to grovel, to crawl in a hole and disappear, but he remained silent as he numbly smiled at the emcee then the crowd.
“Well, thanks for joining us, Jessie and Chase.” The emcee turned back to the crowd and skillfully segued to the next modeling segment while Chase offered Jessie his arm and escorted her off the stage.
The minute they were behind the curtain, he tried to apologize, but she kept walking. He started to follow her, but Cooper grabbed his arm to stop him from entering the room where the women were changing.
“Dude! Did you have a total brain disconnect?” Cooper stared at him in disbelief. “Man, you are gonna be sleeping in the doghouse for the rest of your life. What were you thinking?”
Chase sighed and took off his hat, running a hand through his hair. “Clearly, I wasn’t. I didn’t mean… I have no idea…” he sighed again. “It’ll be fine. Jessie never gets mad, not like most women. She’ll be fine.”
Cooper raised both eyebrows and shook his head. “You’re even dumber than you sounded out there if you believe that, Chase. You really, really stepped in it this time.”
Chase would have offered a rebuttal, but Ashley appeared out of nowhere and slugged Chase’s arm so hard, it actually hurt.
He scowled at her and rubbed the tender spot. “Hey, what are you doing? That’s my riding arm, you know.”
“I don’t care, you moron! How could you blather on like a brainless idiot? Are you trying to kill your career? Even worse, what are you trying to do to Jessie? If she ran over you with your big pickup, shot all your bulls, and burned your house down, those women out there would stand up and applaud! What were you thinking? Granny jammies, Chase? Really?” Ashley took a breath, appearing to calm down, then turned and smacked him upside the head. “Well, no rocks or marbles rolled out. At least that’s something.”
Chase didn’t know what to say because Ashley was right. He’d not only made himself look stupid, but he’d hurt Jessie in the process. Mortified and livid wouldn’t begin to cover how she must be feeling. He knew her well enough to know she was most likely on the verge of dying of embarrassment.
“Don’t just stand there, say something!” Ashley slugged him again. “You didn’t seem to have any problem flapping your gums at full-speed a few minutes ago.”
Chase swallowed hard and stared at his cousin. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t even know where the words came from. I didn’t mean… It’s not what…” He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.
“Come with me,” Ashley ordered, grasping his sleeve and dragging him to an empty room behind the stage. After shutting the door, she turned around and shook a finger in his face. “I don’t know what has happened between the two of you, but fix it, Chase. We all wanted this marriage to work for you both. It might just take a Christmas miracle for you and Jessie to get past your stubborn pride and admit you love each other. Regardless of what you think or she thinks, the fact remains that you two are in love. However, your little escapade out there will be the final straw for her, Chase. You’ve dragged her all over the country to rodeos without a thought to how hard that is for her. She runs her own business, Chase. That work she does on the computer isn’t just her playing games. Don’t you realize she designed all the graphics for today, from the signs to the programs? She did that, your wife. She’s an amazing designer and she’s come into her own this last year. People are lining up for the chance to hire her.”
Ashley paced back and forth then rounded on him again. “I know you didn’t ask it or expect it of her, but she turned your house into a warm, inviting home. A haven where you can relax when you aren’t on the road. A place where your family and friends feel not just welcomed, but cherished. She did that, Chase. She cooks for you. Does your laundry. Helps on the ranch. I’m not supposed to tell you this, but your Christmas gift from her is something with four legs that will do great things for your herd of cattle.”
“I had no idea,” Chase said, feeling the need to sit down as he realized how little he did know about his wife. How much he’d taken advantage of her because she had a kind, giving heart. He slid down the wall to the floor.
“No you didn’t and you still don’t. But I’ll tell you something. Something you’ve needed to hear for a very long time.” Ashley inhaled a deep breath and sat beside him. “You remember when we were kids and every December you’d go with Mom and Dad and me to the mall to visit Santa. Every year, you asked for some incredible gift that you always got, but it wasn’t what you wanted. What you wished for more than anything was for your parents to take even five minutes to devote to just you, to pay attention to you, to see you. You did your best to make Christmas perfect, hoping each one would be the year you’d get what your heart wanted.”
She reached out and squeezed his hand. “You chased Christmas like you chase after everything else, with a single-minded pursuit. You worked so hard to get the attention of your parents, but they didn’t care enough to notice you. Then you pursued being the best surfer you could and won all those awards. You went after your rodeo career and look where it’s taken you. Unless you totally screw up your ride tonight, you’ll walk away from this as the world champion bull rider. You’ve spent your whole life chasing something, Chase. Yet, when the most precious thing you could ever have is about to slip through your hands, you sit here like a brainless dolt. Get after that girl of yours. Chase her down with the relentless effort you’ve put into so many other, far less important things.”
Chase leaned his head against the wall. “I think it’s too late, Ash. You didn’t see the look in her eyes. It’s over.”
“It’s only over if you let it be.” Ashley gave him a hug then got to her feet and left.
Chase remained there until the noise outside shifted from a loud din to silence. He had no idea what he could do to make things right with Jessie, but he had to try.
After changing his clothes, he went back to the hotel, hoping to catch her there, but the suite was silent. He tried her cell phone, but she didn’t answer. In a moment of desperation, he even tried calling Stacey, but it went straight to voice mail.
A glance at his watch confirmed he had to get to the arena if he wanted to compete tonight.
He grabbed his gear from his room, wondering if he’d see Jessie again that night. He went to the rodeo, hoping he’d figure out something he could do to earn her forgiveness.
A few minutes before it started, he looked out in the stands and saw Jessie sitting in her regular seat between Ashley and his aunt. Relieved she was there, he switched his focus from fretting about how badly he’d messed things up with her to how badly he wanted to win the championship.
The time seemed to pass so slowly until it was his turn as the last contestant of the night to ride. The bull he’d drawn hadn’t been ridden in the last thirty-eight attempts. Undeterred by the odds of receiving a no-score, he tightened the rope in his hand and settled into his seat then nodded his head.
Eight seconds that would define his career.
Chase waved his free hand in the air and clamped his jaw, determined to score as the bull roared out of the chute and spun in a dizzying circle.
Six seconds until he could taste success.
The bull cut to the left and bucked so hard, Chase questioned if the beast would flip over on him. If it did, he’d at least get a re-ride.
Four seconds to prove he was worthy.
Worthy of what? Parents who’d never wanted him. Fans that would use him. Peers who judged him. A woman who would have loved him if he’d given her a chance.
Two seconds standing between him and his dreams coming true.
Chase almost lost his hold on the rope as the realization hit him that Jessie was his dream come true. His career, the ranch, even a world champion title meant nothing if she wasn’t by his side.
The buzzer sounded and the crowd went wild, surging to their feet.
Chase yanked the rope from his gloved hand and jumped off, running for the chutes. The bull charged after him, but Chase managed to leap onto a paneled gate before it caught him.
In a moment when he should have been filled with pride, joy, and a sense of great accomplishment, he instead experienced a swelling panic at the thought that Jessie would walk out of his life and he’d never see her again.
When he looked into the stands for her, to see her reaction to his win, she was already gone.