TUGGING HIS HAT low on his forehead, Cull looked around as he made his way through the fairgrounds and to the arena. He kept his head down, not wanting to talk to anyone. The crowd was gathering at the rodeo gate. Several cowboys threw their hands up in greeting and he responded with a wave. “Good luck tonight, Cade,” one of them said.
“Luck ain’t got nothing to do with it,” he said with a chuckle and continued to the opposite side of the fence.
He felt a tug on his elbow and looked around to see a big smile and bright eyes. “Melissa.” He wasn’t surprised to see her here tonight, but he was shocked that she approached him. After all, he hadn’t spoken to her, or visited her, in a long time and a woman like her didn’t wait around for any man.
“Well, well, well…” She clicked her tongue, looked him up and down, then moistened her cherry-red lips. “You haven’t called me back, cowboy.” She tapped her boot impatiently and narrowed her eyes. Her long earrings clanked loudly.
“I’ve been busy.” He scratched his jaw.
“Too busy for me?” Her bottom lip popped out.
“Too busy for anything.” He wasn’t about to get into the details. Across the arena he saw his brothers. “I see my clan. I better get over there.”
She didn’t release her hand from his arm. “I came to see you ride tonight, Cull. How about we revisit old times, say my place after this shindig shuts down?” She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Maybe that sexy look would have hooked him weeks ago, but tonight the only thing Cull could think of was getting the ride over with and back home.
“After the ride I’ll be dog tired. How about I take a raincheck?”
“Another raincheck? This is getting old,” she slurred.
He resituated his hat. “Yeah, you’re right. I just said it, but I won’t be needing a raincheck. You should find a cowboy who has more time.” He dipped his hat and moved through the maze of people. His brothers were pressed against the gate of the holding area, laughing and carrying on.
“What is it out here? A hundred degrees?” Cull said in a low voice.
Phoenix chuckled. “I’m just wondering why in the hell we still agree to do this every year. I ain’t getting any younger.”
“Yeah, I second that. Tyler complained that she’s as big as a house with the baby, but she didn’t mind coming out tonight and watching us ride. In fact, I liked seeing her excited,” Kace said with a smile. “Nothing like my girl being proud.”
“Speaking of, where are the ladies?” Cull asked.
“Grabbing cotton candy,” Nix said.
“And a pickle. Elephant ears. And I think one of them mentioned deep fried cookies,” Zander said.
“You boys missing single life yet?” Cull winked.
“Not in the least,” Kace said and the rest of the brothers nodded in agreement.
“Before you know it, Cull, you’re going to find yourself whistling a different tune, too,” Phoenix said. “I remember being in denial and then Ria showed me the right path.”
“You could have at least warned us, buddy,” Nix said.
“Warned you? That this event would be hotter than hell?” Cull laughed.
“No, that you had a date,” Kace added.
“Huh?” Cull narrowed his gaze. Did the fellows see Melissa and misunderstand?
Looking in the direction that his brothers pointed, Cull held his breath. At first, he didn’t recognize the cowgirl coming his way, but then he realized it was Monica and she seemed to glide as she walked toward him. She wore a hat that shaded her face, but he could see her beautiful lush pout and that smile…that one that hooked him. He slowly traveled his attention over the slight bounce of her breasts under the shirt and the sliver of her stomach exposed above the waist of the daisy dukes. His mouth salivated as he followed the length of her firm, thick thighs, slender legs to the tops of the boots. She had a make over and he didn’t mind one bit, as long as she was happy.
Their gazes met across the dirt and she shyly looked down. Three heart beats later, she brought her eyes back up and boldly held his stare. Hell, all he could do was watch her like a teenage boy seeing his crush.
He heard his sisters-in-law saying something, but Cull couldn’t concentrate on anything except for the heavy, uncontrollable pounding of his heart. A beautiful smile parted Monica’s lips and his knees weakened—a man who’d never been weak around anyone. He realized just how happy he was that she was here.
He excused himself and whispered in Monica’s ear, “Can we have a moment?”
“Sure.”
Leading her through the crowd, he pressed his hand against the small of her back and they stopped near the corner of the stables.
“I hope this is okay. Kiersten invited me. I don’t remember ever having something as delicious as a fried cookie on a stick.” Monica brought the treat to her mouth and bit into it. She purred in delight. He’d never witnessed anything sexier. His balls tightened and he needed to get over this before he sat on the bull.
“It’s fine that you’re here. Just stay close to the family. You have a little powdered sugar on your lip.” Not thinking, just acting, he brought his thumb up to trace the plush curve of her lip. She stared at him, wide-eyed, and he leaned in to whisper, “I think you’ve drawn the attention of every red-blooded male in this place.”
Her cheeks flushed. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“I’m going to have to keep you close to me, otherwise one of these cowboys will get the idea of taking you away.”
He liked how her eyes sparkled. The arena lights seemed to suddenly become hotter.
“That won’t happen. I’d just have to tell them I don’t have a clue who I am and someone wants me dead.” She laughed and it made him grow hard. “That would spoil any attraction.”
The last thing he wanted to do was break this moment with her, but he was the first Cade to ride and if he didn’t get his head in the game, he was going to break his neck…and his dick. “We better get back to the family.” He took her hand and entwined their fingers, realizing just how perfect they fit together.
“Doesn’t she look like a cowgirl, Cull?” Wynn said when Monica and Cull approached.
“It doesn’t take long for the country to work its magic on even a city girl,” Cull said with a wink.
It seemed like Monica was getting along just fine with the other women. A part of him liked seeing her smile, enjoying herself, but another part warned him that not only did he need to protect her, but he also had to protect his family. Although it was easy to forget who she was, he couldn’t forget the danger she had on her back.
****
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She moistened her lips. “Yes.” Swirls of anticipation assaulted her stomach and her knees weakened. His voice was deeper, low and intriguing, vibrating her nipples. Would he kiss her? She wanted him too, more than she wanted her memory back, and yet she knew he wouldn’t because his brothers were close.
“Any new memories return?” He lifted a brow.
“No, nothing worth mentioning,” she said, her voice a little more than a whisper. He met her gaze with a calm, steady certainty. She took a deep breath.
“Stay close. You hear?” He tucked her hair behind her ear, making her squirm.
“I didn’t mean for you to have to babysit me.”
“It’s not babysitting. You’re not a baby and I’m not a sitter. I’m keeping watch over you.” He touched her shoulder lightly.
She lifted her chin, her mind searching for something. “I’ll stay close,” she promised.
“I have to go with the guys and get ready to ride. You and the ladies can stand along the rail and watch us. Okay?”
All she could do was nod.
“Great.” He laughed as if he was amused with her.
“Is riding a bull safe?” Her bottom lip trembled.
“Well, yes and no.” He touched her chin lightly. “I won’t really be able to answer for sure until eight seconds have passed.”
“Eight seconds? Why eight seconds?” Her brows scrunched.
“Eight seconds is the length of time I must stay on the back of the bull.”
“Eight seconds isn’t long…at least I don’t think so.”
There was that bemused grin again. “Yeah, not long at all.” Then he did exactly what she wanted him to do. He kissed her, but not on the lips as she’d hoped. It was on her cheek and then he strolled across the dirt toward another metal gate.
It took her a good five minutes to calm down. Her hands had been shaking and her panties were soaked, her cheeks burned with a combination of excitement and intrigue.
“You look like you’re about ready to pass out, Monica.” Kiersten patted her on the shoulder. “Relax. Cull knows what he’s doing.”
How was she supposed to relax? A loud buzzing sound went off somewhere in the arena as the doors to a gate came crashing open. Monica watched intently as a bull shot out with Cull on it’s back. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene before her. He had one gloved hand held high above his head and the other was holding tight to a leather strap. The bull bucked wildly, spinning one way, then the next as Cull held steady, keeping his posture in the saddle. She replicated the action by grasping the top rail of the fence and held her breath, staring and feeling fear tighten her muscles.
He whipped around like a rag doll as the bull continued its thrashing. She leaned her body to the left, to the right, forward and backward as if she were the joystick to the bull. The crowd cheered and she heard a few chants. Were they rooting for Cull or the bull?
“We love you, Cull!” A woman screamed from the bleachers.
Finally, the buzzer sounded again and Cull dropped from the back of the beast and raced for his exit, only the bull was pissed and wanted revenge. He raced up behind Cull, but he was quick and darted over the fence just as the bull slammed its head into the metal.
“Can I breathe now?” she muttered.
“Yes, you can breathe now,” Kiersten said with a laugh. “Welcome to our world, my friend. I have a feeling you’re going to see a lot more of these events.”