Momentum (5 page)

The first rider and Marco both began to get set up in the chutes and Natalie wished she could see better. Her mind was changed, though, when Marco’s bull started acting up, tossing his head and banging against the sides of the chute. The sound was clear even from her seat, and she winced as she realized there was a good chance Marco’s legs were caught on the sides of the bull.

Conner and a few other guys jumped up onto the platform in back of the chute and hauled Marco off the bull. Thankfully, he appeared to be all right, and more men stepped in to try to calm the animal. After a few minutes, the first rider’s chute door opened and he and the bull careened out of it, with the bull making a quick turn to his left, nearly unseating the rider. But the man held on through several more spins until the buzzer sounded, and Natalie returned her attention to Marco.

He was about to drop down in the chute once more and the crowd let out a collective gasp as the bull jumped again. Marco waited him out and then tried a third time. “Is that boy nuts?” Natalie heard from behind her, and she had to agree with the man. She knew Marco could ask for a different bull, but it probably wouldn’t be ranked as high and thus wouldn’t get as big a score as the others in Marco’s group. Natalie shivered as the thought of her doing this ran through her mind. Was
she
nuts?

Almost as soon as Marco was in the chute the door opened and Natalie leaned forward in her seat. She knew Marco had to give a signal before they opened the door and wondered if he had or if a horrific event was unfolding before her eyes. The bull shot straight up in the air right by the walls of the chute and the arena, all four legs leaving the dirt. He landed and Natalie could swear his body was at a forty-five-degree angle to the ground as he spun.

Marco stayed with him and Natalie felt her chest swell. Why she was proud of someone she’d only met yesterday was a mystery, but as the buzzer sounded and Marco made a none-too-graceful dismount, Natalie couldn’t help it. She knew the bull would score very highly with the antics he’d forced Marco to endure, and not getting bucked would really help Marco’s half of the score.

His score came up and was lower than she’d expected. He’d scored an 85, which meant the judges had seen something she hadn’t. She wasn’t an expert by any means, and she made a note to ask Marco what happened. The other riders took their turns and all but one stayed on his bull, which put Marco in ninth place going into the second day.

Natalie made her way toward the riders’ prep area, hoping to meet some of the other riders, and a few moments later she was standing outside the locker room waiting for him to come out.

He did, walking beside his brother and Conner. Stopping in front of her, he turned so they were both facing Conner and Paolo and introduced her. Natalie looked up and up since Conner was easily a foot taller than she was.

“Pleasure to meet you, Natalie,” Conner said, holding out a huge hand and giving her a smile Natalie was sure got him whatever he wanted.

“Nice to meet you, too.” She cleared her throat and continued, hoping he wouldn’t think she was being too forward. “I’d love to talk to you some time about bull riding.”

“Oh?”

“I’m following you guys around for a couple of weeks. I want to try out for the women’s tour,” she explained and he smiled again. It was an encouraging smile, not one of condescension or ridicule, and she liked Conner immediately.

“Of course you can talk to me. Just not right before I ride.” His gaze shifted to Marco for a moment before returning to hers. “But afterward or on an off-day would be fine.”

A woman appeared at Conner’s side and what was a nice smile turned into an indulgent one. “Jessie girl,” he murmured as he brushed his lips with hers. The woman patted the side of his face, and Natalie saw both an engagement ring and a wedding band.
Lucky girl if she landed Conner.
He turned her toward Natalie and said, “Natalie, this is my wife, Jessica. Jess, this is Natalie. She’s Marco’s…friend.”

Jessica glanced at Marco and then held out her hand. “Really nice to meet you.”

Conner put his arm around Jessica. “Natalie is following the tour around for a few weeks. She wants to become a female bull rider.”

Jessica’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously?”

“Darlin’, you’re gonna catch flies,” Conner told her and she snapped it shut again.

Natalie laughed. These two were a trip. “Yeah, seriously.”

“You’ve got more of a sense of adventure than I do.”

“Oh, now, I wouldn’t say that,” Conner replied and Jessica blushed.

Marco spoke up then. “How about we all go to dinner?”

“That sounds good to me,” Conner said. “Jess?”

“Fine with me.”

Paolo excused himself, mumbling something about needing a woman of his own.

Natalie figured she could kill two birds with one stone—get herself a full belly and quiz the guys on their bull-riding techniques.

“Cara?”

“Sure, I can go.”

Natalie heard Jessica murmur, “I thought her name was Natalie” to Conner.

Marco must’ve heard her too, because he grinned and said, “
Cara
is something a man says to a woman, like,” he stopped for a moment to consider, “honey, or dear.”

She felt a wave of heat rush up her neck. Did he assume they were a couple?

“Oh really?
Oh.
” She looked from Marco to her and back to Marco as if she were at Wimbledon and Natalie seriously considered digging a hole right where she stood.

“Yes,
oh
,” Marco answered. Apparently he did consider them a couple.

“Not,
oh
,” Natalie said. “We are not dating.”

Marco smirked. “The kiss you gave me in the lobby a little earlier and the one this morning say otherwise.”

Conner tsked. “Hey, now, a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”

Marco had the grace to look embarrassed, but the damage was done.

She cleared her throat, frantically searching for another topic of conversation. “Maybe I’ll just go back to my mo— Shit!”

“
Cara
, what?”

She glanced around and then sighed. There was no way to hide her flightiness. “I forgot to get a hotel room. I was late for the event and I just drove straight here. I can’t believe I did that.”

Marco took her elbow and led her off to the side of the group, calling over his shoulder, “Text me where you end up and we’ll meet you there.”

“Marco, I can’t—”

Marco’s expression turned stormy. “If you didn’t get a hotel room you’ll stay with me again. I don’t want you in some dirty place again anyway.”

“I can’t keep staying with you.”

“Why not?” He looked genuinely perplexed, and Natalie rubbed her forehead where a headache was coming on like a freight train.

“Because if I do you’ll think…” She wasn’t used to just spitting stuff such as this out and was trying to come up with a delicate way of putting it when Marco leaned forward and cocked his head to the side.

His breath was hot on her neck when he said, “I’ll think you and I are dating? I’ll think it’s okay to try to sleep with you?”

Natalie swallowed and then took a shuddering breath. “Yes.”

“
Cara
, we
are
dating. And as for sleeping together,” he licked up the side of her neck to her ear and gently bit down, “that will happen too.”

Her chest was heaving and she turned her head to the side. “You’re pretty sure of yourself. Besides, we shouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m here to do a job. I can’t be distracted.”

“What fun is that?”

“Not everything in life has to be fun.”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong,” he responded, his accent growing thicker. He nipped at the pulse point hammering away where her neck met her shoulder. “Come on. You’re staying with me. Now let’s eat.”

As he strode toward the exit of the arena, Natalie considered her options. True, she could find some fleabag motel that still had room. That would cost money. Or she could stay with Marco again and save the money. Not the best idea for her sanity, but she was desperate. Basically, she was out of good, sane options.

* * * * *

Marco got a cab and helped Natalie into it. The woman was driving him insane. She would give a little and then take it away, leaving him wanting her even more. He fought not to touch her as the cab zoomed toward dinner. At the restaurant, they sat down opposite Conner and Jessica.

After ordering, Natalie said to Conner, “Should I quiz you now or wait until you have a little alcohol in you and your tongue loosens up?”

Conner laughed. “Darlin’, I’m six-foot-four, one beer isn’t going to make much of a difference. Plus, my tongue’s usually plenty loose.” Jessica put her hand over her mouth to try to contain her giggle and he shot her a look of pure heat that made Natalie’s breath catch. Yeah, he was a man who got what he wanted, when he wanted it. That much was obvious.

Forcing herself back to her reason for coming to dinner, she said, “Actually, my first question does have to do with height. How are you a successful bull rider at your height? I’ve heard the shorter you are, the better.”

Marco scoffed. “I am not short and I am successful.”

Natalie looked him up and down. “You’re not six-four.” Turning back to Conner, she said, “Pardon the interruption.”

“I like this girl,” Conner replied, smirking at Marco. “Natalie can stick around for a while. I think she’s good for your ego.”

“She keeps giving me setdowns. How is that good for my ego?”

“Makes it a little bit smaller.” Refocusing on Natalie, he said, “Normally, you’re right, the closer you are to the bull the better off you’ll be. To be honest, I’m not sure why I’m successful at my height. Maybe I’m able to compensate better for it.” He shrugged and took a sip of beer. “How tall are you?”

“Five-foot-two.”

“Then you should be fine,” Conner answered with a wink.

“Stop flirting with my girl,” Marco said, giving Conner a mock glare. Natalie elbowed him. “What was that for?”

She raised one eyebrow. “I’m not your girl.”

“We’ll talk about that later.”

“I have no doubt you’ll be good at it,” Jessica put in. “I grew up around bulls and broncs on my daddy’s ranch. I never rode either, but it seems to me that in addition to all the technical stuff, there’s a huge element of sheer will and determination. If you have more than the bull does, you’ll be all right.”

Conner leaned over to give her a quick kiss. “Well said, Jessie girl.”

“Why, thank you.”

“I knew I had you around for a reason.”

Jessica barked out a laugh. “Is that all you want me for?”

Conner’s voice dropped. “You know it’s not, sugar. Do I need to do some convincing tonight?”

Jessica blushed and Conner smiled. Marco’s chest constricted a little as he watched the couple banter. It was obvious they were crazy about each other. What would happen if he and Natalie ever reached that stage? An image of a blond-haired, blue-eyed little girl flashed into his mind and he shook his head to clear it of the ridiculous notion.

Natalie leaned back in the booth and crossed her arms. The action forced her small, high breasts up even more and his mouth watered. Screw dinner, he’d just found what he wanted to eat. He shifted to relieve some of the ache in his too-tight jeans and when he looked up Conner was trying to hold in a laugh, most likely at Marco’s expense.
So he’s married, but not blind. Good to know marrying doesn’t neuter everybody.

“What part of the physique do you think is most important to having success in the arena?” Natalie asked.

Conner considered the question for a moment. “The core. Everything radiates out from there, know what I mean?”

“I guess I’d better start doing crunches, then,” Natalie answered with a chuckle. “Even though I’m in fairly decent shape from helping my father out on the ranch.” Her voice broke and she reached for her water. Tears welled in her eyes but as Marco watched her, a mask of sorts came over her face and it was as if nothing had ever happened. He didn’t know how Natalie managed to keep her emotions under control like that and wondered if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

Jessica’s eyes showed she was troubled and Marco figured she was feeling bad about Natalie’s sudden discomfiture. She didn’t show it, though, mercifully changing the subject. “So how long are you planning to stay on tour?”

“I’m not sure,” Natalie answered, fidgeting with her napkin, and Marco groaned to himself. Another sore subject. Natalie looked up and sent him a watery smile. He laid a hand on top of hers on the table and her fidgeting stopped. He brought both their hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles before dropping them into his lap. She darted a glance at him when he smoothed her hand over his thigh.

“So when are these tryouts?” Conner asked Natalie.

“In about eight weeks. I’d like to stay on the tour for a month or so and then a friend of mine thought he could squeeze me into one of the bull-riding schools for a week or two on a kind of a work-study thing.”