The Bull Rider's Valentine

By then, the bartender sidled over. “Either of you boys ready for another round?”

Nate shook his head. “I’m good for now.”

The older man raised his glass, the melting ice cubes tinkling from his shaking hand. “When you have a second, Bess.”

“Coming right up, Theo.”

Nate turned and stared at him. “Theo? As in Theo McGraw?”

“This here’s the owner of The Small Change,” Bess said. “Biggest cattle ranch in the valley.”

“I do believe I’ve just been played.” Nate tipped his bottle of beer at Theo, who grinned in return.

“The invitation to drop by still stands.”

The bartender returned with Theo’s drink. As if it were an afterthought, she paused to study Nate. “Do I know you?”

“I don’t think so.” He was often recognized by people familiar with rodeo. These days, he didn’t supply his name in case someone asked what the hell had happened to his career. He didn’t like admitting it had suffered a slow, painful death.

“Give me a second.” She wagged a finger at him and squinted her eyes.

He attempted to distract her. “I’ve been here before. But it was years ago.”

“Well, I’ll be!” The woman beamed as recognition dawned. “You’re Nate Truett.”

Her announcement also got the attention of several people sitting at the bar, including Theo McGraw.

“The Nate Truett?” he asked.

“World champion bull rider,” Bess said, bursting with pride at her accomplishment.

“Guilty as charged.” Nate wished the bartender didn’t have such a keen memory for faces.

“Did I hear you say you’re looking for a job? Because I might have one.”

“I’d be lying if I said I ever bartended.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Not that. Something else. Something better than a wrangler. Sorry, Theo.” She sent him an apologetic smile.

He laid a hand over his heart. “You wound me, dear lady.”

The woman propped her arms on the bar in front of Nate. “I’ll show you. On my break. Can you wait half an hour?”

“All right.” Nate was intrigued.

Theo, too, judging by his expression.

Suddenly, the front door whooshed open. Along with an unwelcome gust of cold air came three people, huddled and chatting amiably. As the door banged closed behind them, they split apart. To Nate’s amazement, there stood Ronnie.

The next second, she spotted him and her smile instantly died.

Chapter Three (#u4d2283f3-8ead-5795-bacf-03c499b464b7)

Ronnie didn’t normally swear. A ripe oath, however, slipped past her lips at the sight of Nate sitting alongside Theo McGraw, her father’s boss. Luckily, her clients, the Carringtons, appeared oblivious. Not that she needed to worry. Both were former rodeo competitors and had probably heard a lot worse during their many years on the circuit.

Still, Ronnie preferred to make a good impression. Especially on clients like the Carringtons, whose daughter was one of Ronnie’s students. If all went well, they’d close the deal tonight on Star Shine, a reliable beginner barrel racing horse Ronnie was selling on behalf of a friend. In exchange, she’d receive a small percentage of the final price.

A good deal for all concerned. Star Shine was an excellent match for the Carringtons’ daughter and would serve her well over the next few years. The price was fair, and in return, the horse would be well cared for and doted on by the thirteen-year-old.

Hugh Carrington remained the sole holdout and had suggested they meet at the Poco Dinero to rehash the details. Ronnie had acquiesced. She and the owner, Bess, had recently entered into a business arrangement, and meeting at the honky-tonk made sense. Now, Ronnie wished she’d insisted on a different spot.

“How about that one?” Hugh motioned to an empty table near the bar, which, of course, put them in close proximity to Nate.

Ronnie sighed. Would she get even one break today? Every time she least expected it, Nate was there, insinuating himself into her life. Showing up at the ranch earlier, driving Sam home, parking his trailer at her sister’s house and, now, sitting next to the man who signed her father’s paychecks—both of them a pebble’s toss from her important business meeting.

Hugh pulled out a chair for his wife, Jessica, and the three of them sat. Within seconds, the waitress arrived to take their order, and Ronnie indicated she’d pick up the tab when they were done.

She tried desperately to ignore Nate’s stare, which burned into the side of her face, and focus on the meeting.

“The good thing about a horse like Star Shine,” Ronnie said, “is that she has the ability to progress along with your daughter. You yourselves have even commented on what a good partnership they have while watching them compete together.”

Jessica beamed. “I love her speckled markings.”

Hugh’s gaze wandered to the bar, and his ruddy brow furrowed. “Wait a sec...well, I’ll be. Jessica, honey, look. Isn’t that Nate Truett at the bar?”

She swiveled in her chair. “Oh, my God, you’re right!”

Ronnie was thankful the pair were keeping their voices low enough that Nate couldn’t hear them over the music and noise.

“We’ve met,” Hugh commented. “Several times during my last year on the circuit. He’d just started coming up strong. Not long after that, his career skyrocketed.”

“I remember,” Jessica concurred.

Hugh returned his attention to Ronnie. “Does he live in Mustang Valley?”

“Passing through, I believe.”

“You know him?”

For a wild second, Ronnie debated lying. “Yes,” she finally admitted. “We’re acquainted.”

As if sensing the conversation was about him, Nate glanced their way. His brown eyes twinkling, he lifted his beer bottle in a mock toast, which Hugh and Jessica eagerly returned.

“Mind if I invite him to join us?”

Hugh didn’t wait for Ronnie’s reply before getting up and striding over to the bar where he and Nate engaged in a testosterone-infused reacquaintance that included a death-grip handshake and mutual shoulder clapping.

She swallowed a groan, silently begging Nate to decline the invitation. Naturally, he didn’t.