“You don’t have to do that.”
Her bright eyes belied her words. “Yes I do. Tomorrow will be our day.”
“I’d love that, Greg.” She leaned toward him and he gave her a one arm hug. Over the top of her head he caught his dad’s eyes and saw approval shining in them.
He’d earned back some brownie points.
Mom pulled away from him, wiping her eyes. “Well, let’s get watching some rodeo. Do you know anyone competing in your old event? Anyone from the days when it was you causing me stress by riding those broncs?”
At the time he’d brushed away his mother’s concerns about the sport he’d taken up. He’d been young and arrogant. But now he knew she’d prefer him doing his bronc riding than being a SEAL. At least she could come and watch him. With his job he couldn’t even tell her where he was going, when he’d be back, or what he’d be doing.
Greg had no doubt she was proud but, again, the guilt kicked in. Was he a disappointment to her with his career choice?
He pushed those thoughts aside. Thinking like that could get him hurt when on a mission. She accepted him for who he was and what he did. He should leave it at that.
“Greg? Did you not hear me?”
He focused back on his mom and recalled the question she asked. “Yeah, you remember Randy Williamson? Well apparently he’s one of the top bronc riders now. Plus I think there’s a couple of other guys. I’ve only run into Randy and the exchanges weren’t what you’d call friendly.”
While Greg had been hanging with Faith while she trained, keeping his ear to the ground to see if he could pick up any information, Randy had tried to start a couple of fights with him. Each time Greg had walked away. His career was too important to him to let a weasel like Randy rile him up and get into a fight.
“Oh, I never liked him. He had shifty eyes. Anyone with shifty eyes is not good news.”
Greg bit back a laugh, but his father had no qualms and laughed loud while asking. “Barbara, shifty eyes? What on earth do you mean?”
“His eyes were always darting all over the place. Like he’d done something wrong or was coming up with a scheme that would end up with people getting hurt.”
Greg sat a little straighter after hearing his mom’s observations. Was Randy involved with the stealing of horses? He’d been there the other day when Faith’s horse was stolen.
Randy was the type who would get himself into trouble by just blinking an eye. He was definitely someone worth watching and Greg knew should mention it to Faith and Eddy as well.
Faith refused to tell him the ins and outs of her case, and he respected that. But at this moment, he wished he had a little more insight. Then he could try and see if there was a connection between Randy and the stolen horses.
“Honey, are you okay?” His mom touched his arm and he faced her.
“Yeah, just thinking.”
She reached up and ran a hand across his forehead. “You frown too much,” she said lightly then kissed him on the cheek.
Sitting close to his mom he noticed the fine lines around her eyes and along her forehead appeared deeper than the last time he’d seen her. Knowing his job contributed to her stress cut him, but he couldn’t give it up. He loved being a SEAL. Over the years he’d been part of a team that had saved numerous lives. He’d also helped his teammates and they’d helped him. If his mom could see the scars he’d received from stray bullets and swinging knives she’d worry even more.
He couldn’t deny that was one of the reasons he’d stayed away from his family on occasion. The less they knew about his job the better. But he could try and see them a little more often than he did.
Over the loudspeaker the emcee asked for everyone to be up and standing for the National Anthem. He tucked his hat under his arm and placed his right hand over his heart. His mom slipped an arm around him, squeezing him tight. As the sounds echoed around the stadium, pride welled up within him, like it always did. He swallowed down the lump forming in his throat.
If the guys could see him now they’d rib him for his display of feelings, then again, maybe not. The anthem represented so much more than a tribute to their country, it represented all they fought for every time they went on a mission.
Greg looked around the stadium, at the competitors lined up around the arena. His gaze landed on the woman sitting tall on a beautiful grey mare. Lost in his thoughts he hadn’t seen Faith come in with the procession. He willed her to look his way. The chances of her seeing him in 70,000 plus spectators were slim, but somehow he hoped she was able to pick him out.
His heart skipped a beat and a rush of warmth swept over him, filling him in places he hadn’t known were empty.
When he left in a few days to go back to base, he knew he was going to leave a large portion of his heart behind.
The barrel racing was always one of the last events to be run at the rodeo. Bull riding was always the final event because most people loved to see men pit themselves against the bucking power of a fierce beast.
The bull riders were a crazy bunch of guys. She’d always admired their strength and tenacity. Not to mention their bravery. Similar to the bronc riders. No wonder Greg had chosen to be a SEAL. She was sure the adrenaline rush would be different, but no less. He was pitting himself against the world.
“How are you feeling?” Eddy came up and ran a hand down Smokey’s flanks, the horse pranced a little as if she was excited and wanted to stop the standing around and just get on with business.
Faith couldn’t blame the animal. Pre-race nerves were dancing the jive in her belly. She’d always experienced this before she competed. If she didn’t experience the nerves, she’d worry that something would happen.
“I’m good, ready to do my stuff.” She finally answered Eddy.
“I bet. You know what to do. I don’t need to guide you. You’re a natural racer.” Eddy’s praised warmed her.
“Thanks. But….” she looked around the space where she waited. Only a few more minutes before her event would start. The cheers from the crowd sounded down the tunnel. The other competitors milled around, warming up their horses, talking and joking. The atmosphere was amazing, yet it was all fleeting, it could be over with a stumble or bad landing. She liked the security of her job. “I’m happy with what I’ve chosen to do.”
Out of the corner of her eye she spied Sadie and Tiffany talking, surprised neither one was warming up their horses. Whatever they were saying it wasn’t pleasant. The look she’d seen on Sadie’s face at the cook-off was back.
“Eddy?” He released Smokey’s front leg and looked at her.
“What?”
She canted her head to the right. “Look, something’s going on.” The argument between the two women was still raging and Faith slipped off Smokey. “I think I should go over there. Maybe I can catch something that may help us.”
Eddy nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on Smokey. Be careful, Faith.”
“Always.” She walked over to where the two women stood.
“I can’t believe you did that? Why would you do it, Sadie?” Tiffany cried, her voice strained, as if she was trying to stop herself from yelling and drawing the attention of everyone.
“Because I’m sick of always coming in second best. You were always beating me and now that bitch is. She comes out of nowhere and starts taking all the first places that should’ve been mine. Don’t you think it’s strange? Randy sure does.”
Faith held back at the mention of Randy’s name. She never trusted the guy and after her encounter with him at the cook-off, she trusted him even less. Plus it was clear they were talking about her. Who else could they be arguing about? Sadie was right, she and Tiffany had been trading first places.
“You weren’t there when she competed as a teenager. She was amazing. Still is. So what if she took some time off. She went off to college and maybe she got a job but then decided she loved and missed barrel racing so she came back to it. It’s not a crime.”
“God,
you’re such a suck-up. But I’m glad her horse got taken. She’s never going to win on the hack she’s riding now. And I’m gonna beat your ass, too.” Sadie huffed and walked away, not seeing Faith standing off to the side.
She and Eddy had discussed the possibility that Sadie might be involved with the smuggling ring, and while she said she was glad that Faith’s horse had been stolen, her motives appeared different from those of the ring. Sadie was coming at it as a disgruntled competitor, not as someone who wanted to sell off horses.
“How much did you hear, Faith?” Tiffany came up on her, pulling her out of her thoughts.
“Enough to know I’m not Sadie’s favorite person.”
Tiffany grimaced and straightened her shirt. “I’m seeing a side to Sadie I haven’t seen before. I thought we were friends. I certainly had no idea she didn’t like me.”
Sympathy filled Faith at the sadness in Tiffany’s expression. In the space of a few words she’d found out the person she thought was a friend really wasn’t. Sometimes life sucked. “I’m sorry, but our event is about to start. You need to push down these feelings and concentrate on the race. Don’t let her see that her words affected you or your performance.” She placed her hand on Tiffany’s shoulder. “Let’s go one and two tonight.”
Tiffany sniffed and then straightened her back, attempted a smile. “Yep, I’m going to beat your ass tonight, Faith Timberly.”
Faith laughed. “Atta girl, but I wouldn’t be too sure. I’m out to prove that my hack is a pretty darn good racer.”
Tiffany pulled her in a hug. “I’m really glad you’re back on the circuit, Faith. At least you’re a friend I don’t have to worry about lying to me. You’ve always been straightforward and upfront.”
Faith winced and hoped Tiffany took it as her squeezing her too hard in a hug. Truth was, she was no better than Sadie. She was lying to Tiffany too.
As she advised Tiffany, Faith pushed away her feelings of guilt. “Let’s go, Tiff.”
Tiffany walked away and Faith stood for a couple more seconds getting her emotions under control. When she looked up she saw Randy standing in the shadows, opposite of where she stood, a smirk on his face.
God, the guy was a smarmy asshole, but he’d been beaten tonight and she’d taken a sweet satisfaction in that outcome. She waggled her finger at him and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
Time to get her race on.
Chapter 10
Faith scanned the stands. The place was packed, but when she’d been out there for the National Anthem she thought she’d seen Greg in the crowd. He’d told her he was going to be there. The fact was, since Ginger’s disappearance, he’d been by her side constantly. It had taken all her willpower not to let him into her room at the end of the evening. Her body screamed for the release only he could give her, but she had to maintain distance between them. Her job depended on her not letting her emotions overrule and Greg had the power to make her forget everything.
The crowd cheered and she looked up to see Sadie had completed her run. She’d completed it in 15.10 seconds. Not a great run and one Faith was confident she could smash. She really shouldn’t be at the start of the tunnel, but she was the last rider so she had a few minutes to watch her fellow competitors. Not a normal action for her, but she’d been pulled by the need to see if she could see Greg.
Looking in the direction where she thought she’d seen him, all she could make out was a sea of cowboy hats. All colors, black, grey, brown. It was near on impossible to pick out Greg amongst everyone there.
Sighing, she turned and walked back to her horse, stopping when she spied Greg standing off to the side. Her pulse jumped, admiring the fit of his jeans, the way they hugged his muscular thighs. She wished he’d turned around, she had no doubt the denim clung in all the right places around his tight ass.
A flood of desire pooled low in her belly. Great, the last thing she needed before racing was to be turned on, but Greg was there and denying her attraction to him was stupid.
“Hey there, Cowboy, what are you doing down here?” She smiled at the appropriateness of his nickname and how natural he looked surrounded by fellow competitors.
“I wanted to see you before you went out. I saw from the program that you were racing last.”
She continued walking to where Eddy and Smokey waited for her. Time was ticking and she was cutting it fine to get herself mentally prepared for the race. Greg was another distraction she didn’t need, but she couldn’t deny she was glad to see him. “How did you get down here? This area is for competitors only.”
He shrugged, as if he gate-crashed rodeos every day of the week. “I know people.”
Faith rolled her eyes, and grabbing the saddle horn she hoisted herself up and over the horse. Smokey pranced about a little and Faith tightened her hold on the reins. “Well it’s good to see you but I have to prepare. You should go back to your seat.”
Greg shook his head and laid a hand on Smokey’s neck, the horse stilling at his touch. Of course, he’d be a horse whisperer, too. “I’m watching from here.”
Her nerves multiplied and jitterbugged around her belly. Knowing Greg was in the crowd somewhere had been comforting, but knowing he was down here watching her disconcerted her a little.
Eddy spoke up. “Faith, you’re up next. Get to your starting position.”
She nodded and took a deep breath. “Right. I’ve got this.”
Greg tapped her leg and she looked down. He crooked his finger and she bent down toward him momentarily. “I’ve got to go, Greg.”
“I know. Go get ‘em, Princess.”
She wheeled Smokey around and went to her starting position. Apart from Sadie’s time she wasn’t aware of how well the other riders had done. Tonight was the first night of three weeks of competition. There were plenty of opportunities to win, but after hearing Sadie and Tiffany’s conversation earlier, she really did want to beat the pants off Sadie and get tonight’s prize money.
The steward waved to get her attention, she lifted her own hand in response. Securing her hat on her head she prepared herself, waiting for her signal to start. The steward’s hand dropped and she dug her heels into Smokey’s flank.
The horse sprung into action as if she couldn’t wait to get started. By the time they entered the arena they had a good amount of speed going. The crowd noise blended into the background. In her mind she went through everything she needed to do to get her horse around the course in the quickest time without knocking into any of the barrels.
Smokey obviously knew this was her opportunity to shine, because the animal reacted to every twist of the reins. Every nudge in her side. Her track around the course passed in a blur and as she spurred Smokey on to do her final run home, Faith’s blood was buzzing through her body in exhilaration.
Eddy and Greg stood in the tunnel waiting for her return, big smiles on their faces. Everything she’d blocked out came back into focus and she heard the announcer naming her the winner with an unbelievable time of 14.32 seconds.
Adrenaline must have still been pumping through Smokey as she pranced around the area. Greg reached and grabbed the bridle and the horse immediately settled down.
“You are a horse whisperer,” she stated as she slid off the horse, her knees buckling a bit from her output of energy. Somehow Greg managed to catch her while still hanging on to Smokey. Faith wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his hard strength.
“I’ve got Smokey, you look after Faith,” Eddy said over the cheers of the crowd as the first bull rider commenced his ride.
Faith had no idea what was wrong with her. She’d never reacted this way after a ride. It was as if her legs had turned to jelly.
“Are you okay,” Greg murmured, his lips brushing up against her ear. She shivered at the contact remembering the night they’d spent together. The way Greg worshipped her body and made her feel like she was the most important person in his world.
She wanted that again.
“I am now.” She lifted her head and found his mouth. Greg tightened his hold on her and she reveled in being close to him again.
After too short of a time, he pulled his lips away from her, she moaned her disappointment.
“Not the time or place, Princess.”
Faith sighed. He was totally right, but that didn’t mean she was any happier about it, she wanted more. Wanted everything he had to give her.
If you want that, why have you been pushing him away?
Yeah, why had she been doing that? Because her job and the case was an excuse. Their one night together had her envisaging a future that was impossible to make come true. It didn’t mean she couldn’t live in the moment.
Greg would be gone in a couple of days. Back to his base and then flying off to goodness knows where and into goodness knows what. Why shouldn’t she enjoy the last few days with him. They both were well aware that a relationship between them wasn’t going to work. Long distance relationships never did.
“Come back to my room tonight.” The words erupted out of her. Her subconscious sick of her internal argument.
“Yes.”
His response was immediate. No hesitation or doubt in his voice or his body language. Greg wanted her as much as she wanted him.
Two hours later, weary but still riding the high of her win, Faith went to open her door but Greg’s hand stilled her movements.
She looked over her shoulder at him, raising her eyebrow in question.
“Let me. I want to make sure everything’s okay in here.”
Faith recalled when they entered his room a few nights ago, he’d kept her close by his side. At the time she hadn’t paid much attention to him or his body language—now she did.
Her man had turned into Mr. Navy SEAL in an instant. While he had his hand in hers, his body was tense, ready to spring into action if necessary. His eyes scanned the room and Faith couldn’t deny that this protective side of him turned her on.
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