“No, sir, it has nothing to do with him. You see, I’ve had a dream for myself and I worked hard enough that it came to fruition.” I revealed everything to him and once I was done, he sat back and stared at me, emotionless. When the silence became uncomfortable, that’s when he finally spoke.
“I didn’t know your momma and daddy, but I have no doubt they’re smiling down on you from heaven, incredibly proud of the legacy they left behind.” I hadn’t cried in a long time over my parents, but his words made me break down.
“What’s going to happen with you and Rhett?” he asked after we decided what my last day at work would be.
“Who knows,” I said with a shrug. “I’m going to enjoy every moment I have with him and we’ll see where it goes.”
The anticipation of seeing Rhett again was almost unbearable with the last week being torturous. My body was buzzing with the need to able to touch him again. Ryan and Adeline stayed in the hotel the guys had while Rhett moved in with me for the week of the rodeo. I loved waking up in his arms, coming home to him after work and having him completely overwhelm my body in bed. I could get used to this kind of life with Rhett, but we haven’t even discussed our future plans. He’ll be staying with me for one more week after the rodeo, but then Ryan and him plan on heading back to Ireland for their month long break before Nationals.
I refused to worry about the future and the unknown status of our relationship. Instead, I’m focused on us in the present and every moment I have with him.
Saturday has arrived and my last rodeo at Bear Creek is about to start. There’s a spring in my step and I can’t stop smiling. With Bear Creek being a small town, word spread like wildfire about my resignation. Most people who work at the rodeo are lifers, so they were quite surprised with the news, especially not knowing the real reason. I asked Mr. George to keep my author identity quiet and he did, telling people I had a “job” lined up in Austin.
He wasn’t exactly lying.
Most of the part-time contractors who I only see during rodeo week have come and wished me farewell. It has been a busy day, with showtime in less than two hours. Rhett and Ryan should be arriving soon and I can’t wait to watch my man take first place.
I walk around the arena and sit down in one of the seats, watching the grounds crew get the pit ready. It dawns on me that while I’m eternally grateful to Mr. George for giving me my first full-time job, I will not miss this place. It was a stepping-stone to help me get to where I wanted to go in my life and I will look back at it with fond memories. Even though I experienced heartache from Ty, I came out a stronger person because of it.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, alerting me to a text message. I pull it out to see Mr. George needs my help back in the office. I take one last look around before heading there. When I arrive, Mr. George is nowhere to be found, but a huge bouquet of freesias and lilies are on my desk with a note from Rhett.
Onto bigger and better things, Little Lass.
Congratulations on your last rodeo!
I love you,
Rhett
Tears start to pool in my eyes at his sweet words and thoughtful gesture. Today is supposed to be his big day with this being the last rodeo before Nationals. He should be mentally preparing himself for tonight, not thinking about me and how this is my last rodeo. But that’s the thing about Rhett, he’s selfless and always concerned about me and my happiness.
How did I get so lucky?
I send him a quick text thanking him before I hear Mr. George call my name. I put my phone back in my pocket and go help him.
Three hours later and I’m still running around like a crazy woman, helping out anyone who seems to be having a problem. I get a text from Adeline alerting me that Rhett will be up soon. I manage to make it to my seat just as Ty finishes. Ty and Rhett are neck and neck in the standings as of today, but that will change again once all scores are tallied.
Ty waves to the crowd, the cheers for the hometown cowboy deafening. I refuse to clap for him and am disappointed when I see he scored an 86.
“That’s pretty good,” I tell Adeline, my nerves giving me anxiety. Fortunately, Rhett is the last rider for his competition so he knows he needs to beat Ty’s score. I say a little silent prayer to keep Rhett safe because although I want him to beat Ty, his safety is much more important to me.
I see Rhett and his horse in the chute. As the announcer tells the crowd to get ready, I take a deep breath and hold it for those eight-seconds he manages to stay on his horse. Not only does he stay on, but he does it flawlessly, looking like he’s in total synchronization with the horse.
I jump out of my seat as soon as that bell indicates the end of his ride. The pickup men flank each of his sides and he gets off. He waves at the crowd, but I see his eyes searching… searching for me. When he finally sees me, he points at me and blows me a kiss.
I love that he searches for me in the crowd, needing to see me.
I love that he just publicly blew me a kiss.
I love his determination and grit to be the best.
I love… him.
I love Rhett Kearney.
“Adeline,” I grab her arm in excitement and start shaking it. “I love him, Adeline! I love him!”
“I’ve already told you that you do! Now go down there and tell him!”
“What, now?” My eyes bug out of my head at her suggestion.
She gives me an exasperated look and starts pushing me toward the exit. “Yes, now! He needs to finally hear it and what better place than here?”
I don’t think anymore, I just go. I run to the door that leads me downstairs to the dressing room. I race down the stairs and pull open the door, only to stop short. The hallway is full of people, cowboy hats everywhere. I make my way through the crowd, my heart pounding so loudly in my ears that I don’t hear anything else. I get closer to the dressing room when I see him outside of the door, being interviewed by a television crew. I stare at him, marveling at how damn sexy he is and that he’s all mine. As if he feels he’s being watched, his eyes meet mine and he smiles - that special smile that is only for me.
As he finishes up his interview and locks his eyes back with mine, it’s like time freezes. Everyone and everything fades away and it’s just the two of us. I sprint toward him and fling myself into his arms. Our lips crush against one another in a mind-numbing kiss.
“Hey cowboy,” I pant out, trying to regain my composure, breathless from his lips on mine.
“Kiss all the cowboys that way do ya, little lass?” he teases, melting me with a wicked smile.
“Nope.” I shake my head since he knows that he’s the exception to my “no cowboy” rule. Placing my hands against his cheeks, I make sure he’s looking me straight in the eyes so he can see how serious I am. “Only the ones I love.”
His eyes widen and his grip on me tightens. He’s about to kiss me again when we hear his name being called out.
“Rhett, Rhett!” Ryan yells as he runs down the hallway. “You scored a 90! We’re going to Las Vegas!” Ryan throws his arms around both of us as we celebrate his victory. “I’m going to call our parents,” he says and leaves to find a quiet place to make the call.
“You know you’re coming with me to Ireland, right?” he tells me with a wicked grin. I nod my head yes, excitement racing through me at the idea of going to Ireland with him. My smile fades and I look into his eyes, needing to tell him the words he’s been waiting to hear.
“I love you, Rhett. You have me, body and soul,” I say before kissing him with all the passion I can exude. He breaks our kiss, resting his forehead against mine while staring intently into my eyes.
“Forever, Tessa?”
“Forever.”
Chapter 1 of The Celtic Cowboy
Curious as to what happens with Ryan and Adeline? Want to see more of Rhett and Tessa? Here are the first two chapters of The Celtic Cowboy, which is available now!
RYAN
The vastness of the Atlantic O
cean surrounds us while cruising at 39,000 feet on this clear, sunny day. The humming of the jet engines has lulled most passengers to sleep, yet I stare out of the window, hypnotized at the beauty of the sapphire colored water. I’m too excited to sleep — the anticipation of landing in America buzzing through my body, making my leg bounce with nervous energy. I have been dreaming about this very moment — coming to America to compete in their Pro Rodeo Cowboy Circuit. Becoming the best bull rider in the world has always been the goal and I’m one step closer to making it my reality. The best part about all of this is that I’m not alone on my journey. My brother, Rhett, is also making his debut in the American Pro Rodeo Circuit, trying to win the title of the best saddle bronc rider in the world.
Rhett and I knew we wanted to be professional cowboys ever since we were young lads. Our family owns one of the best premier stud farms in all of Ireland and our father used to take us with him when he would deliver horses to his clients in Spain. It was there that we experienced our first rodeo. Rhett has always been drawn to horses, but for me, there was something exhilarating about trying to ride a fifteen hundred pound animal for eight-seconds without being crushed to death. Our parents weren’t too keen on the idea of both of their sons riding on top of bucking mammals and thought we would outgrow our new obsession.
To their chagrin, we became even more passionate about it.
There isn’t much rodeo action in Ireland, so once we graduated school, we both headed to other countries. I stayed close to home and started my career in Spain while Rhett traveled all the way to Australia. He asked me to go with him, but being so far away from home just didn’t appeal to me, which is quite shocking since I’m usually the rebellious one out of us two. Rhett, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to get out of Ireland. Rhett is five years older than me and has always been curious about what was beyond our homeland. I’ve never had that desire. I liked being close to my family and working on the farm in the off-season. Once Rhett went to Australia, we barely saw him. During his off seasons, he would stay there and only came home on holidays. We would talk weekly on the phone, making plans to fulfill our dreams of going to America one day.
But both of our careers had to be put on hold when our father was thrown off a horse and shattered his leg. Rhett and I came home to help our sister and mother run the farm. Even though having Rhett home helped enormously, he was unhappy. His carefree, joking attitude left and was replaced with a moody, more serious version of himself. Even though he has not publicly come right out and said it, Rhett doesn’t want to inherit the farm. As the eldest, he’s expected to take it over once our parents retire, but that just isn’t in his blood. With father’s injury, I think Rhett thought his rodeo days were numbered. I hated seeing this side of my brother and once I saw our father was going to be just fine, I told him it was our time to go to America. It took some convincing and as I look over at him, a frown on his face as he watches a movie, I still think he feels guilty for leaving.
His frown only accentuates his good looks. His skin is tan from working outside, his dark blond hair messy from his hands combing through it. His emerald green eyes focus on the scene in the movie. He never once acknowledged the stares and smiles ladies were giving him as they walked past him toward their seats. I, on the other hand, took account all the women that noticed me and smiled right back at them. One of the flight attendants has been very accommodating, stopping by our seats on numerous occasions to see if we needed anything. I finally put her to work, ordering myself a beer, making sure she saw my appreciation of her curvaceous body. Her mouth curved into a knowing smile, her eyes raking down my own body before she left. I shift in my seat, the tightening of my groin making me uncomfortable as I think of all the things I can do with that luscious body of hers. Before long she’s walking back with my drink. She purposely sticks her breasts close to my face as she lowers herself to place the drink on the tray. Along with the beer, she leaves a folded piece of paper. I give her a questioning smile before she nods at me and heads to the back. I open the note, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise as to what it says.
Meet me in the back gallery bathroom in five minutes.
I’ve never joined the Mile High Club before and I’m not opposed to popping my cherry on this flight. I wonder if she picks up men like this often — not that I care, as I’m ready and willing to join her. I smile and am about to fold the note when Rhett’s hand grabs it and takes it from me.
“You better not be considering this,” he warns, his eyes storming in annoyance as he balls the note in his fist.
“Are you daft? Of course I’m considering it! What hot blooded male wouldn’t?” I burst out loudly. I smile in apology at the lady with her child across the aisle from me and turn back to Rhett. “Why would I deprive myself of a good time with a hot flight attendant?”
“Because you need to think of your reputation, that’s why. Plus, you don’t know where that girl’s been. Don’t you wonder if she takes strange men back there all the time?”
I refuse to tell him that the thought did cross my mind and still wasn’t going to deter me.
“Maybe I’m the best looking bloke whose shown interest in her and she wants to take advantage of it,” I say, trying to justify her reasoning for having sex with a complete stranger in the middle of a flight, when really, my argument is weak.
“Don’t be a conceited asshole. She gets plenty of men hitting on her. You’ve already slept with all of Kildare and half of Dublin, I don’t need you sleeping with all of America too.”
“I haven’t slept with that many women,” I grumbled, not wanting to discuss my extra curricular activities with my brother, who frowns upon them. I can’t help that I gravitate toward the female population, nor can I help that they enjoy my company as well. With billions of women on this Earth, why should I just be settling with one? I’m young and have no desire to settle down right now. Rhett has been wanting to meet “The One” and find a partner that he can go on adventures with.
I don’t even think I believe that there is one woman for me.
“Let’s lay some ground rules right now for this trip. Number one — no sleeping with complete strangers who we meet on airplanes. Number two — no sleeping with any women associated with the rodeos we are competing in. Number three — no sleeping with anyone on this trip period!” Rhett says sternly, looking intensely at me so that I know he means business. Number three is so ridiculous that I can’t help but burst out laughing at the audacity of it.
“You can’t be serious!” I laugh at him, waiting for the punchline of his joke. When he continues to stare at me, I realize he’s not joking. “There’s no way that’s not happening. We are in America for close to a year! You’re really asking me to be celibate the whole time?”
“Not unless you get a serious girlfriend,” he answers, a smirk playing on his lips as he knows that won’t be happening.
“You know that isn’t going to happen with the schedule we mapped out. We’re in and out of most cities within forty-eight hours.”
“Look at it as another challenge, brother. If you want to be the best bull rider in the world, you need to focus on staying healthy, getting enough rest and training.”
“Having sex is training! It helps with my stamina on staying on top of that bull for eight-seconds.” I try to reason with Rhett, who isn’t buying any of my bullshit.
“If we want a shot at Nationals, we need to stay focus. No girls as distractions, you hear me?”
“Five hours into this trip and I’m already regretting being here with you,” I respond back, not in the least bit joking either. I have no problems leaving Rhett at the airport and us going our separate ways if this is how he’s going to act for nine months. I’ve worked too hard not to have some fun along the way. Rhett might have to remain celibate in order to perform better, but I sure don’t.
“I bet one American lass bats their pretty little eyelashes at you and you’re a goner,” I tease, knowing that Rhett’s picky w
hen it pertains to the women he decides to spend his time with. “Did you forget how handsome you are? These lasses have no chance once they see you. Even worse when they see me.” I nudge his shoulder with my own, finally getting a smile out of him.
“All I ask is that you behave, Ryan. Please try to stick to the rules,” he demands before sticking his headphones back into his ears to listen to the movie.
I lean back into my seat and close my eyes. There’s no way I plan on abiding to any of Rhett’s rules, yet I really don’t want to travel the country by myself. America is much bigger than Ireland and Spain and since Rhett and our sister made most of our travel plans, it would be pretty stupid of me to ditch him just because I want to get laid. A headache starts to form and I sigh while I push my seat back in order to try to relax.
This is going to be a long nine months.
Chapter 2 of The Celtic Cowboy
ADELINE
I look around the office to see if anyone is watching me. It’s quiet right now, with most of the salespeople on the floor working with customers. I just finished updating the car inventory report for my father, making my to-do list complete. With him and no-one else in sight, I reach down into my tote bag and grab my laptop. I quickly open up Illustrator and continue to work on the teaser I’m creating for the new book my best friend is releasing this week. I unlock the word document she sent me with some teasers from her book, copy one, and paste it onto the photo of the half-naked man. I play around with the format, insert some creative fonts and lean back to assess my work. I smile slowly, proud of how far I’ve come in just a short amount of time with my side career as a graphic designer. Well, calling myself a graphic designer might be a stretch since I only design for Tessa, my best friend, and one other author she has introduced me to. Still, I’m getting pretty damn good as this teaser I just made for her is very sexy — exactly what she wanted it to be.
The Irish Cowboy: Bear Creek Rodeo Page 8