“Had the chance? It’s your call. You quit when you want. Don’t let the media influence you.”
“Gotta hand it to you, Gunderson. You’re smart. Leaving while you’re still young and on top.”
“You know what the average age of a bull rider is? I think it’s around twenty-six now. I’m twenty-nine. Smart would’ve been to stop a few years and five injuries ago.”
“But you were still racking up titles.”
“Could’ve gone the other way,” Matt said. “The truth is, I only wanted out because of Nikki and then Rachel. Smart had nothing to do with it.”
“How is your sister? I thought Nikki was living here with you.”
“She is, off and on. She’s tight with Rachel’s brother and they’ve started fixing up an old ranch house not far from here. Montana’s been good for her. She’s happy.” Matt paused again. “You, though, don’t look so hot.”
“I haven’t ranked in the top ten for two years and it’s costing me more to stick around than I’m earning.”
“It’s a no-brainer, then. Stop.”
“Man, not on a losing streak.”
“Seriously?” Matt scoffed. “That’s when you get out, buy a ranch, make a living at something that won’t land you in the hospital every six months. Is money an issue?”
“I’ve socked away enough. I’m sure you noticed last night that I’ve still got Betsy.”
“Yeah, good for you for not blowing everything on booze and new gadgets, but that trailer belongs in a museum already.”
“She gets me where I’m going.” Tanner’s indignant tone made Lexy smile.
“So, maybe you should do the calendar thing.”
“Hell, no. Just what I need, go out a loser and be the laughingstock of the rodeo association.”
Lexy stiffened, and did everything in her power not to butt in. Though if she wanted to learn if sabotaging their trip was on the agenda she was better off staying hidden. No, she wouldn’t jump to conclusions. He hadn’t said he’d miss the photo shoot, he just wouldn’t do the calendar.
“You have a contract. Be careful how you play this out. They could sue.”
“So I’ve heard.” Tanner’s palpable disgust pricked her guilty conscience. But then he added, “Don’t worry, I know just how to handle Lexy Worthington.”
The words hurt.
Why? Because they’d kissed? So what? No reason for her to be touchy. She turned for the kitchen as hurt slid to anger. All right, buddy, she thought. Game on.
7
“YOU WANT ME to pull off at the next exit?” Tanner glanced over at her. She’d been texting or doing whatever she did on that fancy phone of hers for the past hour. “There’s a travel stop with clean restrooms and a big convenience store.”
“How do you know they’re clean?” she asked without looking up.
“What kind of question is that?”
“I’ve been with you for the past twenty-four hours and we haven’t been anywhere near Billings until now. I’m just wondering how you can be so sure the bathrooms are clean.”
He should’ve known better than to try and be nice. She’d been cranky since they’d left the Lone Wolf four hours ago. “I met the retired couple who bought the place last year. They keep it in tip-top shape.”
“Oh, so you’re merely speculating.”
“What’s your problem? I figured with all that bacon and eggs in your belly you’d be more agreeable today.”
She sent him a sidelong glare. “I wasn’t a pig, if that’s what you’re implying. I ate what Rachel served me.”
“What, then? You mad about the kiss?”
She went back to her phone, her wavy hair falling forward and hiding her face. “What kiss?”
Tanner smiled at her snooty tone. She could pretend she’d forgotten about it if that made her feel better. Though he had a feeling she might’ve revisited those few moments when she’d let her guard down. Just as he’d done while lying in bed last night, staring into the dark and wondering if she was sleeping naked.
She sure was an interesting woman. Certainly not easy to figure out, which was always refreshing. Man, he wouldn’t mind more of that kissing. But he wasn’t getting his hopes up. She wouldn’t be happy with their next overnight stop.
His thoughts kept going back to what he’d learned from Rachel about the Worthingtons being crazy loaded. Certain ladies had a weakness for rodeo cowboys and he’d been with his share of them from bleached-blonde cocktail waitresses to southern socialites sporting diamonds the size of Alabama. He knew what rich women smelled and tasted like, how they looked, how they sounded, and Lexy just didn’t quite fit the mold. Sure, she wore expensive clothes and that gold watch must’ve set her back a chunk. And occasionally she did that haughty lift of her chin. But mostly she seemed too...normal.
Course her family was in the billionaire category and he doubted he’d hobnobbed with anyone that rich. Factoring in that she came from old money, which he’d discovered made a difference in how people behaved, could account for her not being the spoiled type who expected people to jump through hoops.
“Help me out with something,” he said, taking his eyes off the highway to glance at her. At least she’d put the phone down. “You being so rich and all, I don’t understand why you’d come get me yourself.”
“First of all, I’m not rich,” she said, this time sounding as if she’d been giving servants orders her whole life. “Secondly—okay, why are you smiling like that?”
“Rachel filled me in on your family.” He eased his foot off the accelerator, knowing the area was a speed trap for the next five-mile stretch. “By the way, you’re right. That internet is a goldmine. I’ll have to do some poking around.”
Lexy sighed, and he did all he could not to laugh. He wasn’t as ignorant of the online phenomenon as he’d let on. Sometimes he read news off the other riders’ iPads. But it never occurred to him to use a computer to look up information or buy an iPad for himself. Or to spend half his waking hours glued to a screen, giving folks a play-by-play of his life.
“So...did she look up The Worthington Group?” she asked casually. “Or my family?” She shrugged a shoulder. “Or me?”
Well, wasn’t that interesting? Lexy was worried. It was in her voice, in the way she’d shifted positions so she could watch him without turning her head. She’d be kicking herself if she knew how much curiosity she’d just stirred up. Obviously, there was something she didn’t want him finding out about her.
“I don’t know,” he said evenly. “I guess the company.”
She seemed to relax. “Yes, my family is rich. I’m not.”
Damn, he’d have to find someone with one of those iPads. He had a good idea where. “Hard to believe some of those millions haven’t trickled down,” he said, deliberately eyeing her gold Rolex. “Unless you pissed off mommy and daddy.”
“Are you always this rude and nosy?”
“Only when I’m bored because I can’t listen to my own damn radio.”
She had the grace to blush. They had opposing opinions regarding country music, and he’d given in until they caught a station they could agree on.
Without a fuss, she reached over and turned on the radio. “There.”
He turned it off again. “You haven’t answered. Why are you here?”
“We covered that yesterday,” she said irritably, then catching herself, more sweetly added, “You’re important to us. We think you’d be a wonderful spokesperson.”
“Knock it off.” He didn’t buy it for a minute and not just because she’d been acting as if she’d like to leave him hog-tied on the side of the road. “Word of advice. Don’t go into politics.”
“Career advice coming from you... Now that’s rich.”
Her words stung even
though he knew she’d meant nothing more than to annoy him. Or could be she considered him a dumb cowboy who made a living getting bucked off broncs because he had no other skill. She wouldn’t be entirely wrong. “I don’t have to be the sharpest knife in the drawer to know you stink at tact.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Truly, I am. That was an unforgivably boorish thing for me to say.”
Tanner laughed. “Boorish. Okay.”
“I’m trying to apologize.”
“Apology accepted.”
“I think that’s you,” Lexy said at the same time he realized his phone was ringing in his pocket.
He hated seeing people talking and driving but he whipped the cell phone out in case it was his brother. Sure enough. “Hey, Doug.” Tanner spotted a rest-stop sign up ahead. This wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have within earshot of Lexy. “Call me back in three minutes.”
“But I have reservations—”
“Three minutes,” Tanner repeated and disconnected before he got too steamed. Reservations. He doubted it had taken Doug a whole day to pick up his messages.
“What happens in three minutes?” Lexy asked.
He almost missed the exit, signaled at the last second and steered the truck toward the red-brick building. It wasn’t much as far as rest stops went; bathrooms, a few vending machines and stacks of tourist brochures, if he remembered correctly. Though all he needed was privacy.
“I’m gonna take this call,” he said, pulling into the first parking stall. “You can wait in the truck or go use the facilities.” Out of habit he picked up his Stetson, settled it on his head and then grabbed the key from the ignition.
Lexy didn’t answer. He left her and started toward the picnic tables grouped at the edge of the woods, knowing to avoid the one sitting under a cottonwood. Too many splinters. No telling how many times he’d traveled this route headed from one rodeo to the next. It wasn’t a bad life. Not for a single guy. If he’d had a wife and kids he suspected he would’ve switched to ranching by now. Some of the married cowboys balanced travel and family just fine. But he knew if he ever got hitched he’d want to be home every night. No way he’d be a part-time father like his useless old man.
Doug called as Tanner passed the first table, occupied by a young woman and two small children fighting over sandwiches. “Where are you? What’s that noise?”
“At a rest stop.” The connection wasn’t great so Tanner kept walking until the kids’ squawking faded. He was still pissed at how long it’d taken Doug to call but he kept his cool, told himself Doug had probably waited for Helen to fax him a copy of the contract. “Tell me I have an out.”
“Wish I could.”
Tanner stared off toward his truck. Lexy had gotten out and was headed for the building. “My deal was with Sundowner, not The Worthington Group.”
“No, not true.”
“What the hell, bro? We only discussed the Sundowner.”
Doug hesitated, and it finally dawned on Tanner that his brother had been fresh out of law school when he’d negotiated the contract. It was likely that he’d made a mistake. If that were so, no sense rubbing it in.
“Look, what’s done is done,” Tanner said, leaning against the trunk of a cottonwood. “But any chance there’s a loophole?” He didn’t know why he was grasping at straws. At this point he knew someone like Lexy wouldn’t waste her time coming this far if she thought it could wind up a dead end.
“Afraid not. We’re talking The Worthington Group here. Their legal team doesn’t allow for loopholes.” Doug sighed. “I didn’t hang you out to dry. Two years ago you were barely making it to the finals. Your winnings had gone down considerably. A third sponsor was about to drop you. The writing was on the wall and I figured it wouldn’t hurt for you to pick up some extra cash.”
Tanner’s whole body tensed. Everything his brother said was true, none of it news, but hearing it out loud? Man, it felt like a kick to the groin. “You still should’ve made it clear who I was climbing into bed with and let me make the call.”
“Frankly, I didn’t think it mattered. The Sundowner didn’t fit Worthington’s profile. I think the CEO’s son was trying to make his mark with the new line. Of course you know the brand tanked.” Doug snorted. “Now you say they’re looking into men’s fragrances? That doesn’t make sense, either.”
Tanner saw Lexy leave the building. She’d surprised him when she showed up for breakfast in jeans. She looked real good in them. “You know anything about the daughter? Alexis Worthington. Did she have anything to do with Sundowner?”
“No idea. Why?”
“Anything you find out about her, let me know.”
“Is this fragrance line her baby? You might want to think about renewing your contract in case it’s a success.”
“Jesus, how did you get through law school without a brain in that head?” Tanner watched Lexy approach the truck. The snug jeans and that nice round backside weren’t the only reasons he wasn’t so irritated about this little detour anymore. She was interesting, a real puzzle. That she knew how to kiss didn’t hurt, either.
“Why the curiosity about her?”
“Because she’s the one escorting me to Houston.”
Doug paused. “Bullshit.”
“They usually do.” He pushed off the tree and headed for the truck.
“But that doesn’t— You’re sure she’s Alexis Worthington?”
“I saw her driver’s license.”
“Why would she personally be handling you?”
“Hey, bro, I forgot you have reservations,” Tanner said with as much phony sympathy as he could muster. “Didn’t mean to keep you.” He smiled when his brother yelled, “Wait!” right before Tanner disconnected the call.
Yeah, maybe he was being a jerk. He knew Doug had acted out of concern when he’d negotiated the contract. The last thing he would’ve wanted to do was remind Tanner that his career was circling the drain. But that didn’t excuse what he’d done.
Though to be fair, he knew some of his annoyance went deeper than Doug making a wrong call. Tanner had just turned fourteen when their mom died half a world away. Doug had been a rowdy eight-year-old. With their father drifting in and out of their lives, Tanner had taken the big brother role seriously. Even though they’d lived with Nana and Pop, Tanner learned how to do laundry, fry eggs and pack lunches. When Doug had scraped his knee, it was Tanner who’d slapped a Band-Aid on it. And when the time came for college and law school, he’d covered Doug’s tuition.
Now it seemed the tables had turned. Doug was worrying about Tanner’s future and making decisions for him, and he didn’t like it.
Lexy was already in her seat, strapped in, waiting for him when he opened the driver’s door. She’d pulled her hair back, which was a real shame. The upside was that he could see her face better, from the cute ski-slope nose to her small, stubborn chin. Unhappy as he was with Doug’s lapse in judgment, Tanner had to admit, he wasn’t minding this little trip with Lexy.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Right as rain.” He removed his Stetson and set it on the console between them. “How about you?”
She let out a sigh, looking as if she’d rather be sitting in a dentist chair. “Think of any more clean bathrooms along the way, let me know.”
* * *
TWO HOURS AND two stops later, tired of the dry prairies of southern Montana, Lexy closed her eyes and laid her head back against the seat. The sky was clear and brilliantly blue, and she’d seen a few green mountain ranges but they seemed puny after the Rockies. She definitely preferred the northwestern part of the state and thought of the picture taped to Tanner’s fridge. It wouldn’t surprise her if he’d taken the photo somewhere near Blackfoot Falls.
Opening her eyes, about to ask him, she saw him use his
signal. She hoped he only meant to change lanes, but no, he steered the truck toward the exit.
“We can’t possibly need gas again.” Lexy checked her watch. She knew nothing about towing a large trailer but she did know they were making horrible time.
“Nope. We still have half a tank.”
“Then why are we stopping?”
“You’ll like the park here. There’s even a nice motel across the street, and next to it, The Cowboy Café serves a rib-eye steak that’ll make your mouth water for days.”
She stared at his profile, unable to tell if he was teasing. “You want to stop for the night?”
“Don’t worry, they have room,” he said. “I called and reserved a spot.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Absolutely not. We got a late start and we have over four hours of daylight left. We have to keep driving.”
“And whose fault was it that we got a late start, princess?”
“Sure, keep calling me that,” she said, glaring. “That won’t make me want to strangle you in your sleep.” They passed a poster board stuck to a post, and she twisted around when she thought she saw the words festival and rodeo. “What did that sign say?”
“What sign?” He didn’t even try to hide his smirk.
“Oh, God.” She wanted to scream. “What are we doing here?”
“I already told you. Bunking down for the night.”
“So you don’t know anything about a rodeo?”
“Course I do. It’s been a Carterville tradition for fifteen years running.”
Lexy took a deep breath, ordered herself to stay calm. After all, she’d already known stalling was part of his plan. “Will you be riding?”
He frowned at her. “This is an amateur event.”
“Oh. So there’s no particular reason to stay here.”
“There’s plenty reason. I like the trailer park and I’m too tired to do any more driving.”
“I could take over.”
He waited until he’d cleared the intersection and turned left. “You ever towed a trailer before?”
Alone with You Page 8