by Ashlee Price
“Maybe. But I don’t really believe in love forever anyways, you know that. After the thing with my parents, I am even surer that true love doesn’t actually exist.”
“I forgot how unromantic you were.”
Mia threw her plate away with the half-eaten funnel cake. “I am not unromantic, just realistic.”
Chapter 2
“So what is the deal with your friend Trevor? You failed to mention that she was smoking hot.”
Trevor didn’t know how to describe his best friend. Mia was complicated and he knew that Mia would break his friend’s heart. “She is not for you Clint, trust me.”
Clint didn’t seem to get the reasoning and he wasn’t going to give up on it, asking more questions about if she was single. “Yes, she is always single. I don’t think I have ever heard of her dating a guy more than once or twice.”
“Why, does she like chicks or something?”
Trevor laughed and fixed the rope that would be his life line. While many riders would tie themselves down, he never did, too afraid that he wouldn’t be able to let go when needed. “Nothing like that, she just doesn’t believe in love.”
Clint thought he liked the sound of it. “Who was saying anything about love?”
Trevor just shook his head. “She would eat you up, you know that right?”
“It’s like you don’t know me at all. You know how much I like a challenge Trevor.”
“And I know Mia. I will give you my blessing to give it your best shot, but I am just telling you now as a friend, you are wasting your time.”
Clint liked a challenge, more than the prize itself on occasion. It was why he had started in the rodeos. He had thought, how hard could it be to hold on for eight seconds, no matter how bad it was? It was the challenge that brought him back each and every time, but the copious amounts of women when he won was enough too. He didn’t need Mia, but the fact that she didn’t want him, made him want her more. Now that Trevor was almost daring him to try, he had no choice but to give it a shot.
“Why do I feel like you aren’t joking?”
“I’m not. Mia is my best friend and I even loved her at one point more than just that, but she is cold when it comes to men and her heart. I just don’t want you to be heartbroken like I was. It’s rough. I’m not even going to lie.”
Clint had never heard him talk like that before. He had known about a girl that had broken his heart when he was in high school, he talked about it a couple of times when they were drunk, but it gave different perspective to know that it was Mia. “How could you be friends with her after that?”
“Because her as a friend is better than nothing at all. I have moved on, but I still wonder.”
“Well I won’t even attempt it if you are still in love with her.”
Trevor sat down and shook his head. “It’s not like that anymore. I love Ana. With Mia, it was just an obsession; she has that effect on men. I am just warning you, and if you do try, don’t make it weird between you guys. You are both my friends and I don’t want to get in the middle of it.”
Clint agreed, but it made him wonder as well. If he had wanted to take up the challenge before, there was even more reason. Trevor had described her as a flame that shouldn’t be touched, but he liked to play with fire and she was burning beautifully.
His friend shook his head again, sure that he was going to have to hear him whining about Mia soon enough. He didn’t have a chance, Trevor was sure of it.
***
Mia watched the barrel races and the several other competitions before the bull riding started. It was always one of the last competitions and the stands had filled up considerably in the hour since she’d first sat down. Her dad and friend were both going to be in the last competition, the teenagers and newbies were going at the moment. She watched them get thrown and the bull coming close to stomping a couple before someone was sent in to distract them so that the rider could get away. Mia had flashbacks from before and she looked away when it was time for her dad to go. It was his last ride, but even then it was hard to watch.
Her eyes were closed for the 8 seconds and then the buzzer sounded. She counted another ten and listened to the announcer and the cheering before she reopened them. It was hard for her to watch him run off from the bull. The crowd was cheering and when she looked at the center ring, Richard was on the fence with his hands up. He was so happy, Mia felt a little wetness come to her eyes. He was going to miss it and she was too in a way.
She left her seat to go find him and was stopped by a familiar voice. “Mia, right?”
Mia turned and saw Trevor’s friend that she had met before. “You speak.”
“Yes, well I was caught off guard before. You are very beautiful. Trevor never told me that you were gorgeous, when I heard all the stories of you two when you were younger.”
She looked down and blushed before she knew what she was doing. Mia liked the idea of him thinking her gorgeous and her body responded to him like the mere touch of his hand from before. “Yes well Trevor always was a liar. I am sure he has filled your head full of nonsense.”
Mia turned to leave back towards where she was going in the first place. He hurried up to walk with her through the throng of people. “Do you mind if I go with you? You are going to see your dad right?”
She nodded and tried to ignore him walking next to her. He was big like Trevor, towering over her and as she was quite tall, it was a feeling that she didn’t get to feel very often. “So how long have you and Trevor known each other?”
“About three and a half years. We started the circuit at about the same time.”
“You look older than him.”
“I am by a couple of years. I used to work on the oil rigs, but went to a rodeo and never went back. I figured it had to be better than being in the middle of the ocean for weeks at a time. Pay is better too.”
“I guess, if you aren’t afraid of get trampled by a bull one of these days.”
“That’s just part of it. I have always looked up to your father. He was the rider that made me want to try. You know he got me into bull riding, found me a trainer and everything.”
She stopped and looked over at him. “Really? So you know my dad too?”
He nodded and she waved to Richard coming towards them. She hugged him in congratulations and then stepped back for him to greet Clint. “So I see you two have met.”
“Just, so how does it feel?”
His smile evaporated. “Good, but I am really going to miss this place. Johnny offered me a couple of gigs announcing for the circuit while it is close in town.”
“That’s sounds like a good idea.”
“Sounds like a desk job to me.”
Mia laughed and put her arm around him. “You’re getting too old for this kind of thing. Your body needs a rest before you break it. You know what the doctors said.”
He hushed her, not wanting to hear about it. “I know.”
Mia stopped to watch Trevor’s turn. He made it safely off and she finally let go of the air that she had been holding. “You alright?”
“Yeah, I just hate seeing my loved ones in danger.”
Richard understood, but he didn’t know why after all these years, Mia was so bothered by it. “It’s just a job, like any other job.”
She shook her head, but was still happier that the two men she loved were no longer in harm’s way. Clint had to leave for his own turn and Mia found herself looking to the ring when she heard his name called. His eight seconds felt like an eternity, her eyes riveted to the hard lines and muscled body. The jeans fit him far too well and she almost blushed when her dad called to her. “What’s wrong with you? You must be tired Mia, you ready to go to the hotel?”
Mia said she was, pulling her eyes from the man that she had been talking to before. There were already several women from the crowd surrounding him. She was not getting involved with a man like him, but it was nice to watch him work nonetheless. “Sure. I am ready for bed
anyways.”
She followed him to the truck and drove the few miles to the hotel she had called ahead for. After the long drive and excitement of the rodeo, Mia was beat. When she got out of the shower, Trevor was calling and she invited him over. He was bringing the drinks and she had the cards. It had been too long since they had hung out just the two of them. Mia wished sometimes that life didn’t have to be so busy. While she was supposed to be enjoying herself in college – and she was – she missed home and her old friend.
When she answered the door and saw Clint with him, she sighed to herself. “Hey.”
“Well don’t look so happy to see me Mia.”
“I won’t.”
Moving back to let them in, she noticed the guilty look on Trevor’s face. “So who won? I didn’t even get to see.”
Clint started smiling and Trevor pointed towards him. “First there and second here. Not as big of a check, but big enough.”
She congratulated him as she took the bottle from her hand and started to pour shots. Mia matched them shots until the liquor was gone and everyone was feeling better. Trevor talked about Ana some and she had to laugh. Her friend had always been so sappy when he was drinking. Cards were a disaster and Trevor was too far gone to be helped.
“He never was good at holding his liquor.”
Clint laughed, “No he isn’t.”
“Help me get him to one of these beds, will you?”
Clint moved towards her and grabbed the man’s shoulders, while she grabbed his feet. “He wasn’t near as big last time I had to do this. I swear I don’t know what they have been feeding you guys.”
“You know what they say…”
“Yeah, yeah, everything is bigger in Texas.”
Clint grinned as he set Trevor down on the mattress. “Everything. You have been out east too long.”
She shook her head. “I see that you aren’t a sappy drunk.”
“No I am not.”
He was a horny drunk and it didn’t help that the more she had drank, the hotter she had become. Now she was standing there breathing hard in a thin tank top and his attention was riveted on her chest. It was hard to look away and the longer he stared, the harder and more pronounced her nipples became through the thin material. She was feeling the same way, he was sure of it, but when he leaned in to kiss her, she backed away. “What are you doing?”
“Just giving you a kiss. You looked like you needed one.”
“We shouldn’t. You are friends with Trevor and I don’t date riders.”
“I’m not asking for a date Mia, just a kiss.”
She bit her lower lip and looked over at her sleeping friend. Just one kiss didn’t seem that dangerous and he was right to think that she wanted to as well. He was handsome and had a way about him.
He could see the submission in her eyes and he moved towards her again, this time she didn’t move away. Touching the side of her face gently, he bent down and leaned in against her as their lips met. His lips were soft against hers and just a wisp of a touch. It caught her off guard when he kissed her and then pulled her against him harder. His tongue demanding entrance as her body melted against his hard chest and a small moan came out of her mouth.
Mia’s hands were pressed against his chest and she finally pushed away when she felt herself going to the place of no return. She wanted more, but knew that they shouldn’t. She was slightly panting when he finally pulled away and released her. Clint didn’t move away much, leaving their bodies touching until she finally gave him some distance.
“There is your kiss Clint. Now I am going to bed. You are more than welcome to stay.”
A smile crept over his face and she smiled back up at him. “Over there with Trevor.”
His face fell and she grinned even bigger. “Night, Clint.”
Chapter 3
It wasn’t a very good night for either one of them, but it was Clint who found himself unable to sleep. His friend’s words ran in his mind and he was not left heart broken, but hard in his pants and throbbing with a need that was not going to be tended to. When he finally did get to sleep, it was Mia that he dreamed about, but she was gone when he got up the next morning.
“Hey man, I was wondering if you were ever going to get up.”
“Yeah, I think we drank too much and you were out before anyone else.”
Trevor nodded. His head telling him that he had drank too much. “All well. Trying to keep up with Mia was never easy. I think she has gotten better since she went to college.”
“Where is she?” Clint’s eyes darted around until he heard his friend laughing.
“She has flown the coop and is headed back home. I see that you were sleeping in bed with me when I woke up and not with her.”
Clint shook his head and got up, his hands rubbing his face until it was red. “You were right, as you usually are.”
Trevor felt bad for him, but at least it was just a little crush that she had broken. Trevor had been head over heels in love with her and truth was if she ever changed her mind, he would be right there waiting again. “Sorry Clint, I tried to tell you.”
Clint wasn’t ready to give up. “There is always next time. It’s not like I will never see her again.”
Trevor had the same hope that his friend carried, but he was trying to move on. Clint was just getting started. There was just something about Mia.
***
Mia went back to school soon after the rodeo. She was trying to decide what she was going to do with herself, but her decision was made for her when her mother had an accident. She moved back home to Texas the day after she graduated and helped her with her physical therapy. She had fallen off of her horse while she was riding, the horse spooked from a snake. The result had been several broken bones and a lot of pain.
It was good to be back and she went to a few rodeos that Trevor was in. She seen Clint every time and even thought it was clear he wanted more than a kiss, there was never a moment like they had shared before. It was a fluke she assured herself, but then again, he crossed her mind every now and then. Mia even found herself comparing first kisses to his and never once did she get the same level of heat that they had shared. In a way, Clint had ruined her dating life. It was hard to settle for mediocre, when she knew there was better out there and no one else was giving her the same spark as Clint.
Trevor was in a rodeo twenty miles from where she lived and since her mom was doing better, Mia decided to go see him. His girlfriend Ana was supposed to be there and she told Trevor that she wanted to meet her. In reality, she was curious to see Clint again. The last time they had seen each other, he had tried to pull her to the side, but they had been interrupted before he could say or do anything. She was still wondering what it was that he was going to say.
She dressed up a bit more than she usually did in tight jeans and ever wore a cowboy hat. Her shirt was tied in the front and she left her hair down for once. It was the kind of girl that Clint would look at when they passed in the arena and she wanted to make him see her that day. Mia liked flirting with him and his smooth words, but what she really wanted was another kiss like before. She had convinced herself that it hadn’t been that great, just built-up in her mind. When she saw him coming towards her in the stands, she started to question her own theory.
“I thought I saw you up here underneath that hat. You are looking beautiful as always Mia. Are you here to see me?”
She saw the hope in his eyes. “No, I was supposed to meet Ana tonight. Have you seen Trevor?”
“Not yet. He will be here though. I see him less and less since the two got engaged.”
“They are engaged?”
“I was supposed to keep that a secret, so don’t tell him I told you.”
She zipped her lips. “Mum’s the word. But that is great right? Do you like her?”
“She is alright, treats him good, but what can I say, she is no you though.”
“I hope not. Me and Trevor drive each other crazy.”
“Do you mind if I sit down for a while? If I stay up here, I won’t get recognized as much.”
“Sure, the adoring fans are bothering you?”
He sat down next to her, the wooden bench bowing slightly under his weight. His hard bicep brushed against her upper arm and she felt warmth spread from the touch. “I just want one.”
Mia looked away and scanned the crowd looking for her brother with a hot face. “Why do you play so much Clint?”
“Why do you think I am playing?”
She glanced back at him. “Because you look at me like I am the only woman here.”
“You are the only woman here to me.”
Mia saw Trevor and was thankful for the distraction. She waved the couple over and she had to admit that Ana looked more like her than she had expected. Standing up, she shook her hand and then hugged her when he introduced her as his fiancée. There were congratulations in order and they promised to meet at a local bar when they were done competing. Ana sat up in the stands with Mia and by the time they were headed out for a drink, they were becoming fast friends. Ana was nothing like Mia once she got to know her and though she had been worried about meeting her, Mia could see why he was going to marry her. Ana had a great personality and it made Mia more relaxed to know that like Clint had said Trevor was in good hands.
They all rode to the bar together, Clint driving and her in the passenger seat. The two lovebirds didn’t pay them much mind, but it got Mia thinking about the kiss with Clint and what it would feel like to have Clint pressed up against her again. She looked over at his profile in the darkened car and tried to ignore the way she felt so breathless around him.
She looked behind her and the two were making out. The car stopped and parked and Clint looked over at her finally, their eyes meeting. He wanted it as much as she did. “Why don’t we go in and give them some time to be alone?”
Mia agreed, trying not to laugh at the fact that they didn’t even seem to notice that he had said anything. She followed Clint in and set next to him at the bar. He had that look on his face again, the one that made her heart flutter. “So Ana seems nice.”