by Emily Bowie
“You realize it was Danger who told Ashley to make sure I had a good night no matter what, right?” Turning around, Timothy stands in front of me.
“Stop making this everyone’s fault but your own.” I can’t believe I thought I was in love with this man. I was willing to leave this whole town behind because he wanted to live somewhere better.
“Danger was the one pouring shot after shot down my throat. I have no memory of sleeping with her.”
“What, next, you’re going to tell me you don’t know how you ended up naked with her?”
“I’ve always seen the way he looks at you, Haven. Why do you think I hated when you hung out with him? Danger wanted us to break up. When he thought he lost his chance, he made another one. He’s always wanted you to himself.”
I can’t believe I’m even giving Timothy the time of day to talk like this to me. I’m tired of his lies. Looking back to Danger, I see Ashley is pushing her breasts into him as she snakes her way around him. I feel like someone has punched me in the gut.
“He will never be a one-woman man, Haven. You said so yourself before.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re making this all up.” I begin walking away, needing to be near Danger.
“Don’t believe me, ask him yourself,” my ex says to my retreating back. My heart rate has spiked, and I hate the new turn in my gut. I want the flutters back. Ashley sees me and walks away, swaying her hips and giving Danger a four-finger wave.
“You two looked cozy,” I murmur, walking up to him. There is a new edge to my voice that I don’t even recognize. I can’t help it. I’m not used to feeling like this, and I have no way to control it.
He tilts his head down, looking at me and raising a brow. “Are you wanting to put your claws in me so no one else does?” The fact that he’s grinning at me while I’m fuming makes my anxiety go higher.
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“You look sexy as hell jealous.” He wraps his arms around me, holds me, not giving me any space to wiggle out of his grasp. “It’s always been you,” he rumbles at my lips. My gaze flickers to his lips then eyes then back down again before he kisses me for everyone to see.
Fourteen
Danger
Another Sunday has graced me with its presence. It’s another rodeo weekend I’ve missed. I itch to be back on a bull. Two more weeks, then I have an event close enough to home that I don’t mind going to.
I feel on edge today, and can’t pinpoint why. Haven was quieter than normal as she drove us home last night. Wade also got me drunker than hell, so it all could be in my head.
I’m too hungover to be at church, but I feel like her parents will judge that I’m not there, now that they know we’re dating. The guilt is eating at me for not sucking it up and going with her. But it’s not like I normally go. My mind volleys back and forth, trying to come up with excuses as to why I feel like shit.
Last night, I was ten seconds away from storming toward Timothy and giving him an earful. But then Haven came over acting all possessive, making me feel like the king of the beach. I couldn’t help but smirk his way, making sure he saw that I was the one kissing her now.
Picking up the phone, I call up Crash.
“Hello?” he answers on the first ring.
“Hey! You missed one hell of a night,” I tell my cousin. He ended up having to leave early, creating an opening for other people to slowly start going their own way. Wade soon left to open up the tavern once he saw he wasn’t the first to leave.
“Oh, I know. You came running into Oakport Tavern, bare ass and all, saying everyone was getting laid.”
Did I do that? My memory is a little fuzzy. I’m going to have to owe Haven one for putting up with my drunken ass. Slowly, more details start coming through.
“Who were you sitting with?” I vaguely remember him with a girl, and here we all thought he was leaving the party for work.
“New girl in town, Piper Stone,” he answers. I want to press for more, but I should get to the point of my call.
“Listen, I need to start looking into getting a job.” It hurts to say the words aloud, but Crash owns at least half of Oakport Beach with all of his businesses. If anyone can help me out, it’s him.
“What do you have in mind?”
“What do you have?” I counter. I’ve never not done the rodeo. When I was little, I did calf roping and then as Crash and I got older, we worked together on team roping. Slowly, I progressed into bull riding.
“Oh no, I’m not doing this. Last time you thought you needed a job, you left me high and dry, saying it was boring, then went out of town for a month.”
That was four years ago. It was right at the time Haven and I were sleeping together. I was positive it was going to turn into more, and then she met someone, leaving me all together without a backward glance at what we had. I had to get out of town, out of my head; otherwise, I was going to go crazy. “That won’t happen this time. I swear.”
On a sigh, like it pains him to come up with something, he agrees, “I have an interview soon, but I’ll think of something.”
“Thanks, man.”
Placing my phone back in my pocket, I look around my small one-car garage. I’m not someone who finds make-work projects to do. I typically go to my parents’ barn. There never has been a reason to want to stay in my garage, but I find myself waiting around for Haven to come home.
Checking my watch, I see church ended about an hour ago. I need to go to the barn and practice if I don’t want to make a mockery out of my next ride. Maybe Haven will want to come out with me.
“Hi there, Derek.” Turning, I see Haven’s father standing in my driveway. I lean to look behind him, hoping Haven is there. The first words that come to mind are aw fuck. I knew I should have sucked it up and went to church.
“She’s not with me,” he answers my unspoken question. I feel myself deflate, knowing that her dad and I are going to have a conversation with no referees. He can’t keep hating me forever, but one look at his face and I’m not so sure.
“What can I do for you, sir?” I walk to the end of my garage, closing the space between him and me. Crossing my arms, I try to pull off my big “you don’t intimidate me” act.
“I think it’s time you and I have a little heart to heart.” He crosses his arms, and I can’t see the pastor in him, only a hard-ass father who wouldn’t think twice about pulling a gun on me. It wouldn’t be the first time a dad did that to me.
I completely disagree that we need to have this chat but don’t voice my opinion. I would be more than happy to avoid him for the rest of my life. I give him a smile and a nod, going to bring out two lawn chairs, trying to buy me some time.
Setting them out, I head to my garage fridge. I open it up, seeing rows of beer lined up. I know I must have water in here somewhere. Searching through it the best I can, I come up empty-handed for him but pull a cold beer out for me.
“Want tap water?”
He scowls, shaking his head, giving me an “I can’t believe my daughter is dating you” exasperation.
“This will only take a few moments. No need for hospitality.”
I should have gone to the barn. Heading toward him, I crack my beer, the loud hiss filling up the silent pause between us. I have a feeling I’m going to need this drink.
He keeps eyeing me, making me nervous. My heart pumps faster than I would like. I wait for the “what are your intentions with my daughter?” speech. He won’t be the first father to give it to me, but he is the first one I actually care what he thinks, making this harder than before.
“I heard you and Haven are now dating.” He goes right for my jugular.
“We are.”
“Does that mean you’ll be coming to church from now on?”
“I…. If that would make her happy, then I guess so.” I trip over my words, wanting to be truthful and say the correct answer.
His frown deepens. I should have just said yes.
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br /> “Are you sleeping with her?” I was wrong. He started out easy, and now he’s out for blood.
I spray part of my beer out, hearing his question. I can feel my eyes bulging as I clear my throat, trying to recover from the spray of beer.
“That’s what I thought.” He shakes his head again, not liking anything I’m saying. I’m proving him right in everything he thinks about me. “How do you plan to support my daughter?” Oh, fuck me. I’ve already been dwelling on this myself.
“I make okay money being a cowboy. I’m also looking for a job when I’m not off riding bulls.” I feel defensive, like he’s refusing to give me a chance. I’ve been beating myself up over this; I don’t need his opinion right now while I’m still trying to figure out my life.
“Haven deserves someone who can take care of her. Someone who has an interest in her hobbies.” He eyes me. I feel like the unspoken part is “someone who goes to church,” but he leaves it unsaid before continuing. “She deserves stability. Have you ever considered marriage, babies, the whole family life? Or are you still trying to be the rodeo hero, playing catch-up to your father?”
I’m about to open my mouth and unload hell, but he cuts me off by holding his hand up. “I mean no disrespect. But you can’t have both. You either cool things with Haven, rising in the rankings to meet or beat your father’s legacy. Or you get a stable job and start trying to build your life with Haven. I’ve seen you ride, I know your stats, and this could be your year.”
I’m left speechless, taking a seat in the lawn chair I had opened up for him.
“Think about our conversation. There is no right decision. I do hope the best for you and my daughter.”
Blowing out my breath, I watch him walk down my driveway. Tipping my beer up, I drink the whole thing down. It serves two purposes—one, to make me feel better about our conversation, and two, it gets rid of my hangover.
Fifteen
Haven
“This is so exciting, Danger!” I’m bouncing in my seat as we head three towns over for his competition. It has been two weeks since we told everyone we’re together, and it has gone more perfect than I could have imagined. It feels surreal to finally be in the open with Danger and not caring who sees us kissing. “I can’t believe I’m missing church.” I haven’t missed a Sunday since I had cramps for the first time and thought I had a stomach bug.
“You’re sexy when you rebel.” His large hand lightly squeezes my thigh.
“I can’t wait to be one of your cheerleaders on the first row, front and center.”
“You’re the only cheerleader I care about.” He brings my hand up to his lips, placing a soft kiss on my knuckles.
As we pull into the open field, a large fence sits as the focal point. Danger is calm, looking natural in this setting. When we step out toward the rodeo grounds, everyone waves or shouts hello to him. People have always been attracted to him, wanting to be his friend.
Pulling me into his side, he wraps his arm around me. “Larry!” he calls over to a man who looks like he’s greasing up the chutes. “I want to introduce you to my girl.”
His girl. I can’t get over how much I love the ring to it.
“I don’t believe it. You convinced someone to stick around longer than a weekend,” the man teases. “You are much too beautiful for this guy,” Larry says to me, while Danger gives him a playful push.
“If you need anything while I’m busy, find Larry,” Danger tells me. I can tell he’s nervous about bringing me here, and I keep telling him I don’t need a babysitter while he’s out doing his thing.
“You sure you trust me with your gorgeous girlfriend?”
Danger only laughs. “I know how much you love your wife’s cooking and would never jeopardize that.”
“I’m only kidding about the trusting part. I’m harmless,” Larry reassures me.
I forgot the rodeo guys like to lay it on thick. Danger took me to one of his rodeos when I was nineteen but never asked me again after that.
Larry gives me a wink and then keeps working on what he was doing before the interruption.
“Let me show you the bulls.” Danger leads me away, never taking his arm from my shoulders.
“How many bulls are there?” I ask, fascinated with how everything is getting put up. Most of its done already, but still, this is cool. My parents never let me come to these when I was younger because they thought it was animal cruelty and all. Danger has reassured me many times its not and that the animals are well taken care of.
“There are five here this weekend.”
Rounding a corner where RV type trailers sit is where the bulls rest. Just looking at them, they seem angry. My feet shuffle to a stop. I’m not sure if I want to get much closer.
“They’re not interested in hurting you. I promise,” Danger says, trying to reassure me.
As I step slightly closer, one of them huffs out, sounding like a warning not to get close.
“This here is Blueberry Wine.” He points to the bull that is eyeing me. “He’s the great-grandson of the bull who put my father in a wheelchair.”
“You ever ride him?”
“Not yet, and it’s not because I don’t want to. I think it would be good to give him a ride. It would help ease myself and my dad’s mind. I feel like it’s similar to if you fall off a bicycle, you need to get back on. I would much rather have Blueberry at one of these shows than the big one that everything rides on. He’s a mean one, but it can be easier to get points.”
“Then why don’t you want him at a bigger event?”
He shrugs. “Here… it’s a place that feels like home. In a big arena, the feeling changes. The anticipation rises; the noise is louder. Add in another element like Blueberry Wine and I’m scared it’s enough difference to psych me out.”
“Are you admitting you’re scared, Derek Danger?”
“With you by my side, I feel like it’s impossible to get scared.”
With him saying that, how can I not kiss him? Going up onto my toes, I pull him in, needing a taste of his lips.
It’s amazing watching the last part of the grounds get set up. People are slowly starting to enter the gate, adding excitement to the atmosphere.
It’s hard to miss the flirtatious smiles that all the women give Danger, but he never lets go of my hand, seeming oblivious to the fact that he’s catching every woman’s eye in the place.
“Danger.” A busty brunette stops us by standing in our path. “Can I get your autograph?”
He smiles politely at her, and she shoves a Sharpie into his free hand. He looks down at me with an apologetic look on his face. For the first time, he lets go of my hand. I watch him look for her piece of paper, when she pulls down her shirt to barely above her nipple.
My eyes automatically roll to the back of my head. Danger goes with it, signing his name onto her flesh. I didn’t think people did autographs for rodeos.
“You really are a real-life celebrity.” I try to make fun of it in hopes he alleviates my apprehension of it all.
“That normally only happens in college towns. I won’t do it again if it bothers you.”
“It’s fine.” I wave the idea off, even though I hate the idea of him signing body parts. It’s a sad ploy to get his attention. I want to hit those girls and tell them they’re worth more than that; you don’t need cheap ploys to get attention.
“Want to see the best attraction?” Danger asks me. He has this sexy gleam to his eye that has me curious.
“Lead the way.”
He leads me from the concession stands, past the bleachers, toward the edge of the field where trees line the end of the property.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask.
“Close your eyes.”
I do, following Danger without any protest. To be honest, I’m scared I would follow him anywhere. He would just need to say the words and I would go. No one has ever had this much of a hold on me before. It’s a little nerve-wracking. It’s hard not t
o dream about a future with him. If he asked me tomorrow to marry him, I would do so without much thought—even knowing he’s a charmer and that all the ladies would love to be in my shoes. His reputation used to scare me away from the thought of the two of us getting together. I just have to put my faith in him and trust that he will do the right thing.
My heart shakes at the thought but only for a second. My heart remembers all the times it’s been cracked. First with Aiden, my first boyfriend, and then Danger without him even knowing it, and of course Timothy was the last man to break my heart. It’s hard to let myself trust again. I find myself reminding my heart and mind that this time, everything will work out in my favor.
“Open.”
We’re in the middle of a small open area with trees surrounding us. I can still see the fairgrounds between the trees, but it gives the illusion of being secluded. A small hammock sits off in the trees. It’s the perfect mixture of shade and light from above.
“Lay with me.” He brings me to the hammock, pulling me down with him. We lie there, him holding onto me tightly. “Before I go out, I like to take a moment, close my eyes, and visualize what I want.”
Closing my eyes, I hear the light rustle of trees. The light flickers from behind my eyes as the trees sway, allowing small pockets of the sun to poke through the canopy above.