by Elsie Davis
“Gemma?” Chad called from the kitchen.
Apparently, she was out of time.
They had three interviews today, and no matter how much she wanted more time to collect herself, it wasn’t meant to be. She had a job to do, and she wasn’t a quitter.
Gemma walked into the kitchen. “Are you ready to go?”
She was pleased he’d changed out of his work clothes for the occasion. Dressed in a flannel shirt, blue jeans, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat tipped low in the front, Chad was every inch the rodeo star. The TV screen would love him almost as much as the female viewers. He exuded confidence, and pure masculinity and the legendary PBR championship belt buckle he sported would attract a fair amount of attention on its own.
“Yes. I’ll drive.” He rinsed his coffee cup and set it in the sink.
“That’s fine. It’ll give me a chance to go over the questions with you. Plus, you know your way around, and I want to get to the interviews on time.” With his attention on the road, he was less likely to notice her agitation.
She couldn’t get the photos out of her head. What did they mean? Chad had once said choosing the rodeo had been a stupid and foolish decision. And then there was the town gossip who mentioned that Chad never dated, although not from a lack of ladies who tried to win his heart. And Gemma knew from the internet he never married.
Was it possible Chad was still in love with her mother? She stole a glance in his direction but quickly looked away.
And what of the album her mother had put together with so much detail? Had her mother waited years for Chad to return, living vicariously through the media reports of him on the circuit? She couldn’t imagine what kind of love would make a woman wait around long after a man walked out of her life, hoping he’d change his mind. If that was what real love looked like, Gemma wasn’t sure she wanted it. Ever.
She pulled out the folded piece of paper she’d stashed in her purse before they left. “I need to run an idea past you before we go over these questions
“Shoot.” He glanced in her direction briefly, a questioning look on his face.
“What would you think of running a free hands-on bull riding workshop for the kids using a mechanical bull at the carnival? Kids everywhere would want to join in for the opportunity to work with you. It would be a dream come true for these kids. Which means parents would have to bring them, increasing ticket sales, and more than likely, donations. It’s a win-win situation if you agree.”
“I don’t see why not. It’ll take some doing to set up, but yeah, I can make it work. Fantastic idea.”
Gemma glowed from the high praise, although maybe a little too much as she tried to find a way to cover her inner turmoil. “Perfect. Now that that’s settled, we need to talk about these questions.” Anything other than giving her time to think.
Chad glanced her way again. “Is everything okay? You seem a little off.” A little? That was an understatement.
“I’m fine. I’m worried about the interviews. We need to rehearse what they’re going to ask and how you’re going to answer. I made them send this over and told them they had to stick with the list. No surprises. We can talk out anything you’re not sure of.”
“It’ll be fine, Gemma. It’s not my first rodeo.” He chuckled.
She chose to ignore his attempt at humor. “The first few questions are the basics. They want to talk about life after the rodeo. What you’re doing now? Any lasting repercussions from the injury? Do you miss it? Would you still be riding bulls if you hadn’t been injured? Stupid question, if you ask me. How would you know what you’d be doing if you hadn’t been hurt?”
Chad glanced at her and grinned. “I’d have to agree with you. Although, I’d like to think I wouldn’t still be bull riding, seeing as I’m over the hill. About the time I quit was about the time the youngsters were coming up and starting to win. Buckin’ Billy was making a name and did quite well for himself.
I’d say I got out at just the right time. Don’t necessarily care for the reason I got out, but it is what it is.” His face had grown somber. She wondered if thinking about the accident brought back painful memories.
“Here are some of the others. Why did you join the rodeo in the first place? What was it like to ride a bull no one else could ride? What did it feel like to win the PBR championship the second time when everyone thought you were getting too old?” It was hard to think of Chad as too old for anything. Her dad was still in great shape other than the limp.
“When you’re on the back of a bull, it’s just you and the bull. You’re not thinking about age. You’re thinking about hanging on for eight seconds and the bull’s thinking about getting you off his back. These are the same kind of questions I get asked all the time. It’s okay.”
She glanced further down the list. “If you say so. It would seem as if they’re getting a bit more personal than necessary. This next question is ridiculous. I can’t let them ask you this on the air.”
Chad shot a questioning glance her way. “What’s the question? Maybe you should let me decide.”
She hesitated.
“Gemma?” He turned to her; his brow drawn tight.
“Fine. You’ve always been known as rodeo’s darling, and yet you’ve never gotten serious with a woman, never married and don’t appear to date. Why? This question seems as though it was written by a woman trying to get personal information for her own benefit.” Questions Gemma was dying to hear the answer to, but to which she took offense on behalf of Chad and his desire for privacy.
“They can ask the question.” He let out a deep sigh as if the decision hadn’t been an easy one.
“You want them to ask? You don’t have to answer personal questions.”
“I typically don’t, but some things have changed lately. Maybe now’s the perfect time to finally answer it. I’m not getting any younger.” He smiled, but it wasn’t out of happiness—more like regret. One that cracked open her hardened heart just a bit more.
It was his interview. Soon enough, she’d know the answer along with the rest of the world.
Ten minutes later they walked through the double glass doors and into the first radio station. They were greeted by a leggy blonde in a short skirt and too-tight blouse that strained the buttons holding it closed. Chad seemed at ease, whereas Gemma’s legs felt like overcooked spaghetti, and her stomach a pile of mush. She fell in step behind the pair as they walked down the hall towards the recording room.
Miss Buxom Blonde stopped at the door to the studio and turned to Gemma. “If you wait out here, you can watch through the glass. Only the people in the interview are allowed in the actual studio room.” The woman’s smile reminded her of a panther ready to pounce as she looped her arm through Chad’s and led him through the door.
One of the guys lifted a headset off the table and held it out to Gemma. “Here, put these on, and you can hear the interview.” The man appeared to be in his thirties, his short-sleeve T-shirt revealing two arms covered in tattoos. His smile eased some of her tension.
“Thanks. I need to make sure this goes just right. Live interviews make me nervous.” Her eyes never left Chad as he took a seat and got comfortable, the sound-proof divider blocking all noise but giving her a complete visual.
“It’s usually the person in the hot seat who gets nervous. But I’m guessing Chad Andrews is used to the limelight. I’m sure he’ll eat this up if Barbie doesn’t eat him up first.” He laughed at his own joke as if they shared some special inside knowledge.
Barbie the Buxom Blonde. Appropriate name, Gemma grimaced, as the woman leaned in close to help adjust Chad’s headset.
Five minutes into the interview, Gemma knew Chad was a master of publicity. He managed to not only answer the questions but also to keep Barbie on point. Every chance he got, he mentioned the Hallbrook Rescue Squad fundraiser, making a point of inviting everyone to the carnival the day after Thanksgiving. He was smooth, his genuine smile reflected in his voice for listeners to
hear. Enough to make everyone want to join in the fun.
And as a bonus, when they talked about life after the rodeo, he managed a plug for GiddyUp Kids, letting people know about his website and where they could donate to help the special-needs children ride horses. He wanted to give more and more children the chance to participate in a fun and rewarding activity. It was heartwarming, and it was real.
Her eyes watered with emotion, the image of Freckles and some of the other kids coming to mind.
“On to the next question.” Barbie leaned in close and touched Chad on the arm.
This is the radio, Bimbo Brain. It’s not as if thousands of viewers are going to be weeping in jealousy because you have Chad Andrews cornered.
“You’ve always been known as rodeo’s darling, but no one’s ever been able to say they were your darling. What’s up with that? How come you’ve never married, and is there anyone special in your life now? I’m sure we have thousands of women listening who would love to know the truth.” If the woman leaned in any closer, she’d be in his lap.
“Well, Barbie, I don’t normally answer questions on such a personal level, but I’ll make an exception this time.” He grinned and sat back in his chair, putting distance between him and the overly obvious groupie.
Gemma leaned forward, very interested in his answer.
“I’ve never married because there’s only one woman I’ll ever love, and the timing was never right. Although I’m hoping that might change. So, that ought to just about answer your second question. There’s no one special. Yet.”
The expression on Barbie’s face was almost comical. Shut down before the gate was even open. At least she had the good graces to recover quickly from an answer she hadn’t seen coming.
Gemma, on the other hand, wasn’t recovering quite as well. Who did he love? One woman, one love. It had to be her mother.
Why would he walk away if he was in love with her? And why did he never come back? Hearing the words come out of his mouth and having seen the picture of her mother in his room, it was the only explanation. It made sense, but that was where her understanding ended.
“Any chance you’ll let the listeners know who the lucky lady is?”
“Not a chance. The timing is finally right, but the ride to winning her heart will be harder than any eight seconds I’ve ever spent on the back of a bull.”
“Well, there you have it, ladies. Rodeo’s darling is off the market for all intents and purposes. But he is on the market if you want to bring your kids down to the Hallbrook carnival the day after Thanksgiving for some hands-on free lessons with none other than two-time PBR champion, Chad Andrews.”
Chapter Ten
Jake made his way to the diner to meet up with Gemma for lunch. He was anxious to see her again, but only to go over their notes and to show her the pictures he put together for her to pick from. In truth, his reasons might be a little more than that—or a lot more, but whatever they were, it was best to keep things strictly business.
He hated canceling Tuesday’s meeting with her, but at least his meeting with the rescue squad had been successful. They were all in, no one even batting an eye when he asked for their help with the carnival, knowing what was at stake.
Jake chose the same booth they shared on Monday. Quiet and out-of-the-way, it would give them a chance to talk. The door opened and closed several times, the cowbells jingling with each person that entered or left.
Christina brought him a glass of lemonade, but he didn’t order, preferring to wait on Gemma. After ten minutes, he was worried she wasn’t going to make it. He checked his phone, but there were no messages or missed calls.
Jake glanced up when the bells jingled again, relieved to see Gemma walk in. He waved his hand to catch her attention when she stopped to glance around the diner. She might be late, but looking as she did, he’d forgive her just about anything. Her cowboy boots had been replaced with fur-lined tan boots, her white coat buttoned up to her chin, and a scarf wrapped around her neck to ward off the cold.
She reminded him of a snow bunny. The kind of woman you wanted to take home and cozy up with in front of a fire to play board games or watch a movie. The kind of woman you wanted to wake up with each morning and spend each day with. The kind of woman you wanted to make your wife.
Where had that come from? He frowned, not liking the direction his thoughts had traveled.
Gemma made her way to the table, piling her packages on one side of the booth.
“Scoot over.” She slid in next to him, her body pushing against his to make him slide over. The familiarity of the move struck him hard. They were friends. He just needed to keep reminding himself that was all it could be.
“Yes, ma’am.” He did as he was instructed but not before he caught a whiff of vanilla spice.
“What’s with the frown? I’m not that late.” She unbuttoned her coat, pulling her arms through the sleeves to slide it off.
“I’m not frowning. Just thinking. It happens.” He forced a smile, not wanting her to press the issue.
“Haha. I hope you’ve got good news for me about who’s signed on to help and that you have the pictures. I need good news to offset the bad. The print company just called and dropped a bomb on me—which by the way, is why I’m late. The specialty printer they use malfunctioned, and they need to call a repairman. They think it’ll be back up and running by tomorrow and are still trying to get the posters done by early Saturday morning.”
“That’s cutting it close. But yes, I’ve got good news. I’ve got the help and the pictures you wanted.” He slid the envelope in her direction.
“That’s wonderful. Thank you.” She pulled the photos out and started to flip through them, picking out some and placing them in a separate stack.
Christina returned to take their orders, Jake all too aware of the curious stares from not just their server, but some of the others in the diner as well. His proximity with Gemma would set the Hallbrook rumor mill into warp speed, and they’d have him and Gemma marching down the wedding aisle before the night was over.
“We need to narrow this stack down to four. I want one large one on the left and four others down the right side.”
“That’s five.”
“The fifth one is the biggest one and still needs to be taken, and I know exactly what I want.” She faced him; the set of her jaw filled with determination.
“What’s that?” He almost hated to ask.
“I want a picture of you in your rescue gear with Brody.”
This he hadn’t counted on. “With all the pictures you have here to choose from, why would you need to take anything else? It’ll slow the whole process down. Surely one of these will do. I have no interest in being plastered all over the county.”
“The picture would touch everyone’s heart and in turn, their wallets. It’s called marketing. Come on, you want money for the rescue squad, and I know what it takes to make it happen. Handsome men and adorable dogs.”
Jake’s heart did a somersault.
“So, you think I’m handsome? Or is this your way to win me over by buttering me up?” Asking the question wasn’t the smartest idea considering the way he’d started to think about her. If there was a chance she was interested, there was no telling where his brain would take him. He might start imagining all types of things, things he had no business thinking. Not when he had a son to go home to and take care of. Kyle had to come first.
“Seriously? Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re cliché.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He wasn’t sure if he should be flattered or insulted.
“As in tall, dark, handsome, doctor cliché. Every woman’s fantasy.”
The same dream his ex-wife had, and she’d used every trick in the book to hook a doctor. “Not necessarily a commendable thing and it’s still not going to get you a yes. You have plenty of photos to pick from.”
“Why not? You could come to Chad’s house after work today if you sto
p by and pick up the gear first. We can get you and Brody to pose on the rock, the countryside view framing the picture from behind. It would be fantastic. Everyone would stop to look at the picture and then read the poster. No one can resist adorable.”
“So, now you think I’m adorable? Laying it on a bit thick, don’t you think?”
“No. I was talking about Brody.” Her grin was infectious, and he found himself relaxing just enough to reconsider.
“Okay, I’ll do it.” He shook his head, unwilling to believe he’d just accepted. “I need to call my dad to make sure he’s okay keeping Kyle longer and then bringing him over to Chad’s later.”
“Why does he need to come there?”
“It’s Thursday. The GiddyUp Kids come to ride. Kyle’s one of them.”
“That explains what Chad meant about you not bringing him last Thursday. Seems a shame you made him miss because of me, but I’m glad you’re bringing him today. Maybe I’ll get to see him. I’d love to come down and watch the kids ride again.”
Not the agenda he had in mind. Jake wanted to keep Kyle and Gemma apart, not throw them together. It was one thing if he spent time with her, but it was quite another for Kyle. He was an impressionable kid and anxious to be normal. And normal to a child included having a mother.
“Gemma, if I can be honest with you, and I hope I can at this point, I wish you wouldn’t come and hang around Kyle. And it’s not because I don’t like you or trust you. Quite the opposite. I don’t claim to understand what’s between you and Chad, but I know he’s ecstatic you’re here, and it’s been good for his health. This has nothing to do with that anymore.”
“Then why don’t you want me around Kyle? He’s a sweet boy, and he makes me just want to hug him tight and put a smile on his face. How can that be bad?” Gemma had more love for his son after a week around him than his ex-wife did in the year she spent with Kyle before she walked away.
She deserved the truth. “Because in the short while you’ve been here, he’s become fond of you. He keeps asking when you can visit. A lot. You and Brody. And he gets fussy at home when I tell him you can’t come over. It’s worse after he sees you. When you leave to go back to Syracuse, he’s not going to understand. And I’ll be the one left holding him as he cries because you can’t come out and play.”