Champion (Studs in Spurs) (3 page)

Even as the kid slunk back to the house, Cooper knew he only had a minute to talk to Hannah before he’d be back. “Hey.”

“Hi.” The concern was clear as she raised her gaze to meet his.

“About this event.” He cringed. “Sorry, I didn’t ask you first.”

“Are you sure he’s ready for this? I mean a pro event?”

“He’s ready. And it’s only a junior event going off before the pro event. The stock manager uses much smaller animals for the kids. The bigger, ranker bulls don’t come out until later on for the adult competition.”

The crease remained between her brows as she continued to look up at him. “He’s only eleven.”

“I know, but I was competing at his age.” He lifted one shoulder. “I’m still here to tell about it.”

“I guess I’m going to have to let him compete sometime.” Hannah pressed her hand to her belly, as if holding down the butterflies there.

Cooper leaned down and braced his forearms on the open window. “The first time’s the hardest.”

“So it’ll get easier?” She held his gaze.

“Nope, probably not.” He grinned. “Just a little less hard.”

She smiled, a small, sad expression. “All right. I trust you. He can ride.”

Part of Cooper was thrilled to hear she trusted him, even as a part of him felt genuine fear he wouldn’t be able to live up to the trust she’d placed in him. “He’ll be real happy about that.”

“At least one of us will be.” She cocked a brow.

“Hannah, I’ll make sure he’s a’ight.” What was it about this woman that had Cooper making promises he wasn’t sure he could keep?

She nodded as Skeeter came barreling out of the house. He pinned Cooper with his stare. “Did she say yes?”

The damn kid had known Cooper was outside trying to talk his mother into letting him compete. That was probably the only thing that had kept him in the house for even the couple of minutes Cooper had gotten alone with Hannah.

He realized Skeeter was far more intuitive than he’d given him credit for. “Yeah, she said yes.”

The kid let out a whoop, grinning ear to ear. “Thanks, Mom.”

Hannah shook her head. “Thank Cooper. He convinced me you could do this.”

Skeeter grinned wider. “Thanks, Cooper.”

“You’re welcome. Now, get in the car. Your mother’s had a long day. I’m sure she wants to get home.”

As the kid flung the passenger door wide and scrambled into the seat, Cooper moved back from the car. “Have a good night, Hannah.”

“Thanks. You too.”

There was a weird dynamic between him and her. There had been since that night he’d screwed up and let himself kiss her.

On the surface, the common ground between them was Skeeter. Cooper had willingly put himself in that position by offering to be his teacher, which had also turned into him being the sole male influence in the kid’s life. That was fine. He could handle that. He was a mentor to the younger riders on the tour too.

It was this other thing—the attraction simmering between him and Hannah just below the surface—that he hadn’t signed up for. That was something he couldn’t give in to.

He turned toward the house, climbed the stairs but didn’t go inside. Instead, he leaned against the rail of the porch and watched the glow of the taillights as her car pulled to the end of the driveway. Even as the late summer sun set and the darkness began to creep in and overtake the daylight, he could see Skeeter. The kid leaned out the passenger window and waved, shouting, “See you this weekend.”

Cooper lifted one arm and nodded.

Glen walked up and leaned next to him. “She likes you.”

“Who?” He had a feeling he knew the answer to that question already. Glen knew him too damn well for his liking.

“The mother.”

“Yeah, so? Everyone likes me. I’m a likeable guy.”

“Yeah, yeah. You know what I mean.” Now that the car was out of view, Glen turned. Pinning Cooper with a stare, he leaned his ass on the rail and crossed his arms. “So why don’t you ask her out?”

“Because that piece of tail comes with a kid I have to teach every week.”

Glen frowned. “You’re a dick. I didn’t say screw her for a night and then never talk to her again, the way you usually do with the women you fuck. I said ask her out. Like on a date. You do remember what a date is, don’t you? You eat. You talk. You get to know each other. You actually remember each other’s names…”

Cooper lifted one brow. “Sounds like a lot of work for a little pussy.”

The sound Glen let out, accompanied by his scowl, told Cooper exactly how he felt about that statement.

“I’m going inside for a beer.” As Glen stomped across the porch and into the house, Cooper noticed his partner hadn’t offered to get him one.

Fine. He’d get his own damn beer. It would be easier than bowing to the pressure of Glen’s matchmaking.

Truth be told, Cooper wouldn’t mind going through all of that dating bullshit Glen had talked about with Hannah, but that wasn’t meant to be. Cooper wasn’t in the market for a wife or a son. Hannah and Skeeter deserved a man who was.

Best friend or not, Cooper wasn’t going to get into talking with Glen about Hannah and all his feelings about her and the situation. Best to let sleeping dogs lie. He’d fucked up once by kissing her, but he wouldn’t do that again. Even if seeing her just now had caused a bone-deep awareness of his attraction to her—both mentally and physically.

That he genuinely liked her as a person he could handle—but not at the same time as this balls-deep ache that wanting her caused. That he’d have to deal with on his own.

On top of this thing with Hannah, a restlessness was starting to creep up on him. It happened whenever he wasn’t out on the road riding the circuit. This break between the bigger competitions was only a few weeks long, but it felt like an eternity. The itch to get out and do something—or someone—was hitting Cooper especially hard after seeing Hannah.

He pushed through the front door. “Wanna go out for a beer instead?” Cooper needed to hit up a bar, grab a girl and get busy. Then he’d feel better.

Glen shook his head as he reached into the fridge for a bottle. “Nah, I wanna stay home tonight. I’m tired.”

“Tired?” He let out a snort at the ridiculousness of that. “Come on. You can sleep when you’re dead.”

“You don’t have to stay home on account of me.” Glen popped the top off the longneck. “You go if you want to.”

“It’s not as much fun alone.” Cooper screwed up his mouth. Glen was acting like an old man.

“I’m sorry that I’m not up to entertaining you.” Glen rolled his eyes before taking a pull out of the bottle.

“So am I.” Cooper headed for the fridge and a beer when what he really wanted was a girl and to fuck. That gave him an idea. Why go out when you could stay in? He followed Glen into the living room. “Hey, you get the number of that girl you were with when we had them here a couple of weeks ago? You remember. The night the piece of shit new truck you talked me into buying broke down.”

“Yeah, yeah. I remember. And your damn truck is fixed now, so shut the hell up about that already.” Glen kicked his feet up on the coffee table and reached for the television remote. “And yeah, I got her number. Why?”

“Give her a call. See if she and her friend wanna come over tonight.”

Glen raised his brows. “You never do repeats.”

“Maybe I’m changing.” That was a lie.

The truth was, Cooper needed to do something about this itch. He had to fuck somebody, or the next time sweet Hannah Anderson bit her lip and raised those deep-blue eyes to him, he’d have her on her back on the hood of her car. He’d slide inside and not give a shit about the rights or wrongs of the situation.

“Or maybe you’re just horny.” Glen shot Cooper a glance and then focused back on the television.

“That too.” Cooper lifted one shoulder in a shrug. No use denying it.

“A’ight. I’ll call her.” Glen tossed the remote on the table and reached into his pocket for his cell phone.

“Good.”

Cooper and Glen had been buddies for years. They did most things together, especially now they were partners in the ranch. Glen took care of things while Cooper traveled to compete. But even as close as they were, Cooper still felt more comfortable keeping things, such as feelings when he had them, to himself. Maybe it was the result of his crap childhood. Or maybe he was just an antisocial son of a bitch at heart.

Either way, he wouldn’t admit to Glen what a temptation Hannah’s kisses had been. Cooper would, however, admit to his friend he was horny as hell and needed to fuck. That need, any man could understand. No emotions necessary, just the way he liked it.

After some talk, most of which Cooper didn’t bother listening to, Glen disconnected the call.

Cooper raised a brow. “Well?”

“She’s coming.”

“And her friend?” Whatever her name was.

“She thinks her friend’s free tonight. She’s calling her to make sure, then she’ll pick her up on the way over here.”

“A’ight. Good.” Finally, something was going his way. With satisfaction on the horizon, Cooper walked to the kitchen.

He didn’t need another beer, his was still full, but he needed to move. He opened cabinets and closed them again, and then pulled open the door on the fridge and stared at the contents for a bit. He wandered back to the living room and plopped down on the sofa. He tried sitting next to Glen and watching TV, but he was too restless. After a little bit, he got up one more time and headed into the kitchen again.

“What the devil are you looking for in there?” Glen called from the other room.

“Damned if I know.” With a sigh, Cooper slammed shut the door of the cabinet he’d just opened.

Something to occupy his mind, most likely. Sad to say, he doubted the girls on their way there now would do it, but it was worth a try. She’d occupy his hands and his cock, but his mind—doubtful.

“You riding this weekend?” Glen shot him a sideways glance when Cooper strolled back to the living room doorway and hovered there.

“Yeah.” He didn’t sit. He moved to the window, wondering when the girls would arrive.

“Thank God for that.” The relief was clear in Glen’s tone.

Cooper couldn’t agree with him more. It seemed only strapping his hand to a ton of bucking bull in front of a roaring crowd would calm the restlessness. Even sinking into a woman wouldn’t help for long.

God help them all when the time came for him to retire. On that depressing thought, he heard the crunching of tires as a car pulled into the driveway. One glance out the window confirmed it.

He donned a smile. “Girls are here.”

Glen planted his booted feet on the floor and stood. “Well, thank God for that too.”

Chapter Three

Cooper ignored that he felt Hannah’s gaze on him, watching every move he made behind the chutes as he helped her kid get ready to ride. He reminded himself she was there for Skeeter. She was looking this way, her stare pinned to the action on top of the chute because she was watching her son, not him as he tried to help the kid.

She was scared. He could see that clearly as she held the top rail of the fence with a white-knuckled grip. He wanted to go to her. Tell her the kid would be fine. That Skeeter was ready for this. He wanted to be with her during the ride too. Put his arm around her and calm the nerves he knew he’d feel making her body tremble.

The thought of Hannah shaking beneath his hands had him starting to get hard. Christ, he was a sick man.

Cooper forced his attention back where it needed to be—on Skeeter. He might not actually get paid for their lessons, but he was still the kid’s teacher, and the boy needed his guidance now.

Riding one of the bulls in the practice ring set up at the ranch was one thing. Climbing into the chute for his first public competition was a whole other level of nerve-wracking. Cooper knew the adrenaline would be pumping through the kid like an illicit drug. A veteran rider could use the hormone flooding his bloodstream right before a ride to help him focus. In a newbie like Skeeter, that surge could just as easily lead to poor decisions and stupid mistakes.

“You ready, kid?” Cooper glanced down at his protégé, inspecting him to see for himself that the boy’s equipment was on properly.

His helmet already strapped beneath his chin, Skeeter nodded.

“Spurs on, good and tight. Chap straps buckled. Safety vest zipped. Glove on and taped.” Working from the feet up, Cooper ran through the pre-ride checklist aloud for the kid’s benefit. He reached Skeeter’s head in his list and asked, “Mouthguard in?”

“Yes, sir.” The response was mumbled and barely audible, proving Skeeter was indeed speaking through the piece of plastic.

Cooper had already supervised Skeeter cleaning and rosining his bull rope when they’d arrived, so he knew that was good to go. The stock handler was looping the rope beneath the bull in the chute now.

Ready or not, it was time. But the kid was ready. Cooper felt it with certainty. Not all eleven-year-olds could handle strapping themselves to the back of a bucking bull in front of a crowd. Skeeter was not most kids. He was a natural, though Cooper tried not to tell him that too often. Gifted with God-given talent or not, rising to be the best in this business took hard work and dedication.

That was something Cooper feared he’d begun to forget lately. At the very least, he’d let it slip a bit. There was never a time to be complacent. To rest on the laurels of past successes.

The problem was it was easy to do when time and time again he’d gotten away with it. On too many occasions, he’d spent the night drunk in some stranger’s bed and then had woken up hurting and still gone on to win the event.

Winning was as addictive as the adrenaline rush of riding. Both acted upon him like a drug. Continuing to win, even after doing what he knew was bad for him and his career, was as dangerous as any drug out there. As long as it kept happening, he didn’t see compelling motivation to make a change coming anytime soon.

Now was not the time or place for introspection. He was there to put Skeeter on the proper path to becoming a champion. The straight and narrow road Cooper had strayed from. The kid idolized him, so it was doubly important that the crooked line his own life had taken not serve as an example for this kid.

It might be too late for him, but if nothing else, he could point Skeeter in the right direction. “You’re ready for this, kid. Get on up there and take your wrap.”

After a nod, the boy climbed up to the top rail. Before he lowered himself into the chute, he glanced up and scanned the crowd.

Cooper knew who he was looking for. “Your mom’s here, kid. She’s watching. Don’t you worry about that. Concentrate on the ride. She’ll be waiting for you when you get done.”

Skeeter glanced back at Cooper and nodded one more time before lowering himself onto the back of the bull.

He hadn’t lied to Hannah when he’d told her the bulls would be appropriate to the level of skill in the junior division. The one that Skeeter had gotten in the draw was small. It had to be. The rules specified no animal could weigh more than 750 pounds in the nine to twelve-year-old boys division. Skeeter had ridden bigger animals at Cooper’s place. He could handle this one.

After being a bit jumpy when it had first run into the chute, the bull stood calmly now even as Cooper balanced his boot heels on the rails and reached to grab the end of Skeeter’s rope. He used both hands to pull the rope tight before handing it off to Skeeter.

It wasn’t lost on Cooper that in his lifetime he’d ridden at some of the biggest and most famous arenas and events in the world. Las Vegas. Calgary. Madison Square Garden. Yet there he was feeling a little nervous while pulling the rope for a boy in the junior division of a local event in Arkansas.

The strangest part was Cooper felt really good. It was as if he was doing something important. Something that mattered.

Skeeter wrapped the rope around his gloved hand, laid it across his palm before closing his fingers and pounding his closed fist like Cooper had shown him. It was a textbook wrap. Glancing down, he made sure the kid’s feet were in proper position. His heels were in, his toes out and his spurs were clear of the rope—proof the kid did listen when Cooper talked, even if most days he seemed to bounce off the rails with excitement over getting to ride.

Cooper caught Skeeter’s attention. “Whenever you’re ready, you give the gateman a nod.”

The kid pounded his fist one more time and then wiggled his ass on the back of the bull as if checking that he was centered. When he finally nodded, it was accompanied by a muffled, “Go!”

The gateman swung the gate wide. On that cue, the bull dug his hooves into the soft dirt and rocketed into the arena. The damn animal had gone from docile to powerhouse in a matter of seconds, but Skeeter maintained his center even through the force of the changes.

For being small and lean, the animal was a good, strong bucker. If Skeeter could hang on to his rope for the eight seconds and not get fouled for a slap, he could get a damn good score.

It was a nearly perfect ride. The kid broke at the hips, absorbing the energy of every leap the animal made. The bull started out spinning into Skeeter’s riding hand only to reverse to spin against it, but the kid made the adjustment and hung on.

The buzzer sounded and Skeeter reached down with his free arm, yanked the tail of his bull rope and released his wrap. Throwing his leg over the bull’s head and jumping off on the outside of the spin, he made a perfect dismount, even landing on his feet. Cooper finally let himself breathe after holding his breath for the duration of the ride.

“Holy shit, that kid can ride. He yours?” The voice next to Cooper had him turning.

“Yeah.” Cooper nodded and then realized that had sounded wrong. “I mean, I taught him. He’s my student but nah, he’s not my kid.”

“Well, you did a damn good job teaching him.”

“I wish I could take the credit, but honestly, not much of it was my doing. Damn kid’s a natural.” Cooper shot the guy a look. “Don’t tell him I said that. Don’t want him getting too big for his britches.”

The stranger laughed. “Gotcha.”

For a few seconds, Cooper felt emotions swirling inside him—a strange mix of the warmth of pride mingled with a cold, hollow emptiness and regret he didn’t have a son of his own to teach. His own boy he could take credit for and feel this overwhelming pride over.

That’s all the feeling lasted—a few seconds.

The reality was he had one great fucking life just the way it was. He could do what he wanted. Who he wanted. When he wanted. He held on tight to that thought as he watched Skeeter come out of the arena, dusty and grinning, and his mother ran to greet him.

They’d likely go out for ice cream or some such family thing after this to celebrate. And after his own event, Cooper would celebrate himself. With any luck, he’d sweet-talk that young thing who’d been eyeing him from the bleachers into going out to his truck for a quickie.

That’s the way life worked for him. If more folks learned what worked best for themselves and stopped trying to have something else, something more, by doing what they knew was wrong for them, there wouldn’t be single mothers raising boys alone. There wouldn’t be drunk, angry fathers left with their abandoned sons.

If his parents had done what was best for the family, for Cooper, back when he was Skeeter’s age, he wouldn’t have had to listen to his father arguing with his mother after rolling in stinking drunk from a late night out. He wouldn’t have heard the slap, or his mother hitting the wall, or the softs sobs she tried to hide after his father finally passed out and they could all breathe freely again that it was over, at least for that night. And he wouldn’t have had to grow up alone with that sullen, angry man after his mother had given up and abandoned them both.

He’d have been better off if she’d gotten a damn abortion instead of having an unwanted baby and having to marry a man who was wrong for her. There sure as hell had been many times back then that Cooper had wished he’d never been born.

The past needed to stay in the past. He pushed those memories away as Skeeter ran for him, bull rope and cowbell trailing behind him.

The kid grinned from ear to ear. “Did you see me?”

“Of course, I saw you. You did great.” Cooper glanced over Skeeter’s head as the scoreboard flashed. “Did you see your score?”

Skeeter was used to riding in Cooper’s ring, not in front of judges. He’d obviously forgotten there’d be a score involved, and a hell of a score it was too.

“Eighty points, kid. That puts you in the lead.”

The boy’s eyes widened at that revelation. He turned to his mother and she laughed at the same expression that had Cooper smiling.

Hannah glanced at Cooper. “He must be in shock. I’ve never seen him speechless before.”

Cooper blew out a loud burst of air. “You ain’t kidding. Neither have I.”

“I’m in the lead?” Skeeter finally found his voice.

“Yup, but don’t get too excited. There are a few more yet to ride.”

“I’m gonna go watch.” Skeeter spun to his mother. “Can I?”

“Sure. Go ahead.” Hannah watched Skeeter run off and let out a breath, holding her hand to her chest. “I thought I’d die watching that. That’s it, right? He won’t ride again today?”

“He might. If he stays in the lead, he’ll ride in the short go.” He noticed the hand she held to her chest trembled and bit back a cuss. “You’ve never seen him ride, have you?” Of course, she hadn’t. When would she have? The kid only rode at Cooper’s place. She’d drop him off and pick him up, but she’d never been there while he’d been in the practice ring.

Thank God, it had been a picture-perfect ride and the kid hadn’t wrecked. He hadn’t even hit the dirt but had landed dead on his feet like a damn Olympic gymnast or something.

Still, Cooper should have considered Hannah and her feelings about watching her only child in that situation. He should have had her up next to him by the chute so he would be with her for this first time.

This was why he didn’t keep women around long enough for them to mean something to him. He was no good at it. They’d only end up getting hurt or scared like Hannah had.

“I’m sorry, Hannah. I should have been there with you for his ride and I wasn’t.”

“No, you shouldn’t have. Skeeter needed you far more than I did. He needed you to pull his rope and make sure he took his wrap properly and check his foot position…”

Even as bad as he felt, he let out a laugh at her laundry list of pre-ride tasks. “I see you’ve gotten the full bull-riding tutorial already.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “You have no idea. There’s a running commentary of him explaining things to me every time it’s on television. And when you come on screen—well, I’d better not dare breathe too loudly or he might miss something the announcers say about you.”

He shook his head but couldn’t help his grin as he pictured the scene. “Sorry about that.”

She dismissed his concern with a wave. “No problem. I don’t mind watching. At least it’s one thing we can do together. I can’t teach him to ride like you do, but I can sit there with him and watch and make the appropriate comments. Besides, it’s more fun watching now that I know the sport better…and that I know you.”

The damn woman latched her teeth onto her lower lip like he’d seen her do before, and of course, Cooper couldn’t help but notice. He wrestled his focus back to her eyes, but that didn’t help because she had that look on her face—hungry yet innocent at the same time. It made him want to lay her on her back with him above her.

Seeing her in real clothes instead of a uniform wasn’t helping the situation either. Her jeans hugged her with just the right amount of tightness. Her shirt too. To top it all off, the heel on her cowboy boots accentuated the sexy curve of her ass and the enticing sway of her hips as she walked.

He’d tried not to notice, but hell if he didn’t. He needed to get laid and knock any ideas about him and Hannah being together that way right out of his head.

“So, I made Skeeter’s favorite dinner for tonight. If you wanted to come over and join us at the house, you’re more than welcome. I’m sure he’d love to have you there.”

A good meal cooked at home by a beautiful woman was a very tempting offer, which is why Cooper had to say no. “I got something planned for after, but thanks for asking.”

“All right. Maybe next time.” Hannah nodded.

He tried to ignore the disappointment he imagined he’d heard in her voice, and knew he was lying when he said, “Sure. Next time.”

His gaze cut to where the pretty young thing had been hanging around near the rail watching him. She was still there, but not looking very happy now that Cooper was talking to Hannah. He nearly laughed at that. Little did the girl know that today was her lucky day. She’d get to add a world champion bull rider to her roster of sexual conquests if she wanted. Cooper would quench his own hunger, while Hannah went home for a nice quiet celebration dinner with her son. Win-win for all of them.