Dakota Love Me: Tiller Brothers Book 2 (10 page)

She looked at him confused and a little hurt that he wouldn’t tell her who was footing the bill. 

“I can’t say, really, I can’t, but if you guess and don’t tell anyone I can’t help that you are a good guesser,” he moved to fast forward his computer through a recorded televised bull riding event and paused on a Levi commercial.

There was a cowboy in his tight fitting Levi jeans hung low on his hips supporting a big buckle.  His hand was holding his cowboy hat next to his hip.   He was bare-chested and his biceps were large.  His abs looked chiseled and his body was glowing. The picture showed him from the neck down.

She studied the picture and looked back at him, “Oh my God Dakota that gorgeous hunk of cowboy is you.  I’d know that body anywhere.  Why’d they cut your head off, your face would have had the women drooling?”

He laughed at her.  “They wanted the men to see themselves in those jeans and the women to visualize their man in that commercial, or so they told me.  I guess in the next campaign ad, they are going to use my face in some of the commercials, too.  I didn’t care, they paid me a lot of bucks to wear their jeans and I got a fancy hotel room I could bring my girl to at night, so I’m all kind of happy.”

“I’m glad they didn’t show your face because once they do, I’ll be history.  The women will be crawling all over you to try to steal you away,” she said teasingly.

“Not going to happen.  This bull rider’s taken,” he leaned over and kissed her.

They watched the rest of the recordings and Dakota explained what he did right, and wrong, and sometimes he explained the bull was just better that night.  He showed her the recording of the bull he would be riding tomorrow.  Its name was Devil Do-little.

“What a funny name,” she said.  “Will he be hard to ride?”

“All the bulls that are here are the best in the world, the top guns and anyone of them could knock a cowboy into the next state.  Do-little is one of the best, and when you get bucked off you feel pretty little under his 2,000 pounds.  But I can ride him.  If I stay on, I mean when I stay on him, I’ll get into the finals.  See how he likes to twist one way while he’s bucking and then he twists the other way in mid buck.  Amazing bull, really.  Only rode eight seconds twice this year.”

“Have you ridden him this year?”

“Yeah, once…went off about a second into the ride.  I guessed wrong which way he’d spin first.  I know better now than to anticipate, I’ll stay centered and balanced whichever way he goes.  And boy can he buck.”

She put her arm around his neck.  “I’ll admit to you I’m a little scared.  He looks so mean.”

“Honey, don’t worry.  Even if he throws me, I’m good at scrambling away.  The bull fighters are the best here.  It’s an honor for them to be selected to the NFR and they won’t let the bull get me.  People don’t realize they are the true heroes of the rodeo.  I respect them and am good friends with most of them.  There are a few I don’t know but every bull rider knows without them, we’d be toast.”

“My dad was my bull fighter.  I should probably call him and let him know things are going good.”

He kissed her.  “Just good… huh?”

She laughed and punched his naked abs.  Then she leaned and kissed his hard stomach.  “I’m not going to be excited to know I’m sharing your amazing body with the world.  I hope they lose your head shots and then you’ll just be mine.  And Dakota…you don’t need to be told you’re better than good. Lacking in confidence isn’t one of your faults.”

She jumped out of the bed and just barely felt him slap her on the butt.  Her phone was in her purse.  Turning to smile at him, she punched in her dad’s number.

“Hey dad…did I wake you?”

She sat in the leather chair that she and Dakota had shared.  “Nah, we’re just watching rodeo stuff on TV and kind of just relaxing.”

Dakota’s knowing-smile set her heart racing just remembering the way he had made love to her.  “Yeah, I get off work to watch him.”

He crawled out of bed and kneeled at her feet and put his hands up under her T-shirt to gently cup her breasts.  Her eyes closed.

“Oh no dad, I heard what you said.   I’m sorry Dakota was distracting me.  Yeah I’ll head out Saturday morning early.  I’ll call and let you know when I’m on the road.

Dakota didn’t like hearing about her leaving.  He lifted her up and sat her on his lap as she talked to her dad and held her tight.

“No dad, I haven’t gotten any more texts from her.  Is she being awful?”

Dakota nibbled on her ear.  He wrapped her long braid around his hand and pulled her closer so he could kiss her.  She put her hand over the phone and whispered, “Dakota.”

He chuckled at her.  Finally she said good bye.  He lifted her in his arms and took her back to bed.

“I...need…you…now.” he desperately pleaded with her.

She threw her arms around him.  “I don’t remember you telling me that you got lucky after you watched your videos?” she teased him between kisses.

After he kissed her speechless he hummed in her ear in a low timbre, “Oh but don’t you know, I’m with my Lady Luck.  And I can’t resist you in my t-shirt.”  He kissed her again, rolling her over onto her back, “and I am going to start a new tradition to end every night before my bull riding event with me on you,” he kissed her again, “and you on top of me…and me behind you…” his kissed her deeply, “but mostly me inside of you.”

Georgia was a nervous wreck by the time she heard the announcer call Dakota’s name as the next rider up over the loud speakers.  She looked up at Dr. Witting who was treating a cowboy with a bruised back he’d just brought in, and he nodded at her to go.

She ran out and climbed up on the fence where another Doctor was waiting for the next bull rider.  It was close enough she could see them clearly.  Dakota’s eyes briefly met her gaze before he dropped into the bull.  She watched the video cam above the arena show him grabbing the strap attached to the bull.  She saw Cameron lean in and pull up on the rope before he gave it to Dakota.  The bull cracked his body to the side and Dakota had just barely pulled his leg up out of the way.  Another bull rider pushed the bull back to the center with his boot so Dakota could drop his leg back down.  He rechecked the rope, she knew from what he had explained last night, to make sure none of the bull’s wrinkles would catch in the strap.  He laid the rope on his gloved open palm before he wound the rope behind his hand one time, and pulled the rope tight across his hand in the front again and through his little finger.  With his ungloved hand he hammered the rope tight to his grip.  The bull was already bucking and Dakota put his free hand up in the air.  She guessed he gave the verbal go ahead, as the gate flew open by two cowboys pulling on the rope outside the chute. 

The bull, as if he knew it was show time, flew out of the chute with all four hooves in the air and twisting his head back like he wanted to gore the rider.  Dakota’s legs flew out to the side and his body slammed into the bull’s hump but he quickly recovered.  She’d seen many bull riders thrown off in the first second with a vicious blow to the chest.  The bull twisted to the right and while still in the air twisted to the left.  Dakota slipped a little but the bull bucked and spun the other way, almost aiding Dakota to get centered again.  The eight seconds couldn’t end quickly enough for her.  She hadn’t taken a breath until the buzzer sounded.  Dakota threw himself off the bull and the bull turned toward him on the ground and blew snot out of his nostrils.  The bull fighter slapped the bull on the butt and the other bull rider grabbed Dakota by his shirt, brought him to his feet, and threw him back toward the fence.  The bull came at them and they both jumped on the fence.  The bull crashed into the fence just missing them.  The cowboy riders came and roped the bull and dragged it off.

She finally allowed herself to take her hands off her mouth and she smiled at Dakota.  Cameron helped him over the fence and they hugged each other.  The bull fighter retrieved his cowboy hat that had been knocked off and handed it to Dakota. Soon Cody was there and they were all hugging.  When she saw his sister and Matt jump down from the stadium seats and join in the hug, Georgia couldn’t help but laugh gleefully and clap her hands.  His family had all made it to watch him.  They must have flown in to surprise him.

Dakota turned to look at Georgia with a big grin on his face.  She blew him a kiss. He looked away briefly to see his score, eighty-five.  He waved his hat in the air to the crowd who were still cheering for him.

A great score, she thought.  He would probably make the finals.  Dakota waved for her to come over.  She looked at the other doctor and he told her it was okay to leave the Sport Medicine area and to go see him.  She took off running.  He met her half way and pulled her into his arms and kissed her. 

“Oh wow, that was so exciting!” she yelled at him as she ran her hand over his cheek. 

“Thank you Georgia,” he kissed her quickly again. “Come see my family…they all came, can you believe it?”  He’d beaten his bull and his smile was worth the fright of watching him almost being gored by the Devil.  He grabbed her hand and pulled her over to his family. 

“Wasn’t that a great ride?” his sister Jenny asked as she hugged Georgia. 

Cody and Cameron told Dakota they were sure he’d make the finals with that ride.  They all hugged her and made her feel like a part of the family.  Tammy and Jared, Jenny’s new husband, waved at them from the bleachers.  Dakota acknowledge them with a big grin and a wave, but he wouldn’t let Georgia’s hand go.  He held it close to his body like he was never going to let her go.

“I have to go back and finish my shift.  I’ll listen to the announcer and see if you made the finals.  It was a great ride, and I’m so proud of you.”

He hugged her and she ran back to the medical center.

***

Dakota watched her go.  He was glad she had gotten there in time to see him ride.  His addrelin was still pumping and he was so happy he was almost shaking.  He looked back to see Cody and Cameron had jumped up to help the next bull rider who was having trouble with his bull that kept trying to lay down and his brothers and other bull riders were poking at the bull to get him to raise up.  Jenny came over and put her arm around his waist.

“They got it big brother.  You can rest a few minutes.  I’m so proud of you.  I know your goal was to at least make the finals and I’m sure you did that.”

“Thanks sis.  How’d you guys get here?”

She giggled, “It was supposed to be a surprise so Cody flew us here.  He wanted the whole family to watch you.  Sorry mom couldn’t come.  The rodeo reminds her too much of dad and she’s still struggling.  She told me to tell you good luck.”

His heart sunk a little knowing that not only his mother wasn’t here, but his dad had missed his big ride at the NFR.  “Wish dad had been here.”

She wiped a tear from her eye.  “I think he’s watching.  You know he’s here in spirit and represented by me and your brothers, and now your Georgia.  Looks like you’re pretty serious with her?” she asked.

“Yeah, she’s special.  Can’t believe how fast it’s happened.  She’s not like the buckle bunnies.  She’s a real woman…she’s genuine and she makes me happy.”

“Dakota you don’t know how pleased I am for you.  You’ve been in another world drifting the last few years, searching for something.  What’da you say we keep her?”

He gave her a big hug.  “That’s my plan.”

“I liked her when I met her in Cheyenne at Cody’s retirement party,” Jenny said. “It didn’t look like you were going to catch her that night, but now it looks like maybe you did.  I know you’ve been looking for her.  Did you find her here?”

“I was so dumb.  I didn’t even check to see who made the women’s top fifteen to get in the NFR’s barrel racing.  I would have been there to watch her.  Luckily she popped off the elevator right when I was about to leave and go look for Cameron.  Also found out that Georgia Cooper is Justin Cooper’s daughter.  It sure would have helped if I’d put the two together but I never met her at the ranch the couple of times dad, Cody and I went there.”

Dakota joined his family in the stands.  He wanted to go see Georgia but with as many bull riders that went down with one injury after another, he knew she’d be busy.  After the last five riders completed their rides, Dakota learned he indeed had made the finals currently in third place.  They would be riding again around seven o’clock.  His family all cheered and slapped him on the back.  They had all watched together the end of the preliminaries.

Georgia joined them a little after three.  He had been watching for her and he jumped up and escorted her to his family.  They decided to get a quick bite to eat at the nearby concession stands.  Dakota didn’t want to go back to the casinos until it was over.  He was only a little nervous,
hell it’s the finals
, and he knew not to add any more stress by worrying if he would get back on the shuttle in time.  They ate hot dogs, nachos and cheese, pretzels and fried turkey legs.  And of course lots of beer, except for Dakota.  He had ice tea.  They all made Georgia feel welcome and a lot of razing went on between the brothers.  They were sitting under the tent in the concession eating area which gave them some relief from the Vegas heat even though it was December.

Dakota noticed Georgia got a text.  Her face turned pale.  He grabbed her phone,
I’m having you watched. You will be followed until I can get my revenge against you
.  He looked to see who the caller was from and it was unlisted.  They exchanged looks with each other.  “It’s Sharon.  You just ignore this.  I’ll text your dad and tell him about the message but don’t you worry.  We’re all here with you and I’ll follow you home tomorrow.”

He could see her sit up straighter and get a determined look in her eyes.  “I’m okay, I don’t want you worrying about me when you are about to get on a 2,000 pound beast.  Dad will call the police and tell her to quit heckling me.”

“That’s my cowgirl.  You be strong.  She is just a bitch.  She better hope she never runs into me again.”

“Dakota, this time I wouldn’t mind if you’d pop her one, or better yet, let me get in a good swing.  She has had this coming for a long time.”  He put his arm around her and smiled at his feisty, confident cowgirl.

They filled their family in on Justin’s crazy wife and they all assured Georgia that they’d keep an eye out for here.  Tammy looked especially worried after having just lived through being kidnapped.  Cody sensed her unease, and whispered in her ear.  She touched his mouth with her fingers and smiled at him.  He enveloped her in his arms.

“When do you have to work again, Georgia?” Jenny asked.

“I’m through for this event but they’ve told me they’d like me to go to Denver for the next rodeo.  I hadn’t signed up yet for barrel racing and I think after making the NFR I may be retiring from the barrels.  Sharon was right about one thing, it’s time I started using my doctor’s degree dad worked so hard saving for me to go to school.  I really loved working with this organization.  Being a rodeo contestant and now a full-fledged physical therapist has been a dream come true.”

“I hope I’m included in that dream of yours,” he spoke in Georgia’s ear so only she could hear.

She slid her arms around his neck, “You’re at the top of my dream list.  Remember I’m your Superglue.”  She kissed him.  They both stared into each other’s eyes.

“…Going to be mighty hard to concentrate on the bull with your beautiful blue eyes putting me in a trance.  I’m thinking more like throwing you over my shoulder and taking you to the trailer.

She only grinned at him.  She reached up and pulled his cowboy hat over his eyes, and said, “Don’t look at me.  Think about those scary brown eyes, and those ouchy horns, and the spit and saliva those monsters throw out before they blast out of the chute.  Keep your head in the game,” she admonished.

She moved away from him.  He wrapped her long braid around his hand and pulled her back for a kiss.  “Okay but afterwards you want to go bull riding again with me on the bed tonight?”

“Counting the minutes,” she grabbed his hand.