Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“Sure, Reilly. No problem. I’d be happy to,” I answer him, and I know as soon as I say it I deserve a kick in the nuts. My friend, my mentor is wanting me to keep an eye on his daughter, and the thoughts I’m having... fuck, I want to take care of her, but I know it’s not the way Reilly’s thinking.
“She’s coming today.”
I hear it, but it takes a minute to register. “What was that?”
He smirks at me. “Lila. She’s coming here today. She wanted to make sure she was here to see your last ride.”
From that minute on, I have my eyes glued to the entrance of the arena. I should be stretching and getting ready for my ride, but instead I’m sitting here waiting anxiously on a woman that absolutely nothing can happen with. Many times, I’ve told myself to give up on the thought of being with Lila, but it’s not that easy. No one else even comes close to how I feel for her. Thoughts of having a family are just that because there’s no one else I want... and Lila is one hundred percent off limits.
Chapter 2
Lila
I see Ace as soon as I walk into the arena. He’s handsome with his salt and pepper beard, big shoulders, and the cowboy hat that I know is hiding his light blue eyes. Everything about Ace Tucker is committed to memory for me. It seems I know everything about him. His mannerisms, his favorite foods, the way he looks riding on the back of a bull and commands attention from everyone in a room. He’s something else and right now he’s sitting in the private stands section next to my father. There are women surrounding him. Even now I can see two women a few rows back ogling him, just hoping to get his attention.
The thought causes me to have an ache in my chest, but it’s nothing new. There are a lot of buckle bunnies that have been vying for Ace’s attention through the years. I’ve never once actually seen him with one of them, but it’s a well-known fact that Ace Tucker can have his pick of women. I’m completely lost in thought when Jessy, another rider and an ex from years ago, walks up to me. He hasn’t changed a bit, and his cocky attitude is still in effect as he stops in front of me, blocking my path. I try to keep my temper in check. “Hey Jessy, can you let me by?”
I think the fact that he cheated on me when we were dating and I didn’t throw a fit or beg him to take me back bothers him, because every time I see him, he wants to get in my face. “Hey Lila. How about me and you grab dinner after I win this thing?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I thought Ace was competing today.”
He shrugs, confused. “Yeah, he is.”
I nod and with a smirk, I shrug my shoulders. “Oh, well, I’m sure he’ll win it, but good luck anyway.”
I take a step around him and walk past as quickly as I can. I know Jessy, and once he’s made one pass at me, he won’t give up. My dad waves at me, and I wave back with a huge smile on my face. I grew up at rodeos and love the atmosphere. The cheering, the animals, the food, the comradery. All of it is amazing, but I especially love watching Ace perform. Nothing compares to that.
I start up the steps where Dad and Ace are sitting, but before I get close, Ace is up walking toward me with a scowl on his face. I’m taken aback because Ace has never looked at me like he is now, and it’s then that I realize Jessy is right behind me. Ace reaches for me and puts himself between Jessy and me. “What the fuck, Jessy? I thought I told you to stay the fuck away from Lila.”
Even though he says it low, everyone in the stands around us are staring, wondering what’s happening. It’s obviously a tense situation, and I step to the side and put my hand on Ace’s hard chest. “It’s fine. He’s not worth it.”
Ace looks at me, and just like every other time he’s looked at me, there’s a tremble that travels through my body. I try not to get this close to him because I know he’ll notice the effect he has on me. Ace covers my hand on his chest and holds it there. My eyes widen in surprise while his look hardens. “It’s not fine. He cheated on you, and that is not okay. He hurt you, and he’s lucky that I didn’t break his legs.” He drags his gaze from mine and looks at Jessy. “Back the fuck up, Jessy. I won’t ask you again.”