Rough Stock (Lost Creek Rodeo #3) - Heather B. Moore Page 0,15
hat and set it atop his head. Habit whenever the sun was shining.
Silvia’s gaze followed his movement, and he was pretty sure he saw a smirk flash across her face, but he wasn’t about to question her about it.
“You want a ride back to Kellie’s?” he asked. “I’m heading to her brother’s to get in a shower, and maybe some grub if I’m lucky.”
Silvia seemed to hesitate, then she eyed Maggie—who was still on her best behavior.
“I wasn’t quite finished with my run,” Silvia said, “but now that I’m cooled down, I think I’ll take you up on that offer.”
Westin headed around to the passenger side and opened the door for her.
Surprise flashed in her eyes, and Westin had to admit that he was surprised himself. Not for being a gentleman, but making things a bit more formal.
But she headed toward him, and he had to try not to stare at her too much. Her close proximity was making his pulse jump and collide as if he had a dang roller coaster inside of him.
Once she settled into the seat, he shut the door, then walked around to the driver’s side.
“Behave yourself, Maggie,” he said before swinging up in the truck and starting the engine. As he drove slowly along the bumpy field to the road that would take them back to the Prospers’ property, Westin ventured to ask, “How did you come across Maggie in the first place?”
Silvia was looking out her window, and she glanced over at him before answering. “Oh, I always go running in the morning. Probably my one saving grace. And I thought it would be quaint to cut across this field, so I climbed over the fence. ‘Maggie’ seemed to be sleeping. Until she wasn’t.”
Westin kept his laugh to himself. It might be too soon to tease Silvia about the incident. She’d been clearly distressed. But something she’d said had caught his attention.
“What do you mean, running is your only saving grace?”
“That’s a question you’ll have to ask my brother, Mr. Cowboy.”
Silvia saw how the edge of Westin’s mouth curved when she called him Mr. Cowboy. Not that she was noticing. Maybe she was. She’d noticed quite a few things about him this morning.
One minute, she was sprinting toward a red truck in the middle of a field, hoping to deter the hyper horse chasing her, and the next, she was watching “Mr. Cowboy” literally take over the care of that horse. Deftly. With skill. Like he did it every day. Which he probably did.
For a man who’d slept under his truck, literally, and who hadn’t showered or had his breakfast, Westin was still a fine specimen of a man, somehow.
Oh, yes, she’d noticed when she’d met him yesterday. He was all rugged charisma and could calm down a heated argument between siblings, while at the same time share a bit of his heart. When he talked about his dad, it only made her more curious about Westin. Where was he from? Had he always been a cowboy? Had he always wanted to ride bulls?
She hadn’t missed that detail, nope.
It fit him, she supposed. Not that she knew any other bull riders. She’d been to one of those indoor rodeo events once. Years ago. Axel had been hooked up with top-notch seats, and they’d gone as a family. About all Silvia could remember about it was feeling angst the entire time, since Vince had broken up with her that same day.
She’d felt wrecked and like an empty shell. Sure, there were always other fish—or guys—in the sea, but she’d been head over heels in love with Vince. Or so she’d thought. Now, she didn’t even know her own mind anymore, let alone her own emotions.
Because how could she be here in teeny, tiny, Podunk Lost Creek, Texas, and be attracted to a cowboy who had grass stains on his worn jeans from sleeping in the field?
She almost laughed at her ridiculous thoughts, but thankfully choked it back. Westin Farr might as well be an astronaut trapped on the moon for all the things they had in common. Which was nothing. But he had a deep soul—and maybe that’s why she was sneaking glances over at him even now. He’d gone through the loss of a dad he’d been really close to. Not that Silvia knew what it was like to have a close relationship with a father, but she was close to her mother.