Taming a Texas Rascal (Bad Boy Ranch #6) - Katie Lane Page 0,5
up his hands. “Fine. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, Little Girl. But I just don’t think women should waste anyone’s time by trying to ride broncs or bulls. And I have a twenty that says you won’t even last two seconds today.”
Before she could take the bet, Sawyer turned to her. “Today? You’re riding today?”
“I am if you don’t get me taken off the roster for starting a fist—” She didn’t get to finish before Sawyer picked up her saddle and grabbed her arm, pulling her over to the stock pens.
“What has gotten into you?” She jerked away. “Are you drunk again? If you are, you might want to think about rehab. One night of tequila is one thing. Drowning in it every day is another.”
“I’m not drunk.” He tossed her saddle over the railing of the stock pen. “As much as I hate to agree with Rowdy, I think you riding today is a bad idea.”
“So he was right. You don’t think women belong in roughstock.”
“Not for the reasons you think. Women can ride just as well as men—if they get the same opportunities. We both know women haven’t been given those opportunities. Your women’s bronc riding association is a great organization, but it just started. It doesn’t have the money professional rodeo has. Money that can get the best bucking horses in the business.“
“Are you saying I’ve been riding pretty ponies, Sawyer Dawson?”
“Of course not. I haven’t seen any of your rides. But I’m sure the horses aren’t tame by any means.”
Her eyes narrowed. “They just don’t give the same quality ride as your broncs.”
“Now don’t go getting your back up, Maisy. I’m just worried about you.”
If she had a nickel for every person who was worried about her, she’d be filthy rich. “Don’t worry about me, rodeo bum. Worry about your ego when I beat your score.”
He released his breath in a frustrated sigh. “Look, I didn’t come looking for a discussion about the gender inequalities of saddle bronc riding. I came to . . .” He glanced around before he leaned closer.
He smelled good—something she had noticed that morning when she woke sprawled across his warm, naked chest with her face buried in the spot where his neck and shoulder meet. She had helped herself to a few good inhales of clean soap, saddle leather, and rodeo horse. It was a heady concoction. Even now she felt a little lightheaded as she breathed him in. It didn’t help that his eyes, the color of the grayish blue sky right before sunrise, seemed to stare right through her.
“Are you on birth control?” he asked in a low whisper.
She blinked, not sure she’d heard him right. “Excuse me?”
“Birth control? Do you take the pill . . . or use something?”
She finally recognized the look in his eyes. Fear. The truth behind the fear and his question hit her. He was terrified he had gotten her pregnant. It was a terrifying thought. She loved kids, but she certainly wasn’t ready for them. She had too many goals she wanted to achieve first. Becoming the best saddle bronc rider in the world was top on the list. She couldn’t reach that goal if she took time out to have kids. Which was why it was a good thing she didn’t have to worry about being pregnant.
She and Sawyer hadn’t had sex. All they’d shared was one steamy kiss in the hotel elevator. When they got to his room, he’d passed out cold. Since she’d been a little drunk herself, she’d joined him in bed. Or maybe she’d just been hoping to finish what they’d started in the morning.
Ever since first seeing him ride, she’d had a little crush on Sawyer Dawson. At Dixie and Lincoln’s wedding, the crush had turned into more of an infatuation. He’d been charming and mouth-wateringly sexy in his black groomsman’s tuxedo. They had sat next to each other at the wedding party table and talked rodeo and flirted outrageously.
She would’ve gone to bed with him that night if he hadn’t disappeared from the reception early. Since then, he’d avoided her. When she’d discovered him drinking tequila in the hotel bar, she thought it was her chance to fulfill her fantasy and get her infatuation with Sawyer out of her system. Even after his reaction at finding her in his shower, she still couldn’t help the attraction she felt for him. And it ticked her off. Not just at herself, but at him.