Ride Rough - Tessa Layne Page 0,57

turned sly. "But talking to them always helps. I'll leave you alone."

Trace lifted a hand as Jaxon took off toward the other end of the Strong City rodeo arena and the building where the traditional Friday night cowboy dance was taking place. He'd be along soon enough. Cecilia was waiting there for him, but after yesterday's events, he needed to think. He wasn't exactly having second thoughts about selling his house - once he made up his mind, that was that. No looking back. But in the cold light of day with his dick safely tucked away, he wondered what selling would mean for his career? If he left Hollywood, he was as good as admitting he was done forever, wasn't he? There were certainly plenty of people who would cheer if that happened.

What if he pursued a future with Cecilia... were they doomed from the start? And not just because he'd hidden his identity? He couldn't imagine her approving of his old life, or wanting to be a part of it. One thing was certain, he had to come clean. There was no way she'd run for the paparazzi like Portia predicted. He'd bet his entire bank account on it. But that didn't mean she wouldn't push him away, either. He was more afraid of that. But when? And how? And if he walked away from Hollywood for good, what would he do? He didn't know how to do anything else. He wasn't very handy, and he was too old to make a career out of bull riding, exhilarating as it was. He stared at the bull slowly munching his cud. "What do you think, big guy? What would you do?"

At the far end of the row stood a solitary figure he immediately recognized as belonging to Ty Sloane - one of the greats - who was back in Prairie of all places, working toward making a comeback. He felt a kinship with Ty he didn't with the other guys. Probably something to do with the fact that Ty'd fallen from grace. But in Ty's case, he wasn't hiding from it. He'd picked himself up and was living his life again - and fuck anyone who judged him for it. "Ty? Is that you?" He edged closer still giving the legend a little breathing room. "Everything okay?"

Ty shook his head. “Pre-ride jitters, I guess.”

“You? Really?” Trace asked, shocked. “I never would’ve guessed a legend like you got nervous.”

Ty grinned. “Surprise. I always made sure to visit the pens before a ride. You know, to size up the competition.”

“Right? Seems like a good place to get your head on straight."

“That, too. Bulls don’t sass back.”

Trace laughed quietly, thoughts immediately turning to Cecilia. “They’re uncomplicated. Predictable.”

“You're right about the uncomplicated part. But don’t be lulled into thinking they’re predictable. Just like a woman, as soon as you think you’ve figured out a bull, they’ll do the last thing you expect. Ignore that, and you’ll end up ass over teakettle faster than you can blink.”

“Sounds like you’ve got lady problems,” Trace said with a grin.

“Don’t we all?” Ty answered with a chuckle.

Trace nodded his agreement. "Always.” Although he doubted Ty's life was anywhere near as complicated as his.

“Wanna talk about it?” Ty offered.

Trace cocked his head, ready to decline. What could Ty possibly know about the whirlwind swirling in his head right now? On the other hand, this was the first time any of the guys he knew had cared enough to talk about something deeper than platitudes. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, anything.”

“How do you guys manage? With the constant work and the travel? How does anyone survive?”

“A relationship? Or life?”

Trace shrugged. “Both, I guess.”

“I’ll answer the life part first,” Ty began. “Most of us ended up here because it’s our heritage. We didn’t necessarily choose it — although most of us can’t imagine our lives without it.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Well, you know Cody and Colt. Their families have been ranching in this area for close to one-hundred-fifty years. Ranching… farming. It’s in our blood. Most of us are born into it and will die doing it. It’s… just the way it is for us. And we’re proud of it.”

“You too?”

Ty shrugged. “More or less. I grew up in the Rocky Mountains. Ranching was a way of life for my people, but my immediate family… struggled,” he admitted after a pause. “So for me, rodeo saved me. It was an escape. But I’ll go back to ranching eventually. And probably keep