Summer Love by Piper Rayne

Chapter Four

I do want to flirt with you, Jewel. I want to do more than that.

Once again, Jewel found Bobby’s words running on repeat. He’d uttered those sentences four days ago, and fear had lodged in her chest. She’d wanted him to flirt with her, too. She wanted more than that, too.

But at what cost?

Or maybe there wouldn’t be a cost? Couldn’t they simply have a summer fling before he went back to Bria? She’d certainly crushed on him for long enough. Most girls would jump at the opportunity.

But she’d told him she needed to think about it.

She needed time to make sure she could handle it if it turned into more.

The last thing she wanted was to be hurt come the end of summer, and if any man was capable of hurting her, Bobby would be that person.

She’d given him her thoughts, then she’d suggested he find something else to do for the remainder of the day. He’d taken her suggestion, but at exactly six o’clock the following morning—and each subsequent morning thereafter—he’d reported in for “work.” And he’d also flirted each day. Not a lot, but enough to have her looking forward to whatever he might say next. Enough to have her tossing the occasional flirt back.

It had been a good week. A fun week. At least until today.

Bobby had been different today. They’d driven five hours in the truck together, not to mention loading and unloading the bulls, and there had been no easy banter. No teasing. In fact, he’d almost seemed aloof.

Had he changed his mind? Had Bria already gotten back under his skin?

Stepping from the building that housed the public showers, she pushed her wet hair back from her face and headed toward the camping area to find out. During rodeo season, the entire group who made up the sport became more family than individual. Stock contractors, bull riders, bull fighters, as well as spouses and kids often hung out together in the evenings, and usually even camped together. She and Bobby had only three bulls with them that weekend, so they’d brought the trailer that had a separate living space. It contained two beds, each in its own room, and she had absolutely no idea how the night might go.

“Rolls Royce,” one of the riders called out as she returned to camp. Several others sent up a cheer.

She grinned. “You got that right.” Rolls was unridden this season, and every rider there both wanted to draw his name, for a potential higher score, and dreaded having to ride him.

She lowered to the tree stump next to Bobby, the soft cotton of the leggings she’d changed into rubbing against his rougher jeans as she settled into place, and without a word, he handed over a block of wood and a knife.

Comfort eased through her. This was how they’d spent evenings the summer before. Bobby had taught her how to hand carve several animals throughout those weeks, and while the group chatted and wound down from the days, she and Bobby whittled.

“I’d forgotten about this.” She spoke softly, for his ears only. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

The simple words, spoken in his low, slightly gruff voice, sent goosebumps skittering over her body. “Did I miss anything while I was gone?”

Bobby nodded toward Nick and the woman now curled up at his side. “Betsy showed up.”

Betsy was a buckle bunny well known in the Montana rodeo world.

“Good for him.” As she said the words, she glanced back over at Bobby, and it was as if that moment at the cherry festival was happening all over again. The moment when she’d first thought he wanted to kiss her. He didn’t look away; she held her breath. She wanted this man to kiss her. She wanted to do more.

But then he blinked, and the moment was gone.

“I’ve got to tell you something.” His tone sounded shameful, and his eyes went blank, and she immediately nodded.

Here it comes, she thought. He’s back with Bria.

Girding her emotions, and angry with herself for even thinking about sleeping with the man, she forced out her next words. “Tell me.” She’d known this would happen. Anger sliced through her.

But instead of replying, Bobby’s still-vacant gaze slipped past hers, and when it landed on something behind her and then locked on tight, the back of her neck began to itch. What was she missing?

Turning, she scanned the area. “What is it?”

“Easup,” he muttered beside her. “He’s a fucking asshole.”

Jewel’s eyes popped. Bobby rarely cursed.

After firing a glance back at Bobby, she studied Easup. One of the other stock contractors, Adrien Easup, stood on the opposite side of the campfire, a beer in one hand and a self-sure grin on his mouth. He spoke with one of the older riders, wearing the air of confidence she often associated with him. And he had reason to be confident. He’d had the best bulls in the business for the last several years. That was due only to the rough patch the Double B had gone through, of course. Before that, Bobby’s dad had always run neck and neck with Easup, sometimes easing ahead of the other man, other times falling behind. It had been years of healthy competition, but if ever there were a nemesis to the Double B, Adrien Easup was it.

She turned back to Bobby.

“Let’s walk.” He rose, holding a hand down for her, and she took it without question.

“What’s going on?” she asked the minute she was on her feet.

Bobby didn’t reply. He simply led them away. Once they’d put a hundred feet between them and the rest of the group, he finally released her. But he didn’t look her way.

“Bobby?” Worry settled inside her. “What is it? What happened?”

He pulled off the hat he’d worn all week and ran a hand through his hair. And as he did, he stared over her shoulder as if once again seeking out the man in question. She peeked back at Easup, as well.

“What did he do?” she demanded, and when she turned back, cold eyes finally latched on to hers. She’d never seen Bobby so angry.

“He made an offer to buy the Double B.”