Summer Love by Piper Rayne

Chapter Seven

Holy hell.

Jewel gulped as she kept her gaze on Bobby, who was currently making his way through the crowd on the opposite side of the arena, food and drinks held above his head. He smiled at whatever someone said as he passed them, and her heart thudded a little harder. The man remained as hot today as the night he’d first bent her over the couch. And she had as big a crush on him now as ever.

Four weeks.

It has been four sexy, hot, sleep-deprived blissful weeks.

They’d been together every night since that first one, and she still couldn’t look at him without getting turned on. He was insane in bed.

No wonder Bria always came back. Hell, she probably would, too, if he’d let her.

She shook her head, knowing that wouldn’t be the case. They’d agreed that this was a summer fling, and no more. Exclusivity while it lasted, but once his stint in Birch Bay was over, they would go their separate ways. He had his future to focus on, after all. And she would have a new job to find.

She sighed. At least, she assumed she’d have to find a job. Rolls Royce remained unridden and Easup still got the look of a man who’d grabbed hold of a brass ring any time he caught sight of one of her bulls.

However. . . She’d been having thoughts.

Nothing she’d talked to Bobby about yet because she wasn’t sure she could pull it off, or if she wanted to. Or if he and his family would go for it if she did present her idea. But she’d definitely been having thoughts. And thoughts other than about what position they would try each night.

“Still ogling, I see.”

She jerked at the sound of Nick’s voice, then blushed bright as a tomato when she looked up at him.

“Damn,” he murmured. “That good, huh?”

She elbowed him in the chest. “You startled me.”

Nick knew that she and Bobby were together. Everyone knew it. They hadn’t made it a secret. But she also hadn’t talked about him with anyone. After all, they were just having a good time. She didn’t want to start thinking it could be more.

“This is his last night?”

She nodded. Everyone also knew that Bobby would be staying in Missoula tonight. School would start back the following week. The rodeo this weekend was in his own town, so instead of camping out with the rest of the group, he’d driven down separately, and they planned to stay in his apartment tonight. Then tomorrow, she would go home alone.

Her throat grew tight at the thought. It hadn’t just been sex these last four weeks. She’d gotten to know him better, too. They’d talked, they’d laughed. They’d even gone on dates.

Once she’d seen the type of carvings he really did, she’d refused to let him work with her during the week, instead insisting he take whatever time he needed to focus on his art. And in return, he’d occasionally let her watch him in action. Which had then led to even more sex.

The man was hot when he was focused.

Hot, period.

And sweet and kind. And simply a good guy.

Her throat ached with the need to shed tears.

“You going to be okay?” Nick asked, and she realized she’d disappeared into her own thoughts.

“Of course.” She forced a smile. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

She was going to miss Bobby like crazy.

“Oh, I don’t know. Because you’re in love with the man?”

She didn’t look at him. “Wrong. It’s just lust.”

“Uh-huh.”

He quit talking as the next rider readied to climb into the nearest chute. Both of them watched. James Crawley had drawn one of Easup’s bulls, and as he waited his turn, Jewel found herself seeking out Crawley’s girlfriend. Bria’s sister sat in the crowd, but thankfully Bria hadn’t come with her. That had been a worry for Jewel, especially since Bria lived here. After all, it seemed about time the other woman would decide to reel Bobby back in.

“For the record,” Nick whispered at her side, “I think he’s got it bad for you, too.”

She wiped an escaping tear away, but the lump in her throat remained.

“Are you really just going to let him go?”

“What choice do I have, Nick?” Her voice barely made it to her own ears, so she didn’t know if Nick heard her or not. But when he slipped an arm around her, she leaned into him. Yep. Walking away from Bobby was going to hurt.

Crawley gave a nod once he’d settled onto the bull, and as the gate opened, Nick’s arm fell away. They both leaned forward.

Eight seconds was all it took.

Eight seconds and eighteen-hundred pounds of muscle.

The numbers on the clock ticked off, and with just point three seconds to go, Crawley went down.

Nick blew out a shaky breath. “Dang. The man is too close for comfort.”

She patted him on the arm. “You’ve got this. It’s going to be your year.”

“I sure hope so.”

Circuit finals wouldn’t be until January, when Montana’s top riders would be crowned, but local competitions wrapped in two weeks. On Labor Day.

Which would be the same weekend she found out if she’d lost the Double B or not.

* * *

Gray light oozed around the edges of the blinds, letting Bobby know the forecast for the day had been correct. Cloudy and overcast. Just like his heart.

He glanced to the far side of the bed, careful not to disturb Jewel, to see that it was six fifteen. He would have to take her back to get the bulls soon. Only, he didn’t know how he was going to let her go.

He’d just had the best four weeks of his life. Spent those weeks with the only woman he could imagine ever being with again.

Jewel was special. And he would be a shell of himself without her.

But he didn’t know how to give them anything other than this last morning.

She stirred under the arm he’d slung over her, and he remained extra still. He was too raw for the day to begin. They hadn’t gotten back to his place until after midnight, and though they’d come together as if they’d been doing it for years, their time together hadn’t been enough.

Holding her now wasn’t enough.

When her breathing changed from deep to shallow, he lifted his head and looked down. Solemn eyes stared back, making him wonder if she was having any of the same thoughts as he.

“Make love to me again?” he whispered. He refused to say “one last time.” And when she nodded, he moved on top of her.

There were no sexual gymnastics this morning. No rush to reach orgasm.

They simply loved each other’s bodies as if this would be the last time.

Cupping her face in his hands as he rocked in and out of her, he kissed her deep and long. As always, she was hot and wet, her insides clinging to him as if unwilling to let go. And she fit him perfectly. He wanted to keep this moment forever.

With no idea what else to do, he showed her without words what she meant to him, and he got the same in return. But all too soon, it was over. The sun rose. A sliver of brightness crept through the otherwise gloomy morning. And they were finished.

“I’ve got to shower.” She spoke the words softly, rolling out of his arms at the same time.

Fifteen minutes later, she emerged from his bathroom, her hair wet and face impassive, and Bobby rose from the chair where he’d been waiting. He’d pulled his clothes from the night before back on, but hadn’t bothered to comb his hair.

She held up her cell. “I called for a car. You don’t have to take me.”

His heart cracked. “Why?” He was supposed to have fifteen more minutes.

“There’s no need to do this in front of other people, Bobby. We can say goodbye here.”

She stood before him, her features stoic, and he had a moment of uncertainty. Was this as hard on her as it was him? Or had he only imagined it?

He honestly didn’t know any longer.

Nodding, as if in agreement, and unsure what else to do, he took her bag and led her through the apartment. But when they made it the door, he didn’t open it. He just stood there. They couldn’t end like this. She was the only person who’d ever truly understood him. The one who saw that he wasn’t fully alive unless he was working with wood.

She’d encouraged him to spend time in his studio these last four weeks, and that single act meant more than anything. He had to make sure she knew that.

Before he could find the words, she took her bag and reached for the door.

“Don’t.” He pushed his palm to the door, slamming it closed the instant it opened.

She looked up at him.

“Don’t go, Jewel. Not like this. Let’s keep dating.”

“Bobby.” She didn’t say anything more. And she didn’t show any emotion.

His panic rose. “We’re great together. You have to see that.”

“I do see it. This has been a terrific few weeks. But this is what we agreed to.”

“Fuck what we agreed to. We can change our minds.”

She let out a short laugh. “And then what? We live over an hour from each other.”

“It’s just an hour.” He didn’t see what the big deal was. “We see each other on weekends. Whenever we can get away.”

“That won’t work.”

He smacked the door with his palm again, and she jumped. “Why won’t it work, Jewel? Was this honestly just sex for you?”

Her eyes took on an icy chill. “Don’t you dare insult me by asking that question.”

“You’re insulting me by walking away.” He pulled his hand down, telling himself to rein in his emotions. Anger wouldn’t solve anything. But anger was about all he had left. “We can make this work. You know we can. We’re only an hour apart.”

She let her bag drop to the floor then, and she took his hands in hers. A hint of softness finally appeared in her eyes. “You’ll be busy, Bobby. That’s the issue. Too busy for me.”

“I won’t.”

“You will. Wasn’t it you who told me that the one thing you hold so dear, your woodworking, would have to be put to the side while you go to school? Possibly until you retire?” The softness was replaced by the original stoicism. “Where do I fit into that scenario? If you did find time to drive an hour each direction, I’d rather you spend it in your workshop than with me. I don’t want you to lose that part of yourself.”

Her words made sense, but at the same time . . . And then he had the solution.

“Move down here with me.”

She looked stunned by his suggestion. “My job is—”

“Likely ending anyway.”

Though she recoiled at his harsh words, he kept going.

“I’m just saying, if Mom does sell . . .” He gripped her hands tight. “Then move here with me. You can find a job here. Every stock contractor in the state knows you. Anyone would hire you. I’ll go to school, you’ll work, then once I’ve graduated—”

She stopped him with fingers to his mouth. Her eyes remained blank. “That isn’t my dream, Bobby. It’s yours.” She pressed her lips together, her gaze dropping for a second and her fingers lowering. “It’s yours and Bria’s.”

He shook his head. He didn’t know what else to say.

“I’m not a replacement for the woman you’ve always wanted,” she told him, picking her bag back up off the floor. “I’m not a stand-in, and I refuse to ever be one. Also, I have my own plans for my life.”

“And what? Those plans can’t include me?”

Fire flashed in her eyes. “What they won’t include is me sitting around, waiting for you, only to see if you might someday still want me. Go back to Bria, Bobby. Live out the life you’ve always planned.”

Fury grew inside him. “Don’t do it, Jewel. Don’t walk out that door.”

“Or what?”

He shook his head. Too many years of letting Bria yank him back and forth finally caught up with him. “I’m not going to have another relationship that runs hot and cold. If you walk away now . . . I won’t be waiting for you if you change your mind.”

She laughed, the sound hitting him like a bucket of cold water. “I’m not asking you to wait for me, Bobby. This is not me suggesting a break. I’m saying that we’re done. We’ve run our course. I spent the last decade loving you. Ten years. While you’ve loved someone else. I’m not going home only to wonder every day if she’s back yet. If you’re still waiting for her. And I’m not giving up my own life to move down here and hope you choose me.” She hitched the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “I’m going home, and I’m finally going to move on. I’m going to stop loving you, once and for all.”

Her fingers wrapped around the doorknob, and he once again pressed his palm to the door. His movements were gentle this time, however. His mind reeled.

She loved him.

Yet, she was going to walk away and then quit loving him?

“Jewel—”

A knock sounded on the other side of the door, and both of them jumped. Then finality settled over the room.

“That’s my ride.” She didn’t look at him. “I have to go.”

And he knew that he had to let her go. Time was up. He’d tried. And he’d failed.

Reluctantly, he lowered his hand. Taking a step back, he showed her that she was free to go. He wouldn’t try to stop her. However, when she pulled the door open, it wasn’t her car driver waiting on the other side of it. It was Bria.

Jewel’s gaze whipped back to him, and he saw the crack. The stoicism she’d been holding on to since walking out of his bathroom had fled. She was broken inside.

“Jewel”—he shook his head—“don’t. Let me call you next week. Let’s—”

“He’s all yours,” she said to Bria. Then she walked out of his life.