Summer Love by Piper Rayne

Chapter Nine

Cheers rose from the crowd as bull and rider shot from the chute. It was the last night of the competition, and Jewel stood on the sidelines fighting the urge to cry. This would likely be her last night as a part of the Double B, too. Mrs. Brandon hadn’t announced the family’s decision yet, but when Jewel made her pitch the week before, Bobby’s mom had told her that Easup had already upped his offer. It came in slightly higher than hers, but the more important aspect of his offer was that if Rolls Royce remained unridden tonight, Easup would toss in a twenty percent bonus.

Who wouldn’t take that?

And granted, it was possible that Rolls wouldn’t pull it off. Nick Wilde had drawn Rolls, and Nick had been on fire lately. Which meant . . . she’d be rooting for Nick, whether that made her a bad stock contractor or not.

The rider went flying, and the crowd groaned.

“That was six point eight seconds, folks. Not quite enough to beat Urban Legend!” the announcer shouted.

After the bull fighters kept the animal from stomping on the rider, the bull left through the gate, and Jewel’s nerves inched higher. Four more before Nick and Rolls were up. They would be the last of the night.

However the evening ended, though, she wouldn’t be looking for a new job tomorrow. She’d made that decision over the last couple of weeks, as well. She no longer wanted to work for another owner. She might be young, but she was good. And she knew it. If she didn’t get the Double B, she was prepared to strike out on her own now. Not wait until she was thirty. Her parents were on board with that plan, as well, and were prepared to support her any way they could.

She caught sight of Leon farther down the railing and offered a tight smile. She’d left him to handle most everything this weekend, as she’d been a nervous wreck. He understood the gravity of the situation and was prepared to move on if he had to. But like her, he would prefer to stay with the Double B, as well.

The next bull charged from the gate, and the crowd rose to their feet. This rider was a top contender and stood an excellent chance of winning the weekend.

Eight seconds passed, the buzzer sounded, and the cowboy jumped free.

Jewel smiled and blew out the breath she’d been holding, her adrenaline pumping. She loved a good ride. She also really liked this guy. He was older than some of the others but hadn’t yet lost his touch.

She glanced down the line of chutes and wiped her palms over the front of her jeans. Crawley was next.

Her heart hammered even harder. They were inching closer to Nick.

It took a couple of minutes for Crawley’s form to emerge from the huddle of riders, but his lanky body finally appeared, confidently climbing the rungs of the back gate. As he braced himself on either side of the bull, someone stepped to her side, but she didn’t look over. She assumed it was either another rider or stock contractor, anxious to see how the night would end. However, when a hand she recognized rested on the top railing, her gaze darted to her right.

Blue eyes stared back at her.

“Bobby.” She said his name as if he were the last person she’d expected to see tonight. And he was.

“You were right.” He didn’t bother with a greeting. “I can’t give up carving. That’s a part of who I am.”

She sucked in a quick breath. Well, at least one good thing had come from their time together. “I’m glad to hear it. I think that’s a healthy decision.”

She turned back to the action instead of saying anything more, her nerves pinching even tighter. Her heart thundered. Why was he there? She didn’t want to ask for fear the answer wouldn’t be what she wanted to hear—she didn’t know what she wanted to hear! And she also didn’t want to risk reaching for him and admitting how much she’d missed him these past two weeks.

He hadn’t called. Not that she’d expected him to. But she’d found that she had wanted him to.

She’d also wanted to tell him she’d been wrong. That she would wait for him. But she’d stuck to her guns, reminding herself that she wouldn’t compete with Bria. She wouldn’t be second choice.

“I also talked to Mom this week.”

She flinched. Crap. Was that why he was there? Because his mom had seen the piece he’d made?

Crawley’s gate flew open before she could come up with a reply, and the noise level precluded them being able to speak. She had eight seconds to gather her thoughts.

Eight seconds before she had to face him.

Bobby had clearly come to get something off his chest, so she’d let him do it. But she certainly hoped he wasn’t about to lay into her for his mom seeing his gift. That hadn’t been on her.

Once Crawley finished his ride—staying on for the full eight seconds—she took a moment to drag in a deep breath and lock down her emotions. She then turned to Bobby. There were two more riders before Nick. Hopefully, Bobby could say his piece and be on his way in that amount of time.

“I’m sorry if your mom seeing your gift upset you.” She stared into eyes now burning with such intensity it almost set her back on her heels. She didn’t let the look sway her, though. “I asked for a meeting, and she happened to see it in my office.”

“That’s fine. I wouldn’t have given it to you if I hadn’t wanted it to be seen.”

“Then why are you here?”

She didn’t take her eyes off him. What could have possibly been worth several hours of travel to seek her out?

And then a thought occurred. Had he been sent to tell her they were selling to Easup?

Her stomach dropped.

“The fact is,” Bobby went on, not answering her question, “I should have showed my work to Mom before. To Dad, too. I should have shown them everything I’ve ever made.”

She didn’t disagree. “So, why didn’t you?”

The vehemence in his gaze flickered for an instant, and his Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. “I didn’t because I wanted to make them proud.”

His words made no sense, so she didn’t reply. She waited.

He finally lifted his shoulders. “I know it might sound lame, but I’ve watched my parents support each other all my life. I wanted that kind of pride from them, as well.”

“And what?” She still didn’t get it. “Woodworking isn’t something to be proud of?” With his skill?

His brows shot up. “A career in the arts, you mean?”

“Ah.”The answer finally clicked. “The arts isn’texactly a guaranteed moneymaker, is it?” It wouldn’t be the “provider” occupation he’d always envisioned himself holding. It wouldn’t guarantee that he, alone, could take care of a wife and family.

“All I’ve ever wanted is someone to look at me the way they looked at each other.”

“And let me guess.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Bria looks at you that way?”

Annoyance flickered over his face. “I’m not here to talk about Bria.”

“Then I ask again . . . what are you here for?”

The crowd cheered, but she didn’t look around. She didn’t care how the rider did. She wanted to know what this conversation was actually about. And then she wanted to get on with her life, to find herself a piece of land and start her own company.

And she wanted to try to get over Bobby Brandon once and for all.

But then Bobby took her hand in his . . . and it felt so danged good.

“Jewel.”The intensity was back. “I’m tying to pour my heart out here. Would you please let go of that chip on your shoulder for one minute and listen?”

Tears threatened. That fast, and with one touch, and she was about to bawl like a baby. She loved this man too much, and she’d screwed up by walking away and not agreeing to keep trying. She wanted to tell him all of that. Tell him that she’d look for land near Missoula. She didn’t have to work out of Birch Bay. She wanted to be with him. But did he still want to be with her?

“Jewel,” he said again, and she realized she hadn’t answered him.

She blinked to hold back the tears. “I’m listening. You have one rider left, and then we have to pay attention. Nick is riding Rolls tonight.”

His lips curved at that, and she almost leaned into him.

“Mom came down last week and brought some of my pieces with her,” he told her. “She also brought a whole heck of a lot of attitude. She couldn’t believe I’ve never shown her any of that.”

Jewel opened her mouth to add her two cents, but Bobby put a finger to her lips.

“I always thought following in Mom’s footsteps would make them more proud. Doing anything with a solid career path. Dad had been the best, even before he started the Double B—and I couldn’t ride a bull for anything—and Mom is top of her field. My brother and sister . . . they kill it in their careers. So whittling wood?” He shook his head. “But Mom had that look in her eyes when she came to see me. The one I’d thought she reserved only for Dad.”

A tear escaped.

“She made me see that I’ve been living with a high school ‘dream’ that I never moved past.”

His finger on her lips turned less pressing and more caressing.

“Bria and I came up with a plan years ago. And it was a good one. I thought it was what I wanted. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of the real goal. A person’s path should be about living. About finding who they are. What makes them happy. And who makes them happy.”

“And Bria—”

“Stop.” Anger fired through his eyes. “Don’t you dare say her name again. You know she isn’t who makes me happy. Are you just trying to piss me off? It’s you, Jewel. You see me. You get me. And I get you too, dammit. Bria and I were done long before you and I ever got together, even if it took me until this week to realize just how long ago that was. We talked when she came over. We were both stuck in the past. Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. So, don’t say her name again. You’re my person. You see me for who I am. You love me for who I am.”

He finally quit talking, and she didn’t know what to say. She just stood there in shock.

Noises filtered in from the crowd, but she couldn’t pull her gaze from Bobby’s. He slid his finger from where it remained over her lips and squeezed her hand in his. “Please tell me you still love me,” he whispered. “That I’m not too late. I know you planned to come home and get over—”

“Stop.” Her mind spun in circles. “Just stop. Of course, I still love you. Are you crazy? I’ve loved you my whole life. How could I stop in two weeks?”

A smiled cracked over his face.

“And I’ll even wait for you, too,” she hurried to say. She didn’t want to hold anything back. And she wouldn’t mess up this second chance. “We can do the long-distance thing. Or I’ll move to Missoula. I’m going to start my own stock contracting company. I can do that from anywhere.”

Confusion wrinkled his brow. “I don’t want to do long distance. Are you not hearing what I’m telling you?”

She stopped talking. What had she’d missed?

“I’m moving back to Birch Bay, Jewel. Actually, I already have. That’s why I was so late getting here. I quit school, and I moved all my things back home today. I’m going to sink or swim with my wood carving.”

She blinked, unsure she’d heard correctly. And then she heard Nick’s name being announced. “Rolls is up!”

She turned back to the arena just in time to see Nick give the nod. This was it. Either she lost the Double B right now, or an inkling of hope could remain.

The clock counted up, and Rolls bucked. But Nick held on.

Bobby slipped his hand down to clasp hers, and she gripped it as if she’d drown without his touch. And she just might. She loved this man. And though he had yet to say it, she was pretty sure he loved her, too.

At seven point nine seconds Nick lost his grip, and she groaned right along with the crowd. Her shoulders hunched forward. The bonus had just kicked in.

“There was one other thing I came here to tell you, Jewel.”

She looked over at Bobby, the impact of her loss grounding her. Everything but Bobby blurred. Movement in her peripheral vision seemed to shift into slow motion.

“We can’t go with either of your options,” Bobby said, and she nodded robotically. She got it. She’d lost the Double B.

“I know,” she forced out. “You’re selling to Easup. You just made a lot of money.”

“No. We’re not selling to Easup.” Bobby didn’t look away, and she scrunched her eyes as her brain tried to catch up with his words. He wasn’t making sense. “But we did create an option three,” he told her.

The words took a minute to sink in. But when they did, a flicker of hope flared deep. She stood a little taller. “An option three?”

Was their option three something that would allow her to remain a part of the Double B?

She held her breath. “What is it?” she whispered.

Reaching for her other hand, Bobby turned her so that she faced him head on. And the most joyful look shone back at her. “Mom is splitting her portion of the business between us kids. Three ways. But neither Brady nor Brooklyn want to stay in, Jewel. They want to sell to you.”

She replayed the words to make sure she’d heard them correctly, and then her heart rate sped up. “They do?” She bit her lip in anticipation.

“Yes. But I’m keeping my third.” Bobby’s eyes grew serious. “I’m not ready to give up Dad’s legacy. That said . . . I’m hoping that if I’m a silent partner, you’ll still consider buying us out. Two-thirds for you, one for me. You’ll have complete control.”

Fireworks exploding inside her couldn’t have been more shocking. She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

“It’s really mine?” she said.

“It’s two-thirds yours. If you want it. But it does come with one stipulation.”

She nodded. She could handle whatever stipulation they might have, because doing so would mean she got to keep Rolls and Death. And all the other bulls she’d been a part of. It would mean that she wouldn’t have to start all over.

Staring up at him, almost too excited to form words, she asked, “What’s the stipulation?”

“That you let me love you.”

Her heart squeezed at the words. And then the most amazing feeling of warmth spread through her.

“That’s all I ask,” Bobby went on. “That you let me love you. I’m going to work on my art, live in Mom’s apartment until I can talk you into getting a place with me”—he squeezed her hands tight—“and I’m going to love you for as long as you’ll let me, Jewel.”

Her tears returned. “You really do love me?”

“Baby.” He wiped the moisture away with his thumbs. “I love you with every beat of my heart. How do you not know that already? And I’m going to keep loving you for the rest of my life.”

* * *

Ihope you enjoyed Jewel and Bobby’s story! If you’d like to read the epilogue (and see if Nick Wilde took top bull rider for the season!), click here to read it on my website.