Page 19 of Lost Trust

Blaze Cassel is the exception.

He’s a prick.

He can turn on the charm for the cameras, and the teeny-boppers in the stands lose their minds the second he flashes those dimples. But behind the polished facade is a man who cares more about his image than the sport, and he couldn’t give two shits about the riders beside him or the next generation of kids watching him, hoping to follow in his boots.

I look away, hoping he doesn’t notice us.

Unfortunately, he does.

“Well, well.” His expensive-looking boots scrape against the pavement as he saunters over. “Look what we got here.”

You can tell a lot about a cowboy by his boots.

I keep my eyes on the road ahead, willing Ax to hurry his ass up.

“Morning, Blaze.”

“Still sore?” he asks.

My jaw tightens. “Sore?”

“That I came out on top again last night,” he says, and his hand slides down the blonde’s side and cups her ass.

Yesterday flashes through my head—Blaze beat me for third, by the skin of his damn teeth, and he knows exactly why.

“Pretty sure Ax is the one who came out on top,” I remind him.

“That he did,” he says. “This time.”

“Right,” I bite out.

“I’m coming for him next year. And with Bryce out of the way—”

I cut my eyes to him. “What?”

“I have no doubt that championship will be mine.”

I laugh. Actually laugh out loud.

His grin falters.

“Eh, don’t worry. Third place still pays pretty good,” he says. “I should know.”

He slaps my upper back, causing a sharp pain to shoot down my arm.

I bite down hard on the curse rising in my throat.

“Yeah, my bull was meaner.”

He shrugs. “Just because you like to pick the rankest bulls doesn’t make you better, just means you have a death wish,” he says.

“Yeah, well, anyone can pick the easy bulls. Give the crowd a pretty ride,” I say, turning to face him. “You might win some money playing it safe, but nobody’s gonna remember your name. And we all know that tears you up.”

I watch in satisfaction as his face turns red.

Jovie shifts beside me, and Blaze’s attention slides toward her.

“Well, hello there.”