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Addie slows Dusty near the exit and looks toward the fence. It only takes a second for her gaze to lock with mine. I lift both hands in the air, grinning like a fucking idiot.
Her smile when she sees me makes something pull tight in my chest, so I do the only natural thing possible and yank my shirt up to flash her my abs.
She rolls her eyes, but I catch the smile spreading across her face as she turns Dusty toward the wind-down pen.
Satisfied with myself, I turn back toward the arena and watch the next racer. As she flies through the barrels, it occurs to me that not too long ago I probably would’ve been more focused on the way her ass bounced in the saddle than anything else. But I don’t even notice. Hell, I don’t even look. Instead, I’m watching her technique, picking apart her turns and comparing every one of them to Addie’s far superior run. It’s not even fucking close.
While I watch the next few girls run, I go over everything we still need to do before we head out this afternoon. Instead of staying through Sunday or Monday morning, like we normally do, we’ve decided to make the drive back into Wyoming earlier than planned. It’s roughly five hours to Casper for the next rodeo stop, but we’re taking a small detour along the way.
There’s an overlook about halfway between here and Casper that’s isolated and perfect for camping. It’s only accessible by a two-hour hike, but Addie will appreciate the views along the way, especially with all the opportunities she’ll have to pull out her camera. When I first suggested it, I expected her to say no. I know how closely she likes to stick to her training schedule, but after I showed her some photographs from a solo trip I took up there a few years ago, she surprised me by being almost as excited about it as I am.
So while Addie was getting ready for her run today, I spent most of the morning packing up camp. I’ve got the tent and air mattress ready for the hike, along with a small bag of supplies, and we found a reputable place nearby to board Dusty overnight. The plan is to haul out this afternoon, drop him off, and spend the night in a cheap hotel I booked, then head up the mountain first thing tomorrow. Nothing fancy. Just somewhere to crash for the night.
Although, if I’m being honest, I’m not sure whether I’m more excited about the hike or having Addie in an actual bed where I don’t have to worry about cracking my head on the ceiling every time we try to change positions. Who am I kidding? I’m looking forward to both. The things I want to do to that woman—and the different ways I want to do them—would probably make her blush if I said them out loud.
Actually, knowing Addie, she probably has a few ideas of her own.
It’s that thought that has me turning toward the rodeo office. The last barrel racer has finished, which means Addie should be collecting her check by now. Suddenly, I’m very fucking eager to get on the road and check into that hotel sooner rather than later.
I’m approaching the front entrance when I hear my name called behind me.
“Walker! Hold up.”
I spin on my heel in the dirt and turn to come face-to-face with Cole. Fuck me. I was having a good day. “Cole. Surprised to see you here. Figured you had a ranch empire to run instead of sitting around at a rodeo in Colorado.”
He grins at me like he can’t even hear the condescension in my voice. That’s clearly a Maddox superpower.
“Had a business conference to attend. Figured I’d stop in, check on my circuit team, see how things are going.” He nods toward the arena. “Dawson did good out there today.”
“She sure did.” I can’t help the note of pride in my voice or the smile that comes with it.
Just then, Addie passes us on her way toward the rodeo office. She glances over long enough to give me a small smile, and without even thinking about it, I watch her go. My eyes stay on her a second longer than they probably should before I finally turn back to Cole.
He’s watching me now, one eyebrow raised like he just figured something out. “So,” he says, dragging the word out, “when did you start fucking Dawson’s sister?”
My jaw locks, and before I’ve even decided to move, I’m a step closer to him. The way he says fucking, like Addie’s just some random piece of ass, drags something primal and protective out of me.
Cole’s grin only widens. He holds both hands up between us. “Calm down, Walker. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“I’m not worried about you keeping my secrets.” I spit back at him.
“No?” His eyes flick briefly over my shoulder before settling back on me. “That’s interesting, considering how many secrets I already keep for you.” His mouth tips into a grin. “But then again, we’re business partners now. Partners keep each other’s secrets, right?”
“Business partners?” Addie’s voice comes from behind me, and my stomach drops.
I turn my head just enough to see her standing a few feet away, her face suddenly unreadable. When I look back at Cole, a small, satisfied smile has spread across his face.
Son of a bitch! I really do have the worst fucking luck. “Addie—”
She walks between us, putting a hand up in my face to silence me before turning her attention back to Cole. “Not now.”
Contrary to popular belief, I do know when to shut up, so I don’t say another word as she steps closer to him, hands planted on her hips and so much controlled anger in her expression that I almost pity the man.
“What do you want, Cole? I may not know you well, but I know enough about you to know you don’t do anything out of the kindness of your heart.”
“It’s the bulls, Addie,” I confess. I don’t fucking care if he tells her everything else now. I was already planning on telling her myself. Eventually. Probably. “He supplies the stock, fronts some of the money, and takes a cut.”
Cole shoots me a glare, but I don’t give a shit.
