Champion (Studs in Spurs) (15 page)

“Yeah, about that. You got me in trouble.” She lifted her head and he saw the humor in her expression.

“I did? How?”

“He’s suspicious of us now. You knew too much, and since I hadn’t told him we were seeing so much of each other, never mind doing anything else together, he thought it was odd. He suspects.”

Cooper shrugged. “So? Is that a problem?”

“That my son could guess I’m having sex?” Her eyes widened as she hissed out the last word, as if Skeeter would be able to hear if she said it too loudly. “Yes. It is a problem.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction. “Well, you’d better get over it. I don’t intend on hiding our relationship from anybody, particularly not the most important person in your life. He’s a grown man. He’ll deal with it.”

She looked so horrified at the concept. Cooper smiled as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. “It’ll be okay. Besides, even if we don’t tell him, he’ll figure it out eventually. The minute he sees us together at the bull-riding clinic.”

Hannah pulled back. “What bull-riding clinic?”

“I had an idea. It seems I was a pretty good teacher way back when. I thought maybe I could be again. I called Skeeter on my drive over here to see what he thought about it, and he thinks it’s a good idea.”

“So do I. You were an amazing teacher.”

Cooper shrugged. “I don’t know about that, but good enough people might be willing to come if I set up some classes. Skeeter said he’d help me out if I set up a group class on a day he wasn’t competing. Like an intensive weekend, maybe once a month.”

Her smile spread wide. “I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

He waited for the fear to grip him. Her having such blind faith in him had sent him running from her years ago. There was still the residual fear of failure, but it wasn’t enough to turn him away from his end goal. In fact, it made him want it all the more.

“Thanks, Hannah. That means a lot.”

“And maybe I could help too. All those bull riders will be hungry. I could make a big pot of chili—”

Cooper laughed. “I know you could. That would be great.”

He realized nothing had seemed great to him in a very long time, but now it seemed he couldn’t stop smiling, laughing. If he didn’t watch it, he might become a damn optimist like Hannah, and maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

“I have some news too.”

“Do you? Tell me.”

“Skeeter called right before I pulled in the driveway to ask if he could have his grandma’s diamond ring.”

Cooper’s eyes widened. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

“That he’s asking Riley to marry him?” Hannah drew in a breath and let it out. “Yup.”

He glanced down at her. “How you feel about that?”

“I was surprised, and God, I hope he’s not too young and making a mistake, but I think I’m okay with it.”

“It was kind of out of the blue. She’s not…”

“Pregnant? No. I hated doing it, but I bit the bullet and asked him flat out. He said no.”

“And you believe him?” Cooper didn’t know shit about raising a child, but he did know how males thought. He doubted Skeeter would willingly tell his mother he’d knocked up his girlfriend.

“I do believe him.” She laughed. “Mostly because he never could lie to me. Even over the phone he’s no good at it.”

“A’ight then.” He dipped his head in a nod. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

“That if they do get married, I could easily be a grandmother very soon?”

“You’d be the hottest grandmother I’ve ever seen, so don’t sound so miserable about it.” He squeezed her shoulder. “But, no, I was going to say this means with Skeeter settled and happy, you get to work on doing the same for yourself.”

“Settled and happy.” Hannah blew out a laugh. “I’m not sure I can say I’ve ever been both at once.”

“Yeah. Me either.”

“Think it’s possible?” she asked.

Cooper figured if it was, it would be possible with her. “I’m up for the challenge. You?”

“Yeah.”

Epilogue

The screen on the back door squeaked open. Hannah glanced at the clock on the microwave while she stirred the pot of chili. “Right on time. Lunch is ready.”

“You know I’m never late for one of your meals.” Cooper stepped behind her and laid his hands on either side of her waist. He delivered a kiss to her cheek and then pressed his lips to her ear. “I’ll deliver a proper thank you for all your hard work tonight.”

He moved away quickly after the hushed promise that had her insides bubbling as hot as the chili on the stove.

“Hey, Mom.” Skeeter had followed Cooper into the kitchen. “Smells good. I’m starving.”

“That’s no surprise. You’ve been working hard.” She tipped her head toward the door. “The sweet tea is in the big orange cooler, but I still need to grab the sleeve of plastic cups. It’s in the trunk of my car.”

“Skeeter, go and get those cups for your mom. Then tell them boys to wash up for lunch.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hannah smiled as her son pushed out through the door to where her car was parked in front of Cooper’s house. She turned and stepped into Cooper’s arms, wrapping her own around him.

“Mmm, don’t get me started.” He ran his hands down to her ass with a groan. “Damn, I’ve got half a dozen students right outside and I don’t want them seeing what you do to me.”

She felt him hardening against her. “I’m happy to know that I can still do that to you.”

“Are you crazy, woman? I don’t care if it’s been six months or sixty years, I’ll never grow tired of you.” He dropped a kiss on her lips and then took a step back just as the screen door slammed again and Glen stepped into the kitchen.

His residual limp had improved visibly over the past few months. Cooper thought it was from all the physical work on the ranch making Glen’s muscles stronger. Something his managerial job at the feed store hadn’t done. Hannah was simply happy to see both men well and happy.

Glen glanced at Hannah. “Need me to carry anything outside?”

“Yes, thank you, Glen. The pot of chili can go out.” She shot a look at Cooper who’d done nothing but make her forget about the food and the bull-riding clinic’s students waiting for it since walking into the kitchen.

Cooper frowned at her. “What? Don’t look at me like that. I’ll freely admit Glen’s a better man than me. Is it my fault I’m so intoxicated by the love of my life that I forget basic manners when I’m near her?”

Glen smiled and shook his head as he lifted the pot by the handles. “That infamous Holbrook charm always has gotten Coop out of a heap of trouble.”

Cooper grinned so wide it crinkled his eyes. “Damn right.” He reached past Hannah and grabbed the basket full of corn bread. “I got this.”

She shook her head at him. “Thank you.”

“No problem. You can thank me later.” He winked and damned if her knees still didn’t go weak at the sight, even after having him in her life for all these months.

Once the men had gone out and she was alone in the kitchen, she could gather her wits enough to inventory what more she had to do. She remembered the paper napkins weren’t out yet. Grabbing the stack, she turned for the door just as Riley came in. “Mrs. Anderson—”

“When are you going to stop calling me that? I told you that Hannah is fine.”

The girl’s cheeks pinked. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. But when you and Skeeter finally do get married, I’m really going to put my foot down.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Hannah let her gaze drop to the girl’s right hand where she wore Skeeter’s ring. They’d told her it would stay there until they decided it was time to get officially engaged and then it would move to the proper ring finger. Hannah was just fine with them taking their time.

“Did you need something?” Hannah asked.

“Cooper said to tell you to stop fussing and come out and eat.”

Ignoring that he was Cooper while she was still Mrs. Anderson, Hannah smiled. “I’m on my way.”

The girl dipped her cowboy hat in a nod and turned for the door as Hannah followed in her wake. She might look young—hell, she was young—but Hannah had to remember Riley owned and operated one of the top bucking-bull businesses in the country. She was a survivor after all she’d gone through at such a young age. She’d make a good match for Skeeter. One Hannah would be proud to have as a daughter-in-law.

The heat of the sun beat down, but a nice breeze made it bearable as Hannah headed toward the long table set up beneath the shade of the big old oak near the house. The benches were already lined with boys of various ages and sizes, all of them there to learn what Cooper had to teach. Skeeter too, when he had a break from the pro tour he was now leading in the standings.

What a huge difference half a year made. If she let herself think back to how things had been as compared to how they were now, she’d tear up, and this wasn’t the time for that. Instead, she donned a smile and strode to the group.

After dropping the napkins onto the table and securing them from the wind beneath the stack of plates, she dropped a quick kiss on Skeeter’s cheek and then turned and delivered a much more intense one to Cooper’s lips.

Cooper glanced up, eyebrows raised. “Not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?”

“Just ’cause.” She couldn’t say more because the tears of happiness were too close to the surface and threatening to break free. Couldn’t tell him it was because she finally had everything she’d always wanted. That against all odds and in spite of both of their pasts, they were settled and happy. That she prayed every night before she fell asleep in his arms that nothing would change because things were nearly perfect the way they were.

He smiled. “A’ight. Feel free to do that just ’cause anytime you want.”

Hannah smiled away the tightness of emotion and nodded. “I will. Promise.”

It was the easiest promise she’d ever made.

About the Author

As an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance in genres including military, cowboy, and ménage, Cat Johnson uses her computer so much she wore the letters off the keyboard within a year. She is known for her creative marketing and research practices. Consequently, Cat owns an entire collection of camouflage and western attire for book signings and a fair number of her consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living. In her real life, she’s been a marketing manager, professional harpist, bartender, tour guide, radio show host, Junior League president, sponsor of a bull-riding rodeo cowboy, wife and avid animal lover.

To learn more about Cat, please visit
www.catjohnson.net
. Send an email to Cat at
[email protected]
, like her Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/CatJohnsonAuthor
or follow her on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/cat_johnson
.

Look for these titles by Cat Johnson

Now Available:

Rough Stock

Studs in Spurs

Unridden

Bucked

Ride

Hooked

Flanked

Thrown

Red, Hot, & Blue

Trey

Jack

Jimmy

Jared

Cole

Bobby

A Few Good Men

Model Soldier

A Prince Among Men

Bull

Matt

The Commander

This ain’t their first rodeo…but there are a lot of other firsts they can experience together.

Thrown

© 2014 Cat Johnson

Studs in Spurs, Book 6

Skeeter Anderson was born to ride bulls. He bypassed college to shoot straight to the top of the elite pro tour, but lately all he can seem to do is hit the dirt.

Unwilling to admit his career might be over at twenty-one, Skeeter brainstorms a bull-riding boot camp with his buddies, which will put him closer to a girl who’s caught his eye—a stock contractor’s daughter called Riley.

Riley Davis lives and breathes bulls. Since her mother’s death, she’s been her father’s business partner as well as the apple of his eye—until a coronary rips him out of her life. Now, at nineteen, she must find a way to hang onto the family business.

When Skeeter hears about Riley’s dad, he drives straight to Mississippi to lend her a hand, his buddies hot on his heels. Suddenly Riley has more help than she can shake a stick at, and an attraction to Skeeter that’s heating up by the minute…

Warning:
Contains cowboy yoga, cowboys in love, and a romance that hits so hard and fast, it makes being thrown from a bull look like a friendly game of hopscotch.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Thrown:

“If we do all try to get together, the thing we have to consider is where would we ride?” Chase looked from one guy to another. “We need a stock contractor willing to let us get on some practice bulls.”

“And someplace that either has room for us to camp out there, or a cheap hotel nearby since it seems some of us will be traveling a distance.” Garret staring pointedly at Skeeter made him feel even more guilty they were all changing their plans for this break just to help him.

“You guys don’t have to do—”

“Shut up. We’re doing it.” Aaron cut Skeeter off. “Now let’s think. Who’s in the area who’s got decent bucking bulls and would be willing to let us get on them?”

“Butch Davis’s place is in western Mississippi. That’s pretty central.”

The mention of Butch’s place made Skeeter pay more attention. Riley would be there, which would be no hardship. But so would Butch, and his glare alone could scare the hell out of Skeeter and most of the other guys. He couldn’t even imagine asking the guy for a favor, such as if a bunch of guys could just practice on his prize-winning buckers.

Skeeter decided he better say something before one of these nut cases whipped out a cell phone and called to ask him. “Butch is a big-time contractor. I mean, he’s raised seven out of the last ten bulls of the year. He wouldn’t let us just come there and hop on them.”

“Sure, he will.” Mustang let out a snort. “Maybe he won’t let us get on Renegade. That bull’s worth too much and he can’t risk him getting injured in the practice pen, but some of the younger stock? The green ones he’s hoping to put in competition in a year or two, hell yeah. He probably can’t find enough riders to take ’em out for a spin.”

“Well,
you
can ask him, Mustang. I’m thinking I’d better not. He caught me just looking in Riley’s direction this weekend and I thought he was gonna pull out a shotgun and run me off.” Aaron shook his head, laughing. “I can’t imagine he’s gonna want us there at his place with her around.”

That Aaron had been looking at Riley was an interesting fact. One that made Skeeter feel something he hadn’t thought about before when it came to her—his competitive side kicking in. He guessed before he’d always assumed they were all in the same boat when it came to Riley. She was cute and also totally off limits, so no one had a shot. But then she’d given him her number, which meant what? Probably nothing. Still, knowing Aaron had his eye on her almost made Skeeter a little jealous. Just what he needed, more emotions flying around in him. As if he wasn’t confused enough about everything going on.

“We could exchange chores for practice time,” Chase suggested.

“Yeah, who wouldn’t be grateful for some extra hands around the place?” Garret turned to look at Aaron. “And if you keep your eyes and your hands to yourself, we should all be good.”

Aaron scowled. “And if you weren’t married to my sister, you would be looking at Riley too.”

“With Butch around?” Garret rolled his eyes. “No, don’t think so. Unlike you, I’ve got a brain in my head and I’d like to keep it there.”

“All right, boys. No bickering like a couple of little girls. Let’s get back on topic. We’ll have to ask, but if he’s game, who’s in?” Mustang looked around the table.

“I could stand to brush up on my skills, I’m sure.” Garret nodded. “I’m in.”

Slade dipped his head as well. “Hell, I’m in too. I go batty not being able to ride during the time off.”

“Jenna will be okay with you being in Arkansas instead of visiting with her in New York over the break?” Mustang asked his traveling partner.

“She’s flying down to Texas tomorrow. After this visit, I’m hoping there won’t be any more long-distance stuff.”

Mustang’s brows rose as he stared at Slade. “Something you need to tell me?”

Slade snorted out a laugh. “Not here and now there isn’t. No.”

Skeeter and the rest of the guys watched the exchange with interest until Chase broke the silence. “So what do you say, Skeets? If we can arrange it, will you do it?”

“If we can find a place willing to let us ride, Butch’s or wherever, then yeah, I’m in.” What did he have to lose?

If it did all work out, Skeeter figured he could learn a lot by hanging around a man with as much experience with bulls as Butch had. It wouldn’t be any hardship to spend some time around Riley either. Sure, Butch would likely flay any guy who touched his daughter, but that didn’t mean they all couldn’t be friends. A girl as nice and cute as she was who also knew as much about bucking bulls as any man in this business—that was a rare find. How could a guy not appreciate all that?

Mustang brushed his hands together. “It’s settled, then. I’ll give Butch a few days to get settled back home and then I’ll give him a call. See where we stand. You guys all go home and enjoy a few days with the families, but be prepared. If he agrees we’re gonna work hard and long.”

“Bull-riding boot camp. I like it.” Chase grinned.

Mustang cocked a brow. “We’ll see how you feel once it starts.”

Chase laughed. “You don’t scare me. My brother wakes me up at five to run with him every morning when I’m home in Oklahoma. Rain, snow, heat. Don’t matter.”

“Good.” Mustang leveled his gaze at Chase. “You’ll be in charge of arranging the physical training schedule then.”

“All right. Done.” Chase grinned. “Be my pleasure.”

Garret groaned. “Great.”

Aaron laughed. “We’ll work hard, but I also expect to play hard when the work is done, so I’ll be in charge of bringing the cooler full of beer.”

Chase shook his head. “Your sorry ass had better be out of bed every morning with the rest of us.”

“It will be. Don’t you worry.” Aaron turned in his seat and craned his neck one more time. “I’m going to find that waitress. She must think we’re just here to hang out and stuff, but I need to eat.”

Skeeter watched Aaron go in search of food. The rest of the guys kept talking about possible training exercises and other stuff for this boot camp they were planning. All because of him. It was a little overwhelming but nice. He had good friends. Skeeter just hoped he’d get to keep being with them.

He had to get back on this tour.