Chasin' Eight: Rough Riders, Book 12 (9 page)

BOOK: Chasin' Eight: Rough Riders, Book 12
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Ginger looked confused. “What gate?”

“You know, the gate we talked about on the way over here?”

“Oh. Oh! That gate.” She blushed. “Ah, sure. I’d be happy to help.” Ginger paused at the door. “If you need anything, call.”

“Will do.”

As soon as the door shut, Chase snickered. “Fixin’ a gate, my ass. Kane is fixin’ to have his way with his wife in his pickup.”

“Is ‘gate’ some kind of country euphemism for sex?”

“Nope. But I believe our bein’ in their love nest has forced them to get creative for their marital activities.”

She really had no response for that.

“Ever done it in a pickup, Hollywood?”

“No.”
Don’t ask
. “Have you?”

Chase’s I-can-rock-your-world grin turned her knees weak. “I was born and raised in Wyoming. Never had any vehicle that wasn’t a truck…so what do you think?”

“I think imagining you and me fogging up the windows and rocking the wheels until the suspension squeaks isn’t helping get sex off my brain.” Ava set her coffee cup on the table. “My turn in the bathroom.”

He yelled, “Don’t forget to lock the door.”

Doubtful he saw her flip him off.

 

 

Later that evening, they were playing a rousing game of Go Fish when headlights swept the kitchen window.

“Were you expecting someone?” Chase said.

“I’m not from around here, remember? What about you?”

“No one knows I’m here, remember?” He pulled back the living room curtain and froze. What the fuck was his brother Ben doing here? He grabbed Ava by the elbow and dragged her out of sight.

“What the hell are you doing, Chase?”

“Ssh.”

“Don’t shush me. Who’s here?”

Four insistent raps sounded on the screen door.

“Ava? I know it’s late but I wondered if you were still up? It’s Ben McKay, Kane’s cousin. Don’t know if you remember me, but we met at Kane and Ginger’s wedding.”

Ava smirked at Chase and yelled, “Of course I remember, you, Ben. Hang on, let me throw on some clothes and I’ll be right there.”

“Are you fuckin’ serious?” Chase hissed in her ear. “You
cannot
let my brother in.”

“Sure I can. And if you don’t want to be found out as my dirty little secret, you’d better stay in the bedroom.” Ava sidestepped him, slipped on her Juicy jacket and fluffed her hair. Then she made a shooing motion at him. “Go.”

“I don’t believe this,” he muttered, stealthily snagging his duffel bag. He left the bedroom door ajar, hoping the hallway had decent acoustics.

“Ben! Wow. You look great. Thanks so much for taking the time to check on this poor city mouse.”

“It’s no trouble. Just bein’ neighborly.”

Bullshit. Ben lived twenty-five fucking miles from here. Maybe Ben would see Ava was fine and skedaddle on home. Chase just hoped Ava wouldn’t offer him a beer.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Ava asked with entirely too much cheer for Chase’s liking.

“A beer would be great.”

Dammit. They sat in the easy chairs, which meant Chase had no way to see them and could only hear his brother making charming small talk with Ava.

“Kane and Ginger swung by today, and told me you’d seen my car out front.”

“Gotta admit I was surprised that we had a beautiful celebrity in our midst again.”

Jesus. When Ben spewed that lame bullshit, he actually got laid? Unbelievable.

“More like a fugitive than a celebrity since I’m on the lamb from my life.”

“I read about that nasty business with your ex. You okay?”

“Getting there. Needed time to clear my head and there’s too much smog in LA to do that, so I headed for wide-open spaces.”

“You’re not finding it too isolated out here?”

Why don’t you just come out and ask to spend the night so you can keep her safe?

“Not yet.”

“If you get bored or lonely, or hell, just hungry, call me. I’m a decent cook and I get tired of cooking for one.”

“Thank you, Ben, I may do that.”

Their voices dropped. All Chase could hear were Ben’s deep murmurs and Ava’s occasional trills of laughter. He fumed, wondering how Ben’s impromptu visit had turned into an extended stay.

Then Ben’s voice reached him, clear as a bell. “You might as well come out, Chase. I know you’re back there. I recognize that damn cologne you bathe in. And your boots are by the door.”

Chase wandered out of the bedroom and faced his older brother. Even as a kid Ben owned an air of fortitude. Since Ben smiled and laughed more than their oldest brother, Quinn, everyone assumed Ben was easygoing. Laid-back.

But he wasn’t. Not by a long shot. Ben had a level of intensity that could be downright scary. Luckily Ben hadn’t inherited the tendency to use his fists to solve problems, a trait some of their McKay cousins shared. He didn’t mince words, didn’t have time for bullshit or lies. When a man was defined by how hard he worked, Chase always thought of Bennett McKay first.

“Would you excuse us?” Ben asked as he stood. “I need to talk to my little brother outside for a minute.”

Ava tossed off a breezy, “Sure.”

Ben exited the trailer. He kept walking until they were by the barn. Then he faced Chase, hands on his hips, his tone as cold as steel. “What the hell is wrong with you? You come home and stay at Kane’s place and don’t let any of your family know you’re here?”

Chase’s brain started to form a lie, but his mouth wouldn’t give voice to it. “Sorry.”

“Sorry? You too good for us now? Do your country kin embarrass the big time PBR bull rider?”

Shame made heat flare in his cheeks. “Goddammit, Ben, no, I ain’t that way, you know that. I got kicked off the tour and didn’t want you guys to know because I don’t want any of you to think less of me than you already do.”

Ben stared at him. Hard. With such a mix of emotions swimming in his eyes that Chase couldn’t look away. Then he said curtly, “The truth about what went down. All of it. Right now.”

Chase relayed everything.

His brother walked to the fence. Gazed across the pasture. Walked back. “Okay. I believe you.”

That stung. Ben’s first thought was he’d been lying? Right. Ben had caught Chase in lies more times than he cared to admit.

“But you don’t get to toss off the ‘think less of you’ bullshit comment because that’s a total lie. We’re all proud of you, Chase. But the fact is, you ain’t proud of yourself. And I get sick and tired of us—your family—bein’ dead last on your list of priorities. You should’ve come to us first.”

“Really? Last time I came home, I ended up staying with Tell because Mom was having the entire inside of the house repainted, Quinn and Libby’s kids were sick, and you had ‘plans’, so don’t give me that I should’ve come to you first crap. You don’t know what it’s like not to have a home you can go to whenever you feel like it.”

Ben seemed surprised by Chase’s explanation. “Regardless. Mom is worried about you because of the injury announcement, and you weren’t forthcoming about it.” He pointed at Chase. “Then no one hears from you for two weeks? Beyond the ‘I’m fine, more later’ texts you’ve sent to all of us. That’s bogus and you know it.”

“Yeah, I suck, I’m sure that’s a big fuckin’ shocker,” he muttered. “Are they pissed?”

“Not as much as they might’ve been in the past. A whole lot changed between them after Aunt Joan left Uncle Casper.”

His aunt and uncle being Splitsville after so many years of marriage was hard to believe. “Like what?”

“I dunno, I don’t…” Ben sighed and studied his boots. “It’s like they’re in a honeymoon phase. That sounds stupid, but whenever I see Brandt and Jessie, I realize Mom and Dad are acting just like them. Maybe it has to do with Dad retiring.”

Not realizing things had changed in his family made Chase feel guiltier yet.

“As far as you sneaking into Wyoming because you thought I’d judge you? Yeah, I probably would’ve chewed your ass. Reminded you that when things go to hell you don’t run from your family, you’re supposed
to
run to them. Reminded you that we talked about some of this distraction shit last year. You didn’t listen to me. Or Quinn. But I figure I’m entitled to givin’ you what for now, bein’s I’m the older, wiser brother and all.”

Chase grinned. “Thought I saw some new gray hair on that stubborn head of yours.”

“Bite me.” Ben’s smile faded. “I’ve said my piece. But there’s one thing I ain’t letting you off the hook for.”

He expected Ben to bring up Ava and braced himself. “What?”

“You’re gonna make a ‘surprise’ visit to Mom and Dad before you leave.” Ben frowned. “I’d call first just to make sure they’re not goin’ at it on the living room floor.”

“Thanks for that mental picture, bro.”

“Hey, I got to see the live version, so consider yourself lucky.”

“No. Way. Mom and Dad? Doin’ the nasty on the floral rug we weren’t even allowed to walk on?”

Ben nodded. “They didn’t see me and I backed away quietly when I saw them. Then went home and drank until I passed out. Quinn wasn’t happy I was worthless the next day. So I gave him a much more graphic version of what I’d seen than what I’m telling you. And while you’re out and about, stop and see Quinn, Libby and the kids.”

“I’m never gonna get outta town tomorrow,” he grumbled.

“I’m glad you’re leaving. I hoped you had a better plan than holing up in this trailer and spending the summer sulking.”

He knew Ben was worried, and the way he showed concern was to provoke him. Weird, but it always worked.

“Where you off to?”

“Cash Big Crow is gonna help me figure out what I changed in my ridin’ style. Guess I’ll be getting on a lot of bulls to try and fix it.”

“Smart. Then what?”

Chase couldn’t tell his “don’t lie” brother about his bogus PRCA card and his intent to ride as many bulls as possible in the next month. “Honestly? I don’t know. I’m gonna try like hell to stay off the radar. Maybe the PBR will commute my sentence.”

“Be interesting to see what happens. Just don’t keep me outta the loop, okay?”

He had the sense there was more to it. Was Ben somehow…lonely? “So. You been winning at the McKay poker games?”

Ben shrugged. “Some. Dalton’s poker face is for shit. Tell’s been working on his professional face since he became a licensed rodeo judge. Truth is, the games have tapered off, despite our married cousin’s claims they wanted to join in. Hell, even Brandt can’t be away from Jessie for a night of cards.”

“Whatcha been doin’ with yourself?”

“This and that. Spending time in Gillette. Building furniture. Got a bed and breakfast joint in Jackson Hole that ordered eight complete bedroom sets. But they want eight different designs, so that’s been a challenge.”

Ben had turned his talent for building log furniture into a nice sideline. “That’s great. But I know you ain’t sawing logs all the time.”

“Ha-ha. That’s still not as funny as the first fifty times you said it.”

“You seein’ anyone?”

“I’m working with a couple of ladies. Won’t be anything long term. Speaking of short term…What’s goin’ on with you and Ava?”

“There’s nothin’ goin’ on because I swore off women.”

“Again?” Ben rolled his eyes. “How long this time?”

“A month.”

“Got any money or a share in a bull ridin’ on it?”

“No. My career is ridin’ on it.”

That gave Ben pause.

“Look, Ava is beyond beautiful. She’s got a body that don’t quit. Yet she ain’t at all the phony, snooty, rich TV star I figured she’d be. She’s funny. And smart. Curious as a damn cat. And she’s…real. I like her. We’re friends. Which is why I ain’t gonna sleep with her.”

You trying to convince him or yourself?

A strange expression crossed Ben’s face.

“What?”

“Well, she is taller than you, so according to your dating rules, she don’t stand a chance.”

“Fuck off,” Chase shot back.

“In all seriousness, I’ve gotta admit, I already see some changes in you. I hope you can sustain them and get your bull ridin’ mojo back. But I’d like to offer you a piece of advice when your good intentions with Ava go straight to hell.”

His brother assumed he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants, which only strengthened his determination to do just that. “And what’s that?”

Ben locked his gaze to Chase’s. “Be a man.”

Chase bristled. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“I’ve seen you in action with women over the years. Pains me to admit this, but you’re too damn good-lookin’ for your own good and charming to boot. All’s you gotta do is smile and the ladies fall at your feet and into your bed.”

“And that’s a bad thing…why?”

“Because you don’t hafta work for a woman. Once you’ve got her in bed, I’m betting she’ll do anything to impress you.”

How had Ben figured that out? But in Chase’s own defense, he wasn’t the lazy dude who relaxed in a pile of pillows and let women service him. He was an active participant in sex. He was a good lover. Respectful. Made sure his partner got off. And he hadn’t had any complaints.

The women aren’t around long enough to complain.

“I assume this has a point?” he said brusquely.

“You have a sense of entitlement. You look at a conquest and think, what can she do for me?”

“Christ, Ben, that’s normal. All guys are like that.”

Ben flashed his teeth. “I’m not. I see a woman I want and I think, what can I do to her that’ll give her what
she
needs? Give her what no other man has?”

That was too much information from his closemouthedf brother. “You sayin’ I need to be more…giving?”

“No. I’m sayin’ you need to be more forceful in proving to Ava you can be the man that finally sees beyond the surface. As a Hollywood princess, she’s also used to being worshiped and not having to work very hard at it. Ava doesn’t need a man to pet her and stroke her. To wait for her signal. She needs a man to take charge. No excuses, no apologies, no holding back. In essence, be a man.”

“You could be that man?” Chase asked a little testily.

“I
am
that man.” Ben’s gaze never wavered. “The thing is, you are that man too. As long as you’re working on getting your bull ridin’ mojo back, get that other male mojo back.”

BOOK: Chasin' Eight: Rough Riders, Book 12
11.67Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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