Linda applied more raspberry lip gloss.
“Why you putting that junk on?” Clayton waited for her to catch up and put his arm around her.
She dropped the lip gloss back into her purse and snapped it closed. “Think of it as a deterrent.”
After they crossed the side entrance and passed several rodeo crews, he asked, “You hinting that I’m a bad kisser?”
“God no!” That was a little louder than she was going for, enough to get the attention of some cowboys working with a bull. She leaned closer to Clayton. “You’re the reason mother’s warn their daughters about men.”
He chuckled and took her hand.
The announcer went on and on as the crowd erupted into cheering for a rider in the field.
Clayton led her past a group of men who were making preparations with the rider and horse. They stopped and the men shook his hand one by one. He introduced her to them as ‘my girl from Los Angeles.’ They all greeted her with warm smiles. Clayton might as well have announced she was his wife the way they were so happy for him, as though she signified some important event in his life. What did they know that she didn’t?
An older Native American woman called out his name. He turned and that brilliant smile spread over his face when he saw who it was. A wave and a short nod were exchanged. She gestured to Linda and spread her hands inquiringly. He drew Linda close to him and shouted, ‘my girl.’ Damn, he sounded so proud and happy.
Linda’s face turned beat red when a few people turned to look at her. She elbowed him, which felt like hitting a wall of rock. At least he looked down at her. Her expression should have told him everything he needed to know.
His response?
Clayton bent down and gave her a kiss that nearly knocked her feet out from under her. The display was a public declaration that reflected the look he gave her, which screamed ‘mine.’
The lip gloss was an absolute failure.
“Let’s find a seat,” he drawled. He gestured to a spot at the end of some bleachers on the other side that was close to the action in the field.
People greeted him left and right, some stopping him for a quick chat while others just offered a quick ‘hi.’ Women weren’t afraid to show their blatant interest, including a group of women who pouted that he hadn’t agreed to join the lot of them for the day.
His male friends were all old fashioned gentlemen down to the last, watching their language and tipping their hats to her. They talked about the condition and breed of the animals in the show, some of the riders’ stats, and how well things were going on their various business ventures thanks to something he did for them. What that something was she couldn’t tell right away. It took her a bit to figure out just what he did for a living.
She asked him as they sat on the bleachers, “You’re a doctor?”
He nodded as he rested their clasped hands on his knee.
“You must be a damn good one to be this popular.”
He winked at her and turned to the field where another rider was about to give the ‘ok’ to cut loose.
Her breath caught in that wink. That was it. She had to take control. This was getting out of hand and if she didn’t get a hold of herself she would never be able to look herself in the mirror again. Carefully, she pulled her hand away. Not a minute passed before he had her hand back in his, but this time both his hands held hers in place.
In the field the horse reared, bucked, and turned but the rider held on. Clayton started hollering and cheering, and when the rider was bucked off cried his disappointment along with the rest of the crowd.
The few other riders that fell got the same treatment and those that made it past the timer were vociferously celebrated. The energy in the crowd wasn’t something she expected. It could have been a Lakers or a 49er game, except these games had grit and the smell of dung.
People were having a good time. It was good old fashioned fun and not a single person was exempt from the excitement, not even a city girl from LA.
It wasn’t too long before she was whistling and cheering for the guys through the saddle broncing and bull bucking competitions. Never did Clayton’s touch stray, keeping her hand either in his or placing it on his knee when he clapped. He clearly loved the fact she got into the games, and stopped to watch her when she went wild cheering.
“What?” She blushed when she caught him looking at her.
He flashed that sexy smile. “Nothing. Just glad you’re having a good time.”
She nudged his arm. “You think a girl from LA wouldn’t like watching a rodeo?”
“Never thought of it one way or the other. Now that I see it, I’m glad you do…”
A rider was bucked off of a bull so hard, he was sent flying several yards in the air. He bounced a few times on the ground, managed to land on his feet and wobbled away with his legs bowed while the bull fighters kept the animal busy.
Her mouth shaped the word ‘oh.’ “That’s got to do something to the sperm count…”—he spun his head around with a grin—“and I can’t believe I just said that out loud.”
He laughed, tucked her under his arm, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. The heat of his breath brushed her ear as he said, “It can.” It was a hot day and being under the sun was doing a good job of making her perspire, but when he pulled away she actually felt a chill from the absence of his warmth.
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