Going Home (4 page)

Authors: Bridget Hollister

Tags: #Alpha Male, #Cowboy, #Short Story, #romance, #Rodeo, #Erotic Romance, #contemporary romance

Focusing carefully, she could already see Kip in the bucking chute, ready for his ride. A simple nod of his head and the gate opened, causing the animal to burst out of the confines and into the arena with ferocity.

Early on, Alexis could tell something was wrong. She watched in horror as Kip fell off the back of the horse and flopped to one side. Instead of breaking free of the horse, she noticed his hand had become caught in the rigging of the saddle.

After he finally managed to get free, he hit the dirt. Hard. Enough to send gasps throughout the terrified crowd. As two EMTs rushed to his side, another cowboy managed to corral the horse.

Standing up and practically bolting out of the stands, fear pulsated through her veins and she realized that she was far past falling for the smart-talking cowboy she'd met only a day ago.
She was head-over-heels in love with him.

Alexis made her way as fast as she could to the emergency services tent to check on Kip, the image of him laying in the arena floor burned in her brain.

"I'm here to see Kip," she choked out, trying to explain to the EMT at the front as to why she was there.

"Sorry, ma'am," he replied. "This tent is for family of competitors only—"

"Let her in!" Alexis heard Kip shout from somewhere in the back. "She's okay."

The EMT simply nodded and stepped back so Alexis could make her way in.

"Are you hurt?" she asked softly, watching him sit on a makeshift gurney the event's medical staff had set up.

"I'm fine. Just a bruised rib or two." He smiled wearily at her before leaning in for a soft kiss. "Just another occupational hazard I'll be more than happy to give up."

"Give up?" Alexis asked, puzzled. "Kip, this is your sport. It's what you
do.
Why are you giving it up?"

He brought a callused hand up to her cheek and began to stroke it softly. "Because I feel that it is time that I start focusing on things that matter a bit more than rodeo. Like settling down."

Confused, Alexis pulled away from him. "Uh… cowboy? Are you sure you didn't hit your head or something? Or, maybe it's because of watching Brian get engaged before you—"

"Shit, Alexis. This has nothing to do with the fact that my idiot brother was going to marry your sister," he cut off her thought. "And I definitely did not hit my head. This has to do with the fact that somewhere between making fun of our siblings at their goddamned rehearsal dinner and waking up with you in my arms the next morning, I fell in love with you."

Alexis paused. She'd had plenty of men in her life before, but this tough, sweet-talking cowboy far exceeded any of them. Fact of the matter was she'd fallen just as hard for him as he'd just admitted he fell for her.

"Well, cowboy. Guess today is your lucky day, then." Straddling his lap carefully, trying to avoid hurting him further, she leaned in for a kiss. "Because this is the moment where I tell you that I feel the same way."

"You do?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Yep. Looks like our siblings aren't the only two who get to have a tacky wedding rehearsal party where two complete strangers get to make fun of them."

Kip laughed. "Are you proposing? Because I'm pretty sure that's
my
job."

Alexis simply grinned. "Who says? Is that an objection?"

"Never," he roared. "I'd never take on a lady lawyer."

"Good. Now, kiss me like you mean it."

Placing his lips on hers, Kip kissed her harder and with more passion than Alexis had ever experienced.

"That'll do, cowboy." Breathless, Alexis smiled. "That'll do."

###

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Cowboy Casanova Series

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Rekindling the Spark (Cowboy Casanova #2) - Available on Amazon

Faking It (Cowboy Casanova #4) - Available January 2014 on Amazon

Hot Like Fire Series

Saving Megan (Hot Like Fire #1) - Available January 2014 on Amazon

Seducing Dylan (Hot Like Fire #2) - Available January 2014 on Amazon