Wrath (29 page)

Finally he reached out and shook her hand, his grip firm, the handshake of one man to another. She could tell a lot by a man’s handshake, and this man meant business.

“I knew your father a good bit,” Hunter said, nodding to her, “he was a good man. Sorry for your loss. To be honest, I’m glad to see one of his own is takin’ over the business. Not those greedy vultures like Hank.” Ah. A smart ass.
That
she could handle.

“Hey, you watch your mouth, less you want me to knock out some of those fancy teeth.” Hank punched him in his shoulder, a gesture which he returned.

“I, uh, thank you,” She felt a little off balance. It was hard to accept. No matter how many times she heard someone give their condolences, the pain never went away. So she just stored it away, refusing to address it.

Back to the task at hand. It was the only way she knew how to cope.

“I haven’t seen your kind of talent in a good long while.”

A smile tugged the corner of his mouth.

“Taught by the best.” He stayed tight-lipped as he looked her up and down, judging her.

Well who the hell was his coach?

“Hunter, we talked earlier about you being willin’ to sign up under our sponsorship. Well, Ms. Brooks seems pretty intent on makin’ sure that this happens.” Hank smiled like he just got a bite on fishing line cast out into the middle of a pond. Almost his, as long it was reeled in right.

“I am, I would be willing to speak to you about the prospect of joinin’ a sponsored program…” She barely got the words out of her mouth.

He interrupted her without so much as a polite nod, “I really gotta be heading’ out.”

He grabbed his ball cap and replaced the cowboy hat he rode with. She got a peek at raven locks before he switched them out. “I’m late for my next ‘social engagement’. Think you could swing by the dance hall tonight? It is the end of the rodeo and I should be there. We can talk then.”

“Hunter.” Hank said, tipping his hat.

“Hank.”

She couldn’t help but notice the muscles in his body, particularly his tight ass moving back and forth in those tight cowboy jeans. Heat pounded into her cheeks, leaving her dumbfounded.

“What the hell just happened?” She furrowed her brow and looked at Hank who responded with a chuckle.

“I think you just got asked to a dance.”

“But…” She had to resist the urge to run after him and tell him what kind of opportunity he was letting slip out of his fingers.

“I know what yer thinkin’. Let him go. He’s a tough one, Kat. You’re dad’s been tryin’ to get him to sign on for years.”

She hesitated, turning on her heel to face Hank. “Years?”

“Yeah, about ten.” Ten years was a long time in the business. Especially for a bull rider.

It peaked her interest. “Why hasn’t he?”

Hank chewed on his check for a moment, thinking about it. “Hunter was a loose cannon for a while, and when he wanted to be signed, well, your father wasn’t ready. Then, after that, it was nothing but no. Foolish pride? Wantin’ to go it alone? I don’t know. I just know he has the talent and he is on fire now. He is finally looking to be sponsored. Don’t want to lose his talent.”

She straightened her shoulders and looked Hank square in the eyes. “I don’t give up that easily.”

Kat didn’t like parties. She entered the large barn to see crowds of people gathered about, standing in small groups as they talked over the music and sipping from bottles or red cups. She could see the dance floor just a little ways off and it looked like there was no shortage of people on it. Country music blared, pounding so hard she could feel it in her chest, vibrating her body across the floor. It was a lively group, excited and animated after a successful show. Rodeo folks did everything big.

She tried to take it all in, but it was overwhelming. Kat didn’t realize that many people were involved in the rodeo on a day to day basis.  She should have been, her business was exceedingly lucrative, but she never thought about it. Not really. Plus, she had never been to any of these shindigs. Her dad expressly forbid it, knowing firsthand what went on at these parties.

He wanted to keep his daughter as far away from what he called ‘the dark side of the rodeo’ as he possibly could. She rolled her eyes when she was fifteen, thinking he was being too strict. But as she watched the women and men dancing together, she was no longer so sure about her assessment. The way they pressed together, their bodies close and their legs moving to the music, the looks in their eyes… it was deliciously sinful. She fought the urge to throw herself into the mix, abandoning all pretense of business and acting like the twenty-five year old she was, deep down inside.

As she was about to go and find herself a partner she felt a gentle touch on her arm. Hunter looked at her from underneath his ragged ball cap, a smile on his face.

“I take it you have never been to one of these dances before?” His mouth quirked up into a handsome smirk. The kind that made her want to roll her eyes.

“I was never in the rodeo, remember.”

He handed her a beer bottle and looked out over the crowd. “Neither have most of these kids. Maybe they want to, maybe they have family who is. Figured you might want something to drink first.”

“First?”

“Thought we could have a drink, maybe a dance. Then discuss terms.” Hunter took a large swing of his beer and then winked at her. Actually winked.

She wanted to tell him no just to be spiteful, but that hard jawline and those strong muscles were more than she could resist.

Kat took a big swig of her beer and set it down on the table, “What the hell, why not?”

Hunter pulled her out onto the dance floor, taking her up in his arms and spinning her around in a fast paced two step.

Moving around the dance floor with the tall cowboy felt as natural to her as walking. She didn’t need to worry about stepping on toes or having to lead. He was strong and confident as he led her across the floor, in a sea of people also following the same steps. She could have closed her eyes and just moved along with him. But then she’d miss studying every inch of him. Her eyes were locked on his as they moved around the room. And each moment she had to fight not to let those eyes wander down his entire body.

“You’re pretty good.” He whispered in her ear, bending down and breaking eye contact. His voice was the kind of thick deep baritone that made her want to melt into a puddle.

Keep it together, this is business.

“Taught by the best.” She answered. Damn, he had a way of getting under her skin, but she refused to let her emotions overwhelm her.

“I’m sure you were, honey.”

Shake it off.

“How did you learn his moves?” She had the upper hand and she was going to use it.

“I watched. A lot.” Was that a smirk?

“I watch a lot of medical shows, doesn’t mean I can perform open heart surgery.” That bit just a little too hard.

He stumbled, then let her go, turning to walk away.

So she did the only thing she could think of, she grabbed his arm.

“I’m sorry. I, I didn’t mean to, can we do this over?”

Kat narrowed her eyes. This one certainly wasn’t going to be easy to land. So she tried a different approach. Letting her body relax she switched into a more amicable version of herself.

“I guess we can try.”

“So, how did you learn my dad’s moves?”

“I watched him, tried to copy him. He said I had natural talent.”

“Sounds like him. He always knew how to speak the truth.” She said, her tone flattering but not completely obvious. “I’ve seen you ride. That kind of talent is… natural.”

“What about you? Where did you learn your moves?” Hunter’s brow drew in as he tried to assess her new attitude. “You seem like a natural, yourself.”

“I watched. A lot.” She grinned at him, repeating his mysterious line, her voice dipping down just a little, creating a husky tone. “But most of his charisma was natural. Afraid I didn't inherit that.”

“We ain’t in agreement there.” His eyes looked right though her, and it took all her willpower not to swoon.

When straightforwardness doesn’t work, kill them with kindness. Or in her case, sex appeal.

Kat moved in closer to Hunter, her body slowing with the change from a fast paced song to a ballad. The guitar quieted and she could hear the soft saw of a fiddle. It was the kind of music she loved, complex but gentle.

Complex, like Hunter. She wasn’t about to give up, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. His body close to hers was enough to make her lose her breath. She pushed the feelings down, reminding herself that this was business. But they would not be quenched. She could feel the distinct tingle between her legs. The characteristic twitch of her mound confirmed her arousal, making it all the harder to pay attention to anything but his musky scent and his brawny muscles.

Just breathe, girl.

She felt his hand splay out across her back, inching her yet closer to him. His warmth radiated against her as she welcomed the push, her body now against his. She could feel his ever delicious muscles. Even the bulging one in his pants.

She almost forgot to move when he touched her, lightly brushing up against her belly. Teasing her with his touch. She wasn’t the one in control anymore, and he knew it. She could tell by the smirk on his face.

He bent down towards her, his lips just barely touching the soft skin on her ear. “What’s your angle? Because I am pretty sure you have my attention.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” She knew her nose was scrunched when she asked that, but she really was confused.

“You came to talk business, Kat. Not pleasure. But if you want to mix the two, I am sure I can oblige.” He reached up into her hair and threaded his fingers through her dark chestnut locks.

“Business. I came to talk business.”

“I can respect that.” Hunter looked her over, his eyes focusing on her, but it wasn’t sexual, it was the opposite. He sneered at her the same way a rider would sneer at an ornery bull. She was an advisory.

“I already pay for your services, for your facility, and your coaches. What would make me want to take you up as a sponsor?” Hunter asked, “besides flirt at me if I don’t do what you want.”

“Well, all those things would be provided at little or no cost to you, depending on which package you select, and the number of outside sponsors we are able to pull in…” She had been rehearsing this speech since she first took over the business, but it wasn’t coming out as smoothly as it had in the past. Everything about him made her confused.