Whirlwind (The Champions 1)

For now, it might be best not to tell her.

As she passed the hallway off the chutes, she spotted Shane. He’d taken off his vest and chaps and was just finishing an interview with a pretty, blond reporter from the sports network. Lexie’s first impulse was to turn and go the other direction. But that would be the coward’s way out. Sportsmanship demanded that she congratulate him on the ride. And she wouldn’t mind needling him about Chip Harris’s offer. With that offer as a backup, Brock would have no chance to own Whirlwind.

The reporter finished her interview, leaving Shane alone. Brock was nowhere in sight, which struck Lexie as odd. She’d expected him to be hovering around his star cowboy, demanding his share of the spotlight.

Before she could call out to Shane, he turned and saw her. Uncertainty flashed across his face. Then he managed a guarded smile. Beyond the chutes, out in the arena, the crowd was cheering another rider. But the air here, between the two of them, seemed strangely quiet.

“Hi, Lexie.” He broke the silence. She cleared her throat.

“Hi. I just wanted to congratulate you. That was a great ride.”

“Thanks. Whirlwind gave it to me. He was amazing.”

“I was hoping he’d dump you in the dirt.”

“I know you were. But a ninety-point ride will get your bull more press than a buck-off.”

“And it won’t hurt your press either.” The sting of his betrayal, after that tender kiss, was still raw. “I imagine your boss is pretty proud of you. But I’ve got something for you to pass on to him. I’ve received another offer for Whirlwind—an offer from Chip Harris. I’ve no plans to sell our bull, but if I do, it’ll be to him. So you can tell Brock—”

“Lexie—” He cut her off.

“I’m not finished. You can tell Brock I said he could go to—”

“Lexie, listen, damn it! I’m not going to tell Brock anything. I’m not working for him anymore.”

“What?” Lexie stared at him.

“Brock ordered me to take a dive—literally—and fall off Whirlwind out of the gate, so Harris wouldn’t get to see him buck. My answer was the one word Brock can’t stand to hear. I told him no.”

“So he fired you?”

“It was more like mutual agreement. I get to take the trailer and the two bulls back to the ranch. After that I’ll be packing my truck and driving out the gate for good.” He took off his hat and ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. “It was time. I feel like I can finally breathe.”

“Well.” Lexie was still trying to wrap her mind around his news. “Congratulations, I guess.”

“Thanks. And there’s one more thing I feel free to do,” Shane said. “I’m hoping you’ll join me for a late-night dinner after the competition—to celebrate your bull, my ride, and my freedom. Please say yes.”

He looked as appealing as a puppy. Still, Lexie hesitated. One red flag was down—Shane wasn’t with Brock anymore. But the other red flag was still flying. She’d vowed never to get involved with a bull rider. And something told her that sharing an intimate late-night dinner with this man would be putting her heart at risk.

Still, without being mean-spirited, she had no excuse to turn him down. Earlier she’d thought about leaving, but if Aaron had been drinking at the casino, she wouldn’t want him on the road. She could always sleep in the truck. She’d done it before and managed fine. It might not be comfortable, but at least, with the doors locked, it would be safe.

“You’re taking a long time to think about this,” Shane said.

“Sorry,” Lexie said. “I’m just trying to cover all the bases before I say yes.”

“As long as it’s yes, that’s fine with me.”

“Don’t plan on any place fancy. These clothes are all I brought.”

“Me, too, pretty much. You’ll be fine.” He grabbed her hand. “Hey, let’s go sit down and watch some bull riding. We’ll want to see if anybody beats my score—and Whirlwind’s.”

“You’ve got seats?”

“I’ve got seats. Come on.”

She took a moment to call Aaron and tell him to be at the truck in the morning. Then she let Shane lead her to a pair of what had to be some of the most expensive seats in the house, right above the bucking chutes.

“To tell the truth, these are Brock’s seats,” he said, “but he’s leaving town and won’t be using them tonight. Guess I might as well enjoy the perks while I’ve still got them.”