Dare You to Resist the Bull Rider (Rock Valley High 4)

He faked a hurt expression, placing a hand on his heart. “You even have to ask that question? I take my role as your white knight very seriously. The valiant blue steed agrees.”

Patting the dashboard, he shot me another crooked grin. Immediately, something inside of me seemed to pulsate with need. It was a strange and powerful sensation, as if I hadn’t eaten for a year. Gulping for breath, I kept my eyes glued to the road as he put the truck into drive and pulled out of the library parking lot.

“So...where we going?”

My voice wasn’t quite as steady as usual. I could only hope Hunter didn’t notice. The last thing I needed was for him to get weirded out by the strange things happening to my body when I was around him. Apparently, I needed to have a stern conversation with myself about what was appropriate around my best friend.

“Hope you don’t mind, but I invited some of the rodeo guys over tonight for a backyard campfire,” he said, his eyes trained on the road. “They’re already there, getting the burgers started on the grill.”

I threw the back of my hand against my forehead and pretended to swoon in my seat. “Me and twenty cute cowboys all to myself? What’s a girl to do?”

He glanced at me and then back at the road. “You don’t...like one of them, do you?”

I snorted and watched the houses flying by my window. “Not a chance. If I want someone that smells like leather, I’ll cuddle my dog, Princess, and her toy football.”

“Good one,” he replied with a dry laugh.

Silence fell upon the truck. I glanced over at Hunter to see the muscles in his jaw working as he stared hard out the windshield. I wished I could read his mind. There was a time not that long ago when I’d have known exactly what was going on inside of that head of his.

“Mind if I invite Lexi and Beth?” I asked, pulling my phone out of my pocket. They were still in hot water over this whole competition thing, but I was pretty sure they’d never forgive me if I didn’t get them an invite. “They’d love to drool over your friends.”

He nodded. “Mom will like that. She was complaining about having too much testosterone in the house tonight.”

I laughed. That sounded like Bree. A few minutes after I shot a quick text off to the girls, we pulled up to Hunter’s house. There were several beat-up pickups parked along his road, a sure sign that the cowboy convention was in town. The F-150 in front of his house had a bleached deer skull and rack attached to its front grill. I shuddered at the sight and jumped out of the truck, thankful that at least Hunter hadn’t become that country since his time away.

The deer skull could go. The weirdly attractive cowboy hat could stay.

“They’re out back,” Hunter said, rounding the truck. “Come on, I’ll hunt you down a burger with pickles before they’re all gone.”

I grabbed his arm and looped mine around it with a sigh as we started

heading toward the side gate to his backyard. This was so much better than basket weaving. “Hunter McNally, you sure do know the way to a girl’s heart.”

He tossed his head back and laughed. The sound of it made my heart thrill.

“Char, I’m pretty sure you’re the only girl that would be won over by a burger and pickles.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But you remember what I like, and that’s what counts.”

He stopped in front of the gate to unlatch it. The intense look he shot me sent a bolt of electricity to my stomach. “You act like you’re so forgettable. Pretty sure no one could ever forget anything about you. Especially me.”

His sweet words brought tears to my eyes. I sighed and then reached up to wrap my arms around his neck in a tight hug. It was no wonder I’d been so miserable this past year. Hunter knew just how to make me feel better—unlike anyone else.

“Have I mentioned I’m glad you’re home?” I whispered in his ear, inhaling the scent of his cologne.

“Me, too,” he said gruffly.

He wrapped his arms around my torso, his large hands splaying on the small of my back. The soft, tickling warmth of his breath against my neck made goosebumps break out all over my skin. All those hard, sinewy muscles he’d gotten from working on his grandpa’s ranch were pressed against me as he tightened his arms around my waist. I found myself not wanting to let go. Hunter made me feel safe and...like me again. As if the last few months hadn’t happened. Staying like this forever would’ve been just fine with me.

But then the gate swung wide open, revealing Bree with a plate full of hamburgers in her hands. Her eyes widened in surprise as we disentangled ourselves. I tried not to look guilty when I shot her a smile. What was there to feel guilty about? I used to hug Hunter all the time. I was the huggy type. She knew that.

“Hey, kiddos,” she said, her face returning to an unnaturally neutral expression. “I thought I heard someone drive up. Didn’t realize it was you. Party’s out back.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I saluted her with two fingers and immediately regretted it. Who did that? Definitely not me. I was losing my mind. “I’ll just head on back.”

“Go on ahead, Char,” she said, stepping aside for me. “I’d just like a quick word with my son before we serve the food.”

I shuffled through the gate at a nearly super-human pace to avoid any more awkwardness. The McNallys’ backyard, entirely enclosed by a six-foot wooden slat fence, had a flagstone patio, a steel fire pit, and a rusty old swing set. It wasn’t a big yard, but it was just enough to accommodate the two-dozen or so 4H kids milling around with drinks in their hands.