Curves and the Rodeo Star (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 4)

  Curves and the Rodeo Star (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 4)

  by

  Jenn Roseton

  Copyright © 2013 by Jenn Roseton

  All rights reserved

  No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

  This is a sexy contemporary romance novelette.

  Cover Art by Diana Carlile

  “Good job, boy,” Emma murmured as she left the dusty ring, the faint fragrance of dirt and horses teasing her senses. The chestnut quarter horse whickered softly as she led him to the trailer, the June sun beating down on them. She thought she’d had a good chance of winning the barrel racing at the Coldwater Springs rodeo, but her timing had been slightly off. It wasn’t Pirate’s fault.

  “Hey, Emma!” She turned around to see Sarah McCord, a curvy brunette, waving at her.

  “Hi, Sarah.” She smiled in response and walked over to Sarah and her cousin Libby, a voluptuous blonde.

  “Hello, handsome,” Libby crooned, holding her hand out for Pirate to sniff. “He really does look like a pirate with that white patch over his eye.”

  “Congratulations on coming second.” Sarah joined Libby in making a fuss of Pirate. “You looked good out there.”

  Emma smiled wryly. “Thanks. I know it’s not the National Finals, but I still wanted to win.”

  “Sarah told me you’ve won practically every year since she was in high school.”

  Emma’s cheeks warmed and she patted Pirate’s neck. “We both like winning.”

  Libby waggled her left hand in front of Emma. “Ahem.”

  Sarah chuckled. “She’s been doing that with everyone she hasn’t seen in a while.”

  Emma gazed at the sparkling cushion cut diamond ring on Libby’s finger, then smiled at the blonde. “Are you engaged, Libby?”

  Libby grinned. “The wedding is set for September.” She stared at her ring. “I’ve been engaged for four months and I don’t think I’ll ever stop admiring it.”

  “You’ll have to stop admiring it next week, so you can concentrate on sending out the invitations,” Sarah reminded her.

  “You’re right.” Libby patted Pirate, then grinned. “You’re invited, Emma.”

  “Thanks.” Emma smiled in pleasure. “Are Cassie and Luke back from their honeymoon yet?”

  Sarah shook her head. “They’re coming back next week.”

  “Aruba.” Libby sighed dreamily. “I hope Jake is taking me somewhere like that.”

  “Oh?” Emma raised her eyebrows.

  “He wants to surprise me.” Libby giggled. “He knows I love surprises.”

  “Hey, Emma!” A burly man approached the trio. “A guy’s been looking for you. He was over by the holding area.”

  “Thanks, Fred.”

  The man nodded and continued on his way.

  Emma shrugged. “I have no idea who could be looking for me. I guess I better take Pirate back to the trailer.”

  “Bye, Pirate.” Libby patted the horse one last time.

  Emma led her horse back to the area that housed the competitors’ trailers. Once she rubbed down Pirate, she’d check out the holding area and see who was looking for her. Maybe someone was interested in agisting their horse.

  “I’ll be back soon, boy.” Emma put away her grooming kit and took a long swallow of water. Checking that Pirate was secure in the trailer, she turned in the direction of the holding area.

  “Emma Banks?”

  She blinked. Six feet of pure male blocked her way, dwarfing her height of five foot six. His dark russet brown hair brushed his denim shirt collar, while his emerald green eyes looked at her assessingly. A hint of five o’clock shadow graced his ruggedly handsome face, and his broad shoulders filled out his denim shirt nicely. Appearing to be in his early thirties, his faded jeans clung to his leanly muscled hips and thighs, ending in practical, dusty boots.

  “Yes?” Her stomach fluttered. He was the finest looking man she’d seen in a while.

  Cade frowned at the woman standing in front of him. Her honey blond hair was tied back in a practical braid touching her shoulder blades. Heat stirred in his lower body as he realized he’d been silently cheering her on in the barrel racing, admiring her skill. Her jeans and light purple long-sleeved western shirt clung to her luscious, ripe figure in all the right places.

  He cleared his throat when he realized he’d been staring, and met her eyes. Violet. Damn.

  “Bernie Smithell hired me to train his horse. He said he’s agisting him at your place.”

  She wrinkled her brow. “And you are?”

  “Sorry.” He held out his hand. “Cade Winters.”

  She placed her small hand in his large, strong one. A shot of warmth ripped through him. His tanned fingers enclosed hers.

  “Bernie hasn’t mentioned you.”

  He held onto her hand a few seconds longer than necessary before reluctantly letting it go. “Bernie called me last night, asking me to train Shadow. He said he’d call you today about it.”

  “Let me check my phone.” Emma rummaged through her bag until she found her cell phone. Turning it on, she saw a missed call from Bernie and played back the brief message.

  Putting her phone away, she smiled at him politely. “I haven’t seen you around Coldwater before.”

  “I’ve been getting that a lot,” he said wryly. “I’ve just bought the Henderson place on Coldwater Road. Chase McCord can vouch for me.”

  “You know Chase?”

  He grinned. “Chase and I met at the rodeo here about ten years ago. He beat me by a split second in the bull riding.”

  The corners of her mouth tilted upwards. “Chase always was great in the ring.”

  “I heard he got married.”

  Emma nodded. “A year ago. I talked to his wife earlier.” She waited for him to respond, but for a few seconds he just gazed at her. She hoped she didn’t have a big dirt smudge on her face and he didn’t know how to tell her.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “So about Shadow. Bernie wants me to start ASAP.”

  “How about tomorrow? Shadow’s in the south pasture.”

  “Nine o’clock okay?”

  “Sure.” She usually got up at 6.30 to feed the horses. By nine, she’d be breakfasted, showered and dressed.

  “Bernie mentioned you live on Mountain Road.”

  “Yep. 1247. The number’s on the gate.”

  “I’ll guess I’ll see you then.” He turned to leave, then swiveled back. “Good riding today.”

  He’d watched her compete? Her face flushed. “Thanks.”

  ###

  Emma turned off the alarm clock. Getting up at 6.30 in the morning in summer wasn’t nearly as bad as in the winter. At least it was light outside.

  Pulling on her clothes, she thought about her phone conversation with Chase last night. He’d confirmed that Cade was whom he claimed to be and that he had a natural affinity with horses. He’d also been pretty successful on the professional rodeo circuit, until he’d retired two years ago. That had set her mind at rest; then she remembered what Cade looked like.

  Six tall feet of yummy.

  She told herself not to think about him in that way. At twenty-eight, she’d had a few boyfriends, but hadn’t yet met the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. One day she hoped to discover the same kind of happi
ness Sarah, Libby and Cassie had found, although sometimes she wished that day would hurry up and get here.

  Emma made a face at herself in the mirror. She guessed it would happen when the time was right. Maybe there just weren’t that many guys around who preferred generously proportioned women. Apart from Chase, Jake and Luke.

  Emma made sure she’d fed the horses, showered, and dressed well before nine o’clock. She’d just put the breakfast dishes away when she heard a vehicle pull up outside the house.

  A dusty white pickup parked in the driveway. She watched Cade exit the vehicle before she stepped back from the window, not wanting him to catch her peeking.

  She opened the front door just a few seconds after he knocked. “Hey. Just thought I’d let you know I was here.” He rocked back on his heels.

  Emma swallowed, taking in his muscular body clad in a blue long-sleeved shirt and jeans. Definitely six tall feet of yummy. “Thanks.” She tried not to think about what he would look like with his shirt off. She did not want to blush.

  “Shadow’s in the south pasture?”

  “Yes. The black quarter horse.” She gestured to the left of the house where Shadow munched on lush grass.

  “How many horses have you got here?”

  Somehow, she’d fallen into step beside him as they walked over to Shadow. “I’m agisting five horses at the moment as well as breeding quarter horses.”

  He looked at her with respect. “How long have you been doing that?”

  She shrugged. “Six years. Ever since I graduated college and came back home.”

  “This is all yours?” His eyes scanned the large pasture where several horses grazed.

  “My parents’,” she admitted. “They retired and moved to Florida a few months ago, to see if they’d like living there permanently. But the stud farm and agisting is all mine.”

  “How's it going?”

  Emma decided she might as well be honest. “Slowly. I have one stallion and two mares, but I’m planning on buying another mare in a few months’ time.”

  “And you do this full time?”

  “I have a part-time job at the feed store,” she confessed. “I work there Thursdays and Fridays.”

  “What about the horse you rode yesterday?” He turned to look at her, his green eyes gleaming with interest.

  A smile touched her lips. “Pirate? I’ve had him for ten years. He was a combined graduation and birthday present from my parents.”

  “He’s a good looking horse.”

  When Cade looked at her like that, she didn’t know what to say. He’s only interested in the horses, she scolded herself. Why would he be interested in you? He’s just being nice, making conversation. But she couldn’t help the ripple of awareness that told her she was in the company of a very attractive male.

  “Have you got horses?” The instant the words came out of her mouth she nibbled her lip, hoping he wouldn’t think it was a dumb question.

  His gaze dropped to her lips for an instant before he answered. “One. Spirit, my old rodeo horse.”

  “Chase told me you’ve competed for years.”

  “Until a couple of years ago.” His answer was abrupt.

  They walked in silence the rest of the way to the south pasture. It sounded like Cade didn’t want to talk about being on the rodeo circuit and Emma didn’t like to appear nosy.

  Shadow ambled over to Emma, asking with a woofle if she’d brought him a treat.

  “Not this morning, boy.” She patted the handsome colt. “Cade is going to teach you a few things today.”

  “Hey, Shadow.” Cade held out his hand for the horse to sniff. Shadow lowered his head, allowing the man to scratch behind his ears.

  “I guess I’ll leave you to it.” Shadow looked happy in the trainer’s company and Cade had the air of a man who knew what he was doing. She could always keep an eye on them surreptitiously while she completed her morning chores.

  “Thanks for introducing us,” Cade tossed over his shoulder as Emma walked toward the barn. She waved a friendly hand in reply.

  Emma couldn’t stop thinking about Cade all morning. While she shoveled horse manure, cleaned out stalls and polished Pirate’s saddle and bridle, the man kept cropping up in her thoughts. Although Chase had vouched for him, she didn’t know anything about him except he used to compete on the rodeo circuit and now trained horses.

  She wondered if he was single. Chase hadn’t mentioned that. When Cade had been on the circuit, he’d probably have been able to have his pick of rodeo groupies. Emma looked down at her white t-shirt and faded jeans and sighed. They probably hadn’t had a figure like hers, well proportioned with generous breasts. No matter how many chores she did, she couldn’t seem to whittle down her curves.

  Maybe he likes curves.

  Firmly putting that fantasy out of her mind, Emma replaced Pirate’s bridle on the hook. Looking up at the shelf above the bridles, she decided now was the perfect time to clean a disused bridle that was practically an antique. She’d been putting it off for a long time because the shelf was so high up, but today she didn’t have any excuses.

  Fetching an empty metal bucket, Emma turned it upside down and hopped up on it. She stretched her arms up, but two inches remained between her and the bridle. Standing on tiptoe closed the gap by one inch. Maybe if she jumped up, she’d be able to snag it. If she couldn’t get it the first time, she’d go and get the stepladder from the garage.

  Hands outstretched, she jumped, her fingers grazing the bridle just as she heard a muttered exclamation.

  “What are you doing?” The roughly spoken words sent a shiver down her spine as large hands grasped her around the waist.

  Startled, she jerked in his arms, emitting a low shriek. He grasped her tightly, smelling of horse, soap and hay in a tantalizing combination.

  Emma relaxed slightly when she realized it was Cade holding her. “You can let go.” Her feet were back on the upturned bucket, but the bridle still dangled out of reach, taunting her.

  “So you can jump up again? I don’t think so.” His growl stirred the delicate nerve endings in her ear.

  “I almost had it.” Her pulse pounded. His arms still wrapped around her, she realized she hadn’t been this close to a man for a while. A good long while.

  “I’ll get it for you.” One arm released her waist as he easily reached up to the top shelf.

  “No, I can do it.” She was used to doing things for herself. She sprang up, ignoring the strong arm still clasping her waist.

  “Oof!”

  She fell backwards, landing on her butt. Cade lay sprawled on the dusty floor next to her, and she realized one of her legs rested on top of his. She jerked her leg away and glared at him.

  “What did you do that for?”

  “Do what?” He rose to a sitting position, dusting off his shirt.

  “You know what.” Her eyes narrowed.

  “Try to help you?” Cade rose and extended a hand to her, biting back a grin.

  Emma saw the humorous expression on his face and scowled. “Don’t you dare laugh.” Wiping her palms on her jeans, she scrambled to her feet, ignoring his outstretched hand. She hoped her breasts hadn’t jiggled with her hasty movement. “I would have grabbed the bridle if you hadn’t interfered.”

  “That’s not what it looked like to me.” He shook his head, a glimmer of amusement on his face.

  She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Oh? And what exactly did it look like to you?”

  “It looked like you were doing something foolish.” His eyes glinted at her, suddenly losing their humor.

  “Is that right?”

  “Yeah. That’s right. You could have fallen.” He frowned.

  “I did fall. Thanks to you.” Her crossed arms tensed.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Only because you insisted on jumping up again.”

  Emma’s lips tightened. The man was infuriating. She picked up the bucket lying on its side and put it down in front of the sh
elf.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” Cade reached up and snagged the bridle from the top shelf. “Here.” He held it out to her.

  “Thanks,” she muttered, not particularly caring if she did sound ungracious. Everything had been under control until he had entered the barn and tried to take over.

  “You’re welcome.” A hint of cockiness played around his lips

  She took a deep breath and straightened her spine, wondering if he was picturing her lying on her butt. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a bridle to clean.”

  He waved a hand in front of him. “Be my guest.”

  Picking up some cloths and a tin of saddle soap, Emma walked over to the battered wooden table in one of the empty stalls. Expertly unbuckling the bridle, she placed the bit to one side. In a few minutes she’d fetch a bucket of warm water from the house.

  “Got enough rags?”

  She felt his presence behind her before he spoke. Her gaze flashed to the four rags in front of her. “Yes.”

  He picked up the tin of soap and took off the lid. “Sure you’ve got enough left in here? That leather looks like it needs a lot of cleaning.”

  She gritted her teeth, trying not to let her irritation show. “I’m sure.” Rubbing the cloth over the old leather, she tried to tune him out, but his nearness distracted her.

  He peered over her shoulder, his body almost touching hers. “Missed a spot.” His forefinger touched a loop that had a speck of dirt remaining.

  Emma bit the inside of her lip. “Haven’t you got a horse to train?” Was he trying to aggravate her on purpose?

  “Finished for the day.” His voice held a touch of smugness. “That’s why I came in here, to let you know I’d be back tomorrow.”

  “Fine.” She kept her eyes fixed on the bridle in front of her.

  “I’ve always used this technique.” He covered her hand with his. “Longer strokes are better.”

  A sensual thrill ran down her spine when his fingers touched hers. He took control of her hand, moving it in long, slow strokes over the dark leather. For a second, she allowed herself to become lost in the moment.

  She shook off his hand. “I’ve been cleaning bridles for twenty years. I think I know what I’m doing.”