Unfortunately he wasn’t sure
how many were directed at him for impulsively taking her hand and how many were
as a result of the campaign ad. She yanked her hand out of his and then stood
there, still as a statue, as if to prove her nickname correct. He mourned the
loss of her warmth, knowing to the marrow in his bones she was no Ice Queen.
Nelson continued, oblivious to the complete lack of
animation on Leah’s face. “Isn’t it great? We’re going to be featuring the ads
on billboards, in selected magazines, and on the tour itself.” With every word
it was as if Leah drew further and further into herself while Brady could only
stand there and watch, his jaw clenching. “Anyway, both will be around this
afternoon for you to meet and take photos with, and later Leah will be signing
autographs while our champ here gets ready to face his eight seconds in the
ring.”
People began to disperse and Brady heard Leah expel a slow
breath. She turned to him. “I don’t say this very often, but I need a drink,”
she muttered. “Would you get me one, please?” Placing her hand on his arm, she
gazed into his eyes and he had to remind himself where they were before he
kissed her again.
“Of course, darlin’. What’ll you have?” He turned, tucking
her hand into the crook of his arm to lead her toward the bar and away from
Nelson. No way was he leaving her alone right now.
“Wine is good.” As they gained some distance, she glanced at
him again. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For getting me away from him. For supporting me. For
knowing it was upsetting me. I feel so foolish.”
“Why do you feel foolish, sweetheart?”
“I’ve been in this business long enough that stupid things
shouldn’t bother me. They should just roll off my back. I’ve been called ‘The
Ice Queen’ for so many years you’d think I wouldn’t even hear it anymore, but I
do. Sure, people can say it’s a play on words because I’m a skater, but you and
I both know it’s an insult.”
Before he could respond they were interrupted by a woman who
wanted to meet Leah. He watched her plaster on her professional smile and shake
the woman’s hand. Amazed she could turn on the charm that fast, he got their
drinks and hurried back to her side. After all, she may be able to turn on the
charm, but he wasn’t sure how long she could keep it up in an environment where
she felt so uncomfortable and he wanted to be there if she needed him. She
accepted the glass of wine, giving him what he knew was a genuine smile, and he
felt ten feet tall despite the smallness of the gesture.
He remained by her side for the duration of the party and was
sorry when he had to leave to get his gear ready to ride. Once back in the
riders’ area, though, he forced his attention to the task at hand. If he didn’t
prepare properly he could be killed. As David had said, he was the top-ranked
bull rider, but that could change in a second if he let his mind wander. He needed
to make hay while he could—a bull rider’s career was only as good as his next
ride and he needed money to be able to keep his ranch. It had taken all his
savings just to purchase and outfit the place and it needed a lot more work
before it would become the ranch he envisioned spending his retirement running.
As he pulled his bull rope and rosin out of his bag, he
blocked everything else out of his mind. When he was satisfied with his rope,
he checked all his other equipment—vest, mouthpiece, chaps, boots and spurs, to
make sure he had everything and that it was all ready to go. Then he took his
bag to the side of the arena near the chutes and found Conner and Jessica.
“Hey, man,” Conner said.
“Did you see what’s going on with Leah?” Jessica asked.
“No. Why? Is she all right?” Brady asked, his question
coming out sharper than he’d intended.
Conner smirked. “Calm down, Romeo. She’s fine. Just getting
mobbed.”
“What do you mean, getting mobbed?” He began to turn
how many were directed at him for impulsively taking her hand and how many were
as a result of the campaign ad. She yanked her hand out of his and then stood
there, still as a statue, as if to prove her nickname correct. He mourned the
loss of her warmth, knowing to the marrow in his bones she was no Ice Queen.
Nelson continued, oblivious to the complete lack of
animation on Leah’s face. “Isn’t it great? We’re going to be featuring the ads
on billboards, in selected magazines, and on the tour itself.” With every word
it was as if Leah drew further and further into herself while Brady could only
stand there and watch, his jaw clenching. “Anyway, both will be around this
afternoon for you to meet and take photos with, and later Leah will be signing
autographs while our champ here gets ready to face his eight seconds in the
ring.”
People began to disperse and Brady heard Leah expel a slow
breath. She turned to him. “I don’t say this very often, but I need a drink,”
she muttered. “Would you get me one, please?” Placing her hand on his arm, she
gazed into his eyes and he had to remind himself where they were before he
kissed her again.
“Of course, darlin’. What’ll you have?” He turned, tucking
her hand into the crook of his arm to lead her toward the bar and away from
Nelson. No way was he leaving her alone right now.
“Wine is good.” As they gained some distance, she glanced at
him again. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For getting me away from him. For supporting me. For
knowing it was upsetting me. I feel so foolish.”
“Why do you feel foolish, sweetheart?”
“I’ve been in this business long enough that stupid things
shouldn’t bother me. They should just roll off my back. I’ve been called ‘The
Ice Queen’ for so many years you’d think I wouldn’t even hear it anymore, but I
do. Sure, people can say it’s a play on words because I’m a skater, but you and
I both know it’s an insult.”
Before he could respond they were interrupted by a woman who
wanted to meet Leah. He watched her plaster on her professional smile and shake
the woman’s hand. Amazed she could turn on the charm that fast, he got their
drinks and hurried back to her side. After all, she may be able to turn on the
charm, but he wasn’t sure how long she could keep it up in an environment where
she felt so uncomfortable and he wanted to be there if she needed him. She
accepted the glass of wine, giving him what he knew was a genuine smile, and he
felt ten feet tall despite the smallness of the gesture.
He remained by her side for the duration of the party and was
sorry when he had to leave to get his gear ready to ride. Once back in the
riders’ area, though, he forced his attention to the task at hand. If he didn’t
prepare properly he could be killed. As David had said, he was the top-ranked
bull rider, but that could change in a second if he let his mind wander. He needed
to make hay while he could—a bull rider’s career was only as good as his next
ride and he needed money to be able to keep his ranch. It had taken all his
savings just to purchase and outfit the place and it needed a lot more work
before it would become the ranch he envisioned spending his retirement running.
As he pulled his bull rope and rosin out of his bag, he
blocked everything else out of his mind. When he was satisfied with his rope,
he checked all his other equipment—vest, mouthpiece, chaps, boots and spurs, to
make sure he had everything and that it was all ready to go. Then he took his
bag to the side of the arena near the chutes and found Conner and Jessica.
“Hey, man,” Conner said.
“Did you see what’s going on with Leah?” Jessica asked.
“No. Why? Is she all right?” Brady asked, his question
coming out sharper than he’d intended.
Conner smirked. “Calm down, Romeo. She’s fine. Just getting
mobbed.”
“What do you mean, getting mobbed?” He began to turn
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