Read Online Rodeo Romance (Contemporary Western Romance Short) by Teresa Gabelman - Free Book Online Page A

leading her closer to the fire.
    She sat on the quilt he’d spread as he sat across from her. Pulling a container out of the cooler, he lifted the lid and the aroma of fried chicken filled her senses.
    “Beer or water?” he asked, pulling out a beer, but looked to her for an answer.
    “Water.” She smiled, wishing she could have said beer, but she had a strong feeling she needed to keep her wits about her. Her eyes scanned down his handsome face to a body that promised many temptations. Maybe she should have said a beer, but before she could change her mind, he spoke.
    “So, Trisha Summers, tell me about yourself.” Jake handed her a piece of chicken before biting into a piece of his own.
    Trisha shrugged. “Not much to tell. Nothing as exciting as being a rodeo star and running a ranch.”
    Jake snorted. “I’m no rodeo star. Who you been talking to?”
    “Jeb.” Trisha laughed.
    Shaking his head, he grabbed another piece of chicken. “I swear he’s worse than a bunch of old women with all his gossiping.”
    “He thinks the world of you and your brother,” Trisha added.
    “But he talks too much,” Jake grumbled with a fond smile. “Enough with that. Now about you. What do you do when you’re not signing up to work on a dude ranch?”
    “I teach high school history.” She picked at her chicken.
    Jake whistled low. “Why in the hell didn’t I have teachers who looked like you when I was in high school?” His eyes roamed her face intimately, causing her to flush. “I would have paid better attention and gotten better grades, that’s for sure.”
    “So you’re telling me you were a bad student?” she teased, trying to take the focus off herself.
    “Let’s just say being stuck in a classroom all day wasn’t something I looked forward to.” He grinned then looked around. “I was made to be outdoors.”
    Nodding, Trisha agreed. Even though she didn’t know him all that well, she knew he spoke the truth. “So are you participating in the rodeo?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Although he looked more relaxed as they sat talking, she could see the excitement in his eyes. “I’ll be bull riding. It holds the biggest purse.”
    Trisha shivered. She had seen bull riding on television and wondered if she’d even be able to watch. She didn’t even know the guys riding the massive bulls on television and had to look away most of the time. Now personally knowing someone was a whole different story.
    “What?” He laughed at her shiver. “Worried about me?”
    “Well, of course I am.” She frowned. “It’s dangerous.”
    “So is getting in my truck and driving down the road,” he replied, finishing off another piece of chicken.
    “But doesn’t it make you nervous with what happened with Tim?” Her frown deepened.
    Jake stopped searching for more food to look up at her. “Jeb?”
    “He told me what happened because I asked.” She didn’t want to get poor Jeb in trouble. “Isn’t there another way for you to get the money for bills?”
    Jake tossed the piece of chicken down he had just picked up. “Actually, no there isn’t. Ranching isn’t like it used to be. We budget, but when something like this happens, budgeting goes to hell. This rodeo helps with the medical bills and…” Jake stopped with a frown of his own.
    “And?” Trisha prodded, wondering why he stopped.
    He scooted closer to her. “And, I have no idea why I’m talking about bills and ranching when I have a beautiful woman sitting in front of me.”
    His scent overwhelmed her—all-male with a hint of leather, outdoors and horse. Clearing her throat, she forced herself not to look away. She wanted this to happen. She wanted him to kiss her even after everything that had happened in her past. She wanted this.
    “So, what do you want to talk about?” Her voice trembled.
    “Most cowboys say talking is overrated.” Jake leaned closer, his eyes so intense it was as if he was seeing into her soul.
    “I think Jeb would