Page 58 of Buckin' Around

I chuckle. “I think you used it wrong.”

His gaze slides to me. “Apparently.”

Ivy babbles away on the bed, seemingly happier now that her bottom is clean and bare. The bed moves as she kicks and wriggles.

“Riley . . .” Spencer starts.

“It’s okay. I think I overreacted.”

He scoffs a laugh. “You think?”

“No. Yes... ? I don’t know. I hate that Ivy is a dirty little secret for you.”

He rolls over, placing the powder bottle on the floor between us, and props his head on one hand, elbow slipping in the powder.

“I’m afraid that if it gets out, I won’t have the means to provide for her, you know. I am well aware of my nepo-baby life. I hate that it’s what I’ve let my life become.”

“So why don’t you build something of your own?”

He studies my expression for a beat before his hand reaches toward my face. He retracts it, inches shy of my cheek. “I wouldn’t know where to start. I thought for a little while that bull riding could be that. But even on a team, the income is not enough for this place.”

“Well, you do have very defining taste, Lockwood.”

His gaze wanders my face, tracks down my neck and back up to meet my own. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

Heat flushes my cheeks, and I clear my throat.

I rise from the powder and glance at the bed to make sure Ivy is secure. “I’ll get the vacuum.”

“Riley. Don’t.”

“It’s okay, Spencer. That’s what you pay me for.”

The way his face falls has me slipping on my socked, powder-ridden feet out the door and down the hallway.

Before something like feelings have the chance to catch up.

Chapter 15

Spencer

Riley’s gaze is set on me. Mine is homed in on the tons of rage between my legs. With some compromise, Riley and Ivy are watching me ride. She’ll drive back to the motel after the event. And we’ll take our own vehicles home tomorrow.

Everything about that scenario makes me feel like shit.

“Head in the game, Lockwood!” Levi calls out. Brades is hovering by the chute, concern warping his expression.

What? Do I have distracted dad written all over my face?

“Try to hold on this time, Ken doll,” Knox says, tugging the strapping around Terminator tighter.

Just my luck. On the night I can’t keep a straight head, I draw the meanest bull.

“Oh, and Lockwood. After tonight you can be expecting a call from the Bravos.” Levi is nodding at me with a stoic smile.

I made the cut?

Fuck.Way to get in my damn head, Levi.He probably thought that would get me to focus. Now all I can think of is what Riley said about building my own thing. My first glimpse at the slightest slip of light at the end of a tunnel that’s lined with my family’s baggage and insane expectations.