Page 16 of Apple of My Eye

One second he was in the saddle. The next he was airborne, launching himself onto the steer with a force that knocked his hat off, his long locks flying free. I gasped at the sight. His powerful arms wrapped around the animal, his weight shifted, and in one explosive motion, he brought the animal down into the dirt.

The crowd erupted at this display of perfect cowboy showmanship.

I took it all in, while a hot coil spiraled inside of me. He rose to his feet, dust clinging to his chaps and shirt. He rolled his shoulders once and picked up his hat, and then—as if he felt the weight of my stare—his gaze lifted and found mine across the arena. With his hat, he pointed my way with a smoldering smile that could melt panties off anywoman.

Mine especially. Heat bloomed under my skin. My cheeks caught fire.

“He’s pointing at you, Daisy!” Poppy whooped.

“Nope. Plenty of other women around me,” I insisted.

Cheers rose again, people chanting his name. My focus stayed locked on him, on the way he moved, the control in his stride, the confidence of his ego.

He made his way over to us, while Dusty called for anyone to do breakaway roping.

“That’s me. Wish me luck,” Sage called and jumped down, giving a high five to Knox on her way. I was still trying to shake the image of him flying mid-air, all power and precision. He climbed up and sat on the top rail next to me.

“That was…” I started, then stopped, because I didn’t have a word for it that didn’t sound like an admission of just how much I’d been affected. And because the scent of a rugged cowboy hit me, earthy and arousing. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Your time was good. You ever think about going pro?”

He tipped his hat back, a hint of a grin tugging at his mouth. “Dabbled in amateur rodeos when I was in the military. Nothing serious. You impressed?”

I huffed a quiet laugh. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“What can I say? I’m multi-talented.” He winked.

I could see it there in the way his eyes dropped briefly to my mouth, like he was cataloging reactions the same way he did everything else about me. Like a traitor, my tongue shot out and licked them before I could stop myself.

“Speaking of talent…” Ivy interrupted from where she had returned on the other side of me. “You should see Daisy barrel race. Almost went pro several years back.”

“That right? Now I’m impressed,” Knox replied.

“You should get out there and show him, Daisy,” Poppy pressed.

I could ignore them because Sage timed her breakaway run perfectly. We all whooped and hollered for her. She rode fast and clean, lassoed the calf, and the rope snapped tight with a satisfying pop as the string broke free from the saddle horn. The crowd cheered, and she waved as she rode out, flushed and triumphant.

I thought that would be the end. I was wrong.

Ivy turned toward me with that look. “You’re next.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Oh, yes,” she replied, snapping her fingers toward the group of saddled horses. “Get her a good one, Knox.”

“Hell, yeah,” he hollered and ran off.

“What are you doing, Ivy? I haven’t run barrels in years,” I huffed and climbed down the fence, fully prepared to leave my own party.

“Then you’re overdue.”

“Overdue for hurting myself? I have responsibilities now, and businesses to run. I can’t afford to be laid up if I’m injured.”

“Are you scared?” Poppy quirked a brow. “Because I don’t recall ever seeing my big sister back down from a challenge. You’re the strongest woman I know.”

My mouth fell open. What could I do or say? When my youngest sister looked up to me, I couldn’t show fear now. Not that I was afraid of the horse, but more afraid to give up the control that I’d carefully constructed in my life since the day I became the head of my family.

Getting on horseback and riding like crazy around barrelsmeant letting go and trusting the animal beneath me not to let me down, and after being out of practice? No way.

But Knox was already leading Juniper over. Her ears flicked forward, eyes round and wild, energy humming through her like she knew exactly what was coming and welcomed it. I hesitated only a second longer before saying a prayer and climbing through the fence rails.