Page 8 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

‘Now, now, there’s no need to get so snappy.’ No longer able to stop himself from cracking a smile, he flashed her his trademark grin, hoping that would win her over. ‘But I’m just going to put it down to the fact that you seem to be having a really crappy day.’

She almost smiled.

He slid his thumbs into his belt loops. The country charm his grandfather had taught him appeared to be working – chivalry had been Jack Parker’s number-one rule. ‘Do you remember bumping into me the other day at the agriculture store?’

‘Of course I do.’ But her face spoke otherwise – she was clearly distressed and distracted by her unobliging horse.

‘Thanks.’ He hesitated, but only for a second. ‘Hey, do you want to come and have a beer with me?’ He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, while he waited patiently for an answer that never came. ‘Righto then, I’ll take that as a yes.’

‘Will you now?’ Her lips twitched into a smile, and cute dimples danced on her cheeks. ‘That’s very presumptuous of you, don’t you reckon, Mr Ty Parker?’

‘Oh, you do know my name.’

She blushed a little, then shrugged to cover it up. ‘Just like everyone else on the rodeo scene.’

‘Fair enough. Well, it’s nice to formally meet you, Miss Rose Jones.’ After hearing her name announced over the speakers today, he had locked it into his brain, and the look on her face told him she clearly liked it.

He took a small step forward. ‘I watched you out in the arena today, and I have to say, I’ve never seen anyone, especially a woman, ride like that.’ He widened his eyes to hit the fact home. ‘With no fear, like you have balls of steel.’

‘I don’t have balls, and women can ride just as good, if not better, than you blokes.’ Her gaze narrowed – there was a lot of crackle and zing behind her cool regard of him. ‘And FYI, I know you’re last year’s bull-riding champion, but I didn’t have time to watch you ride tonight, so I have no idea if you won.’

‘Yeah, I won,’ he said as casually as he could. He sensed this woman was not one to be impressed by showmanship, nor was he one to flash his achievements about.

‘Congrats,’ she said just as casually.

‘So, you ready for that beer?’ Her smile was so slow and so sexy he wanted more of wherever it had just come from.

She smirked playfully. ‘Like I said – presumptuous.’

‘Ha.’ His chuckle came from deep within. ‘In my line of work, I don’t assume anything. I just assess the risk and do what feels right in the moment.’

‘Hmm, good answer.’ She looked to her horse. ‘I’ll just hitch this one to the trailer and load him when I get back.’ She led the gelding down the side of it. ‘He’ll have to get over his little strop about getting into a float that’s not his.’

‘Righto, sounds like a plan,’ Ty called after her as she disappeared into the darkness.

Something told him this mesmerising woman was going to shake his life up a little … or maybe a whole lot. And he wasn’t about to walk away without putting his best boot forward to suss out the feeling she’d skittered beneath his skin without an ounce of effort.

CHAPTER

3

As Rose stepped into the Bull Bar, Ty close by her side, she couldn’t help but notice the many sets of eyes turning in their direction. Groups of girls whispered as they passed and some of the blokes raised their beers.

Rose knew she should have gone straight home. Word around the barrel-racing camp was that Ty Parker was a bit of a Casanova, and she was possibly playing with fire by accepting his offer for a drink. Then again, if it got back to Finley, it might make his brown eyes turn green. Not that she was one for believing gossip, but womanising did tend to go with a bull rider’s territory, and Ty was extremely good-looking. Not that she was going to fall for this man’s charms, no way, Jose. She might have been down and out right now, but she knew what she was worth.

On the flip side, no matter that she would not be jumping in his swag at the end of the night, she could still admire his handsomeness and enjoy the fact it was her, out of all the women at the rodeo, he’d asked for a drink. Although being seen with one of the most prominent guys in the rodeo scene felt odd, she firmly reminded herself that she wasn’t doing anything wrong – she was officially single, as of four days ago.

With the Bull Bar chock-full, Ty took the lead like a true gentleman and made a path for her to walk through. Loads of people said a quick g’day as he passed, and he’d tip the rim of his hat in response. Having fallen in step behind him, she couldn’t help but smirk at his loose-hipped swagger – a telltale sign of a true-blue cowboy if she’d ever seen one. Couple that with his oversized champion belt buckle, black wide-brimmed hat, butt-hugging Wrangler jeans and carefree come-hither smile, and wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am, he was as ridgy-didge as a bull rider came, although his build and height said otherwise. That part intrigued her. Most bull riders on the circuit these days were short, lanky and barely twenty. Add in the fact he’d once been a soldier, and it was no wonder almost every woman in the place was sneaking glances or flat-out flirting – not that he was giving any of them the time of day. That gave her a much-needed buzz, knowing she held the attention so many were vying for.

Reaching the bar, he plucked a cowhide wallet from his back pocket and leant into her space. ‘It’s my shout. What would you like?’

As much as she tried to ignore the headiness of his manly aftershave, or the way his megawatt smile made her belly somersault, she simply couldn’t. Get a damn grip woman!

‘I’ve got money, I can pay for my own.’ As she dug in her pocket for the fifty dollars she’d shoved in there earlier, she mentally slapped herself for allowing his charm to work on her so quickly.

‘Oh, come on now.’ He stood back and looked at her as if she’d lost her marbles. ‘I asked you for a drink, so it’s only fair I buy the first round.’

How could she say no to that beseeching expression? ‘Righto, thanks. I’ll have a CC and dry.’