Rodeo Standoff. Susan Sleeman

      “It’s not my fault.” She lifted her chin and eyed him. “I was here first. Someone added the bull later. I didn’t even know it was here until I turned to leave.”

      Say what? “Bulls aren’t quiet creatures, so how’s that even possible?”

      She pointed at headphones circling her neck and turned to peer in the other direction. “I was in the middle of the arena, facing away from the gate. I left it open when I came in. No biggie as there isn’t supposed to be any livestock here at this hour.”

      She paused and shook her head. “Anyway, I was listening to the announcers call my past rodeos. It’s my pre-rodeo ritual every year. Get in here at sunrise each morning for a couple of days before livestock and participants arrive. Sit in the middle of the arena listening to the past rodeos to psyche myself up for the upcoming one.”

      “So who wants you dead, Tessa?”

      “Dead?” Her wide-eyed gaze met his. “No one that I know of.”

      “Well, someone does.”

      Her mouth fell open, and she gaped at him. “You think someone put the bull in here to kill me?”

      “Don’t you?”

      “Honestly, not until you mentioned it.” She shot a look around the area. “I mean I haven’t really had a chance to think about it. For someone to kill me, they would have to know I’d be here and I...” She clapped a hand over her mouth.

      “What?” he asked.

      “The local news did a story about me the other night. I mentioned this pre-rodeo ritual. Means plenty of people would know I’d be here today.” She bit down on her lip for a moment. “But still, murder? That’s a little far-fetched.”

      “C’mon, Tessa. You’re not thinking straight. We’re talking about a bucking bull weighing nearly a ton. Putting an animal like that in an enclosed ring with an unprepared person is tantamount to murder.”

      She wrung her hands together and tears looked imminent before she faced the chute where the bull was still shuffling around and huffing. A violent shudder claimed her body.

      She was upset now. He suspected it was far more than the near run-in with an angry bull. His blunt talk about murder was likely the cause, but he needed to be frank to get her to realize the danger she’d been in. The danger she could still be in.

      “I hate to admit it, but I guess you’re right.” She sighed. “Seems like someone did try to kill me, but why?”

      “Since this attempt involved a bull, we could be looking at one of your competitors.” He held up a hand when she looked like she planned to argue. “And before you think that’s too crazy, my years as a homicide detective prove that people don’t always think rationally. They commit murder for the craziest of reasons, and if they fail, they often try again until they succeed.”

      She looked at him then and stared, her full lips pursed. He’d had many a thought about those lips back in the day. She might have been more of a tomboy then, but her innocence had drawn him like a magnet. He’d never followed his attraction as he avoided serious relationships, and she seemed like a serious kind of woman.

      She swallowed hard. “You went into law enforcement?”

      “Austin PD.”

      She tilted her head in question. “I never pictured you as a cop.”

      “Never thought you pictured me at all.” He grinned at her.

      A flush of red surged over her face. How cute. She was still a breath of fresh air. He had to admit the fact that she’d given him more than a passing thought warmed his heart, and he widened his smile.

      She ran a hand over her hair as if embarrassed and she was trying to smooth it away. Even cuter.

      “Why law enforcement?” she asked.

      He was enjoying the innocent flirting, but he wouldn’t continue and make her more uncomfortable. “I was looking for the same adrenaline rush I got from bull riding.”

      “And did it pan out that way?”

      Thoughts of his former partner, Paul, going off on his own while hopped up on adrenaline came to mind. Paul had lost his life that day, and Braden started questioning his reasons for being a cop. Not something Tessa needed to know about, so he simply shook his head. “But I found out I loved the job and worked my tail off to move up to homicide detective. So I know what I’m talking about when I say you’re in danger. I noticed the lock to the gate was cut when I came in. Means we aren’t looking for someone with a key, but can you think of anyone who might be responsible?”

      “I’d hate to think one of my competitors would stoop this low just to stop me from winning again.”

      “Then who?”

      “I don’t know. Someone related to my job, maybe. I was a patrol deputy for years, and now I’m a crime scene investigator.”

      Explained the gun. “It’s a great possibility someone you arrested or you testified against is out to get you.” He made strong eye contact to drill home his next point. “Regardless of who is responsible, we need to proceed as if you’re still in danger until proved otherwise.”

      Her gaze wandered to the bull again, and she fanned her face. “I need to call Harley and tell him what happened.”

      Braden knew she meant Harley Grainger, President of the Lost Creek Rodeo Association, who’d also arranged to bring Braden in for the competition to help draw a bigger crowd.

      Tessa glanced at her watch and dug out her phone, then tapped the screen. “He’s not due in for an hour or so. He’ll want to get someone out here for the bull now, so I’m calling him. Then maybe I can figure out who the animal belongs to and how he got here, and you can be on your way.”

      “I’m not leaving your side,” Braden said, irritated that she was so eager to get rid of him. “Not when you could still be in danger.”

      She shot him a look of annoyance. “Don’t let my size fool you. I’m a deputy for crying out loud. I can take care of myself.”

      Yeah, Paul had made a similar statement, and Braden had vowed he’d never leave a person unprotected again. “It’s that kind of attitude that means I’ll stay right here until I’m sure you’re safe.”

       TWO

      Tessa may have met Braden today for the first time, but after just five minutes of conversation, it was clear that he thought he knew what was best for her, and he was the last guy she wanted hanging around. His actions reminded her of his pushy behavior and cocky attitude back in the day. He’d won championship after championship, and it was obvious to anyone looking that his confidence knew no bounds. He became a big rodeo celebrity, and women in every town had tried to grab his attention. She’d seen them fawn over him, and he’d done nothing to reject the attention.

      Just like her former boyfriend Jason. After she’d quit traveling the rodeo circuit to focus on school, he continued touring without her and cheated on her. She’d dumped him on the spot as soon as she found out, but the pain of his betrayal still lingered. Now here she was letting Braden’s rugged masculinity get to her. Letting his smile affect her. Well, no longer. If she ever dated again—a big if—she would never ever fall for a guy like Braden Hayes.

      She glanced at him as he stood watching the bull. His hands were jammed into the pockets of his faded jeans. He’d pulled his hat low again, looking like a real-life cowboy. He tilted his head, his gaze filled with longing. For the sport he left behind?

      Odd. He’d voluntarily retired at the height of his success, so why the melancholy?

      Maybe he was thinking about his last ride, a particularly