Hi Dear Reader!
Welcome back for chapter 8 of Second Chance with My Bull Rider. If you are just joining us, you can read Chapter 1 below.
Chapter 8 September 1st
Delilah
Working with this man might be the end of me. I wasn’t sure the stunt in his bedroom was on purpose or an accident, even when he claimed it was an accident. He leaned toward me and it seemed like he was going to kiss me. Even though a part of me was begging for him to kiss me, I couldn’t have that. I needed to protect my heart from him. He hurt it once before and I wasn’t going to do that again. I pushed his wheelchair down the hall towards the kitchen.
“Are you hungry or want to watch TV?” I asked.
He grunted in response. I wheeled him into the kitchen and put the fixings for sandwiches on the counter where he could reach them. My phone vibrated in my pocket. “I got to get this.” Melanie’s name lit up the screen. I walked out to the porch.
“Hey girl,” Melanie screeched through the phone. “I heard a rumor. Is it true?”
“Depends what the rumor is?” I twisted a long strand of hair around my finger as I leaned against a post, waiting on her to continue as cows meandered passed in the field.
“I heard that a certain bull rider is in town.” Her voice took on a sing-song sound.
“I heard that too,” I said, with a sigh. What was she getting at?
“I also heard he has a new nurse.” Melanie pressed on.
I wasn’t going to give into her. Instead, I said, “Kaleb said he had a lot of nurses.”
“Ha. I knew you knew things.” She laughed. She was probably pointing at me through the phone. “How are you talking to Kaleb nowadays?”
“I ran into him in the grocery store.” I pulled out some gum and popped it into my mouth. The peppermint flavor exploded on my tongue. Melanie was not going to let this one go.
“Come on, Delilah. Just tell me where you are. I went by the apartment to see you and your stuff is packed up.”
“Fine,” I rolled my eyes and snapped my gum. “I am at the Kisment ranch…Taking care of Kade.” Silence came from the other side. “Melanie.”
“Is that the smartest idea? Are you sure you can be in the same room as him?” I knew she was going to be worried. She found out about Kade and me a couple of months ago when Pete’s cows got out. Kade was in town for the rodeo and at Pete’s ranch when she briefly met him.
“Yes, we need this.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “It’s going to help get the riding stable off the ground. You won’t have to ask Pete or your parents to help us.”
“But at what cost?” Her voice was soft
“I’ll be fine.” That’s what I kept telling myself. “It was a long time ago.” Also, what I kept telling myself and maybe I will believe it one day.
“I’m worried about you, and I don’t want you to get hurt. If you ever need anything, give me a call. Love you.”
“Love you too. Melanie. Don’t worry it will be ok.”
A click sounded in my ear and I slipped it back into my pocket. My gum snapped when a clatter came in from the kitchen. Back to work, Delilah. I went back inside.
“What are you doing?” I swung open the screen door to see Kade straining toward the coffee pot, from the wheelchair.
The coffee maker was pushed up against the back wall and three inches from his fingertips. The knife block had tipped over scattering knives over the counter, and a couple of pots and pans were on the floor. Kade had a sheepish grin on his face as he glanced over at me.
“Making coffee. Do you want any?” He gripped the edge of the counter and inched towards the coffee pot. “I’m having problems reaching the coffee machine.”
“Just how were you going to put a filter in the pot?” I approached his side to stare at his clear blue eyes, for a moment.
Kade shrugged and snagged the pot with a long finger. “If you could pour the water, I will get the rest.”
I filled the reservoir with fresh water as he scooped the coffee grounds into the filter, sprinkling cinnamon on top before handing me the filter. I seated it in the coffee maker before turning it on. I raised my eyebrows at him.
“I remembered you like a little cinnamon in your coffee.” A smile pulled at the edges of his lips and his eyes crinkled.
After all these years and he remembered how I like my coffee! Then, he shrugged before settling further in the wheelchair and wheeling into the living room. “Bring the coffee when it is done.” He called over his shoulder.
The demand grated on my nerves as I tried not to grind my teeth. He was always so arrogant. But he remembered how I drank my coffee, and I wondered what else he remembered. I shook my head at the thought. To buy some time, I cleaned the kitchen as the coffee brewed, the knives went back in the block, the pots and pans were put away, and the counters scrubbed. The coffee maker buzzed as the last bit of the black liquid dripped into the large glass pot. The smell of coffee and cinnamon permeated throughout the house.
“Delilah, are you coming with that coffee? I heard it beep.” His voice demanded from the living room.
“Great. The annoying Kade was back,” I muttered as I poured each of us a mug and made my way into the living room.
He’d settled himself in the middle of the room staring at the bull riding event on the TV. He leaned forward in his chair taking the mug from me, wrapping his hands around the mug, and glancing at me before going back to the bulls and cowboys. I sank into the overstuffed recliner in the corner to savor my hot mug for a minute.
A cowboy in black chaps mounted a large white bull. The cowboy nodded as the chute gate swung open. The bull burst from the chute, bucking, twisting, and snorting. The cowboy hung on until a buzzer rang. Kade slammed his fist into his armrest. A list of profanities came from his mouth. I looked over at him in surprise.
“There’s a lady in the house.” I tossed a throw pillow at him. He ducked, spilling his coffee over his lap.
“Hot! Hot! Hot!” He squirmed in his seat. I ran to get a towel from the kitchen and raced back to him. I dabbed at his lap to soak up the coffee.
“I am so sorry.” I sputtered. I dabbed and rubbed at his lap some more.
“Um, Dee. Can you stop?” He cleared his throat and adjusted in the chair.
My eyes met his. Heat raced up my chest and cheeks when I realized where my hand was resting. I jerked it away, but he caught it between his. He drew me closer until his lips touched mine for the briefest moment before he drew away. My heart and mind were twisting and turning. What did it mean? Why did he do that? I stood there staring at him when Kaleb strolled into the house.
“The coffee smells wonderful.” His words dropped off as he walked into the living room. “Look at what we have going on.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.
“It was nothing.” Kade slid his chair back.
“Yep, nothing going on.” I stepped back and flipped my hair behind my shoulders. “Kade spilled his coffee and needed help.”
“He does need help.” He laughed and he went back into the kitchen.
“What was with all the swearing?” I whispered to Kade, but he just shook his head.
“Do you know who that was?” His voice dropped as he leaned toward me. “Jose Garcia just moved up into the number one spot now that I’m out of the race for the world champion title.” The bitterness dripped from his lips as they turned into a snarl, his eyes grew black, and he withdrew into himself. “Take me back to my room.” The hurt in his eyes broke my heart. How did he end up this way? I tried to keep my face neutral as I wheeled his chair to his room.
Author’s Note: What do think so far? Have you done something that you didn’t want to get ahead for something else?
Hugs,
Allie
P.S. If you want to read ahead, Second Chance with my Bull Rider is available for purchase on all retailers and to check out from your local library.