Tanner nodded like he understood. This new breed of cowboy was something else. They drank protein shakes instead of beer, fretted over their exercise regimens and sat around discussing their marketability.
Damn, he was gonna miss Charlie. The two of them had both come from flyspeck towns and started young, before iPhones and Facebook and Twitter took over the world. Maybe they should retire together and make T-shirts and bumper stickers that read Real Men Don’t Tweet.
“Where did you say you’re going?” Clay asked again.
“New Mexico.” Tanner backed away from the railing, adjusting his Stetson and peering up at the clear Montana sky. He had a few hours before nightfall. Enough time to get on the road and find a place to park his trailer overnight. No sense sticking around. His scores couldn’t carry him to the next round. “You?”
“I’m riding in Wyoming in two weeks. My sister’s got a ranch in Colorado. I might hang out there in the meantime.” Clay jerked a look somewhere over Tanner’s shoulder. “Unless I get a better offer.” Before he could turn and see what had put the cocky grin on Clay’s face, the kid said, “Look sharp, old man. I believe that lady’s trying to get your attention.”
Tanner swung toward the parking lot in time to see a leggy blonde in skin-tight jeans wave. He smiled and waved back. Maybe he wouldn’t be so quick to leave tonight.
“No, not Ariel,” Clay said, unwrapping a stick of gum. “She’s waiting for me. The other one.”
“Where?” Unlike his stiff back and shoulders, his vision was just fine and he couldn’t see another living soul.
“Ariel’s kind of blocking her, but she’s behind the fence to the right.”
Tanner squinted and saw part of a female outline fading into the dark SUV behind her. She was on the short side, brown hair, pulled back, sunglasses taking up half her face and dressed kind of stodgy in a navy blue blazer and matching slacks. “What makes you think she’s waiting for me?”
“I figured she was looking to interview you for that AARP magazine.” Clay laughed.
Tanner knocked off the smart ass’s hat, then chuckled when Clay had to scramble to catch the Stetson before it blew too far. “It ain’t right you trying to make a man feel over the hill at thirty-three. You just wait...your time will come, kid. Sooner than you think.” At least it had for Tanner. If he stuck it out for two more years, half his life officially would’ve been spent rodeoing.
He had no regrets. Even if he’d had the money for college he wouldn’t have gone. His younger brother was the one with a head for learning, and he was glad he’d been able to send him to a good university. Doug had even gone on to law school, courtesy of Tanner’s winnings. He considered the money well spent.
“Why the hell did you have to do that in front of Ariel?” Clay brushed off the hat and set it back on his head.
Tanner slid another look at the blonde, her teeth gleaming an unnatural white. The shorter brunette had moved closer but the high chain-link fence prevented her from approaching. Other women had gathered near the exit, most of them buckle bunnies, but also a few moms trying to get autographs for their youngsters.
This was the part he dreaded lately. Signing autographs wasn’t a big deal. He’d never minded, especially when it was for kids, but it felt a lot better to scrawl his name when he was scoring high and taking home prize money. At other times it was a mob scene and all he wanted was to get to his trailer and let a hot shower pelt his aching body.
Today wasn’t bad. His shoulder hurt less than it had all week. Meaning he wouldn’t mind some feminine company. The redhead standing by herself caught his eye. She was just his type. Tall, lean, not too skimpy in the chest department, and he didn’t give one damn that her fancy Charlie 1 Horse hat and satin-trimmed Western shirt were just for show. He was gonna like her a whole lot more without them on.
“I’m taking off,” he said, keeping an eye on the redhead. He wanted to get to her before one of the other guys did.
“You’re not waiting for Charlie or Bryce?”
“Nah, they’re both headed for Texas.” Something Tanner had thought about doing. His grandparents lived in Texas but he’d seen them last month when he’d done some repairs around the ranch while enjoying Nana’s home cooking. He made a point of seeing her and Pop regularly. They were more like parents to him and Doug, taking them in after their mother had been killed. They hadn’t even asked for a penny of child support from his old man. Probably knew the bum wouldn’t have coughed up anything, anyhow. “See ya around, kid.”
“Yeah, sure.” Clay shot a look toward the fence. “Don’t even think about stealing Ariel,” he said with a faint grin that didn’t hide his worried expression.
“She’s too young for me.” Tanner clapped him on the back. “Anyway, I don’t poach.”
“Yeah, I know you don’t. Not like some of those other guys who have gold buckles.”
Tanner smiled, then strolled toward the exit. He knew who Clay meant but no way would he get into a conversation about it. None of his business. He kept to himself when it came to matters of politics, religion and sex. And Betsy. Anyone who knew him the tiniest bit knew better than to disrespect his fifth wheel. A lot of the guys drove around in fancy buses equipped with everything from satellite dishes to hot tubs. Some even had hired men or relatives to drive them around. Not him. He and poor rattling Betsy had been together for ten years now. And he had every intention of driving her to his last rodeo.
He slipped through the gate and got close enough to see that the redhead had a real nice smile and sexy green eyes that warned him he’d have to watch himself. Though he’d like to think he was too old and wise to do anything stupid, he’d been thrown off guard a time or two by a green-eyed female.
Before he reached her, two boys and their mom bushwhacked him. Nodding politely, he asked their names, and signed his across the bottom of a magazine picture taken of him at the San Antonio Stock Show. He’d always appreciated the fans, but nowadays, he prized their loyalty all the more. He let the boys inspect his buckle and answered a question about where he kept the gold ones while he slyly scoped out the redhead.
God bless her, that smile was aimed right at him. He smiled back and tipped the rim of his Stetson. She tossed her long hair. Always a good sign.
The boys were herded off by their mom but before he could move, three more kids cornered him. He got them squared away by answering more questions and signing their ball caps. He hoped no one else wanted anything because the redhead was starting to look impatient.
“Mr. Tanner?”
The voice came from behind. No one called him that. Just Tanner. He stopped and turned. It was the woman Clay had pointed out earlier. She looked overheated in the blue suit. Her face was flushed and her cheeks damp. She held a hand up to shade her eyes from the broiling afternoon sun, though he figured the big, dark glasses would’ve done the job.
“What can I do for you?”
“I’m Alexis Worthington,” she said, extending her hand. “From The Worthington Group.”
“Okay.” If that was supposed to mean something to him it missed the mark. He pulled off his glove. Her hand was small and soft.
“I called you earlier and left a message.”
He automatically touched his shirt pocket where his phone would’ve been had he remembered to bring it. “I haven’t turned my phone on yet today.”
Her arched brows rose above her glasses as if he’d committed a sin. “Actually, I left you a message last night, as well.”
“Don’t know why I didn’t get that one. I wasn’t drunk.” He glanced at the redhead and saw that she was distracted by someone or something