Page 49 of The Wildest Ride

But if AJ and riding for the Closed Circuit were validation for her granddad’s ways, they were also proof that even a gym rat could make it if he had the try.

If AJ hadn’t sought her out before they’d gone live, she would have never believed he hadn’t been around wild horses before. He was what people meant when they called someone a natural.

Rodeo seemed to come as smoothly to him as smiling and breathing.

She had to work her butt off out there and he sauntered out and made it look easy.

And sexy.

Bastard.

She didn’t truly begrudge him the talent, though. Her granddad had taught her that competition was the greatest motivation to improve, and her recent rides had shown that to be true. And by now, she was even beginning to accept the base interjections of her inner dialogue regarding his anatomy. She’d seen the miles of dripping muscles wrapped in a stupid white towel that was AJ and the sight had permanently damaged her brain. All of it was what was and there was no use fighting it.

Picking up her bulging duffel and the plastic bag that held her shampoos, she gave the RV one final scan. Greenies would come through and change linens and take out garbage and, fresh and clean, it wouldn’t be hers anymore.

But there was no use crying over it, the only thing to do was work hard and regain her title.

Heading to the second-place RV, she put her bags in the lower storage compartment without looking back. The lights were on inside, and someone—she guessed AJ—was moving around inside.

The thought brought a smile to her lips until she realized what was happening and forcibly frowned.

She needed to take herself in hand. She had strict rules, both about rodeo cowboys and mixing work with pleasure, and all of them could be summed up in one word:no.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder, setting her jumping three feet in the air, much to the person’s low-chuckling delight.

When she caught her breath she whipped around, asking, “You trying to kill someone?”

AJ laughed, dimples and white teeth flashing.

Did he have to smile so much?

“Just wanted to remind you to treat Winnie right,” he said, patting the RV lovingly. “She’s been good to me and she’s a smooth ride if you take care of her.”

Lil lifted an eyebrow. “Mine doesn’t have a name.”

AJ scoffed. “Of course she does, she just wouldn’t give it up for a poser.”

Lil flipped him off and turned to leave. She didn’t like the effect their banter was having on her chest—hot and tight and dangerous.

“I’m really looking forward to the next event,” AJ said to her back. “Especially after resting up in the lap of luxury.”

Lil kept her grin to herself as she walked. Let him gloat—all of it was luxury to her.

Which wasn’t to say that home wasn’t nice—because it was. Granddad had made sure of that through the years, updating appliances, changing outdated fixtures, and tacking on a couple additions.

But Lil was used to traveling in a compact car and paying for her own gas.

Compared to that, even the second-place RV would be a pleasure cruise.

Plus, if she had anything to say about it, she wouldn’t be in it long.

Lil left the RV circle and headed out farther into the open side of the parking field. The sun was beginning to set and she’d rather be out looking up at the sky than standing outside the second-place RV waiting for AJ and the greenies to clear it so she could get ready for one of the more horror-inducing activities of the tour.

As soon as the RV transfer was done, a Closed Circuit bus was due to pick up all the contestants and take them to a real-live local honky-tonk—on camera, of course.

Excepting a brief period she chalked up to the magic of studying abroad, Lil had never been one for either drinking in public or staying up late.

Unfortunately, all the contestants were required to go. It was supposed to build camaraderie, and more importantly, generate more content for broadcast fill and the website. The thing about reality TV was that it was never satisfied—it always wanted more. Regular reality, at least, knew when to let up.