Page 35 of A Baby for the Texas Cowboy (The Texas Wolf Brothers #3)

T insley bounced on the balls of her feet backstage at the AEbr finals.

It was nearly time to take their seats for the final round.

The long weekend had been a fun-filled celebration that had her on the edge of her seat—not just because of Anders’ rides on his way to victory but also because she was on the brink of the best decision of her life.

She was choosing hope.

She was choosing love.

She was choosing Anders.

Anders and Kane Wilder had arrived at the finals tied for first place, but as Axel explained it, it could be any bull rider’s win.

She’d seen Anders ride before when she’d been working in the sponsor tent and had slipped in to watch.

It had been as thrilling as it was terrifying.

Anything could happen. “Eight seconds of adrenaline-fueled crazy” Cruz had called it.

And she didn’t want him to give it up until he was ready.

That was only one of the things she wanted to tell him when he finished his final ride this weekend.

Because of Anders’ status and fame and Axel’s history of being a top-tier bull rider for a couple of years, they had far more backstage access than most fans.

Diego, Axel and Cruz’ adopted eight-year-old son had been in heaven meeting so many of the bull riders, eating snacks in the VIP section, and raking in the souvenirs.

Tinsley wanted time alone with Anders, but she didn’t want to mess with his focus.

“I’m sure giving him a big juicy kiss won’t cause him to fall in the dirt,” August teased her as she kept looking around for Anders, hoping he’d show up before he left to get ready for his final ride.

“Show doesn’t start for another hour. You have time.” Catalina smiled at her. “Just go find him and say hi.”

“They’re probably performing secret, manly rituals,” Cruz teased. “Are they very manly?” she asked her husband.

“Very,” Axel said. “So much testosterone you’d choke.”

“I’ll find him for you, Tinsley.” Diego, Cruz and Axel’s adopted son, made as if to dash off.

Axel caught his shoulder. “Slow down, little man. Your sleuthing would defeat the purpose of Tinsley finding Anders.”

“Nooooo,” he groaned, pulled off his cowboy hat and slapped it on his knee. “She’s not going to kiss him is she?”

Everyone laughed, but Tinsley was too nervous, too excited to laugh.

Maybe she would just try to catch a peek of him.

She knew where they hung out doing last-minute stretches, listening to music, or getting taped up to ride.

She’d helped Anders tape himself up when he’d come home from a couple of competitions.

By the end of the season, even with the extended break before the finals, the bull riders were pretty beat up.

Tinsley still had her badge from the distillery, and she slung it around her neck along with her family member access pass, and went to try to catch Anders.

She knew not to bring up anything serious, but they hadn’t talked privately all week or this weekend and she just wanted…

she just needed to see him. To touch him.

To wish him good luck on this important ride.

She didn’t care if he won. She wanted him to survive without injury.

She smiled without humor, remembering her mother berating her for not winning one of her jumping championships because her horse had stumbled. “Why do it if you aren’t going to win?” Her mother had shrugged off her injury and pain and had never attended another event. Tinsley had been twelve.

“Not you, little man or girl.” Tinsley rested her hands over her slight baby bump. “You can be the slowest runner and I’ll still come to every race.”

She heard Anders before she saw him. She paused, just soaking in the timber of his voice, and it took a moment for her to clue in on what he was saying.

“Give it back,” Anders said, good-naturedly. “You’ve had your fun.”

“Seriously, Anders Wolf. You have a list of the attributes of a perfect wife on your phone. You’re twenty-five, not Viagra time.

Where is smokin’ hot in bed?” Tinsley thought it was a bull rider named Chris Stevens—it was his first year on the tour.

“Where’s go down on you in your truck on your list? ”

“Maybe he does need Viagra. Is that your new sponsor?” Dean Sims chimed in.

“Listen to this,” Chris read off. “Sounds like something Martha Stewart or Rachael Ray would post.”

“Give it back, Chris. I was just goofing when I was bored. It was a long time ago.”

“This is a new phone, bro. I know because I went to the Apple store with you a few months ago. Check this out. This is how Anders Wolf starts his perfect wife list.”

“He did not call it that,” a bull rider she didn’t know objected.

“He did. Hand to God. Number one. Not after my money.”

“That’s okay,” Dean said. “I’m cool with that.”

“But number one?” Chris laughed. “And the virtues continue. Not too fancy. Used to hard work. Ranch-raised. Wants to raise our four kids on the ranch and stay home with them.”

“Four kids? You’re gonna have to get off that ball you’re always standin’ on, cowboy,” Dean snickered.

“What else?” someone demanded.

Tinsley had heard enough. She turned and walked back to the family section.

The Wolfs had already sat down, not waiting for her.

Why? Because she wasn’t family. Not really.

They’d accept her, but she wasn’t Anders’ choice—not one thing about her.

He didn’t want her. He just wanted his kid on the ranch.

He’d resigned himself to try to mold her into an acceptable choice.

Just like she’d been molded all her life.

“Did you see Anders?” Catalina made a kissy face.

“Yeah. He’s…good,” she said lamely, not sure what else to say.

Catalina laughed and covered Diego’s ears. “I’ll tell him you said that. His kisses are good, not great, not fantastic, not amazing, not heart-stopping, not melting—just good.”

Tinsley watched the crowd, the antics of the clowns, the circus that was the finals without seeing any of it.

She’d never thought she’d be perfect.

She just didn’t know how imperfect Anders really found her. Perfect for a fling, but not wife material.

That’s okay , she bolstered her flagging spirit and aching heart. She hadn’t wanted to be a wife. She should have stuck to her rules. She’d be fine co-parenting without being married. Anders deserved to find a wife who’d be his perfect fit.

*

Anders retrieved his phone from the idiots, and after checking for a message from Tinsley—nothing—he shoved it in his bag.

He rarely talked to anyone in the final hour before competition started.

Not that he was a big intellectual like Kane and needed alone time like others needed to breathe, but he liked to settle his mind and body and let the training, the experience, and adrenaline do its work.

Muscle memory and his super-human sense of balance would do the rest.

He wanted this. Kane wanted it. But Anders wanted it more.

The AEbr was milking Kane’s retirement announcement for all it was worth and attempting to crown a new successor.

Him.

God, he loved this. The stakes. The tension. The hype. He felt invincible.

Anders made his way to the chute. He’d stretched and had the physical therapist work on him some. He felt ready. Humming. He ran over the moves he’d seen Hellfire—the bull he’d picked—make over his past handful of performances.

Kane was waiting to mount up. He saw Anders. Normally, they just hip-checked each other before a competition, maybe head bobbed. Sometimes they offered advice if it was a tricky ride, but at the finals, every ride could be your last if you weren’t on top of your game.

Kane nodded. “You get a good luck kiss from your girl?”

“Nah, she’s with my family,” he answered.

“Oh. Saw her walking toward the back area ’bout an hour ago. Thought she was looking for you.”

He wouldn’t have minded getting a good luck kiss. He missed her. He’d laid down his ultimatum. Now he had to stick to it just like he intended to stick his next ride.

Kane was up. Anders jumped up to assist. Kane was in the zone.

Fierce. But Anders still wanted it more.

Kane was already thinking about being home full time, building his stock contracting business and the bull breeding, buying back his mother’s family ranch from the grandfather who didn’t want to sell but was finally thinking about it.

And him?

He was waiting on a girl.

He stayed up to watch Kane’s ride. The chute slid open and Bad Monkey pulled his signature move and reared his head back so fast the crowd screamed, but Kane was ready.

He stuck the ride no matter what stunt Bad Mo, as his owner affectionately called him, did.

He was feeling the lights, the crowd, the energy, the love, and he gave it his all, but Kane just seemed to float on top of the bull.

Kane made something so hard look so easy.

He popped off several beats after the light and buzzer signaled success.

Bad Mo continued to rock and roll as if soaking up the admiration.

The crowd was on its feet. Usually Kane waved a few times and got out of there, but since this was his last go-round he soaked in the standing O.

“Ninety-two.” Axel, who had joined him at the chute, said admiringly. “Nothing to it. Another day at the office.” He lightly gripped Anders’ shoulder.

“Whew.” Anders blew out a breath. He was the last man in contention. And he had next to no breathing room. “Kane sure does love to crank the tension.” He needed to have one of his best rides of the season. They were still neck and neck after the weekend of competition. Kane had the edge.

“You got this,” Axel said.

Anders nodded. It was nice to have his brother attend the finals. Heck, it was nice to have his whole family watching him. And he was going to give them something to cheer about. “See you after my win.” He shoved in his mouth guard and closed the straps on his helmet. Then he mounted the chute.