Page 19 of Ride Me Reckless

"You good?" I asked, giving Windstorm one last check.

She nodded, ponytail swinging over her shoulder. "Born ready."

Of course, she was.

She stepped up beside me and lifted her hand. A little twist of braided horsehair dangled from her fingers, looped through a silver concho. "Tied this from Windstorm's tail earlier," she said. "For luck."

I blinked. "You superstitious now?"

Kenzie grinned, eyes bright. "Only when I got something to lose."

Before I could say anything smart, she reached for my wrist. "Hold still."

I didn't move. Her fingers were quick, sure, warm against my skin as she tied the braid snugly around my wrist. It was light as air, but it felt like a brand—hot, noticeable, not something I could ignore.

"There," she said, stepping back to admire her work. "Now if I wipe out, you've got someone to blame."

I snorted. "You're not gonna wipe out."

Her gaze lingered on mine a second too long. "Good. Then maybe you'll wear that all night."

Before I could answer, I heard boots approaching behind us—slow, cocky, and far too familiar.

"Don't let me interrupt the love knot ceremony," Rhett said, tipping his hat back and eyeing my wrist like he'd just caught me with lipstick on my collar.

Kenzie laughed and headed to Windstorm, muttering something about warm-up laps.

I turned toward Rhett, already rolling my eyes. "Thought you were in the booth getting ready to announce the first event."

"Was." He cracked open a can of something cold and took a long swig. "But all that 'and she's around the third barrel' crap gets old. Figured I'd come down and check on my moody millionaire bro who's clearly flirting with the junior rodeo princess."

"She's not junior anything. And I'm not flirting."

Rhett raised a brow. "She just braided you a damn bracelet, Colt."

"It's a charm."

He grinned like he'd just won something. "Oh, excuse me. Acharm.Next thing you know, you'll be making friendship bracelets behind the bleachers."

I didn't take the bait. I just rubbed the braid absently with my thumb and watched Windstorm circle slowly with Kenzie in the saddle, her posture tall and proud.

I wasn't looking for anything with her. Never had been. Kenzie was just a kid. But I had to admit—it felt nice. Having someone who looked at you like they believed in something.

Even if I didn't.

Rhett leaned against the fence post like he had nowhere to be, one boot crossed over the other, sipping his drink while the sky started bruising purple over the arena.

"You're quiet," he said finally. "Which means either you're thinking too hard or trying not to."

I didn't answer. Just helped unload another horse and kept my eyes on the dusk setting in.

Rhett let out a long breath. "She's back in town, you know."

I didn't have to ask who. My chest knew before my brain did.

"She's staying with her mom," he went on. "Callie said Delia's been getting worse. Confused. Forgetting things."

I nodded once. "Tessa told me. We’ve texted a time or two.”