Friday Feature & Giveaway: Ranger by Harley Wylde

EXCERPT

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Copyright ©2021 Harley Wylde

“Why did I let you talk me into this?” I asked.

Scott grinned. “You’ll like it. First time a bull stomps some poor cowboy, you’ll be just as into it as the rest of the crowd.”

“Your idea of entertainment is fucked up.”

He ignored me and led us farther through the crowd. We ended up on bleachers halfway up, which gave us a decent view of the arena. I should have told him to fuck off and gone to a bar. Instead, I’d let him talk me into going to a rodeo. In my cut and motorcycle boots, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Scott had on his cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, which made sense seeing as how he worked on a horse farm outside Atlanta. My cowboy days were over. Long over.

“We just have to make it through the bronc riders and barrel racers before the bulls come out,” Scott said. “Some of the barrel racers are good eye candy, though. A few of them compete all over the country.”

Why did it not surprise me he’d be checking out the women, even the ones in the rodeo? The ladies had always loved Scott. Back when I’d served with him in the Army, I’d seen him walk out of a bar with two or three women hanging off him. I’d been leery of being with random women, unless I used a condom I’d brought with me. Even then, nothing was foolproof.

“Next up is Danica Adler on Windstorm,” the announcer said.

“Oh, this will be good.” Scott rubbed his hands on his thighs. “She’s one of the favorites.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Her dad is a champion rodeo rider. Last I heard, he was like you… a biker. They live down someplace in Alabama. Both his kids are following in his footsteps. Danica runs barrels and his son rides bulls. They’re both damn good too.”

I focused on the arena when a horse shot out of the gate. The slim rider on his back clung to him as he raced around the barrels. I couldn’t see much of her, except long honey-colored hair and curves that made my mouth water. When she finished her run, the announcer whooped with excitement.

“She did good?” I asked Scott. I might have lived around horses most of my life, but I’d never really cared about going to a rodeo. I damn sure hadn’t had a reason to watch anyone run barrels.

“Hell yeah! I bet she wins tonight.” He smiled and nudged me with his shoulder. “Told you this would be fun.”

Beast had sent me to Atlanta for a drop-off, so I’d thought I’d hang at a bar tonight before heading home. Nope. I’d decided to look up my old buddy Scott, and he’d nixed that idea almost immediately, so here I was at a rodeo. A rodeo. Although, I had to admit, watching Danica had been pretty exciting, even if it had ended quickly.

I spotted Danica making her way through the crowd. The smile on her face made my heart slam against my ribs. Fuck but she was pretty. Not gorgeous, but a sweet girl-next-door type. She just happened to be exactly the sort of woman I went for. Knowing she was a biker’s daughter, and from Alabama, made me think she was most likely Cowboy’s daughter and therefore the property of the Dixie Reapers. Which meant she was hands-off. Didn’t stop me from wanting her.

One night of fun was one thing, but forever? I knew if I put my hands on her, one of two things would happen. Either her daddy would demand I claim her, or he’d make sure no one ever found my body. Hell, he’d probably string me up for even looking at her the way I was right now. If he was like the others, and like Beast, then I had no doubt he was overprotective of his daughter.

Scott jammed his elbow into my ribs. “Don’t stare too hard. You know damn well her dad would have your balls.”

Right. I scanned the crowd, wondering if there might be a willing woman, and soon realized they were all about the cowboys and boots and wouldn’t want a damn thing to do with a biker. I may have grown up on a horse farm in Middle Tennessee, but those days were a thing of the past. I hadn’t been on a horse in years and didn’t plan to start now. Why the fuck did I let Scott talk me into shit like this? It wasn’t the first time I’d listened to him instead of doing what I’d originally planned, and it always came back to bite me in the ass in one way or another.

“You owe me,” I said.

“Oh, please. You may not be able to touch, but you can’t tell me Danica won’t be in your spank bank for a long while. The girl has legs for days, even if she is on the petite side. I’m not blind. I can appreciate all she has to offer. Doesn’t mean I’m stupid enough to try and go there.”

“I had plans for tonight. None of which included going to bed alone, so thanks for nothing.”

Scott sighed. “We’ll hit up a bar on the way back to the motel. You can find some easy pussy.”

“Like you plan on abstaining?” I asked.

He shrugged and looked off in the direction Danica had just disappeared. I narrowed my eyes at him and had the sudden urge to beat the shit out of Scott. Did he have a thing for the Reaper’s daughter? I hadn’t even spoken to her, and yet part of me wanted to blind any fucker who dared look her way. Scott included. What the fuck was wrong with me?

I definitely needed to get laid and put Danica out of my mind. No fucking way I’d ever be able to go there. Scott was right about one thing, though. She’d be starring in my fantasies for a long while.