Hudson missed the live show. He watched a lot of bull riding on TV on Sundays and kept up with the riders, but that was nothing like being here to see it in person.
And he didn’t have to stay glued to the screen hoping for a glimpse of his favorite pickup man, he could watch all he wanted from his seats in the family section, and he had a great view.
“Excuse me. Sorry. Thanks.” He scooted past a few people to get back to his seat, carrying two beers. “Hey.” He held one out for the woman sitting next to him. Ellie. She was married to Scott Hamish, one of the veteran riders.
“You rock, man. Thanks.” She beamed at him. “This is the first time in a few of these I haven’t been pregnant, man. Yay beer!”
He laughed and sat. “It’s the little things. How many have you guys got now? Where are they?”
“They are in the hotel with my mom. We have two boys and three girls, and I’m done. Done-done.”
That was a lot of kids in a hotel room. Someone would have to blackmail him or something to set foot in that room. No, thank you. Kids were not his thing, andfivekids sounded like unimaginable hell.
But he knew cowboys. “Is Scott on board with that?”
“Scott is totally on board. At some point, we want to travel somewhere not here, and my folks are overwhelmed with five.Five, Hudson. What was I thinking?”
“I have no idea. But, in your defense, I find when I’m in that moment, I’m not really thinking much at all.” He winked at her.
“Well, you do have Jack. I mean, he’s a legend.” She winked back, teasing hard. She was one of the most open- and dirty-minded women he knew.
“I don’t really have Jack. I don’t think anybody has Jack.”He sure as shit has me though.That was the truth. But he couldn’t go on like that anymore. He’d let his plans go last night, but he wouldn’t tonight.
Probably. Okay, possibly at least.
“But you’re… you’re adorable, man, and smart. And you care about people. You text me on my birthday!”
He gave her a big grin. “Well, you have to celebrate the fact that those little parasites—I mean children—haven’t killed you yet.” And what had Jack told him? Smart guys were creative in bed. It hadn’t helped him much out of bed. Yet.
“They’re still young.” She bumped shoulders with him. “You should totally make a hard play for him. He watches you, all the time.”
He leaned closer, not that anyone was going to hear him over the cheering. “I’m kind of trying to, but…”But. But this morning when he asked if Jack was jealous of Mackey, all Jack seemed to register was that he already had a house.
Yeah, the house he had. He had the job too, in fact. It was thedream guypart that he needed.
The dream guy he wanted.
The crowd went nuts after an eight-second ride scored high enough to bump another rider out of the top spot. He applauded with everyone, but his eyes were on Jack as he went roaring by on Ghost, making it look easy like always. “Damn it, he’s so fucking sexy.”
“He rides like the wind. Like he was made for the saddle.” She shook her head, eyes scanning the rows of cowboys as she searched for her husband, he was sure. “You ever wonder what it would look like if he could just take Ghost or Princess out and just run?”
He nodded. He couldn’t imagine Jack any happier than that. “Sounds like maybe he has done that out at Mackey’s new place. Scott’s looking good too.” Bull riders were adorable, fresh-faced, young. Not his type, but he liked to look.
“He’s the hottest thing on earth.” And it wasn’t like Ellie was blowing smoke. Her eyes proved she meant it.
“I believe you. Five kids and all.” He chuckled and sipped his beer.
Someday he’d look at Jack like that in public. Sooner than later, he hoped.
He just had to… well, he had to do what he knew worked. Make a plan, stick to it, and work for his goal. This weekend, he’d keep his promise. He’d spend his nights with Jack because that was only fair—that’s why he was here after all. And fuck him, he wanted to have that time with Jack too. But he did have a job to do, and at the next event in Las Vegas? Well, Jack wouldn’t be expecting him to be there then, would he? And that could work to his advantage.
He needed Jack, and Jack needed him.
Dammit.
“So, talk to me. How’s life? How’s you?”
He blinked at the question. How long had it been since someone asked how he was? Like, someone that was actually interested?