Craved By The Cowboy Novella

I hate to lose and losing her is not an option.

I’m a first place bull-riding legend and I’m about to take my last ride. Late nights, anything-goes-women, and broken bones has taken its toll and I’m wanting something more.
I’m ready to retire, fix up my neglected ranch and then find a woman to cuddle next to me each night.

But plans get hit by the horns when my last ride doesn’t go as expected.

Now I have a hurt leg, a bruised ego and a nurse that says she’s going to take care of me… and my ranch.

She’s my mentor’s daughter and she’s totally off limits.
She’s too young for me and she’s definitely too good.
So why do I want to lasso her to keep her from leaving?

She just wants to repay a debt…
I want to make her mine.

There’s only one guarantee - this is one ride I won’t lose.

Chapter 1

Ace

There’s a thousand emotions I’m feeling right now, but I’m trying not to let any of them get the best of me. This is it. My last ride. Or well, if I do well in the first one, I’ll have another one, but today is my last day on the circuit. I thought I would be sadder, but I’m not. The fact is that I’ve been ready to move on for quite some time now. I’ve built my nest egg, and I’ve got a neglected ranch that I’ve made all kinds of plans for. Sure, it would be nice to have a woman to share it with, but there’s only one woman that would do, and she’s off limits.

Just thinking about her, my palms get sweaty, my heart races, and my cock twitches in my Wranglers. The truth is, I’ve wanted Lila Grant for as long as I can remember, which is probably not a good thing since I’m twelve years older than her. Also the fact that she’s my mentor and best friend’s daughter. None of that plays in my favor. 

But here I am, forty-two years old and starting a new chapter in my life. I’m sitting in the private section of the audience, the one for trainers, agents, and cowboys that are between rides. My friend and mentor, Reilly Grant, is sitting next to me, and I feel a little guilty that I’ve let my thoughts go to his daughter. “I appreciate you coming today, Reilly. It means a lot to me. Everything you’ve ever done for me I appreciate.”

He slaps me on the back. “Hell, son. You’re not getting all sentimental on me, are you?”

I laugh, but I know that if anyone’s sentimental, it’s Reilly. He cares way more than he lets on. He was once the best bull rider there was. That is until he got a little older and then trained me. He never batted an eye when I broke all his records. He’s like the father I never had, and I owe him a lot. I definitely shouldn’t be lusting after his daughter, that’s for sure. “So how you been? How’s the ranch?”

He nods his head, his eyes on the ride happening in front of us. “He’s going to lose his footing.”

As soon as he says it, the guy on the bull in front of us loses his grip on the beast underneath him and gets tossed into the air. Reilly doesn’t gloat or smirk that he’s right. He just shakes his head. “The ranch is doing good. It makes a difference when you can dedicate full time to it.”

I nod. “I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.” I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t stop myself. “What about Lila? How’s she doing?”

He looks at me for the first time since we sat down here. He searches my face, but I try to look as if I don’t have a care in the world. I’ve learned to keep my guard up when it comes to talking to Reilly about his daughter. He stares at me so long that I want to fidget, but I hold strong. He finally answers me. “She says she’s doing good. Still living in Whiskey Valley and commuting into Jasper to work at the hospital.” He strokes his beard and looks out at the arena. “Honestly, I’m a little worried about her.”

I straighten in my seat. “What? Why? Is someone bothering her?” The thought that something could be wrong with Lila has my hands tightening around the bench I’m sitting on. I have no qualms about kicking someone’s ass, especially if they’ve hurt her. Fuck, I need to let off some steam anyway.

Reilly laughs and pats me on the back, softer this time. “Hell, Ace, don’t get your panties in a wad. I’m just saying I worry about her driving back and forth on that long highway between Jasper and Whiskey Valley. She works all hours of the day. Hell, the other night she didn’t get in until two in the morning. I just worry is all.”

The truth is, Whiskey Valley is a small town with hardly any crime. Sure, there’s some petty theft or a few bar fights, but nothing major. However, I understand where he’s coming from when he’s talking about the drive into Jasper. “Anytime she needs something, I can help out, Reilly. I’m up half the night anyway. It wouldn’t be anything for me to go pick her up and take her back and forth to work.”

Fuck, it would be a dream to spend time with her, but Reilly’s already shaking his head like it’s a bad idea. “You know Lila. She’s all independent. There’s no way she’d agree to putting you out like that. But maybe now that you’re finally settling down on your ranch in Whiskey Valley, you can help me keep an eye on her. Maybe check in with her every now and then.”

“Sure, Reilly. No problem. I’d be happy to,” I answer him, and I know as soon as I say it I deserve a kick in the nuts. My friend, my mentor is wanting me to keep an eye on his daughter, and the thoughts I’m having... fuck, I want to take care of her, but I know it’s not the way Reilly’s thinking.

“She’s coming today.”

I hear it, but it takes a minute to register. “What was that?”

He smirks at me. “Lila. She’s coming here today. She wanted to make sure she was here to see your last ride.”

From that minute on, I have my eyes glued to the entrance of the arena. I should be stretching and getting ready for my ride, but instead I’m sitting here waiting anxiously on a woman that absolutely nothing can happen with. Many times, I’ve told myself to give up on the thought of being with Lila, but it’s not that easy. No one else even comes close to how I feel for her. Thoughts of having a family are just that because there’s no one else I want... and Lila is one hundred percent off limits.