He didn’t even give me a second to catch my breath before he swooped me up into his arms and stood. Wrapping my legs around his waist, he carried me to my bedroom and kissed my lips until they felt swollen.
“My turn,” he said as he lowered me onto the bed. The smirk of satisfaction and promise on his lips exciting me for what was about to come.
“Hey Nick,” I said into the phone. “What’s up?” I’d assumed that Pilsner was calling to thank me for recommending my brother as a coach for his new rider. I hadn’t been expecting him to say he needed me back in Texas in a week.
“We’ve got a few press things lined up for you and Brett. Can you make it back here by the twenty-third?” he asked. My heart fell into my stomach when I thought about telling Nora that I had to go. We both knew it was coming. The house was nearing completion and the weather was starting to turn cold. Every free moment I had I spent with her and the thought of not seeing her every day was jarring.
“Yeah,” I said, mustering up as much enthusiasm as possible. Even if I didn’t want to leave right away, I had to. It was my job. It was something I had to do. “I’ll let Brett know.”
“Great,” he replied. “And thanks again for suggesting your brother. He’s doing a great job.” Hoyt had left a couple weeks ago and besides a few random texts, I hadn’t really heard from him. I’d just figured he was really busy.
“I’m glad it’s working out. I hope he’s able to get the new guy into shape.”
“I think he will.” Nick laughed. “He’ll get the new gal ready for the starting line.”
“Gal?” I asked. I was confused. “McCade’s a female rider?”
“Sure is. One of the best natural talents I’ve seen,” he explained. “From a guy or girl. She’s got real talent.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.” I chuckled. “Hoyt hadn’t mentioned that he was training a girl.”
“She’s a bit of a wild card. He’s probably been too worried about figuring out how to get her under control.”
“Well, he will,” I said, confident that my brother could get the job done.
“I know he will.”
“We’ll see you in a week, buddy,” I told him good bye and hung up the phone before tossing it on the counter. Nora was working and I had just sat down to have some lunch. My appetite disappeared the second I’d heard Nick ask me to leave Halstead. I grabbed the sandwich in front of me and headed outside to talk to Brett.
Ever since our discussion about Georgia, Brett had been acting a little strange. He still put on a show that he wasn’t pissed at me, but I knew better. I had to make things right with him. I should have made them right sooner, but I seemed to have become a little wrapped up with the woman I loved.
“Hey man,” I said, opening the door of his trailer and stepping inside. Much to my surprise, the space was neat and tidy. The small kitchen area was spotless. The floor was clear. I could even see that his bed was made in the small back bedroom. During our time of not hanging out, Brett must have become domesticated.
“What’s up?” he asked stepping out of the bedroom.
“Pilsner just called. Said he needs us back in Texas for some promo stuff.”
“Okay.” He shrugged and started to walk back into the bedroom.
“Brett.”
He turned back to face me.
“Are we okay?”
“We’re fine.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I hope you aren’t still pissed about what I said about Georgia. I wasn’t trying to be a dick. I just—”
“Dude,” he said calmly. “I’m not pissed. You were right. I need to get my shit together before I even attempt to date a girl like her.”
“Looks like you’ve made a good start,” I said, pointing out his clean living space. And, I couldn’t go without noticing that my usual rough and tumble buddy was clean shaven and wearing a pair of jeans without a single hole in them. Whoever he was becoming was different than the guy I knew.
“Gotta start somewhere,” he laughed.
“I know that you’re a great guy,” I confessed. “I shouldn’t have butted my nose into your business.”
“It’s okay. I think I needed a little bit of a reality check.” He walked over and sat down on the couch. “How are things with the Mrs.?” he smiled.
“Good,” I answered, not even bothered by the implication. “Great really. I’m not too excited about telling her I have to leave early, but what am I going to do?”
“Yeah, that sucks.”
“We knew it was going to happen,” I said, leaning against the small built-in kitchen table. “Just thought it would be a few more weeks before it did.”
“You love her?”
“More than anything.”
“Then it will work out,” he said, giving me a friendly boost. Which is exactly what I should have done for Brett when he needed me. I shouldn’t have been trying to deter him from pursuing Georgia. I should have been lifting him up and encouraging him.
“Thanks man.” I reached out and bumped my fist against his. “You feel like going out tonight?” I asked. “I know a couple of girls who are looking for a little fun,” I said waggling my eyebrows. Nora had already asked me to join her and her sister out at The Pub tonight. If he wanted to date Georgia, the least I could do was help a brother out.
“Sounds good.” He nodded. I think he’d already figured out that the girls I was talking about were the Bennett sisters. If not, it would fun to see him squirm.
“You wanna ride tomorrow?” he asked. “Weather is supposed to be good.”
“Of course.” There weren’t many days that I didn’t want to ride.
“You about ready to let me on that 450?”
“You finally grow a pair and decide to ride a big boy bike?” I laughed. Brett had always rode a 250. It was lighter than my bike and better for the freestyle riding he did, but what his bike lacked in weight, my bike made up for in power. Every guy liked to feel a little more pull between his legs.
“I can handle Eileen,” he said with a wink. “Let me show her what if feels like for a real man to ride her. Let me get her up in the air.”
“All right, Sally,” I teased. “You wanna ride her, you can.” It felt good to be razzing each other again. It felt good to just be hanging out with him.
“Oh,” I said, remembering what Nick had told me about Hoyt. “You wanna hear something good?” He nodded. “Chayse McCade, the rider Hoyt went to train?” He nodded again. “Well, Chayse is a chick. He’s training a female rider.”
“No shit?” Brett said, pulling his phone from his back pocket. “Let’s just see what we can find out...” he trailed off as he typed her name into the phone. His eyes went wide as he pulled up his search results. “Oh, this is good.” He laughed out loud. “Your brother is in so much trouble,” he said, holding up his phone so I could see what he’d found.
Chayse McCade was a girl all right. A girl that didn’t mind posing in a bikini and a pair of riding boots while straddling her dirt bike. A wild-eyed brunette with pouty lips and a few other features that I tried not to look at because I was a taken man.
“Trouble doesn’t even begin to describe what that girl is,” I said. “I can’t wait to see what he has to say about her.”
* * *
“Hey baby,” I said, wrapping an arm around Nora’s shoulders and leaning in for a kiss. Brett and I had come to meet them and as I greeted my girl, I waited for him to spout off a pick up line to Georgia.
“Thanks for letting me crash your party,” he said, standing next to me. “Y’all didn’t have to invite me.”
Who is this guy?