Read Love All Out - Part 1 (A Stepbrother Romance) for Free Online

should have just stayed home.
    “Really? I love rodeos,” I told him. I leaned away and draped my arm across the back of Matt’s chair, hoping that Bradley would take the hint. I’d never showed the slightest bit of interest in him, but that never stopped him from pursuing me.
    The announcer walked across the dirt floor to the middle of the stadium. In a booming voice, he welcomed us and gave a stern reminder that flash photography wasn’t allowed during the show. A longhorn steer ran in to the arena and the rodeo officially began.
    I didn’t pay much attention to the action in front of us. I was too busy studying Daddy and Renee. In my opinion, they were sitting too close to each other. As the cowboys rounded up the steers, Daddy made horrible jokes and Renee laughed much too enthusiastically. I’d forgotten that James was roping until the announcer called his name. I tore my eyes away from Daddy and Renee and turned back to the show.
    James entered the arena on one of the biggest horses I’d ever seen. Seven was a beautiful leopard Appaloosa, with thick legs and solid hindquarters. James looked completely at home on his back as they raced towards the steer. James had the animal roped and tied in what the announcer said was record time.
    “I can’t believe you enjoy this,” Bradley told me. “Roping them to do vetting is one thing. Roping them for show just seems… barbaric.”
    “I think it’s hot,” Matt announced. The corner of his mouth curled up in a sly smile. “I wonder if there are any cowboys here that bat for my team…”
    “I’m sure there’s at least one,” Bradley told him. “But you could do better than a cowboy. Haven’t you heard that Willie Nelson song?”
    “Yes, but that song doesn’t get in to how sexy a man on a horse can be,” Matt answered with a smile, his eyebrows moving up and down.
    Bradley turned his nose up and looked back to the show. The steer roping ended and James was declared the winner. The next two hours passed in a blur as riders performed tricks, raced barrels, and bent poles. I didn’t pay attention to who won what. I was, again, too busy watching Daddy and Renee. Bradley tried to strike up conversations, but after hearing a string of “yeah”, “no”, and “uh huh”, he gave up and watched the rodeo in silence. Finally, it was time for the bull riding.
    As Renee had promised, the stadium was packed with people for the final event of the night. The first rider was thrown from a bucking black bull straight out of the gate.
    Renee turned around. “That’s Knightwind,” she explained. “He’s infamous for being impossible to ride. Only five people have ever held on the entire eight seconds. I hope James hasn’t drawn him.”
    Twenty minutes later, after eight more riders had had their turn, Renee’s fears were realized. Knightwind was driven into the chute and James crawled onto his back.
    “I’m sure he’ll be just fine,” Daddy assured Renee. He took her hand and I shot Matt an “I told you so” look.
    He put his arm around me and drew me close. “She’s scared. Maybe he’s just comforting her. We hold hands all the time and there’s nothing romantic going on between us.”
    I was going to argue, but the chute opened and pulled my attention back to James. The bull bucked and jumped, but he remained rooted to his saddle. I watched him move with the wild beast, conquering nature, and I got wet between my legs. The buzzer sounded, announcing that James had reached his eight second goal.
    “James Parker, ladies and gentlemen, only the sixth man to complete a ride on Knightwind,” the announcer said as James slid off the bull’s back. Two rodeo clowns hustled Knightwind back into the chute as we waited to hear James’s score.
    “Like I said, this is sexy,” Matt told me with a grin. He touched me gently on the chin and I realized that my mouth was open in awe. I shut it quickly and turned away, my face hot with embarrassment.
    “Ladies