The Celtic Cowboy: Bear Creek Rodeo Read online

  The Celtic Cowboy

  Bear Creek Rodeo Series

  Jessica Marin

  Copyright © 2019 by Jessica Marin

  Cover Design by EDH Designs

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Thank you to all the readers who took a chance on the Kearney brothers and Bear Creek Rodeo.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Also by Jessica Marin

  Bear Creek Rodeo Series

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  RYAN

  The vastness of the Atlantic Ocean surrounds us while cruising at 39,000 feet on this clear, sunny day. The humming of the jet engines has lulled most passengers to sleep, yet I stare out of the window, hypnotized at the beauty of the sapphire colored water. I’m too excited to sleep — the anticipation of landing in America buzzing through my body, making my leg bounce with nervous energy. I have been dreaming about this very moment — coming to America to compete in their Pro Rodeo Cowboy Circuit. Becoming the best bull rider in the world has always been the goal and I’m one step closer to making it my reality. The best part about all of this is that I’m not alone on my journey. My brother, Rhett, is also making his debut in the American Pro Rodeo Circuit, trying to win the title of the best saddle bronc rider in the world.

  Rhett and I knew we wanted to be professional cowboys ever since we were young lads. Our family owns one of the best premier stud farms in all of Ireland and our father used to take us with him when he would deliver horses to his clients in Spain. It was there that we experienced our first rodeo. Rhett has always been drawn to horses, but for me, there was something exhilarating about trying to ride a fifteen hundred pound animal for eight-seconds without being crushed to death. Our parents weren’t too keen on the idea of both of their sons riding on top of bucking mammals and thought we would outgrow our new obsession.

  To their chagrin, we became even more passionate about it.

  There isn’t much rodeo action in Ireland, so once we graduated school, we both headed to other countries. I stayed close to home and started my career in Spain while Rhett traveled all the way to Australia. He asked me to go with him, but being so far away from home just didn’t appeal to me, which is quite shocking since I’m usually the rebellious one out of us two. Rhett, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to get out of Ireland. Rhett is five years older than me and has always been curious about what was beyond our homeland. I’ve never had that desire. I liked being close to my family and working on the farm in the off-season. Once Rhett went to Australia, we barely saw him. During his off seasons, he would stay there and only came home on holidays. We would talk weekly on the phone, making plans to fulfill our dreams of going to America one day.

  But both of our careers had to be put on hold when our father was thrown off a horse and shattered his leg. Rhett and I came home to help our sister and mother run the farm. Even though having Rhett home helped enormously, he was unhappy. His carefree, joking attitude left and was replaced with a moody, more serious version of himself. Even though he has not publicly come right out and said it, Rhett doesn’t want to inherit the farm. As the eldest, he’s expected to take it over once our parents retire, but that just isn’t in his blood. With father’s injury, I think Rhett thought his rodeo days were numbered. I hated seeing this side of my brother and once I saw our father was going to be just fine, I told him it was our time to go to America. It took some convincing and as I look over at him, a frown on his face as he watches a movie, I still think he feels guilty for leaving.

  His frown only accentuates his good looks. His skin is tan from working outside, his dark blond hair messy from his hands combing through it. His emerald green eyes focus on the scene in the movie. He never once acknowledged the stares and smiles ladies were giving him as they walked past him toward their seats. I, on the other hand, took account all the women that noticed me and smiled right back at them. One of the flight attendants has been very accommodating, stopping by our seats on numerous occasions to see if we needed anything. I finally put her to work, ordering myself a beer, making sure she saw my appreciation of her curvaceous body. Her mouth curved into a knowing smile, her eyes raking down my own body before she left. I shift in my seat, the tightening of my groin making me uncomfortable as I think of all the things I can do with that luscious body of hers. Before long she’s walking back with my drink. She purposely sticks her breasts close to my face as she lowers herself to place the drink on the tray. Along with the beer, she leaves a folded piece of paper. I give her a questioning smile before she nods at me and heads to the back. I open the note, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise as to what it says.

  Meet me in the back gallery bathroom in five minutes.

  I’ve never joined the Mile High Club before and I’m not opposed to popping my cherry on this flight. I wonder if she picks up men like this often — not that I care, as I’m ready and willing to join her. I smile and am about to fold the note when Rhett’s hand grabs it and takes it from me.

  “You better not be considering this,” he warns, his eyes storming in annoyance as he balls the note in his fist.

  “Are you daft? Of course I’m considering it! What hot blooded male wouldn’t?” I burst out loudly. I smile in apology at the lady with her child across the aisle from me and turn back to Rhett. “Why would I deprive myself of a good time with a hot flight attendant?”

  “Because you need to think of your reputation, that’s why. Plus, you don’t know where that girl’s been. Don’t you wonder if she takes strange men back there all the time?”

  I refuse to tell him that the thought did cross my mind and still wasn’t going to deter me.

  “Maybe I’m the best looking bloke whose shown interest in her and she wants to take advantage of it,” I say, trying to justify her reasoning for having sex with a complete stranger in the middle of a flight, when really, my argument is weak.

  “Don’t be a conceited asshole. She gets plenty of men hitting on her. You’ve already slept with all of Kildare and half of Dublin, I don’t need you sleeping with all of America too.”

  “I haven’t slept with that many women,” I grumbled, not wanting to discuss my extra curricular activities with my brother, who frowns upon them. I can’t help that I gravitate toward the female population, nor can I help that they enjoy my company as well. With billions of women on this Earth, why should I just be settling with one? I’m young and have no desire to settle down right now. Rhett has been wanting to meet “The One” and find a partner that he can go on adventures with.

  I don’t even think I believe that there is one woman for me.

  “Let’s lay some ground rules right now for this trip. Number one — no sleeping with complete strangers who we meet on airplanes. Number two — no sleeping with any women associated with the rodeos we are competing in. Number three — no sleeping with anyone on th
is trip period!” Rhett says sternly, looking intensely at me so that I know he means business. Number three is so ridiculous that I can’t help but burst out laughing at the audacity of it.

  “You can’t be serious!” I laugh at him, waiting for the punchline of his joke. When he continues to stare at me, I realize he’s not joking. “There’s no way that’s not happening. We are in America for close to a year! You’re really asking me to be celibate the whole time?”

  “Not unless you get a serious girlfriend,” he answers, a smirk playing on his lips as he knows that won’t be happening.

  “You know that isn’t going to happen with the schedule we mapped out. We’re in and out of most cities within forty-eight hours.”

  “Look at it as another challenge, brother. If you want to be the best bull rider in the world, you need to focus on staying healthy, getting enough rest and training.”

  “Having sex is training! It helps with my stamina on staying on top of that bull for eight-seconds.” I try to reason with Rhett, who isn’t buying any of my bullshit.

  “If we want a shot at Nationals, we need to stay focus. No girls as distractions, you hear me?”

  “Five hours into this trip and I’m already regretting being here with you,” I respond back, not in the least bit joking either. I have no problems leaving Rhett at the airport and us going our separate ways if this is how he’s going to act for nine months. I’ve worked too hard not to have some fun along the way. Rhett might have to remain celibate in order to perform better, but I sure don’t.

  “I bet one American lass bats their pretty little eyelashes at you and you’re a goner,” I tease, knowing that Rhett’s picky when it pertains to the women he decides to spend his time with. “Did you forget how handsome you are? These lasses have no chance once they see you. Even worse when they see me.” I nudge his shoulder with my own, finally getting a smile out of him.

  “All I ask is that you behave, Ryan. Please try to stick to the rules,” he demands before sticking his headphones back into his ears to listen to the movie.

  I lean back into my seat and close my eyes. There’s no way I plan on abiding to any of Rhett’s rules, yet I really don’t want to travel the country by myself. America is much bigger than Ireland and Spain and since Rhett and our sister made most of our travel plans, it would be pretty stupid of me to ditch him just because I want to get laid. A headache starts to form and I sigh while I push my seat back in order to try to relax.

  This is going to be a long nine months.

  Chapter Two

  ADELINE

  I look around the office to see if anyone is watching me. It’s quiet right now, with most of the salespeople on the floor working with customers. I just finished updating the car inventory report for my father, making my to-do list complete. With him and no-one else in sight, I reach down into my tote bag and grab my laptop. I quickly open up Illustrator and continue to work on the teaser I’m creating for the new book my best friend is releasing this week. I unlock the word document she sent me with some teasers from her book, copy one, and paste it onto the photo of the half-naked man. I play around with the format, insert some creative fonts and lean back to assess my work. I smile slowly, proud of how far I’ve come in just a short amount of time with my side career as a graphic designer. Well, calling myself a graphic designer might be a stretch since I only design for Tessa, my best friend, and one other author she has introduced me to. Still, I’m getting pretty damn good as this teaser I just made for her is very sexy — exactly what she wanted it to be.

  “Adeline, I need you to pick up your brother for me today.” My father’s voice startles me and I slap my laptop shut, but not before he sees what I was doing.

  “How many times have I told you not to create that smut while working here?” My father isn’t a fan of the type of novels Tessa writes, nor is he happy that I help her. He thinks her “yankee” ways are changing my behavior, despite him knowing that Tessa isn’t even a yankee.

  She’s from Dallas.

  But since that’s “up north” to him and more progressive than Bear Creek, he’s convinced that she’s a bad influence on me, even though both my mother and I tell him he’s being archaic.

  “I’m sorry, Daddy, I won’t do it again,” I lie, batting my eyelashes at him because we both know I will do it again. There’s just no point in arguing with him over it. I’ve been working at my father’s car dealership now for six years, ever since I graduated from high school. I started off first as a part-time receptionist while I went to community college. I’ve moved my way up to his assistant when his former one resigned two years ago. It’s a steady job with good pay and I’m grateful to my father for the opportunity, but it isn’t what I want to do with the rest of my life.

  Being my own boss and getting out of Bear Creek is exactly what I want to do with my life.

  People who are born in Bear Creek are usually lifers and with my family being town royalty, my dreams would be considered blasphemy. I’m the daughter of one of the most famous football players ever to come out of Bear Creek. Clint Murphy has been a celebrity since he was in high school, becoming the first quarterback from Bear Creek High to play in the NFL for fourteen seasons, managing to play all of those seasons with one team. He was forced into retirement early due to numerous concussions. Once retired, my father used his fame to obtain partners and invest in numerous businesses, with majority of them being car dealerships around southeast Texas. He also invested a lot into the Bear Creek community, making him a household name around town. While his generosity for the community comes from a genuine place in his heart, he and my mother enjoy the perks of being local celebrities. What they failed to think about was how it would affect their children in both a negative and positive way.

  My brothers, Colt and Carson, are following exactly in my father’s footsteps. Colt is the starting quarterback at the University of Texas and Carson is in his junior year at Bear Creek High, while being one of their best wide receivers. Both of them are big men on their respective campuses, relishing in being popular, adored and loved. My parents’ life revolves around football schedules, making sure nothing stands in their way from being at every single one of their home and away games.

  “Why do I have to pick Carson up when he has his own car?” I ask, not understanding my father’s request to go get him from practice. My father gifted all of us with brand new cars when we got our licenses. I don’t think I’ve seen my mother as happy as she is now that she’s no longer anyone’s chauffeur.

  “Your brother got his car taken away from him for making some poor choices at school.”

  “What did he do?” I question, since it must have been pretty bad for our dad to take away his truck. Colt and Carson could get away with murder and my father would turn a blind eye as long as it didn’t affect them playing in any games.

  “He was caught taking a shower in the girl’s locker room… with the star volleyball player.” I can’t help the giggle that escapes me at his look of disgust. Some dads would have been proud of their son for getting action, but not ours. He knows both of my brothers might have the chance at a long career in the NFL, so he tries to keep them on the straight and narrow path. Seems like he’s losing that battle when it comes to Carson, who’s known to have his own little harem at school.

  “The Coach and I managed to persuade the principal not to suspend him since we’re one game away from making the playoffs. He needs to be focusing all of his energy on football, not silly little girls.”

  “I’m sure her parents don’t think she’s a ‘silly little girl,’ Daddy.” I shake my head at him and how disrespectful he is toward the girl who I’m sure Carson persuaded to take a shower with him. “Why can’t Mom pick him up?”

  “Your mother has a late hair appointment and refused to reschedule it.”

  “One of his many minions can’t drop him off?” I keep asking, not really wanting to go get my brother. Tessa and I have our own apartment together and w
e planned to order in Chinese food and work on the last pieces we need for her release day. No matter if this release is a big hit or not, we’re going to celebrate in Austin this weekend by treating ourselves to a nice dinner and one night in a hotel.

  “Why don’t you want to go get him? Do you have a date tonight?” he asks, his eyes getting wide with hope.

  “No, why?” I scrunch up my nose at the yucky thought and look at him suspiciously.

  “Then you have nothing better to do than to go spend some time with your baby brother. It’s bad enough you won’t come to his or Colt’s away games. We barely see you anymore and your mother and I don’t like it.” He takes his wallet out of his pocket, grabs a one hundred dollar bill, and dangles it in front of me. “Go get your brother, grab some BBQ and bring it home so we can have a family dinner together.” His eyes are demanding, testing to see if I defy his orders, but he knows I won’t. With a heavy sigh, I take the money and stuff it into my purse.

  “What time do I have to go get him?” I reluctantly ask, not really looking forward to another family dinner where the topic of conversation is all about football and why I’m not married yet.

  My father glances at his watch and grimaces. “Right about now. I’ll see you at home in an hour.” He pats me awkwardly on the shoulder and walks away. I send a quick text message to Tessa telling her the change in plans, stuff my laptop in my bag, grab my car keys and head out the door.

  Fortunately the drive to Bear Creek High takes only ten minutes and my brother is already showered and dressed, waiting outside with a group of guys. His whole demeanor changes once he sees that it’s me picking him up. His smile turns into a frown, his shoulders sink, and I can see him groaning as everyone escorts him up to my car to say hello. I can’t help that all these boys think with their brains below their belts and hit on me every chance they get. If it was up to me, I would never come to any of my brother’s football games, but there would be a good possibility that I’d be disowned.