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relationship under the spotlights. It was like trapping a bird in a cage.
    “Joy,” he called.
    She turned, staring at him with big, hungry eyes and lips swollen from his kisses.
    “See you in Cheyenne.”
     

 
    Chapter Three
     
    “What the hell’s up with Wynonna? She’s acting crazy,” Ryder said to his brother next to him.
    They leaned against the fence rail, watching her show off in the saddle. She’d sheered seconds off her barrel racing time, and there was no way she’d humanly get even another millisecond off. Not without a faster horse, but she loved that mare. They’d been together for three years. She’d won her first event on the mount.
    Ridge gave Ryder a raised eyebrow.
    “Okay, crazier than usual,” Ryder said.
    “She’s obsessed with a better time, but beats me why. I think she’s just showing off for the cameras.”
    “Or the production manager,” Ryder said under his breath, and Ridge nodded.
    “If things go south with them, our show’s probably cut.”
    “I wouldn’t mind,” Ryder said at once.
    Ridge looked at him hard. “Wouldn’t you? You’d be out enough money to get that house of yours.”
    “I can earn it myself with good old hard work.”
    “You’ve been ‘on’ with bulls lately, but that can’t last. Most of the ride is luck.” Ridge tipped his hat lower against the glaring sun.
    “I know.” Ryder sighed. The ranch felt smaller than normal since the film crew had come into their lives. And this morning Ryder had discovered his toothbrush on the bathroom floor, knocked off by some inconsiderate family member. When he’d found several hairs on it, he’d hurled it into the wastebasket and finger-scrubbed his teeth.
    He’d also spent half an hour going over his bank account and finances, looking at ways to squeeze more money from his budget in order to go to the bank and ask for that loan.
    The next installment check came from the TV network in two more months. He didn’t know if he could live through eight more weeks of hairy toothbrushes.
    He pushed air out of his nose as Wynonna reined in, a cloud of dust swirling around her horse’s legs. She glared at Ridge. “What’s the time?”
    “Sixteen point eight.”
    “Dammit!” Wynonna threw her braid over her shoulder and her horse danced at her agitation. She patted its neck soothingly, but Ryder eyed them.
    “You’re too tense. Your horse is picking it up.”
    “What?” She turned her narrowed cat eyes on him.
    He wasn’t cowed by her dirty looks. “Remember that racing clinic you attended some years back? The instructor talked about a smooth ride, and the only way to get that is for your horse to be happy, stretch out on the runs and turn those corners faster.”
    Wynonna opened her mouth, probably to shoot a sassy reply, but closed it again.
    “Maybe you need another clinic to remind you, l’il sis.”
    “Maybe you need to take up Thunder Humphries’ offer to train you,” she shot back.
    At the name, his chest blazed and a longing for Joy rose up, so strong he thought he might choke. No, that was just the dust off the hooves. “What are you talking about?”
    “I heard Thunder was looking for you in Prescott. He was going to invite you to train with him on his ranch.”
    On his ranch. With Joy so close I could have her daily—nightly. And every minute in between.
    He gave a shake of his head. “I’m doing fine without training. Besides, Thunder is looking for the next PBR champ. I’m not playing that game. I’m happy where I’m at.”
    Wynonna dismounted in one fluid motion, and a camera followed the swing of her leg. She hit the ground and put her hand right over the camera lens, directing it down and away from her. “Can I get a minute?” she snapped.
    The crew member muttered a “sure” and walked away from her as if she were a grenade with the pin pulled. Ryder waved her over to the fence, and she twisted her lips as she followed. Ridge trailed behind.
    “What’s that