Carolina Blue

Part 42

Carolina POV

I felt the adrenaline coursing through my veins as Duke and I rounded each barrel at top speed. I was determined to give this race my all. I knew tonight I needed to bring my "A" game since this was a whole new level of competition.

As we rounded the last barrel Duke and I hit another beat faster. Although my heart was beating fast from the run, my mind was calm, like it always was after a race. I think it's similar to what runner's feel after a long run.

Once we were out of the gate that's when I heard the crowd again cheering for my clean and hopefully fast run. Once I was on the ground standing next to Duke, I gave him appreciative pat on the neck, "good job buddy."

My body tensed for a second as I felt strong arms wrap around my waist from behind. However, I was soon put at ease when the scent of Lukas filled around me. I leaned back into his embrace as he squeezed me tight and placed a kiss on my neck, "Damn 'Lina you really wanted to put those Louisiana girls in their place. You kicked ass!"

I felt a tinge of pink creep up my face at the words of Lukas's compliment. I smiled bright and turned my head up to look at him, "Thanks."

Lukas and I held eye contact for a few beats before my eyes were drifting between his lips and eyes. Lukas reached up and grabbed my cowboy hat from my head, as he had already taken his off earlier, and then leaned down. Just before our lips touched, Lukas whispered, "I'm so proud of you 'Lina."

As our lips crashed into one another I turned myself around to wrap my arms around Lukas to deepen the kiss. Kissing Lukas was different than kissing anyone else, it felt like home. The kind where it sets my soul on fire and calms my nerves all in the same breath.

Someone walking by yelled at us, "get a room."

Lukas and I sheepishly separated from one another as I felt the heat rise up my cheeks. The person stopped walking though and back tracked a few steps, "Wait, Lukas Underwood?"

I refrained from rolling my eyes if this was another one of Lukas's fan club members. I glanced at Lukas though to find him with recognition flickering in his eyes, "Beau?" Lukas asked clearly surprised.

Lukas let go of my waist to shake Beau's hand and they pulled each other in for a one hand hug, "How the hell you doin' man?" Beau asked.

Lukas smiled as they stepped back from one another and his hand rested back on the small of my back, "I'm doin' well."

Beau glanced at me, "Sorry about interrupting you guys, I know how Lukas has always had an eye for barrel racers-" at that comment I felt Lukas tense slightly next to me and bring his arm around my waist pulling me a bit closer to him-"but hey you did a damn sure good job out there a second ago."

I smiled lightly, "Thanks."

Lukas looked down at me then back up at Beau, "'Lina is still getting used to the barrel racin' world she used to be a roper."

Beau's eye shot up at that, "Hmm is that right? Well you definitely looked like a natural out there."

I smiled and nodded at the compliment still taken back by his previous comment about barrel racers, and trying to piece together how Lukas knows him.

Lukas interrupted my thought by asking Beau, "So, whatcha doin' down here man, are you bull ridin'?"

Beau smiled and shook his head, "Nah, I actually retired."

Lukas's eyes widened, "Really man, why?"

Beau grabbed the back of his neck nervously as he looked across the way and pointed to a woman, who looked not much older than me, holding a baby, "Keely and I had a baby, and it's not fair to her and the baby to put my life on the line so much."

I winced at the reminder of how dangerous this life is. I glanced at Lukas to see his reaction, but his view was still on the woman. Lukas looked as if he had seen a ghost, before something clicked and said, "Hey congrats man on the baby! And I gotta say I'm glad you're not in the lineup to be my competition tonight."

Beau smiled a tense smile, "Thanks, and yeah I miss it sometimes. How's your friend doin' by the way? I heard that he took a pretty hard fall." As soon as his words hit the air, my mind was spiraling into all the thoughts of Cope.

My face must've showed some of my distractedness, as Lukas had squeezed me tight again, "Cope still fightin' we keep holdin' onto hope."

Beau nodded with understanding, "Well I'll be thinking of him, and not that you need it, but good luck tonight."

After Beau excused himself, I watched Lukas keep his eyes on him while he tracked his movements to Keely. I wanted to ask him if he knew her, but before I could, Lukas turned back to me and asked, "you okay?"

I nodded, the reminder of Cope had made me start to spiral, but I've been getting better at pulling myself out of the black hole of thoughts lately.