Love And Rodeo

1

Rhett's frustration boiled beneath the surface, evident in the way his jaw clenched as he listened to Kyle's drunken ramblings. 'One night you're going to say the wrong thing to the wrong person,' he interjected, 'and they'll end up killing you. You have nothing to prove.' His words carried a weight of concern, a plea for Kyle to see reason.

Kyle, swaying slightly on unsteady legs, scoffed in defiance. 'Oh yeah, I do. I'm little, and you always save me anyway.'

Rhett sighed, his annoyance palpable. 'Kyle, I can't keep...' His sentence trailed off as the door swung open, admitting a young woman whose presence shifted the entire atmosphere of the room.

She walked in with a confident stride, her dirty blonde hair tousled yet somehow perfect. Her hazel eyes, upon closer inspection, revealed themselves to be a deep midnight blue, captivating in their intensity. Dressed in designer jeans and cowboy boots that bore the marks of hard work, she exuded a charm that went beyond mere physical beauty.

Rhett's gaze lingered on her, momentarily forgetting Kyle's presence at his feet. It wasn't just her appearance that caught his attention; it was the depth in those blue eyes, a depth that spoke of experiences and resilience far beyond what he had imagined.

Rhett extended a hand towards the group of women, a charming smile on his lips. 'Hello, ladies, my name is...'

Before he could finish, a voice interrupted him, cutting through the chatter of the bar. 'Rhett Baker. Seven-time all-around cowboy,' said the woman with the captivating dark blue eyes.

Rhett's smile widened. 'Well, it seems you know my name. May I ask yours?'

'I am Hannah Dorian,' she replied with a confident tilt of her head. 'Miss Caldwell Night Rodeo 2018 and Miss Rodeo Idaho 2019.'

Rhett's eyebrows raised slightly in recognition. 'Ah, a rodeo queen. What brings royalty to a seedy little place like this?'

Hannah's gaze didn't waver as she met his eyes. 'My best friend's bachelorette party. I'm the designated driver.'

'Well, DD,' Rhett countered with a playful smirk, 'would you care to dance with an all-around winner?'

Hannah's response was swift and firm. 'No, I don't dance with cocky cowboys with egos the size of Texas. You have yourself a nice night, Mr. Baker. Let's go, girls.'

With that, Hannah turned away, leaving Rhett momentarily stunned. Her confidence and self-assuredness had struck a chord within him, igniting a determination to prove himself worthy in her eyes, no matter the challenge ahead.

Kyle's drunken antics reached a new low as he made inappropriate advances towards Hannah and her friends. Rhett's protective instincts kicked in, and he moved swiftly to intervene when Kyle crossed the line by grabbing Hannah's ass.

Hannah's immediate reaction was a sharp slap across Kyle's face, met with a drunken attempt to retaliate. Rhett's imposing presence and quick reflexes prevented further escalation, as he blocked Kyle's hand and firmly sat him down.

'Ladies, please excuse Kyle's behavior. He's had too much to drink,' Rhett apologized, addressing Hannah and her friends. 'I'll take him home now.'

As Rhett started to lead Kyle away, Hannah's soft drawl caught his attention. 'Wait, Mr. Baker?'

Rhett turned back to face her. 'Yes, Miss Dorian?'