02-Let It Ride Read Online Free PDF Page A

he’d insisted on getting coffee for the two of them on his own. Eric pulled one cup from the tray and handed it to Tripp, then lifted the other out for himself and tossed the tray into a large blue barrel near the arena exit.
    He lifted his cup in Tripp’s direction before taking a sip. “Thank you.”
    Tripp nodded. “How’re things looking out there? Any of those rookies busting their skulls open yet?”
    “Let’s hope not,” Eric said, sending up a silent prayer. He was trained to deal with most every emergency, but he enjoyed his job the most when it was boring. He preferred people staying healthy and whole. “It’s nice and quiet, just the way I like it.”
    “Yeah, but where’s the fun in that?” Tripp said, amusement clear in his voice and a mischievous glint in his cool-blue eyes. “It’s all about the mayhem.”
    Eric shook his head. “So the stories are true. You bull riders really are nuts.”
    Tripp laughed, turning his attention to the ring, and the expression on his rugged face softened. Bridge and Marty rode side by side toward them, and Marty graced Tripp with a smile that could make even the coldest heart melt. Eric knew Tripp’s had a long time ago. The ex-bull rider’s smile widened, his fear of anyone knowing the two even knew each other, let alone were together, fading more and more with each passing day. It warmed Eric to see that growing confidence. No one should ever have to live in fear of showing another how much he means to him.
    “How’s it going out there?” Tripp reached through the metal rails to stroke the thick neck of Marty’s horse.
    Marty glanced over his shoulder. “Not bad. Couple of cowboys are going to find themselves in a world of hurt if they don’t pay attention, though.”
    “Bunch of greenhorns.” Bridge laughed, and the deep rumble of his voice drew Eric’s gaze to the big cowboy astride the equally big chestnut gelding. Their eyes met, locked, and there it was again, that flare of heat he’d seen the night before in those melted-chocolate eyes. The kind of look that clearly said I want you and set off Eric’s bells and whistles like a pinball machine.
    Time stilled. Voices and pounding hooves and lowing livestock faded. A light breeze gently lifted the ends of Bridge’s hair, like gold threads of silk, and the tips of Eric’s fingers tingled, wanting to touch.
    “C’mon, B. Gotta get back to it.” Marty broke the frozen moment, and Eric remembered to breathe.
    Bridge nodded ever so slightly, eyes still on Eric, and then reined his horse after Marty and headed back into the action. Eric put a hand on the railing, needing something solid to hold on to for a minute while he watched Bridge ride away, watched the way his broad shoulders rocked with the sway of his horse, the way the muscles in his arms bulged when he adjusted the spoke of his lasso, the way he turned his head and scanned the arena, completely aware of every animal and cowboy in the ring. Confident, sexy, loyal, and everything Eric had ever imagined a cowboy would be.
    Everything he wanted in a man.
    Shit. His maybe-not-so-straight friend was going to make it hard to keep his boundaries in place.

    The five of them sat at a picnic table during intermission, eating burgers and drinking cold colas while sharing the morning’s highlights from the first of four days at rodeo school. Bridge and Kent sat on one side, Marty between Tripp and Eric on the other.
    Bridge’s gaze kept wandering from Marty and Tripp to Eric, and he found his attention more on Eric and less on the conversation. Marty leaned in and whispered something in Tripp’s ear. Tripp looked down so the brim of his hat covered most of his face, but not enough to hide the smile that Bridge saw lift his mouth. Marty sat back up and popped a French fry into his mouth, looking rather proud of himself as he chewed. He caught Bridge’s eye and winked, which made Bridge smile too. This was the Marty he’d missed so much. It had