Love & Rodeo by Paisley Cruz Page B

hundreds of people around them, but all she could see and feel was Levi. Pulling away, she looked at those blue Cavanaugh eyes. In that moment, amongst all of those people, she knew with all certainty that she was in love with him. Completely and totally in love with him. His lips touched hers again and her whole body hummed.
    “ Levi?” she heard someone say.
    He pulled away and immediately her lips missed his. They clung to one another, trying to shake the moment before turning to a blonde-headed girl, standing there amongst a group of women.
    “ Levi Cavanaugh! I heard you were in town for the rodeo in Tulsa.”
    Kallie watched as the blonde hugged Levi and immediately jealousy settled in the pit of her stomach.
    “ Hey, Sarah. How’ve you been?”
    “ Good. I got engaged to Jared this past spring.”
    “ Congratulations! That’s great,” Levi said as he put his arm around Kallie. “This is Kallie Davis. My girlfriend from the circuit.”
    Kallie looked up at him. They hadn’t talked to one another about titles before. A little stunned, she focused her attention on Sarah and shook her hand.
    “ It’s nice to…” Kallie started, but before she could get the line out Sarah had already turned back to Levi.
    “ The whole town has been watching you. I bet your Daddy’s real proud.”
    Kallie watched as Sarah placed a hand on Levi’s arm.
    No she didn’t.
    This woman had nerve.
    “ He is.”
    Kallie wrapped her arm around his, clearly staking her claim while staring down the blonde.
    “ Well, I’ll let you all enjoy your night. Levi, tell your Mama I said hi.”
    Levi smiled at her and waved as Sarah retreated.
    “ Who was that?”
    “ Oh Sarah? She’s an ex-girlfriend from high school.”
    “ She’s awfully pretty,” Kallie noted.
    “ Is somebody jealous?”
    “ What do I have to be jealous of when you just called me your girlfriend.”
    “ You noticed that, huh?”
    “ Yep. I kind of liked it.”
    He looked down at her and kissed her lips before they started through the crowd. They walked around to each animal barn and looked at the animals. Kallie had to stop and pet almost every one of them.
    “ Do you have to pet them all?” Levi asked.
    “ I don’t want the other ones to get jealous.”
    Levi laughed and pulled her to him. “If you pet them the way you pet me, I might get jealous,” he whispered in her ear.
    She gasped and slapped him playfully. “We’re going to be late to see Emma,” she told him.
    “ Okay.”
    They stopped and got an ice-cream cone to share and found Levi’s parents in the stands. Levi and Kallie settled into one another and ate their ice-cream cone. Kallie went to give him a bite and pushed it in his face.
    “ Oops.” Kallie laughed.
    He shook his head and pulled her in. He kissed her lightly and then she wiped his face off. He just looked at her.
    “ What?” Kallie asked him.
    He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “You’re beautiful.”
    Her breath caught and the butterflies in her stomach danced.
    “ Levi your sister is up next,” John told them.
    Kallie sat up and watched a rider run the pattern, knocking the third barrel over, adding five seconds to her time. Next was Emma and she was riding a beautiful palomino mare. Kallie watched on as she circled the mare and took off toward the first barrel. She came at it a little wide but made it around.
    “ Go on!” Kallie yelled
    “ You got it!” Levi yelled beside her.
    She turned the second barrel and headed toward the third. Turning that barrel perfectly, she raced home.
    “ Hurry. Hurry!” Kallie yelled beside Levi as she jumped up and down.
    “ 17.495. That’s the time you’re chasing, ladies,” the announcer boomed.
    Kallie looked at Levi and he lifted her as they cheered. He sat her down and she watched his parents hug and kiss one another, so proud of their daughter. Her heart ached a little. Her parents used to do that too.
    “ Let’s go see her!” Levi told Kallie.
    He pulled her