Chapter 1
Sophie-Ann Walker tightened the strap on her riding glove and stared at the practice bull in front of her.
The beast pawed the dirt.
Snorted.
And glared at her like it already knew she didn’t belong.
Which only made Sophie grin.
“You scared?” Alex teased.
Sophie rolled her eyes.
“Of him?”
She pointed to the bull.
“He should be scared of me.”
Alex burst out laughing.
“You are absolutely insane.”
“And you’re still my best friend.”
“Unfortunately.”
They bumped shoulders.
The summer sun beat down on the small practice arena behind Sophie’s family ranch.
For years, the two girls had dreamed of this.
Not barrel racing.
Not pageants.
Not standing pretty on the sidelines.
Bull riding.
The most dangerous sport in rodeo.
And according to nearly everyone they’d ever met…
a sport women didn’t belong in.
Sophie had heard it all.
You’re too small.
You’ll get hurt.
Nobody wants to watch girls ride bulls.
But Sophie didn’t care.
Because the moment she climbed onto her first bull at sixteen…
she fell in love.
Not with winning.
Not with fame.
But with the feeling.
That split second before the gate opened.
The chaos.
The fear.
The freedom.
She lived for it.
Alex threw her a bottle of water.
“Big weekend.”
Sophie’s stomach flipped.
Their first official pro rodeo.
The place where careers started.
Or ended.
“I know.”
“You nervous?”
Sophie shrugged.
“A little.”
Alex stared.
“Oh my God.”
“What?”
“You’re nervous!”
“I’m NOT.”
“You are!”
Sophie groaned.
“Shut up.”
Alex laughed.
For the first time in years…
Sophie was terrified.
Because this wasn’t practice anymore.
This was her dream.
And dreams were scary.
Three states away…
Walker Jones was miserable.
“Absolutely not.”
Walker slammed his truck door.
“I’m not doing it.”
Travis groaned.
“You’re literally the biggest star in bull riding.”
“Exactly.”
“So show up.”
Walker glared at him.
The rookie rodeo this weekend was packed with new talent.
Sponsors wanted Walker there.
Fans wanted Walker there.
Walker wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.
“I hate publicity.”
“No, you hate feelings.”
Walker rolled his eyes.
“I hate you.”
Travis smirked.
“One day a woman is gonna come along and humble you.”
Walker laughed.
“Never happening.”
Travis pointed at him.
“That’s exactly what people say before they fall in love.”
Walker scoffed.
Love?
That ship sailed years ago.
Burned.
Sank.
And took his heart with it.
Eight years earlier…
he had been stupid enough to believe forever.
Ashley changed that.
Walker had been twenty-two.
Unknown.
Poor.
In love.
Ashley had been beautiful.
Sweet.
Perfect.
Or so he thought.
Until one night…
he came home early.
And found her kissing another man.
Not just cheating.
Laughing about him.
Using him.
Waiting for him to become famous.
The memory still burned.
So Walker made himself a promise.
Never again.
No girlfriends.
No dates.
No love.
And he’d kept it.
Until now.
Unfortunately…
fate had other plans.
The next afternoon Walker arrived at the rookie rodeo.
The place buzzed with excitement.
Cowboys.
Music.
Food trucks.
Fans.
Walker adjusted his hat and tried not to be recognized.
It didn’t work.
“OH MY GOD!”
A teenage girl screamed.
Then another.
Then twenty.
Walker sighed.
Travis laughed.
“You love the attention.”
“I hate you.”
Walker escaped toward the practice pens.
Finally.
Peace.
Until—
CLANG!
Someone flew over the fence.
Straight into him.
Walker caught them instinctively.
A small gasp.
Soft curls brushing his chin.
Hazel eyes.
Wide and shocked.
And Walker forgot how to breathe.
Sophie stared up.
Oh.
Oh no.
Walker Jones.
The Walker Jones.
Five-time world champion.
Bull riding legend.
And somehow…
even more handsome in person.
He stared at her too.
Like he’d forgotten where he was.
Or maybe…
who he was.
Walker slowly set her down.
“You okay?”
Sophie blinked.
His voice.
Deep.
Warm.
Dangerous.
“I—”
Words vanished.
Alex appeared.
“Oh my God!”
She doubled over laughing.
“Sophie!”
Sophie groaned.
“Please stop.”
Alex pointed.
“You literally crashed into Walker Jones!”
Walker chuckled.
Sophie wanted the earth to swallow her whole.
“I’m so sorry,” she blurted.
Walker smiled.
And Sophie nearly died.
Because wow.
That smile.
“It’s alright.”
Their eyes met.
And something strange happened.
A feeling.
Fast.
Sudden.
Like sparks racing beneath her skin.
Walker felt it too.
Which annoyed him immensely.
Because women didn’t affect him anymore.
Especially not women with pretty eyes.
And messy curls.
And the cutest embarrassed expression he’d ever seen.
“You’re riding this weekend?” Walker asked.
Sophie nodded.
His eyebrows shot up.
“Wait.”
Realization hit.
“You’re Sophie-Ann Walker.”
She blinked.
“You know me?”
Walker smirked.
“You’ve been all over social media.”
“The girl crazy enough to go pro.”
Sophie’s face lit up.
Walker stared.
And immediately looked away.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
He was not doing this.
Except…
he couldn’t stop looking at her.
And Sophie?
Sophie couldn’t stop staring back.
Across the arena…
Travis grinned.
Alex grinned.
They exchanged a look.
Oh.
This was gonna be FUN.
