“I thought we were meeting in the lobby?” I said.
“We were. Guess what I found?”
“What did you find?”
“Kara Lane.”
“Okay, I’ll bite, who’s Kara Lane?” I asked, motioning for Dirk to come into my room.
“She is, according to her, your number one fan. She wants to meet you.”
With a sigh, I shook my head. I didn’t hook up with a lot of women when I was out on tour. I did occasionally, though, when I needed the release. Dirk, on the other hand, wasn’t as picky when it came to the buckle bunnies.
“Let me guess: you want something out of this.”
Dirk smirked before dropping his bag and then himself into a seat.
“Normally I would say yes, but this lady has a kid with her. Cute little boy with Down syndrome. He wants to be a bull rider. She recognized me down in the lobby and asked if I could let you know how much it would mean to her and her son to meet you.”
“This isn’t a trick to get a hookup later, is it?”
Dirk looked slightly hurt. “You honestly think I’d make up that kind of story just to get laid?”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I sighed. “No, dude, sorry.”
He nodded as I grabbed my boots and started to put them on. “You talk to Blayze?”
“Yeah. Ty was going to show him how to rope a calf before I got home.”
I could hear Dirk mutter something under his breath, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Dick move, right?” I asked.
“Why is he so bitter? I mean, does he not get how much it tears you up being out on the road without Blayze?”
Shrugging, I answered, “I don’t think he means to do it on purpose. He’s been through a lot himself.”
Dirk agreed with a nod. “Still, he shouldn’t be using your kid.”
I stood. “I agree, a hundred percent. You got any T-shirts or anything for this?”
“Lloyd has some merchandise.”
Lloyd Webster was our Wrangler sponsor and could always be found carrying a bag of Wrangler merchandise.
As we headed to the elevator, two women made their way toward us. I cringed inwardly while Dirk let a smile grow across his face.
“Morning, ladies,” he purred with an accent that screamed he was country more than the boots and cowboy hat he wore.
The blonde waved her fingers at both of us and winked. “Enjoy your day, gentlemen.”
When they walked by, Dirk let his gaze follow them.
He smiled wider, and I shook my head as we walked into the elevator. “I may get lucky tonight after all. You sure you don’t want to go out later?”
“I’m positive. I’m sure I’ll be exhausted after today and ready to hit the sack when the day is over.”
“What if you ride good?”
I shrugged. “If I qualify, then I’ll need to ride tomorrow, and I sure as shit don’t want to have a hangover.”
He laughed. “When in the hell was the last time you had a hangover, Brock?”
The elevator doors opened to the main lobby, and Dirk and I headed over to Lloyd. I saw a woman standing there with a boy who looked to be about ten. The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up. His mother followed his gaze and wore a similar look on her face. Moments like these never got old, especially when they involved little kids.
“I promised you I would find and deliver him,” Dirk said as he reached the woman first. “Kara, I’d like for you to meet the current number one bull rider as of today.”
Shooting Dirk a smirk, I turned to the woman and shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, ma’am.”
She blushed, then looked down to her son. “Billy, this here is the bull rider you’re always cheering on.”
The young boy looked up at me and gave me a full-on smile. Bending down, I got eye level with him as Lloyd handed me a baseball cap and a T-shirt. I signed them both as I spoke to Billy.
“You want to be a bull rider someday, Billy?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be as good as you!”
“I bet you will be. Have you ever been on a bull?” I asked, handing him the baseball cap and laughing when he quickly put it on.
“Yes, sir. I have.”
“I tell you what, Billy; I’m going to make sure you and your mom have VIP passes today. You come on back and wish me luck, okay?”
His eyes lit up like Christmas morning, and before I knew it, his arms were wrapped around my neck. “Thank you! Thank you!”
Glancing up, I smiled at Kara. She mouthed the words Thank you. After Billy let me go, I handed him the shirt and stood back up. I signed another hat for Kara and gave it to her.
“You don’t know how much this means to me. Billy’s father passed away to cancer a few months back, and this is the first time I’ve seen him smile. He always watched you when you rode. You were his favorite, hence the reason you’re Billy’s favorite.”