About Roughstock: And a Smile- Season One
Written by BA Tortuga
169 pages / 53100 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-467-0, 1-60370-467-1
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, paperback
It's Coke Pharris' job to save bull riders from bulls, and he takes his work very seriously. Which is why he's devastated when one of his favorite riders gets hurt, and he's determined to help the young man ride again. Dillon Walsh is the arena entertainer for the bull riding tour, and he wants to help. He also wants Coke, has been admiring the man for a long time. He hasn't made a move on Coke for fear of messing up their friendship, but when he finds out Coke might feel the same way, Dillon has to try to win Coke over.
Coke thinks he's too old for Dillon, too beat up and scarred, but he can't resist when Dillon finally makes a play for him. Dillon is like a wet dream for Coke, and the two of them have a great time getting to know each other better, at least until the danger of their job threatens to come between them. Will Dillon and Coke be able to help their friend and weather the problems that blow their way?
Review
Kiernan Kelly, author of the In Bear Country novels, writes: Welcome to the pro-rodeo circuit, where eight seconds can last a lifetime, and where the only things standing between a thrown cowboy and a snorting, wild-eyed, two-thousand pound hamburger on the hoof are an aging bullfighter and a rodeo clown.
B.A. Tortuga takes us once again into the world of roughstock rodeo, where men ride bulls for big money, and the true heroes of the arena are the men who spend their lives keeping the cowboys safe from hooves and horns.
For readers of Tortuga's Roughstock: Blindride – Season One, this book will have the feel of homecoming; those who are new to the series will enjoy meeting Tortuga's cowboys, in particular, Dillon, the rodeo clown, and Coke, a bullfighter whose years in the arena can be counted in the scars on his hide.
Dillon's had the hots for Coke for a long time; Coke never thought he had a chance with Dillon. When the two finally pull their heads out of their butts, they find themselves drawn inexorably deeper into a solid, loving relationship.
They have each other and a common goal – to help a rider, Jason Scott, who's lost his eyesight in a bull riding accident, ride professionally again.
Things seem to be going well for Dillon and Coke, until a tragic accident in the arena and a misunderstanding nearly tear them apart for good.
Roughstock: And a Smile – Season One has all the elements of a great B.A. Tortuga novel – hot cowboys, hotter sex, and the ability to draw a reader in from first page to the last. Don't miss it!
Sample
Beau tipped his hat to the crowd and shook Adam Taggart's hand as the safety man rode by, grinning at him and Coke and nodding. "Thanks, y'all."
"Look at you, Cajun!" Coke jogged by, winking at Beau. "This mean you're buying the beer tonight?"
Beau laughed and nodded, waving at Nate, who tossed over his rope. "You know it, chere. I owe you a couple from last month, yeah?"
"You bet. We'll all meet at the hotel." Coke winked at him, at Beau, then slapped Nate on the back. "Come on, Nattie. We're up. The young'un's slowing down on us."
The grin Coke gave Nate was self-depreciating as hell. Fred was covering for Cooper Riley and the little Australian was almost like a new puppy, trying desperately to get the big dogs to let him in the pack, play with him.
"Yep. It's hell so be young and full of energy." Nate bounced along next to Coke, shaking out his hands and arms, and Dillon couldn't help but laugh as he made his way back behind the barrel.
God, he loved his job. Even more now that Coke was back from delivering Andy Baxter and Andy Baxter's busted leg to Texas.
The rest of the rides went easy as pie, Beau taking the round and the event, the crowd milling around and heading down for autographs. Coke and Nate leaned together, forehead to forehead, giving thanks, just like every night. Fred wasn't in that circle. None of the others were, either.
Dillon always felt a little dirty, watching that and thinking about anything but prayer. Shaking it off, he headed for their locker room, wanting out of his sweaty costume, looking forward to that beer Beau had mentioned.
Coke had mentioned.
Whatever.
The bullfighters came tumbling in -- Nate and Fred running and laughing, Coke chasing them, the man soaking wet. "Gonna kick y'all's butts!"
Nate hooted. "Didn't know that cooler dealie was full, Hoss, honest."
"Liar." Coke pounced, tackling Nate to the ground.
Oh. Oh, good God in Heaven. That was kind of like watching porn, and Dillon turned his back, not joining in like he usually would. He was a little too stiff for that. In certain places.