Free Nursing in Northlake (At the Altar Book 9) by Kirsten Osbourne Page B

promise you, you have never seen anything like what you’re about to see from this man.”
    He pulled on the cord from the microphone ‘til it barely reached into the padded area where the bull was. “I have to know what brought you back here, Slade.”
    Slade smiled, his face dimpling. “I got married last weekend, and when I talked to my bride about my bull riding skills, she told me that not only could I not ride a bull on my feet, but that no one could. Now, I don’t like to prove the pretty lady wrong, but I think I sure might move up a notch in her beautiful green eyes if I show her what I can do. So, I’m going to show her how a real man rides a bull!”
    The owner took the microphone back, a huge grin on his face. “Fair enough. Get your phones out, people. You’re going to want video of this!”
    Heidi stood at the edge of the small arena with her heart in her throat. She didn’t want him to get hurt, and she knew he was doing it just for her. She opened her mouth to shout to him that she believed him just as they started the bull.
    To her amazement, he went from sitting on the bull’s saddle correctly to standing in a second flat. And then the owner nodded to the band and they played Boot Scootin' Boogie . While the song played, he did a dance to it, his thumbs mostly tucked in his belt, but occasionally, he’d raise a hand to wave his hat in the air. Heidi was thankful the bull never went faster than the slow speed they started it out at, because she was certain she’d have had a heart attack!
    At the final words of the song, the bull drifted to a stop, and Slade did a no-handed flip right off the end of the bull to land at Heidi’s feet. He took both her hands in his, a bit out of breath from his dance. “Well, sweetheart? Do you believe me now?”
    Heidi wasn’t sure if she wanted to beat him with her hat for being so stupid or if she wanted to cheer that he’d done so well! So she did neither. She flew at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him for all she was worth. “I was sure you were going to fall and break your fool neck!”
    “Nah. I fell a couple of times practicing, but never since I learned what I was doing.”
    She shook her head at him. “You don’t do that often, do you?”
    “It’s been a few years.”
    “Please don’t ever do it again!”
    He laughed. “But there’s another song I do! I can’t just do one and not the other!”
    “Yes, you can.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him far from the bull. “I thought you were going to dance with me!”
    “All right. Let me get my boots back on.” He walked to the table and pulled his boots back on before taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.
    It was an old, slow Garth Brooks song and a favorite of hers, If Tomorrow Never Comes . While they danced, he sang it to her softly, and she stared at him. “You can sing ?”
    He threw back his head and laughed. “There’s so much you don’t know about me yet, Heidi. We’ll get there.”
    After the dance, the owner came to him, hat in hand. “Thanks for the show. You always get so much business for the bull. How ‘bout a song? Just one while the singer gets a drink. His throat’s been bugging him today.”
    Slade thought about it for a moment. “Would you mind?” he asked Heidi.
    She shook her head. “I would love it. Not nearly as dangerous as the bull!”
    “I’ll do Austin by Blake Shelton.” Slade winked at Heidi before he got to his feet and walked over to join the band. The singer patted him on the back and wandered off while he told the others what song he’d sing.
    As Heidi watched, he climbed on the stage and took the microphone. He waited a moment as the band started the song, and then he sang. His voice—his pure baritone voice—had Heidi’s knees turning to mush. How many doctors sang to their wives in bars on Friday nights?
    When he finished the final words of the song, the applause was thunderous. Heidi was on her feet with