Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
The only kind of expertise we need around here is the kind that keeps the ranch’s operations up and running. A.k.a. my kind.
The. Fucking. End.
The girl turns to face me and holds out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Colt.” Her words drip with a Texas accent that’s worlds more refined than ours.
I glance up from her hand and find myself saying, “Colton.”
“Pardon?”
Taking her hand, I ignore the hot awareness gathering inside my skin at the feel of her small, soft palm pressed against mine and say, “Name’s Colton.”
“Who the hell has ever called you that?” Billie asks with a laugh.
I ignore her too and drop Lainey’s hand. “Lainey, awful kind of you to come all this way—”
“It’s just a three-hour drive. I’m from Fort Worth.”
“And I’m sure they’ll love having you back there. I’ll walk you to your car.”
Those green eyes narrow, flashing with something hot and real that’s gone so quickly I almost think I imagined it.
Until I see her nostrils flare.
Just once. Just for a split second.
Anger.
I’d know, because I feel it too. All the time. Every damn day.
She smiles, a small, vicious thing that lets me know she’s just as pissed as I am.
“You are the tough one.”
Her voice. My God. It’s all wrong. Throaty and velvety and damn it, why is my dick perking up?
She’s full of shit. Has to be. Only the fire in her eyes feels very, very real.
“As nails,” I manage.
Her smile broadens, showing me a flash of white, even teeth. “Just so happens I’m good with a hammer.”
Billie bursts out laughing. Dad just smiles and shakes his head.
But me? I’m burning.
I’m going full scorched earth. Because Lainey Brown’s got a mouth on her. Because hiring a “branding expert” is a waste of precious time and money. Because familiar hells are preferable to unknown heavens or whatever it is that my therapist keeps saying.
“Too bad we’re just about to wrap up construction, then.” I open the door. “You park out front?”
CHAPTER 4
Ready to Rumble
LAINEY
Six two.
Stetson.
Stormy, gray-green eyes that hint at hidden depths.
Colt—sorry, Colton—Wallace would be the total cowboy package. If he wasn’t a total and complete dickhead.
I can’t tell if he’s serious or not as he yanks open the office door and looks at me expectantly. The warm October air fills the office with the earthy smells of hay and, well, horses I’m assuming. This is the first time I’ve been on a ranch, so I’m just kind of guessing at this point.
I also can’t help but notice the steady way the man moves. One hand grips the knob. The other is on his hip. No fidgeting. No nerves.
This man—this cowboy—is clearly made of solid stuff. And that makes the room suddenly feel several degrees too hot.
“Son.” The timbre of Dale’s voice changes. It’s not louder, but it is firmer. The tone of voice my dad uses when he means business.
Colton narrows his eyes into a half squint, half glare that’s…actually kind of hot. It’s giving Clint Eastwood vibes. “Yes?”
“That’s not the hospitality our family is known for. Shut the door.”
“But, Dad—”
“Shut the door, Colt.”
Colton looks every inch the petulant teenager when he does as his father tells him and pushes the door shut. “Can I have a word with you, Dad?”
“We can talk all you like, but I’ve made my decision. Lainey stays—she requested six weeks to finish the job—and we move forward with the rebrand. It’s the right call for our business.”
Colton’s squint deepens. “Six weeks?”
“Good work takes time,” I shoot back. “But surely you know that. I’ll present my ideas to y’all sometime around week four or five, and then I’ll build out the website with the logo and design we agree on.”
When Dale offered me room and board for as long as I wanted, I made the quick decision to take him up on his offer. Not only does it allow me to sublet my apartment for the month in Austin for some much-needed cash, but it also (hopefully) gives me the time and space I need to figure out my shit.
“I’m not even sure I know what ‘rebrand’ means,” Colton says.
Clearing my throat, I gear up for proverbial battle. “It means capturing everything that’s exceptional about your business in a new look that people immediately recognize and associate with your top-notch operation. It’s giving y’all an identity, basically, that will help you stand out.”
“We already know who we are,” Colton replies evenly. “No need for you to tell us. And we already stand out in all the ways that matter.”
“That’s great.” I force a smile. “It will make my job a hell of a lot easier. What I do is consolidate that into a logo, website, and overall vibe—”
“Vibe?” He scoffs, turning his head to face his dad. “Are you hearing this?”
Dale lifts a shoulder. “I like to boogie.”