I look up to see a gorgeous man standing next me. He had reddish brown hair sticking out of a backwards baseball cap with hazel eyes. He was tall with wide shoulders, just the way I liked my men.
“Yup.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know,” he said, moving away.
“Sorry, I mean… Yeah, it's free.” I quickly recovered.
He smirked, taking off his jacket to reveal a broad chest with the logo of a Yeti. “Great, I was hoping so.”
“You live here?” I asked, as he waved down the waitress.
“Not full time,” he said. “What about you?”
“Might be passing through,” I said, as the waitress came and set a beer in front of him. “You're here enough that she knows your order.”
He chuckled. “I’ve been here a few times, the folks are nice and remember everyone. What brings you to the lovely town of Sterling Ridge?”
“Was passing through, but I hear there's lots of work around here.”
“Yeah, business is booming around here. She tell you about the ranch needing a ranch hand?” He took a sip of his beer.
“Yeah, and the work at the orchard and the construction in Monroe.” I smirked. “Though, I don’t know if that's enough to keep me here.”
“If you're just passing through, where you going?” He looked me up and down.
“Montana,” I said, looking him up and down too.
“Well, if you're not staying, can I give you something good to think about when you think of Sterling Ridge?” He leaned a little forward. “You know, good memories.”
My lips twitched at the need to smile, but I kept my face neutral.
“It never hurts to have good memories,” I said leaning closer, his spicy scent was intoxicating.
“I’m at the bed and breakfast down the street. Room 101,” he said, drinking the last of his beer as I saw his adam’s apple bob up and down, making me want to lick it up and down.
He set a twenty down on the bar, put his jacket on and waved at the waitress before leaving. He had a tight ass and thick legs that would feel divine around me.
“Another beer for ya, suga?” the waitress asked.
“Can I get a shot of tequila, the number for the ranch and my bill please?” I asked quickly.
“Sure thing,” she said.
What the fuck was I doing?
Being reckless, unpredictable and my usual self.
I took my shot, paid my bill and pocketed the number, leaving the bar to make more questionable choices.
“Have you worked with cattle before?” Theo, the owner of Aurora Ranch asked, as we stopped on the edge of the herd overlooking an enormous expansion of land.
“For two years down in Texas a few years ago, worked a dairy farm after that and then I worked the circuit,” I said, admiring the land, and feeling at home.
“Well, we don’t have an enormous herd. Our schedule isn’t as hectic,” he said, looking out at the land. “My boyfriend and I manage just fine, but it would be nice if we had more time off. We also might expand in the future, and I’d like to have a crew before that happens.”
Boyfriend? I didn’t expect that, but it did ease a part of me. Small town folks weren’t always the most accepting, but this was nice.
“I think if I had to work with my boyfriend, I’d end up single real fast,” I chuckled.
