SIENNA
"Your replacement flies into Sheridan tomorrow morning. I need you back in the Chicago office first thing Monday so we can figure out your next placement."
My brain stalled. Outside the kitchen window, frost silvered the paddock rails. Brock was in the far ring working a horse on a lunge line, his breath pluming white in the cold.
I set my coffee mug beside the sink. "Avery… the standings posted last night. I’m right in the middle of drafting his sponsor posts?—"
"And you did a great job getting him there," she cut in smoothly. "But we want a senior rep on this going forward."
My mouth went dry. I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to find a way through it. She wanted me on a plane tomorrow. I couldn’t leave now.
“I have two weeks of PTO saved up,” I blurted out. “You said I could use it once this assignment wrapped. It just did, so I’d like to take one week starting tomorrow.”
There was a heavy pause.
"Sienna." Her tone went ice-cold. "You’re really going to do this right now?"
"I'm not trying to cause problems," I said quickly. "This summer's been nonstop—driving from rodeo to rodeo, twelve-hour days… I’m burned out. I just need a few days. I’ll fly back next week instead."
Another long pause.
"Interesting," she said. "I really didn’t want to think there was anything inappropriate going on. I thought you were smarter than that. But asking for time off the second I pull you off this assignment… to do what, vacation in the middle of nowhere? You can see why that raises questions."
I gripped the edge of the porcelain sink until my fingers ached, suddenly feeling exposed despite the miles between us.
“It’s not what you think,” I said. “I?—”
"Take the week. But when you get back to Chicago, we’re going to have a serious conversation about your future here."
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone and set it on the counter. I looked out the window, but Brock wasn’t anywhere in sight. My eyes fixed on the scarred wood of the fence as I tried to pull myself back together.
The mudroom latch clicked. Brock stepped inside, pushing open the front of his barn coat. Dust coated the thighs of his jeans. He pulled off his hat, but the second his eyes landed on me, his easy movements stopped.
"Hey," he said, brow furrowing as he crossed the room. "What happened?"
I opened my mouth, but it took a second for the words to get past the knot in my throat. "Avery just called."
"What did she say?"
"She pulled me off the account." My voice wobbled. "She’s flying a replacement into Sheridan tomorrow."
"The hell she is."
"I managed to buy a week with PTO, but… I think she knows we’re together. Or at least she suspects. She basically threatened me. If I don’t get back to Chicago soon, she’ll fire me. I won’t get any bonus, nothing. And I won’t be able to cover Mara’s?—"
He cut me off by stepping in close, taking my hands and uncurling my clenched fingers.
“I don’t want to do this with anyone but you,” he said. “I don’t want somebody else out here."
My heart twisted. "It’s not that simple."
"I’ll call Outlaw myself. Tell them I’m done if they try to replace you. Or hell—I’ll hire you directly. I’ll figure it out."
God, he made it sound so easy. Like he could just bulldoze through contracts and responsibilities. For one second, I let myself picture it: staying here on the ranch with him. No more hiding. No more Avery breathing down my neck.
I shook my head, gripping his hands tighter.
