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If this suite was any indication of what Stone Ranch had to offer, I could see why people paid top dollar to stay in a place nestled in Lucky Lake. Now, I just needed to figure out how to help restore that reputation and unravel the mystery that was Colton Stone.
It all started with the charity event I’d put together for tonight.
“Well, I’ll leave you to get ready. I can imagine you’d want to get settled before the event. Everything in the ballroom looks amazing. You did a hell of a job.”
I smiled at the praise. “I’d love to take a bath before getting ready,” I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed facing the door.
“Then you’re in luck because the bathroom is to die for.” She stood up straight and winked. “I put my card on the nightstand with my phone number. Feel free to text me whenever. At seven, someone will be here to escort you to the ballroom.”
“Thank you.” I waved, and Tawnie shut the door. I took a moment to walk to the balcony doors, swinging them open. The view in the distance was enough to possibly sell me on Montana. For the first time in a while, I was dreading having to work. Instead, I’d rather live like this for the next few months.
Chapter 5
Colton
I DRAGGED MY hands down my face, the exaggerated motion doing little to ease the tension simmering under my skin. Last night played on a relentless loop in my mind, from the moment I shut my eyes until I opened them again this morning.
Eleanor.
Every damn thing about her was at the forefront of my mind.
It was infuriating. Why did people rave about feeling this way? All consumed by someone, completely unable to think straight? It wasn’t fun—it was a headache. I had actual work to do, real responsibilities to manage, and yet here I was, replaying the way she’d looked, moved, spoken.
Stupid.
On top of that, I had to deal with the charity event tonight—a chore I hadn’t asked for and wouldn’t have agreed to if I’d had any say in the matter. But no, the hotshot city PR person insisted. This event, they claimed, was “crucial to restoring Stone Ranch’s image.” Apparently, it was imperative I show up, wear a damn suit, smile at donors, and mingle.
I hated public appearances. I wasn’t built for small talk and fake laughs. Put me in an office with a stack of work and I’d thrive. Throw me into a room full of people expecting charm? Disaster waiting to happen. My lack of a filter didn’t help either. Half the time, whatever came out of my mouth had someone gasping, frowning, or outright walking away. Not that I cared. Most people were too sensitive anyway.
With a resigned sigh, I clicked through my emails, firing off replies in a rush. The sooner I got through this, the sooner I could be done with it. My suit hung on the far wall in its garment bag, mocking me. It wouldn’t take me long to get ready—a quick splash of water in my hair to tame it, cologne for good measure, and I’d be as presentable as I was willing to get.
I’d even gone to the barber to clean up my beard—a fair attempt to meet the bare minimum standard.
“Knock, knock,” came a deep voice from behind the door.
Before I could say a word, the door swung open and my visitor barged in like he owned the place.
“You know,” I said, not bothering to hide the irritation in my tone, “saying ‘knock, knock’ doesn’t actually give you permission to enter.”
Leaning casually against the doorframe, my identical twin, Cooper, grinned like it was a joke. He wore his usual uniform: jeans, a button-up tucked neatly into his belt, and a buckle that could blind someone if it caught the right light.
Of course, he looked as put together as ever. We might have been spitting images of each other, but Cooper had always been the polished, charming twin. The one everyone wanted to chat with, drink with, do business with. I, on the other hand, had zero interest in impressing anyone, and my reputation reflected it.
“Relax, Colton,” he said with a smirk. “You’ve got a stick so far up your—”
“Finish that sentence,” I warned, leveling him with a glare.
He laughed, completely unfazed. “You look like you’re about to go in front of a damn jury. It’s just a party.”
“Exactly. A party I don’t want to go to.”
“Well, tough luck. You’re the face of this place whether you like it or not. Might as well accept it.”
I muttered something under my breath, but Cooper just chuckled, walking farther into the room like he belonged there.
The Stones had a reputation in Lucky Lake, and it wasn’t a good one. Generations of bad decisions had cemented us as the town’s misfits. Our parents’ frequent run-ins with the law had cast a long shadow—one my brother and I had eventually fallen into.
Cooper and I had cleaned up our acts, though. Well, mostly. Cooper worked as a ranch hand across town, even though I’d been pestering him for months to join Stone Ranch as the lead rancher. He kept refusing, stubborn as ever. Not that it would stop me from trying.
