Page 38 of The Billionaire's Hire (The Venture Capital Trilogy)

“Can you believe we’re going to adude ranch?” Jenny asked. “I don’t even really know what that is. Audrey said we might lasso a cow or something!”

“I’d pay good money to see you do that,” I said. I palmed Jenny’s lower back, feeling the familiar heat kick up between us.

She winked at me. “I might get real good with a lasso,” she teased.

“Sounds great, babe.” I kissed her cheek and hugged her curves against me, feeling like everything was better. That’s because everythingwasbetter when I was next to her.

A private SUV was waiting at the airport. We drove for thirty minutes through the flat plains of Wyoming, surrounded by majestic mountains. There was snow on some of the peaks. “I’ve never been out West before,” Jenny said, clutching my hand. “It’s different, huh?”

“So different.” Wyoming was a land of juxtapositions: the flat lands, the jagged mountain peaks, the dry grasses, and the greenhills. The limitless sky stretched above it all, silently overseeing the vast, rolling landscape.

The driver turned off the highway and headed down a long, single-lane road that crept up into the hills. “This is it,” James said, pointing to the crest of a nearby mountain. “The ranch is up here.”

The drive crested the hill, and we finally saw the resort.

“Holy cow,” Jenny said, deadpan. “Look at this place!”

I’d traveled all over the world, but even my jaw dropped. The “ranch” was an enormous stone building that jetted toward the sky. The resort was nestled on the mountainside, commanding a view of the valley below. I glimpsed an infinity pool at the front, lined with chairs, perfect for the incredible view.

I threw my arm on Jenny’s shoulder. “James, this looks amazing. And you know I’m not easy to impress.”

“Oh, I know, all right.” James nodded at me. “Glad you approve, Your Highness.”

Rough-hewn wood surrounded the entrance. The resort’s colors were natural, fitting in perfectly with the landscape. The floor-to-ceiling windows bordering the front of the property stretched up toward the sky.

“Ho, my frickin’ God, is that a buffalo? “Jenny leaned over me to stare out the window at a paddock adjacent to the resort. Several buffalo roamed around, eating grass and contemplating the mountains.

“It is!” she cried. “Oh my gosh—can we pet them?”

James scratched his head. “I don’t know that wild buffalo are pet-able. But we are absolutely going on a wildlife adventure to see them in their natural habitat,” he said. “There are all sorts of animals around here, Jenny. That’s one of the reasons Audrey chose this place. She knows how much you love that stuff.”

Audrey nudged her friend. “We’re going to go horseback riding, and I think there’s lots of wildlife out here. Not that I’ve ever been horseback riding. Or seen wildlife.”

“Me neither,” Jenny said breathlessly. Her eyes were wide with excitement. “But there’s a first time for everything, and I’m here for it.”

“Me too.” Audrey hugged her, and then she turned to James. “I’m so lucky my fiancé wanted to do something nice like this. Thank you, James.”

James’s eyes got wide with emotion as he pulled Audrey against him. “It’s my pleasure, babe.”

Jenny and I gave them some space. We entertained ourselves by looking at the buffalo, who were giant and serene. “I think I might be in love with them,” Jenny sighed happily. “They are so cute.”

“You’re cute,” I told her, kissing the tip of her nose.

The driver pulled up front, and James climbed out, holding his hand for Audrey. “Let’s check-in and then meet by the pool, okay?”

“Sounds great,” I agreed.

The interior of the resort was just as spectacular. As expected, the windows let in a ton of natural light, and the view was breathtaking. There were no other buildings around for miles. Only fields, valleys, and mountains stretched out before us. The resort exuded a quiet, luxurious peace.

An enormous stone fireplace commanded the lobby’s center, its flames adding coziness and warmth. I smiled as Jennyoohedandaahedher way through the space. It indeed was incredible. “This has a wow factor, huh?” Jenny asked as she gazed around, her eyes huge in her face. “I’ve never seen a hotel like this before. I didn’t even know something like this could exist. It’s amazing.”

“We should go check out our room.” I waggled my eyebrows. “I bet it’s pretty spectacular, too.”

Jenny nudged me. “Oh, I know it is, big boy. Five stars all the way.”

With smiles on our faces, we parted ways with James and Audrey and headed to our private retreat. The suite was enormous, with its own gas fireplace, living room, and private walk-out patio facing the epic view.

Jenny stood at the windows, looking at the mountains and the valley below. “Coley, I gotta say—this is the most amazing place I’ve ever been in my whole life.”

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