Page 50 of Stockman's Sandstorm

Most of all, Ash was hoping to bond with Mason on this muster. It was the only reason why she was daring to go so far out of her comfort zone.

‘Bree?’ A cowboy with blond curls waved at her as he walked in through the back door. Complete with a big shiny rodeo belt buckle and a swagger in some nice hip-hugging jeans, the man was so hot, he deserved his own cowboy calendar to show off the season for summer.

Bree waved.

‘Who is that?’ Harper whispered.

‘Cowboy Craig.’

‘Isn’t calling a stockman a cowboy an insult?’

‘It is. Sweetie, they’re cattlemen, not cowboys.’

‘But that, him, Craig …’ Did she say hot?

‘I’m sure it ticked off Craig at one stage. But Craig being who he is, would’ve claimed it as his own. Everyone knows him as Cowboy Craig, now.’

‘Why would anyone want to offend that—him?’ And that hip-swaying rugged walk of a real-deal cowboy. He was the ultimate thirst trap that would go viral on social media.

‘Because they were jealous of Craig. He has a way with women, they can’t resist.’ Bree arched an eyebrow at Harper.

Harper cleared her throat, blinking fast, as she sat straighter. ‘Like Ash.’ The other player she knew. Who filled out his jeans better than Craig, and had that dimple when he smiled, and when he wasn’t wearing his hat his hair would fall across his forehead. And … Stop! Stop. She had put boundaries in place to ward off Ash, who was only doing that for sport, not because he was attracted to her.

‘Oh, honey, Ash is a child,’ said Bree. ‘Craig is the big leagues.’

‘There’s my favourite redhead.’ Craig leaned over and kissed Bree’s cheek. ‘Keeping out of trouble?’

‘Never. Craig, meet Harper. And before you start, she’s with the Riggs brothers. The baby is part of that mob.’

‘Hey, Harper.’ Craig’s hand was huge, shaking her hand firmly. ‘Good shake.’ He nodded at Harper with approval. He then scooped up the nearest chair, spun it around, to sit on it like a saddle, just like Ash did. But she liked the way the denim snugly fit across Ash’s thighs more, and his strong hands with the deep tan. Stop it!

‘Jonathan told me his brothers bought Elsie Creek Station.’ Craig pushed up the brim of his hat allowing the lights to capture his stunning blue eyes. ‘I hope you’re giving them hell, Bree?’

Bree’s laugh had an evil edge to it.

‘That’s my girl.’

The pub’s front door opened, and another man walked inside, dressed like he was going to the country club in the summer. It’s what Harper was used to, men in linen shirts, tailored trousers, and yacht-loving loafers, complete with a set of aviators pushing back his wild black hair.

‘Oi, over here, pretty boy.’ Craig waved to the new arrival.

‘There you are, bubble butt. And in good company, I see.’ The guy approached the table. ‘Hey, Bree. Long time, no see.’

And it was another man to kiss Bree’s cheek.

‘This is Harper. She’s with the Riggs brothers,’ said Craig. ‘Harper, this is the puppy-pandering, flying vet.’

‘Ryan.’ He shook Harper’s hand. ‘Good shake.’

‘I said so, too.’ Craig gave another nod of approval.

‘Which brother are you with?’ Ryan sat on the chair properly, crossing his leg over his knee, exposing sockless loafers, unlike Craig dressed like the rest of the men at the bar.

‘Ash,’ replied Bree, grinning at Harper. ‘That’s his son.’

‘Oh, wow.’ Craig’s brow creased. ‘But that dirty dog was with—’

‘I’m not with Ash.’ Harper blurted out as Bree devilishly giggled. But there was a flush of heat to her cheeks, that indicated she kind of hoped she was. Not. No. Stop it. This internal struggle was awful. She’d never been like this.

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