Page 1 of One Lucky Cowboy

Chapter One

Jackson Marshall didn’t usually get mad. Frustrated at the Deer Creek traffic now that they’d added their first stoplight on Fifth? Sure. Peeved at the havoc the drought brought last summer to the ranch? Of course. But mad enough to see red? Never. His high school roping coach used to joke that Jax had the calm of a colorblind bull in front of a red cape.

So why did he feel like every nerve was on edge and his breathing might never level out again? Maybe because Bennett had interrupted what was supposed to be a productive afternoon in the sun before Jax kicked off a hard-earned long weekend.

It might also be the news his big brother brought with him that tinted Jax’s vision a hazy shade of crimson.

“I don’t see why we have to have a meeting with her,” Jax grumbled. Her being Jill Henley, his sister-in-law Maggie’s best friend and certified pain in his ass. He’d tried—and failed—to forget that the last time he’d been in the same room as Jill, he’d overheard her tell Maggie, Jax doesn’t seem responsible enough to trust him with a cattle run let alone Marshall Brothers Enterprises.

Jill hadn’t known he was standing there, but still. She also didn’t know a thing about Jax’s role in the multimillion-dollar business his brother had started fifteen years ago. If it weren’t for Jax, there wouldn’t be an MBE to run.

Still, his pride was a little sore from her blow. He didn’t trust himself to be nice if she made another quip about his ability to do the job he’d traded his dreams for.

“Not we. You. I can’t go.”

“Seriously? You won’t even be there? Why the hell not?”

Bennett sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. In that moment, Jax noticed the dark circles under his brother’s eyes. He swallowed hard; Bennett looked exhausted. Not just his eyes, but in the way his shoulders slumped, the wrinkles in his shirt.

“I’ll explain later. For now, can you just stop being an ass and do this one thing for me?”

This one thing. Jax’s jaw clenched. Bennett had said that just once before, a decade ago as Jax’s career in the rodeo was gaining momentum. His winnings, the team he’d built—all of it had come to a screeching halt when Bennett asked him to help get the ranch out of a bind. Jax had obliged—no way he could turn away a plea from his brother—and now ten years later, what did he have to show for his sacrifice? Bennett asking for more, again. Like Jax hadn’t already given it all.

So, forget Bennett’s tired eyes and slumped shoulders. When was his brother ever going to see him and what he was feeling?

Just get through the fall and winter holiday. January 1, your life will be yours again.

Jax exhaled, but his fists remained tight. Yeah, he had a lot to look forward to in the new year, but it wasn’t as easy as walking away from the ranch and starting over. For one thing, Bennett had no idea Jax was even looking for other work.

He deflected, guilt settling low in his chest. Two months remained until Jax’s new job started and he hadn’t told Bennett.

“Fine. But I won’t forgive you for scheduling this crap for a Friday evening. It’s criminal. People have been murdered for less.”

“You’ll live. And you know I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need this.”

Another line from a decade ago. Each one stung—not because Jax didn’t want to help out, but because Bennett’s memory seemed pretty short if he forgot the other times those words had changed the trajectory of Jax’s life.

Jax kicked the dirt, which only served to cover his boots and the bottoms of his jeans with the fine dust that settled over everything out here. If he stayed here long enough, he’d become part of the land, unrecognizable. Which was why he had to get out now. Bennett would understand if he knew anything about his younger brother.

It doesn’t matter either way. You took the job.

“So, lay this out again for me,” he said. He could do it, this last thing for Bennett. Then he could walk away guilt-free in January. “What exactly do you want from me?”

“I want you to join Jill Henley for dinner at Steiner’s restaurant. It’s pretty simple, Jax.”

No, it wasn’t.

A bubble of mirthless laughter tickled the back of Jax’s throat.

Steiner Ranch Steakhouse was where he watched the rodeo queen, Nora Kellerman, walk away from him for the last time. Co-owned by none other than the Henleys, of course. And now he was heading back to the restaurant with a woman who dredged up all sorts of the wrong kinds of feelings in him.

“Dinner. With Jill, who works for Maggie. That’s it?”

It didn’t cover the emotions the simple request brought up. Jax didn’t date. Not ever, and for good reason. And this felt dangerously close to just that.

“Yeah. Well, that and making sure Steiner sees you. It’s the week before our biggest order with him goes through, and I want him to know we’re taking his business seriously.”

Okay, so it wasn’t a setup, at least not as far as Jax could tell. If his brother even attempted an idiot move like that—

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