Page 7 of One Lucky Cowboy

“Well, I’m changing my mind. What if you stayed on board as a consultant? Then you could still help your friend—”

“It’s more than help, Mom. This is a full-time job.” More than full-time most days. That would only worsen once she was an equal partner of Steel Born.

“Sure, sweetie. But as a consultant, you’ll just be holding your place. Danny could be flexible.”

Jill sighed. It would be the prudent decision to hedge her bets, but with one foot stuck in her old life, she’d never fully move into the one she imagined for herself. If she failed, she wanted to do it spectacularly on her own.

“Guys, I love your concern, and I appreciate it, I do. But I quit because this is the right move for me, and selling to Danny is the right move for you.”

“But…”

She smiled. Her father knew her better than anyone. Well, better than most people.

“But nothing. I’m confidently turning down a sound investment because it isn’t the right fit. Aren’t you the one who taught me that?”

“Doesn’t it figure you’d find a way to use my wise words against me?” He chuckled though, letting her off that hook. “So, what’s your plan? You gonna swoop in and take over now that your friend is married to the MBE CEO? Because that would make sense.”

How did her dad know—

“Dad…” she admonished while her folks bickered in the background. But was that what she’d done? Bullied Maggie into giving her a share of the company her friend had started from scratch?

No. You earned this. It was a reward for keeping the company afloat the past half a year while Maggie grieved and built back her father’s property from the brink of ruin. That and helping Maggie remember their pact to never let a man get in the way of their dreams. The thing was, Maggie hadn’t, not really. Bennett Marshall loved Maggie, supported her dreams to the letter, and was as sweet as a cowboy could be.

Unlike his little brother. She frowned. Jackson Marshall was the opposite of Bennett. Wings on his boots, a little too quick to laugh off the real issues facing the town regarding drought and fire danger, and arrogant as all get-out.

Cute, too. She ignored her subconscious, which was wrong anyway. Jax wasn’t cute. Handsome and rugged, maybe mischievous, even. But not cute.

And he’d called her an entitled city slicker with more fashion than business sense. Jerk.

Which was exactly why she didn’t want to go to the dinner Maggie’d asked her to attend with Jax while she was in town. But Steel Born’s first major deal with MBE—before the Orin Mech agreement—was an impossible proposition to turn down. Bennett had signed a multimillion-dollar deal that helped every ranch in Deer Creek; one lousy dinner was worth it, even if it came with Jax, who she couldn’t quite trust.

After her previous experience with rodeo cowboys, could anyone blame her?

Yes, but he had the strength to quit the rodeo when his family needed him.

She ignored the sassy tone her subconscious had taken today. Once a rodeo cowboy, always a rodeo cowboy.

And what about the adorable dance he shared with the flower girl at the wedding?

A one-off. Anyone could be sweet when they were plied with free champagne. At least she didn’t have to work with the guy after tomorrow night.

Yeah, but he didn’t have to drive that couple home who’d overindulged at the wedding—

“Shut up,” she whispered to her head.

“What’s that?” her dad asked.

She shook Jax from her thoughts. Lily snored at her feet. Another byproduct of being knocked up—falling asleep at will, anywhere. Oh, were Jill as lucky. She could use a good nap and reset.

“Nothing. Just talking to a bad driver,” she said, the white lie floating away with the dry breeze.

“Listen, I’m just teasing. You know, we could fly out there before your dinner meeting, see the place and offer you some advice—” he tried.

“Dad! You two are retired. So go relax. I’ve got this. I was trained by the best, you know.”

“Yeah, we know.”

“We just don’t want to see you get hurt,” her mother added.

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