Page 10 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

They didn’t, and as soon as I got onto the main road, I breathed a sigh of relief and put my phone in the stand on the dashboard.

“You okay?” Jessica asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, he just surprised me.” I got over a lane and signaled to turn into the bank parking lot. “I’m going to have to let you ladies go, because I need to talk to a man about a loan.”

A chorus of “Good luck!” filled the air, and then everyone dropped off the call.

I pulled into a parking spot and turned off my truck. I was breathing hard and took a moment to inhale and exhale.

Why had I reacted like that? Men didn’t intimidate me. Not after three brothers, a dad who ate, breathed, and slept Texas, and having worked with male ranch hands my whole life.

William is different.

Why?

He was handsome and rich, but I’d dealt with that while attending Harvard.

I’d only spent a few minutes in the man’s presence, and I didn’t doubt his snobbery, but something lay beneath his business-perfect exterior. He’d adopted Frank from an animal shelter, and apparently, he brought the dog along on business trips. People who did that weren’t bad people. In fact, I’d say he was a good guy.

Especially since he’d been the one playing with Frank in the park, and not a chauffeur or some other employee.

I had a soft spot for animals, and that extended to men who liked them.

Is that why I’d become tongue-tied when he’d asked me if there was something wrong with liking the best things in life? Is that why my palms were still slick with sweat?

My phone buzzed with an incoming text.

Victoria:William just asked me for your number.

I blinked and read the message again.

Victoria:Do you want me to give it to him?

Now I swallowed, still tasting the burnt ends I’d had for lunch.

Why would Mr. Billionaire want my number?

Victoria:He says Frank wants to see you.

A picture of Frank, likely begging for food at some point, appeared. If that was the whole of his motivation, I would say yes, but I wasn’t sure why he was here or what he wanted.

Victoria:Are you there? Should I call?

Brooke:I’m here. Just about to go into the bank.

I took a breath and thought about the men in my life.

My dad was happy with Kathline. One of my brothers was married with children, while the other two were basically married to their jobs. I’d sworn off dating anyone from Whitehill a few years ago, mostly because everyone here thought Christopher and I should get together, andthatwasn’t happening.

I shook my head. Back to William. What did he want? Maybe he wanted to apologize for Frank ruining my lunch.

I could handle seeing the dog again, I just wasn’t sure about the man.

And yet, I was curious.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Lucky for me, I was a dog person.

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