Page 66 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

Yikes, we were back to the “very well” stage of our relationship. That wasn’t good.

Wait. Why did I care? So far, I hadn’t been able to convince him that this place was falling apart enough for him to leave, and he seemed immune to death by chores, which meant he was still stealing my ranch out from under me.

And yet, I yearned to see him smile again. I’d settle for a category-two just to know that I hadn’t completely ruined our relationship.

Because…because what? Did I want us to be friends?

Actual friends?

Would that work? I wore overalls, and he donned business suits. I got grease marks on my face from fixing machinery on a regular basis, and he probably got papercuts from reports or carpel tunnel from using a computer instead.

He and Victoria were friends. Victoria and I weren’t that different, were we? How had they started?

Did William and I have any similarities? Or were we one of those opposites-attract couples?

We’re not a couple.

Right. I was talking about us being friends.

It might be nice to have a friend who was a billionaire. You know, so I could hang out on his boat and use his plane.

I inwardly rolled my eyes and thanked Christopher for coming down the road with the combine. The reel was up, and it looked kind of like a bulldozer with its bucket above its cab.

“Did he bring it from off the property?” William asked.

I nodded. “Our barn isn’t quite big enough for it, so we store it at the neighbor’s. In return, he uses it for his field, which is smaller than ours.”

Xavier appeared at my side. “They won’t let us drive it until we’re twelve.”

William raised his eyebrows. “I thought legal driving age was sixteen.”

“Fourteen,” I said. “For farming equipment. Although it depends on the county. No one cares as long as you don’t run over anything important.”

“Like the well house?” Xavier asked.

I pointed at him. “That was your dad’s fault, not mine.”

“Not according to him,” Xavier said under his breath.

“Well, it was.” I took a moment to focus on William. “Is your eye okay?”

“Yes.” He blinked a few times and put on his glasses. “Just irritated now, but whatever was in there is gone.”

“Good. Come on.” I waved for him to follow me as I walked toward where Christopher had stopped the combine. He hopped down just as I arrived. “Any issues with her?”

“Nope, she’s purring like a kitten.”

I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “I’m going to show William how to run it.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Christopher said in a low voice. “He’s likely never handled heavy machinery before.”

“Just one row. I’ll get him there, then let him go straight.”

“Are you trying to impress this guy?”

Christopher always took a personal interest in any man who took an interest in me. I shook my head. “No. I accidentally blew chaff in his eye, so I’m trying to distract him with a big toy.”

The tension in Christopher’s shoulders relaxed. “Sounds like something you’d do.”

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