Page 25 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

Her jaw tightened and that punch might be coming quick, or maybe she’d break his arm this time.

“None of them hold a candle to you or captivate me as only you can do. Would you like me to politely explain I am no longer available for any kind of social engagement? That my time and my heart will be completely absorbed by my beautiful bodyguard for the undetermined future?”

She didn’t jab her hard fist into his gut. Sadly, she didn’t respond either. He almost bent lower, lifted her up, and kissed her to show how serious he was about this.

The front door opened and closed. He still didn’t move, but Autumn did. She pulled away and spun to face Easton as he strutted in. Jarom straightened, lifted a hand, and turned back to the computer.

He focused first on typing quickly to hisassistant Isabelle. She would take care of everything that his CEOs and managers couldn’t oversee.

It was hard enough to focus when he wanted to know if Autumn wanted him to reject every other woman. It got even worse when Easton started in on the annoying flirtations with Autumn. They laughed and teased and though Autumn acted more like it was funny than romantic, she still engaged.

“Have you seenStranger Things? Because it’s the strangest thing you don’t share my last name,” Easton teased.

Jarom tried to block out their voices.

An hour later, he was caught up enough to interrupt Autumn and Easton’s exchange. He stood and stretched. “How do we spend the day now?”

“Well, I’ve got to train,” Easton said. “I know you’re both dying to come watch.”

“Certainly,” Jarom said.

“I’d love to watch you train,” Autumn said, making Jarom’s gut churn.

“All right. Let’s do this.”

Twenty minutes later, they stood outside a corral. Autumn had a sweatshirt on and Jarom had donned one of those plaid jackets. It was surprisingly soft, warm, and comfortable. Maybe cowboys weren’t all about tight and functional clothing.

Several men were assisting Easton. They’d introduced themselves; apparently they worked on the ranch but were trained as security guards. They were each former military and had the weapons and burly builds to prove it. Impressive.

Now Easton was on a bull, wide and ferocious looking. Jarom had no desire to prove he was tough by getting anywhere near that beast.

One of the other cowboys slapped a belt of sorts on the bull’srump as another one opened the ‘chute’ they called it. The bull raced into the enclosure and the cowboy slammed the door behind him. Easton clung to the saddle horn with one hand, his other hand waving wildly about as he whooped as if he were having the time of his life and the bull ‘bucked’ him.

Jarom clung to the railing, certain the cowboy would be killed in front of them.

Easton lost his cowboy hat first, and then the bull flung his hind end so high in the air Easton’s grip was yanked free and he went flying over the front of the bull. The other cowboys were immediately there, both on horses.

Easton rolled to his feet, sprinted for the nearest railing, and flung himself up and out of the pen. One of the cowboys yanked the belt they’d slapped on the bull off, another one opened a door, and they somehow guided the terrifying creature back out of the pen.

“Woohoo!” Easton whooped, jogging around the enclosure to them. “What did you think?”

“Impressive,” Jarom admitted.

“Definitely,” Autumn echoed. “But also terrifying. How do you not die?”

“The toughest female bodyguard in the world is asking me, a humble bull rider, how I don’t die?” Easton put his hand to his chest, smirking. “I’m flattered.”

One of the cowboys leapt off his horse, grabbed Easton’s cowboy hat, and jogged over to the railing they stood by. “Seven seconds,” he crowed.

“Not good enough.” Easton grinned. “Has to be eight to count.” He winked at Autumn. “Excuse me, beautiful, while I have another go ather.”

“Best of luck.”

Jarom squinted at the handsome cowboy. He was dusty and sweaty and probably appealing as all get out to Autumn. No way could Jarom compete with someone like Easton. Was that her type? It had to be. Jarom wasn’t one to brag, but he was one of the most desired bachelors on the planet. And here he found himself wondering why an ultra tough woman like Autumn would want a preppy billionaire.

He had to cast his doubts aside, be confident, and redouble his efforts to catch her attention and win her heart.

What if he didn’t stand a chance with the only woman who was right for him?

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