Page 26 of The Cowboy Fix

That was a big fat yes!

“Fine. I can help, Jonas,” she said to the oldest Lohmen, then grabbed her copy of the plan and shoved it into its folder.

“No, ma’am. An extra mouth to cook for won’t be any trouble at all,” he said with a grin at Nathan.

The Lohmen boys would get no further argument from her. Izzy liked having someone else making her breakfast, not that she’d ever accepted an invitation before today. “If you all agree with the proposal, I’ll get started on a game plan.”

“I’m in,” Jonas said, turning his grin on her as he rose from his chair. “When I get to the office, I’ll register an LLC for the ranch or The Wedding Cottage, whichever I have to do, online. I’ll also contact a friend of mine at the State Land Board about a land use permit and get it fast-tracked.”

Blake was fast to add, “Me too. And I’ll talk to Malorie and the kids. I’m sure they’ll be on board too. Besides, we’ll need all hands on deck if we’re going to pull off this list of yours in the time we have left before the bank manager decides she’s waited long enough.”

Jonas grabbed his file. “I’ll talk to her and see if I can get an extension.”

Izzy glanced at Nathan. She couldn’t help it. He was watching her, smiling for the first time since she’d met the cowboy. A genuine smile that lifted the corners of his lips and crinkled the lines fanning out from his black eyes.

She almost stopped breathing before she took hold of herself and secured her file in the satchel. Waving a hasty goodbye over her shoulder, she fought to walk out the door, head high, shoulders back, an experienced businesswoman who wasn’t running from an attraction that could steer her off course if she let it. Luckily, she made it to the guesthouse without turning back to do what she wanted to do, which was have a lingering coffee and quiet conversation with Nathan, just a boy and girl getting to know each other better.

Once in the guesthouse, she plopped on the couch, stunned at the predicament she’d almost landed herself in. After being left at the altar, she hadn’t once thought she would fall for the illusive myth of love ever again.

Of course, she wasn’t falling in love. That was ridiculous. And risky. But here she was thinking not just the Triple L had possibilities.

Dang it!She jumped up and went to the fridge to grab a bottle of water, pressing the cold plastic to her neck to bring down the heat while she stared out the window at the gloriously colored garden. Butterflies flitted from flower to flower. It was becoming her favorite view. And not because she could get a glimpse of one handsome cowboy as he went back and forth between the house and the barn.

Uncapping the bottle, she gulped down the cool liquid. She was here to save the ranch, not Nathan more-than-a-little-intriguing Lohmen. And she certainly didn’t need to save herself from a lonely, only-living-for-the-job future.

But she wasn’t lonely. No siree. And if they could replicate this beautiful scene at The Wedding Cottage, it would go a long way toward accomplishing her reason for being here. It might be a slow way to grow a clientele, but couples were always looking for an affordable, beautiful, and peaceful venue to get married. That gave The Wedding Cottage a leg up on the competition.

Ignoring the nagging internal voice that hinted she could easily be in over her head, not in the career department, but in the personal arena, Izzy grabbed her satchel and pulled out the proposal. Returning to the couch with her laptop, she got busy. She loved her job and vowed that Mr. Nathan Lohmen would not be the distraction that blew her off course.

*

The next day,Izzy spent the morning tidying up the plan she’d made the previous night. She delivered Jonas and Nathan’s copies to them at breakfast, but after quickly eating and answering questions, she didn’t linger.

She was a big girl. She could stick to the plan and make sure the Triple L survived in a way that the brother’s parents, and Nathan (professionally speaking), would approve of.

“I’ll take this to Blake,” she said, picking up Blake’s copy of her proposal.

Nathan grabbed the edge of the folder before she could put it under her arm. “I thought you were working with me in the barn this morning.”

“Of course.” She’d forgotten that she’d talked him into letting her be his ranch hand.

His phone pinged a notification. He quickly glanced through the message. “Anyhow, Blake, Malorie, and the kids are on their way over.”

Izzy looked down at her good jeans and favorite T-shirt—the green one with the big dandelion on the front, and sandals. “I’d better change into my work clothes then.”

“After we’re done in the barn, we can go to the cottage and decide where to start. Malorie and the kids will enjoy the outing.” He put the paperwork she’d brought over in the office, then waved on his way out. “I’ll meet you in the barn.”

Brows raised, she looked at Jonas. “Will you be coming too?”

“Nope.” He shook his head. “I have things to do in town if you’re going to pull The Wedding Cottage off.” He frowned. “You can tell me later how you and my brothers decide to proceed and what materials you’ll need. Or, you know what? Just text me. I’ll take Dad’s truck and bring the supplies back with me.”

His frown fading, Jonas picked up his cell from the table and pushed it into his back pocket.

“Okay.” She followed him out of the house, suddenly curious and wondering if his frequent visits to Strawberry Ridge had anything to do with his friend, Sloane, whom Nathan had mentioned when they were at Zelda’s shed.

On her way to the guesthouse, she shrugged. It wasn’t any of her business, was it? As she went inside, Jonas drove by, looking like a man on a mission.

It didn’t take her long to get into working clothes. Nathan was letting several of the horses into pasture when she entered the barn. Rosie and Grace were still in their stalls. It felt good to do something completely out of her usual activities. After giving the mares a scratch, she got started.

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