Page 49 of The Cowboy Fix

Before he answered her, a man came into the barn. “Mr. Lohmen?”

Izzy didn’t recognize the well-dressed dude wearing a suit in the August heat and shiny boots hinting at comfortable money. In her line of work, she’d seen it before.

“Yes.” Nathan put the wheelbarrow to the side. “How can I help you?”

“My name is Dan Jaeger.” The stranger touched his fingers to the brim of his cowboy hat and nodded at Izzy. “Ma’am.”

Nathan introduced her, but Izzy hung back. She had a feeling—

Jaeger turned his attention back to Nathan. “I came to make an offer for the Triple L. My real estate guy sent a letter.”

“The ranch isn’t for sale, Mr. Jaeger,” Nathan said firmly, then laid the hay fork on top of the wheelbarrow.

Jaeger came further into the barn. “I think you’ll reconsider.” He named a price that had Izzy catching her breath.

“Why do you want to buy the Triple L?” Nathan’s gaze narrowed on Jaeger, unimpressed with the amount the man offered.

He gave Nathan his business card. “I have a dude ranch over in Wyoming, and I want to expand my tourist business into Colorado.”

After glancing at the card, Nathan’s shoulders stiffened. “You have a dude ranch?”

“Yes. Adding the Triple L here in Colorado will double my revenue.”

Izzy took a step closer to Nathan, just in case he decided to take action on the dislike rolling off him in waves.

“Like I said, Mr. Jaeger, the ranch isn’t for sale.”

Jaeger’s brows shoved together. “I can offer more.” Apparently, the man wasn’t used to being toldno.

“I don’t want more.” Nathan took an uncompromising step toward the other man. “You should leave now.”

Jaeger was the taller man, but Izzy was sure Nathan, built to move mountains, like those on the backside of the ranch, could take him with one hand tied behind his back. Nathan Lohmen had a lot ofdon’t-push-mepent up inside.

Jaeger got the message. Without a word, he turned on his heel and retreated to the big, black truck he’d parked in front of the barn. They followed him and watched as he spun his tires and raced down the drive, slinging dirt into the air.

Jonas joined them. “Who was that?”

“He wants to buy the ranch.” Nathan practically growled at his brother and handed him Jaeger’s business card. “I told him the ranch isn’t for sale.”

“Did he get the message?”

Nathan nodded.

“Good. How did he get the idea that the Triple L was for sale?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care,” Nathan frowned.

They both glanced at Izzy. She held up her hands. “Don’t look at me like that. You have my business plan and nowhere in that proposal do I recommend that you sell the ranch.”

“Sorry, Izzy,” Jonas said, taking a deep breath. “I wasn’t accusing you.”

Nathan stayed quiet, but she was pretty sure he knew she wouldn’t put his home up for sale without it being his idea. It would kill her reputation and future business if she did something as shoddy as that.

And if she ever wanted a chance with the cowboy, she’d never get it. Just in case, she asked, “Nathan?”

Hands propped on his hips as he gazed at the horses in the pasture, he shrugged and shook his head. “No, I know. It wasn’t you.”

It was a good thing her job here was almost done because, suddenly, not having Nathan’s complete trust was worse than considering giving up the life she’d worked so hard to build.

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