Page 84 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘We’re not chasing votes, Harper.’

‘Well, not exactly…’ From her laptop bag, Harper removed some paperwork. ‘I’ve still got this petition for the government, to protect farmers’ water rights and our zoning.’ She held up the paperwork. ‘Is it okay, if I put this out today? I don’t want to step on any toes.’

‘We’re selling to the same people, the landowners and those involved with the industry.’

Mia brushed down her overalls, really feeling underdressed now. ‘Is the station going to be okay? With all of us here today?’

‘Yep.’ Ryder strolled in, scrolling on his satphone with one hand while carrying a tray of coffees in the other.

It was another reminder for Mia to deal with the messages on her own mobile phone, which she’d been avoiding.

‘I can see our cameras. Ash can, too, on his new satphone. Sarge is on duty. Besides, Leo and his cronies are here. Grab a coffee each, my treat.’

‘Where is Leo?’ A chill brushed over her scalp, sending a squirrel of goose pimples down her spine.

‘At the beer tent. Bree, don’t go stirring up any trouble.’

‘Cupcake, it’s not my fault that trouble tends to want to cosy up to me.’ She clipped up her wide banner that saidMaster Brand Maker—built to last lifetimes. ‘This isn’t our first campdraft.’

‘But it is our first as station owners.’

‘Want me to move away and pretend we don’t know each other? I’m quite happy to set up shop closest to the ladies’ loos. I’ll sell out in an hour and can hang out in the beer tent for the rest of the day.’

In a rare moment, Ryder grinned at her. It was brief, but it was surprising enough to Mia, she looked at Harper suppressing a smile.

‘If you play nice,’ he said, passing Bree a coffee, ‘I’ll buy you a beer later.’

‘I always play nice, cupcake. And you’re on.’ Bree’s focus switched to three middle-aged cattlemen walking along the main thoroughfare. ‘Hey, Jimmy Anders, has your lovely wife let you out to play? And you’re hanging out with these two troublemakers? Barney and Mike, aren’t you two on probation or something?’

‘Bree, always a pleasure.’ Jimmy removed his hat to kiss Bree’s cheek, as did the other men, positioning themselves near the fan, just as Bree had predicted.

‘Have you guys met the Riggs brothers? They’re the new owners of Elsie Creek Station. Ryder, this is Jimmy from Amber Downs Station, and Barney and Mike are partners in The Lazy N Station.’ This was a whole new Bree, who played the perfect hostess, introducing Ryder to other cattle station owners.

Throughout the morning it became obvious that Bree knew everyone. She would call out to people as they walked past the tent and they would stop to say hello, stand in the shade, and soak up the cool fan and drink some iced water. That gave Ryder and Ash the opportunity to talk about the newly patented cattle tags and the prospects of muster dogs and revegetation processes.

It was a hustle in a whole new way.

Then Willow started whimpering as she hid behind Mia’s seat.

‘What’s wrong with Willow?’ Harper straightened up their presentation table for the thousandth time, always ensuring it was perfect.

‘I’m not sure. It’s okay, Willow.’ Mia crouched down to hug the dog, who was visibly trembling when a shadow came over them, as if someone had blocked the sun.

‘Where the hell did you get that dog?’ It was Leo, towering over them. Leo with his jet-black hair and fine flecks of grey, a three-day growth peppered across his strong jawline, without wearing a suit and tie. He was handsome, rich, but he also had that whole dark dangerous mobster vibe to him that was enough to render Mia helpless.

‘Hello, devil’s spawn. Kill any babies today?’ Bree shifted from her table to stand in front of Leo.

Leo’s lips tugged into a devilishly handsome grin, as he stepped back. ‘Wow, Bree.’ He patted his hand over his heart, but his eyes had a dark, sinful look focused entirely on Bree and her generous curves. ‘Don’t you look exceptionally fine today. Best in show. How about a private—’

‘Careful, Leo.’ Bree’s tone was loaded with warning, as she narrowed her green eyes at him.

He held her gaze for a beat too long before giving a deep, low chuckle. ‘You know, that offer to have dinner with me still stands. We’ll fly to Melbourne to do dinner and a show much bigger than this one. Or we could do a private show.’

‘I’ve already told you, I’ve cancelled my subscription to romance. But if you’re here to steal our oxygen, may I suggest you get some fresh air at the stables?’

‘I’m not a horse person, but I know you look good in the saddle.’ Leo had a hard and hungry glint in his eyes aimed at Bree, where the air between them held a blend of tension and electric chemistry.

To Mia, it was unclear if Bree and Leo hated each other or liked each other.

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