Page 1 of My Rancher Valentine

Chapter 1

Kat

There were men who were cocky because they looked hot, men that were cocky because they were talented, and men that were cocky for no damn reason at all except it suited them. Beau Wynters was all the above and then some. The man drove me bananas. Why couldn’t he just work for his family’s ice cream business like his other siblings? Why did he also have to be one of the country’s leading rodeo riders too?

“Hey there, Kitty Kat.” His voice alone got under my skin, and it seemed like he never missed a moment to say something to me.

“Beau.” I didn’t turn around to look at him. What would be the point? It wasn’t as if I didn’t know what he looked like. Six-two with dark wavy hair and darker eyes that had mischief shining out of them. A smile that turned women’s panties to nothing and dimples that made him look as if he could possibly be an angel when we all knew he was the devil himself. Thank goodness I was immune to his charms, but I seemed to be the only one.

There was a time in high school when I, like every other girl at Bliss Haven High, thought he was better than the choco max flavor of ice cream you could get at the creamery. I would have given anything for him to notice me back then when Iwas a bonafide bookworm. Now that I’ve grown up and let any thoughts of ever being with him go, he wants to take an interest.

“What’s with the ponytail today?” He flicked at the low pony hanging down my back. “I thought you liked to wear it in a tight bun. Like your personality.” He chuckled to himself.

“You don’t know anything about me.” I cut my eyes in his direction.

“That’s not true.” He pushed his shoulder against my rather shorter arm. “I’ve known you since we were kids.”

“Just cause we went to school together doesn’t mean you know me.” I countered. “We would have had to talk more than three seconds for you to know anything about me.”

“I’m sure we’ve talked longer than that over the years.”

“I’m sorry.” This time, I did face him. A plastic smile on my face. “I meant to say, we would have to talk more than three seconds about something other than you, for you to know me.”

“Don’t be like that, Kitty Kat.” He played with my ponytail again.

“Will you stop?” I brushed his hand away and stepped out of reach. “And don’t call me Kitty Kat.” He knew that wasn’t my name.

“What’s with the mood, Kitten? Someone piss you off?”

“Don’t call me kitten either.” I all but growled at him. “You know my name.”

He held his hands up. “Someone must have really done a number. You just tell big Beau who it was, and I’ll straighten him out for you.”

“Really? You can kick your own butt?” I blinked in astonishment. “I bet people would pay more money to see that than you riding Valentine in the rodeo.” I referenced his horse.

This time his laugh was loud and filled the whole back area of the arena. “And you wonder why I call you Kitty Kat. Those claws of yours could cut leather.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I need to go.” I had work to do, anyway.

“You have a good day, Ms. Kathleen Depner.” He bowed at the waist. “Come get me whenever you’re ready for that interview. We both know that’s why you are here.”

“Who said I was sent to interview you?” I was, but I wouldn’t feed his ego any more than I had to.

“Like anyone at Haven Chronicle would send you to talk to someone else.”

I hated the fact he was right.

As soon as my editor assigned me this piece, I knew I was going to have to talk to Beau Wynters. I had tried to get Blair Cummings to cover this for me, but she was busy working on a story about the local brewery. And considering one of the partners was her ex-college sweetheart, maybe she got the raw end of the stick.

“You know, Kitten, if you want, we could go somewhere private and get that interview taken care of before I ride.” He slid up beside me. His arm went across my shoulders. “I promise I’ll give you all the dirty details. Make sure to put you in the right mood to watch the rest of the day.”

“How about I write my article all about how the best rider in the rodeo tried to harass the reporter just to get lucky before the start?” I pushed his arm off me.

A wide smile broke over his face. “You really think I’m the best?” I rolled my eyes. Leave it to him to only focus on that part of what I said.

“I think you think you are the best,” I told him.

“Trophies don’t lie, sweetheart.” He tipped his head. “But I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He leaned in close. “The rodeo isn’t where I do my best riding.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and I pushed him away.

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