Page 2 of Longhorn Findlay Farm

There’s a depth to him too and it pulls me in. Every morning I find myself waking up wanting more time with him. It isn’t healthy. He’s my boss and besides that, I’ve learned the hard way that ranchers are not the kind of men you want to date. But no matter how much I try to convince myself that he’s a bad idea, Archie seems to be determined to wear down my resolve.

He’s constantly flattering me and teasing me at every opportunity. His eyes roam my body devouring every inch of me with a hunger that has warmth blooming low within me. Working by his side is the best kind of torture. Each touch of his hand sends zaps of electricity whipping through me and there have been a lot of touches.

Today we’re in the midst of a planning meeting for the grand opening of the guest inns. I can’t help myself from stealing glances at Archie from across the room.

“This has got to be huge, it’s our chance to make a statement and show those assholes at Robinson Ranch who they’re dealing with.” Archie leans back. The man doesn’t have a subtle bone in his body. His plan to make the grand opening party into a lavish affair isn’t surprising.

“I don’t think it does. I think this is another chance for you to put your face on the website. All we need are steady and consistent rentals. With Olivia in one and yourassistantin the other, no offense Carly, we only have nine cottages. It’s an inn, not a hotel in Las Vegas.” Jameson huffs and leans back.

“Best damn decision I’ve ever made bringing Carly into this mix.” Archie winks at me and my face flushes with heat.

“Um, excuse me. If it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t have any cottages to rent out, remember? And what’s wrong with hotels in Las Vegas? It was good enough for my wedding.” Olivia shoots a look at Jameson that could kill.

Archie flips open his notebook and scribbles something down, tucking it back under his thigh. I’m so curious about what he writes in there. I made the mistake of touching it once, on my first day, and the golden flecks in his eyes went dark in an instant. I won’t do that again.

The tension in the room could be cut with a knife. Not for the first time, I find myself curious about the Findlay family. The Findlays give a whole new meaning to the termfamily business. All four of the siblings seem determined to be involved in even the smallest details of the event. None of them are afraid to come in hot with their strong opinions.

On the other hand, their gene pool is to die for and they strike me as the kind of family who play heated rounds of monopoly together. I imagine they take color-coordinated pictures every season to hang above the fireplace. As someone who grew up in foster care and without a single place to call home, it’s an intriguing sight.

The oldest brother, Jameson, all but threw a fit when I introduced myself. He told me that Archie hardly works. He threw his head back and practically barked,an assistant for the man who does the least on the farms is laughable. I was taken aback for a moment, but thankfully his wife Summer calmed him down, casting my fears aside in an instant.

Then I met Olivia, and… talk about intimidating. She holds her own with the guys and I admire that. But she’s an in-your-face type and I’m a nose-in-book type. Thankfully, she’s been surprisingly nice to me because we're neighbors now. I thought I’d live out near the ranch hands, but Archie insisted that all the assistants at the farm live here in the guest cottages near the newly renovated inns. As it turns out, I’m the only assistant. But once I saw the place, I wasn’t going to argue.

The cottage looks as if it’s been plucked from a fairytale, with its thatched roof and aged shutters framing wisteria-draped windows. The entrance is framed by two wild planter boxes overflowing with pink roses. It’s the nicest place I’ve ever lived and I’m so grateful.

When Dakota, the youngest sibling speaks up, I relax a little. I’ve learned a few truths about this family in the last two weeks. One of them is that Dakota, with her mild manner and easy smile, can be trusted. She’s a calming influence on this group of hot-headed ranchers.

I type my notes as quickly as possible, organizing the collective thoughts of the group. Trying to keep up with the ever-growing and shrinking list of needs and wants is mind-boggling. But as we wrap up, I feel like I have a complete picture of all this party needs to deliver. It’s meant to put Findlay Farms guest inns on the map and I think it’ll do just that.

CHAPTER3

CARLY

After another thirty minutes,the Findlay family heads off to various parts of the property to continue their days. I’m finally alone with Archie in the courtyard at the center of the row of cottages and I can’t help but smile when he slides toward me.

“Thank you for enduring that.”

“I love to watch y’all interact. It’s sweet even when it's scary.” I let out a laugh. “I always wished I could’ve grown up in a family like yours.”

“They are something, aren’t they?” He chuckles. “This party is going to be incredible and I couldn’t do it without you no matter what my brother says. Those assholes over at Robinson Ranch won’t know what hit them. I only wish I could see Waylin’s face when he hears he isn’t running the only dude ranch in town.”

There’s that name again, Waylin. Each time I hear it on Archie’s lips, it comes out in a ball of anger and I swallow back my fear.What would he do if he knew? I should just tell him. But would that ruin a good thing before we even get started?I take a deep breath.

Woof. Woof.

The sound of barking across the prairie pulls me out of my thoughts. I turn to see a mountain of a dog with fluffy black hair barreling toward us.

“Well, who do we have here.” Archie turns toward the sound.

We watch as the dog gets closer and I let out a sigh of relief when I see his tail wagging out of control.

“He’s so adorable. I mean, you’re a bit scruffy, aren’t you?” I run a hand through his matted fur. “But he’s got the sweetest face. Archie look at this face.”

The dog plants slobbery kisses on me that make me smile and leans into my touch. Archie comes to stand behind me, putting a hand low on my back. “He does look like a sweetie. I guess that means you’ve got to keep him.”

Keep him. Like it’s that simple.People like me can’t randomly keep pets. When you age out of foster care, you get a trash bag with your belongings, and if you’re lucky, a six-month stay in a transition program. it’s not a luxury I have. After that, you’re on your own to find a place to call home. It’s been years, but I carry that with me even now.

But how can I expect someone like Archie who grew up in a tight-knit community like this to understand? I turn, shaking my head as the dog leans in for a scratch. “As much as I wish that were an option, I can’t. I don’t have a permanent place to live, remember? And finding another apartment with a dog that big will make things even more difficult.”

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