Page 13 of Broken Player

Nodding, he absently typed into the laptop on his desk. I assumed he was bringing up my application or folder or whatever it was the bank kept on me and my parents. “We don’t deal with a lot of ranches anymore. Most are selling out to big corporations. From what I reviewed, it looks like your family is on the brink of having to sell. We don’t currently hold your mortgage, but from the looks of this, you need help now. Am I right?”

Straightening my back, I inhaled deeply, preparing to explain to him my entire sob story. I was trying to decide what was important to share and what I should leave out. “Yes, you’re correct. My dad had an accident a few years ago and wasn’t able to work the ranch anymore. I came home after I graduated from college, and I run the ranch now. My parents never let me know how much the medical bills were sucking out of the ranch, but here we are. I’m going to level with you, Mr. Rutherford.”

He held up his hand and flashed me his charming smile again. “Please, call me Yates.”

“Yates, things are bad right now. But I know I can turn it around. I only just found out because my dad is stubborn and thought he could handle it.” I reached over and patted my laptop. “I’ve got a quick presentation to show you my plan fordigging us out of our hole. We just need help to get there,” I admitted, hating having to ask for help.

He leaned back in his chair, his finger rubbing his square jaw. “What kind of help were you thinking?”

My palms were clammy, and I tried to discreetly wipe them on my skirt before I answered. “I wasn’t sure what, if any, options I had. Either a second mortgage or maybe we could refinance our current loan with your bank.”

He sighed deeply as a little line appeared between his eyebrows. “Listen, miss Knight-”

“Please, call me Ryan,” I offered with a small smile, which he returned.

“Ryan. I would love to be able to help you, but I’ve gone over all the financials you provided, and none of the options I have available would buy you the kind of time you’d need.”

My shoulders sagged, and my eyes stung, but I would not let Yates see me cry. I reached for my laptop, sliding it back into its bag before standing up. I straightened my skirt and held out my hand to him. “I’m sorry for wasting your time, Mr. Rutherford. Have a great day,” I said before turning and starting toward the door. My mind was racing because this had been my last best hope. I wasn’t sure where to go from here.

“Wait!” Yates called out, and I turned back around to see him striding across the room until he stopped in front of me. “I know this probably seems like horrible timing, but would you have dinner with me tonight? I have a proposal that I think might work for both of us, but I can’t discuss it here.”

I had to admit I was curious. I never really dated. And was this even a date? The way he’d phrased it, it sounded like maybe it was a business dinner. But what if it was a date?

My mind flashed to Maddox. His sexy smirk, chiseled jaw, and day-old stubble got him any woman he wanted. Based on the pictures I’d seen of him over the years, I knew he’d filledout, but seeing him here in person, he was so much broader and more defined than the sixteen-year-old boy that’d claimed my heart and refused to let go.

But he’d made it clear he had no interest in me. I couldn’t sit around and wait forever, so I’d accept this date, or not-date, with an open mind. Yates may not be my usual type. He wore custom suits that probably cost more than my car, and his face was clean-shaven. He was Maddox’s opposite in every way except one: They both looked like they spent a lot of time in the gym.

Yates filled out his suit in a way that most guys around here didn’t. I was so accustomed to seeing beer bellies that Yates and his clearly muscled body and likely six- to eight-pack of abs took me pleasantly by surprise. It wouldn’t be a hardship going out to dinner with him. Sure, I didn’t feel that spark the way I had with Maddox, but that had to be because I hadn’t fully moved on yet.

At least that’s what I was trying to convince myself.

Yates was hot, and he seemed nice, despite the fact he hadn’t approved my loan request. I couldn’t really fault him for it, though. He was just following bank policy, and he seemed really apologetic.

I looked up into his eyes, trying to read any sort of trickery or deception, but they sparkled back at me, hopeful and with a little heat in them.

“Okay,” I whispered.

The side of his mouth lifted in a smile. “Really?”

I nodded. “Sure, but I’m only here for tonight.”

“That’s perfect. Can I have your number?” he asked, and I laughed.

“Isn’t it on the application?”

He reddened slightly. “Yes, but I thought it’d be a lot more polite and less unprofessional if I asked your permission.”

Yates had a point. I fished my cell phone out of my bag and handed it to him. “Here, put your number in and text yourself.”

He tapped at my screen before I heard a buzz over on his desk. He slid my phone back into my hand, his fingers lingering against mine for a moment longer than was necessary, but I didn’t mind.

“I’ll text you in a little while once I make a reservation. Does seven work for you?”

I bit my lip, my mind was already wondering what the hell I was going to wear to this dinner since I’d only packed this one cute outfit for the meeting. And now I’d need to get a hotel for the night since there was no way I was driving all the way back home after a date.

“Ryan?” Yates repeated. Shit, I hadn’t answered his question.

“Uh, sorry. Yes, seven works.” I hesitated. “Yates?”

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