Page 10 of The Rancher's Code

After a few laps around the corral, we returned Ursula to her stable. Just as he’d helped me onto the horse’s back, Cole helpedme off her too. Again, his hands were on my waist, and again, I felt my chest get a little too tight. It was embarrassing, but it was also a sign that I needed to maybe get some time away from the ranch.

I hadn’t crushed on a straight guy who was sort of mean to me since high school…

And I wasn’t about to start again now.

There had to be a cute, available, non-mean, non-straight guy around here somewhere…

But where?

4

COLE

“Here’sto the best wedding planning committee ever!”

Amber held up a champagne flute, encouraging all of us to do the same. All of the women she micromanaged on a day-to-day basis looked happy for once, each of them excitedly downing their drink. We’d practically taken over the local bar, Amber wanting to celebrate the work everyone had done so far with the wedding.

Everyone including Dylan. He was sitting right next to her, sipping on his champagne. His expression was somewhere between joyful and bewildered, like he didn’t know what my sister was going to say or do next. I imagined it was exasperating working so closely with Amber, and yet, Dylan was able to generally keep a calm demeanor. It was pretty impressive?—

Shit.

Am I staring at him again?

I looked away from him, cursing quietly under my breath. I was only here because Amber had dragged me here, once again involving me in her wedding planning against my wishes. Luckily, I was in between things to do, still waiting to hear back about the McMillan property. I was hoping that it’d all be asmooth transition but if it was going to be a fight, I was ready for that too.

“This is why Dad likes you so much, you know,” Levi started, as he slid a champagne flute into my hand.

“What?”

“You’re not even here right now, are you?” He grinned. “You’re thinking about the McMillan deal and how you’re going to beat us out for it.”

“Are you saying I can’t live in the moment?”

“I’m saying you don’t. Always so far ahead of everyone else.” Levi sighed. “It’s not a bad thing, except when you can’t enjoy a nice night out.”

“What’s there to enjoy? You know how I feel about this wedding.”

“Who cares how you feel about the wedding? Loosen up, man.” Levi playfully nudged me in the shoulder. “You’re saying no one over there is even catching your eye? I know you’re not ready for anything serious which is why one of Amber’s…”

Levi’s words trailed off for a moment or two. “Are they her employees? Friends? Do we know any of those women?”

“No idea.”

“We’ll just call them her assistants, then.” He laughed as he went on. “You’re not interested in any of her assistants? It’d be perfect for you. Someone to hook up with and then we’ll probably never see them again.”

I was going to say something in response but felt Levi physically turning my head back towards Amber and her assistants…

And Dylan.

“All you have to do is pick one. Any of them would be lucky to have you,” Levi said. “You just need to start getting back out there, man. Before it’s too late.”

“Too late?”

“Yeah, before you start thinking there’s no point. Just because it didn’t work out with?—”

“If I go over there and talk to one of them, will you stop talking to me?”

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” Levi’s smile was huge as he finally downed his own champagne.

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