Page 22 of The Rancher's Code

I wanted to put my hands on him again.

I wanted to put my mouth on his again.

I was sitting across from Dylan as we had lunch in one of the main cabins, the rest of the family joining us as well. Not to mention the horde of Amber’s assistants, running to and fro, seemingly still on the clock even as they downed their salads and mimosas. Levi was attempting to talk my ear off about the McMillan property, trying his best to gain any sort of intel. Shane was his usual quiet self next to us, the only sound coming from him being his knife and fork scraping along his plate.

“You know the McMillans won’t even take our phone calls?” Levi scoffed. “What happens when you call? Does it go to voicemail?”

“Nice try, Levi.”

“Who said I’m trying anything?” There was a look of faux offense on his face. “I’m just trying to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

“We are all on the same page. I’m going to secure the McMillan property. And you and Shane will be a valuable part of the company, always.”

“So smug! You’re so smug!” Levi playfully flexed his fists. “I can’t wait to see the look on your face when Shane and I figure this shit out.”

“Seems like I’ll be waiting a long time.” I grinned.

“Asshole!” Levi flipped me off, before taking another bite of his lunch.

Suddenly, my father appeared right behind me. Sensing his presence, I looked back at him. His mouth was in a straight line, his expression unreadable. “Cole.”

“Dad?”

“You seem distracted lately.”

“What?”

“You should stay focused. Wouldn’t want to lose what’s supposed to be yours.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shook my head. “Haven’t you heard? I’m the only person who the McMillans will even answer the phone for?—”

“I know you, Cole,” he interrupted. “When there’s something important on the line, you get soft. You crave… attention. Maybe it’s the stress. Maybe it’s self-sabotage. Either way, your last distraction was a failed marriage, and the ranch doesn’t have time for any more of that.”

My father roughly clapped me on the shoulder, soon walking away from the table.

“What the fuck? What a fucked up thing to say!” Levi started. “I’m sorry, man. I can’t even explain that one. I think he’s just getting meaner the older he gets.”

Levi went quiet for a moment before he leaned in closer. “Unless…”

“Unless?”

“Are you… distracted?” Levi grinned. “Is it one of Amber’s assistants?”

“I’m not distracted.” I stood up from the table. “And let Amber know I’ll be in my office. I need to get back to work.”

How doeshe know about Dylan?

Is it all a fucked-up threat?

Maybe it was just another one of his tests. Even if I landed the McMillan deal, maybe he’d still take it all away from me, say that I couldn’t be trusted tofocuswhen it mattered.

But would he really not name me as the next CEO of Stratton Ranch? All because of Dylan?

Fuck.

I needed to calm down. I didn’t even know if my dad actually knew about me and Dylan. I had a feeling that if he’d known I’d hooked up with amanin one of our barns?—

What he would think of me?—

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