Page 25 of The Rancher's Code

Cole probably just wanted me to sign an NDA about my time on the ranch. If he were smart, he’d put it under the guise of keeping the details of Amber’s wedding a secret, but the NDA itself would encompass everything I saw and did during my time there.

Because Cole couldn’t have dirty hands.

I felt tears pricking behind my eyes at the realization, briefly wondering if any of Amber’s assistants would’ve had to sign anNDA if they’d hooked up with Cole instead. I knew the answer wasno, which was probably why everything hurt so much?—

“Dylan? Are you okay?” Alex took a seat across from me, his eyes filled with concern. “What’s going on?”

“Just personal stuff.” I shook my head. “Nothing that has anything to do with us today.”

Just then, Jolene returned, setting down the huge stack of pancakes in the middle of the table. Alex looked at the plate before he looked back at me with a warm smile. “Nothing to do with us, huh? Because I’m not gonna lie, I could definitely go for a shit ton of pancakes right now.”

“You want to help me eat ‘em?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

“So,would 15% work? As sort of a referral fee?” Alex asked, before taking another bite of pancake. “We could also do it on a wedding-by-wedding basis.”

“I think 15% sounds good for now. Especially breaking into a new market. I never thought about going international before.”

“You’d be amazing at it. Trust me.” Alex beamed. “I already have a few people who’d love to work with you, but they didn’t know how much time you’d be willing to spend overseas.”

I casually shrugged. “It’s not like I have anything keeping me tied down.”

Alex quirked an eyebrow. “Ah. Is that why you turned me down for that date? Because you didn’t want any… complications?”

“I turned you down for that date because I… thought I was sort of seeing someone.”

“You thought?”

“Yep. And I think I liked him more than I originally thought I did. But he absolutely did not feel the same way.” I let out another pained laugh. “Isn’t that so embarrassing?”

“You still like him, don’t you?”

“I—” I started and stopped my response, noticing someone coming over to our table. Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell they were a cowboy, with the stupid hat and the stupid boots?—

Wait.

Was thatmycowboy?

I sank even further into my seat. I didn’t think I could handle this right now. I closed my eyes and hoped against hope that Cole was just here as a coincidence and not to force my hand to sign the NDA in front of Alex.

“Can you give us a sec, Alex?” Cole’s voice was stern, the question barely a question. Alex nodded with his usual smile before he stepped away from the table. As soon as he did, Cole slid into his spot across from me, his eyes burning with fire.

“Are you trying to make me jealous?”

“What?”

“Going on a date with Alex and ignoring me?” Cole pressed. “I didn’t think you were into playing games like this, Dylan?—”

“I didn’t—this wasn’t—” I shook my head. “Cole, this wasn’t adate. Alex was pitching me a potential partnership. He’s going international with his business and thought it could be worthwhile to team up.”

“Oh.” Cole seemed to cool down immediately. “Fuck. Sorry.”

“Yeah. Whatever.” I rolled my eyes. “Did you bring the NDA with you or what?”

“NDA?”

“That’s what all this is, right? You want me to sign an NDA so I can’t talk about anything that happened between us on the ranch while I was here.”

---