Page 40 of Choosing the Montana Cowboy

“Sounds like you’ve got this job in the bag.” And what did that mean for her? Would that free her up to come and visit?Wouldshe come and visit?

“Well, I was hoping so, but then Marietta happened.”

Sam’s hands stilled on her shoulders. “Uh-oh.”

“Yeah, see, I’ve got this sexy, stubborn cowboy who’s doing his damnedest to block my project. The last one I need to round out the requirements for this big promotion.” She turned to face him, one brow arched.

“You think I’m sexy?”

“And stubborn.”

“I’m man enough to own both.” He pulled her closer. “But I didn’t know I was undermining your promotion possibilities.”

“I know, and I couldn’t blame you for pushing back. Our company, we’re usually on top of things when it comes to identifying possible conflicts. Like, to the nth degree. So when I arrived andthenfound out about your lease and your competing lodge and that there was the possibility of an endangered species living on the land we’re looking to buy, it really caught me off guard. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was internal sabotage.”

He chuckled. “Sounds like someone’s been watching too much TV again.”

“Yeah, it sounds rather ridiculous when I say it out loud. What’s even worse is that I was starting to wonder if my sister was behind it all.”

Sam shook his head. “But that wouldn’t make any sense. Didn’t you said she warned you not to ruin it for her?”

“Yeah, that theory doesn’t add up, I guess. But she hadn’t sounded happy when I said I was looking at bidding on this other job. Said I was crazy to think about leaving my boss, Steven. Though, that’s probably the most we’ve talked in years.”

Sam smirked. His money was on the boss, who clearly didn’t want to lose his shining protégé. Natalie leaned back against him with a sigh.

“Are you and your siblings like this with one another?”

Sam chuckled. “No. ’Round here, we stay out of each other’s business. But we also stand up for one another, too. And if someone has something to say, they say it.”

“I’m more of a peacekeeper. Besides, I think if I told Julianna how I really felt, she’d probably fall out of her chair.”

“Maybe that’s exactly what you need to do.” Sam shrugged. “Better to get it off your chest than let it weigh you down.”

Natalie laughed. “Buddy, I’ve been carrying that weight around for years.”

“Then bring her out here, and I’ll say it for you. What’s the worst she can do? Convince your company to build a second resort out here?”

There was his protective side, coming out again. And he totally would put that sister in her place if she ever came storming out here.

“Oh Lord. Don’t give her any ideas.”

He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “So, when we prove the ferrets are on Hank’s property and Terakion can’t build here, they won’t hold that against you for this promotion, right?”

“You seem a little confident about the downfall of this project, buddy.” She elbowed him softly. “But, yeah, I don’t know. I’m afraid it’ll disqualify me; Steven doesn’t seem as worried.”

“I’m with Steven. You couldn’t have predicted ferrets, so that shouldn’t count against you.”

“But it won’t count as a successforme, either.”

Sam brushed her ponytail aside to kiss her neck. Enough talk about work. They had more important things to do. Out here. All alone. “How about we have our own little ferret discovery pre-celebration party?”

She giggled. “What, right here?”

He kissed his way down her neck to her collarbone, one hand easing under the hem of her shirt. “There’s no time like the present.”

“But what if someone sees us?”

He kissed her until she was breathless, then leaned away to strip out of his shirt. “That’s the beauty of Big Sky country, sugar. There’s no one around for miles.”

---