Page 1 of Ranch's Resolve

CHAPTER ONE: RANCH

My phone vibrating across my desk is an unwanted, but much-needed, distraction. I should finish the paperwork for the ranch, but I’m already bored. I feel like my entire day is paperwork. How did that happen? Not only do I run the DDMC Ranch, hence my road name, but I’m also the Secretary of the Demon Dawgs Motorcycle Club. Both roles keep me buried in paperwork.

“What?” I bark into the phone after accepting the call. The display doesn’t tell me who is calling, so God help whoever’s calling if they’re a telemarketer. In the mood I’m in, I’m liable to hunt them down and shove the phone up their ass.

“Mr. Handler?” Fuck, it is a telemarketer.

“Yeah, but I don’t fucking want to buy anything,” I growl and shift to end the call when the guy on the end of the line begs me to wait.

“I’m not selling anything. I’m calling with an offer to buy your ranch. I represent a client who is most eager to complete the deal. He’ll practically let you name the price.”

“The ranch isn’t for sale for any amount,” I tell him before ending the call. He immediately calls back, but I send it to voicemail before blocking the number. This ranch has been inmy family for several generations. I grew up here with my grandparents after my parents died in a plane crash. The ranch is my home, and I plan on leaving it feet first. But this place holds more than sentimental value. The Demon Dawgs are part-owners. We use the ranch to smuggle goods in and out of the country since it sits right on the Mexican border. But the ranch isn’t just a front for illicit activities. It’s a working ranch. I raise cattle and horses, which provide an excellent cover. There’s no way we’re selling. The asshole calling me is wasting his time.

Dropping my phone back on the desk, I return to the order for ten cattle placed by a ranch in Missouri. I’ve dealt with them before; the order won’t be a problem. But it is an opportunity. I pull out the notebook I keep for club business and make a note to bring up the shipment in Church. We may have guns or other items that need to be shipped. Putting the goods with the cattle will save our guys from having to make a separate, riskier run.

Once I finish processing the orders, I file the paperwork and pick up my notebook to stash in my saddlebag on my motorcycle. But before I go for a ride on my bike, I may take a horse out for a run. Nothing beats riding my hog, but riding a horse is a close second.

I reach the door just as someone knocks on the other side. Opening it, I find my ranch manager, Max.

“You have a visitor,” Max says, thumbing toward the front door.

Frowning, I follow him out. I didn’t listen to the voicemail from the guy wanting to buy the ranch. Maybe he’s come out to pester me in person—a decision he will regret.

Stepping outside, I cross the wraparound porch and step down as I wait for the driver of the older model Lexus to exit. The sun’s causing a glare on the windshield, so I can’t see the driver until they step out and circle the hood. My mouth drops open when I see the stunning woman walking toward me. Denimencases her long legs before disappearing into a pair of worn cowboy boots. The flannel shirt covers a tank top but doesn’t hide the impressive set of breasts underneath. I want to circle her and see if her ass is just as luscious, but I refrain. Barely.

She glides toward me, holding out her hand. She’s tall but still six inches shorter than I am. Her black hair surrounds her beautiful face like a cloud of curls.

“You must be Ranch. My name is Athena. Athena Stokes. It’s nice to meet you. You have a beautiful piece of property here. I can see why Caitlin suggested we meet.”

My brain slowly processes her words as I take in the beauty before me. She’s positively stunning. Her eyes are an interesting shade of gray and green that captivate me. But it’s her voice that wraps a spell around me. It’s husky and so sexy that I want to hear it in my bed. I shake my head to clear it. Never have I had such an immediate and intense reaction to a woman before. I realize I’m standing and staring at her when she drops her hand. I see a faint blush under her ebony skin.

“I’m guessing you weren’t expecting me? I thought Caitlin had called to let you know I was coming out.”

Fuck no, I wasn’t expecting her. I sure as hell wasn’t expecting my reaction to her, but I let out my breath before holding out my hand to shake hers.

“Sorry, yes, of course. Caitlin mentioned you’d be stopping by.” The electricity that shoots through my arm at the softness of her skin has me clenching my jaw. What the fuck is happening? I need to get a grip on myself. This is Athena, the woman Caitlin hired as the lead therapist for Crossroads. If I scared her away, Caitlin would kill me. “I was just finishing up some business, and time got away from me,” I assure her before gesturing for her to come inside.

I watch her sexy ass enter my home and have to fight an overwhelming desire to lock her inside. Seriously, what the fuck?

“Saddle up two horses. Ms. Stokes can ride Sunset. Caitlin mentioned her wanting a tour of the ranch,” I explain.

“What for?” Max asks with a suspicious glance at the house.

“She’s a therapist. She discussed with Caitlin how she’s used horseback riding in victim therapy.”

“Huh,” Max says before turning for the stables.

I step inside and find Athena standing just inside the hallway. She’s looking around.

“This is a beautiful home,” Athena says, turning to me.

“Beautiful, yes,” I reply, but I’m not talking about my home. The blush on her cheeks tells me she understands my meaning. “Caitlin mentioned you're coming by to check out the ranch for suitability. Not sure what that means. I’m having my ranch manager saddle up horses for us to go riding. If you’re interested?”

“That sounds perfect,” Athena grins. “I haven’t been on a horse in months. I’ve missed it.”

“Want something to drink first?” I offer as I lead her to the kitchen.

She follows and gasps when she sees the view out the back. The kitchen has floor-to-ceiling windows that cover the entire length. My grandmother used to have a single bay window that she would stand in front of, staring out. The renovation was one of many I made to the house. She only had a few years to enjoy it, but I’ll never forget the joy on her face when she first saw what I’d done.

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