Page 11 of The First Day of Breeding Season
I don’t know how I know this, but I’m sure Drew Lowry’s bark is worse than his bite.
The tattoo around his wrist reinforces that belief, because I have a wild, fluttery feeling in my chest that I think I know who gave it to him…and if I’m right, then I know he might be a gruff man of few words, but his heart is made of pure gold.
Despite his abruptness, and the curt way he talks over me, I’m still excited to work with him this breeding season. I just have to forget how warm his skin is, how strong his fingers feel around mine.
And focus on the goals that are going to get me to the next step in the Five Year Brynn Plan.
When I started at Climax Springs Community College, I thought I might go into horticulture. That’s how I met his brother. Dr. Noah Lowry was the first professor to take a real interest in my career, and while I aced his class, I confessed tohim that my real passion was in large animals. If I could have afforded to go to veterinary school, I would have.
He encouraged me to take more ranch management classes.“My brother is the best cattle breeder I’ve ever met, and he doesn’t have any schooling. If you ever want to study under him, just let me know and I’ll make the introduction.”
He said that to me three years ago, and I never forgot it. I didn’t take him up on it, though. I told myself it was silly, it was fear standing in the way of going for what I really wanted, but now that I’ve finally met the man, I know I wasn’t wrong to wait.
Deep down, I knew I would only have one chance to impress a rancher like Drew Lowry.
I was right.
He’s going to be a hard man to get through to, especially with this complicating layer of mutual attraction sizzling just under the surface.
But I’m more sure than ever that this intensive project will be worth it. How many people my age have a summer shadowingDrew Lowryon their resume?
Once I’m sure he’s long gone, I go back out to my car and get the rest of my stuff. The first thing I unpack is my Five Year Brynn Plan binder. Right before I left the dorms this morning, I got an envelope from a local fertility clinic, and the contents of that envelope need to be added to theAfter Graduationsection.
I know it’s putting the cart a tiny bit before the horse, because I don’t have a job yet, but I know I’ll be able to get a good position with the experience from this internship.
Maybe the carrot I need to dangle for myself while working with the gruff cowboy is the baby I think I can have next summer if everything goes according to plan.
And no matter what, I believe in myself.
After all, I’m all that I have. I’ve been on my own since I was seventeen. I worked hard to get scholarships and grants to cover my schooling, and I didn’t just survive, but I found a real calling.
“Brynn?” From the front of the house, I hear a woman call out for me by name.
“I’m in here,” I call back.
I shove the fertility clinic envelope in my backpack, then go to greet the housekeeper.
“I’m Inez,” she says with a slight accent. “Drew says you are joining us for the summer. Welcome to Wildfire Ranch. I make dinner every night in the bunkhouse, and there are also meals in the fridge and freezer here.”
“Thank you. Um, do you know what I should do this afternoon? Does anyone need help? Can I help you make dinner?”
“No, but thank you. I’ll ask Raul if he needs an extra pair of hands this afternoon, but…” She trails off.
I wince. “I might be in the way?”
She lifts her shoulder. “They have their systems. It’s hard to jump in.”
“I understand. I have to unpack, anyway.”
“Of course.” She gives me her phone number and Raul’s as well. “My husband is a better person to call sometimes. Drew is very busy.”
It sounds like a diplomatic way of saying,don’t bug the owner.
Oh, I won’t.
I’m not giving up on my research project, but my new plan is to stay out of Drew Lowry’s way as much as possible.
It doesn’t take me long to unpack and familiarize myself with the main parts of the house. The porch actually wraps all the way around the main floor, veranda-style, and I find the door closest to my new room. There’s a hammock hanging from anchors in the covered roof with a view of the wildflower dotted field plus a good breeze, plus the WiFi signal seems great, so I grab my backpack, planning to do some work.
