Page 4 of Knot Your Problem, Cowboy
Through the gap in the door, I study the three men approaching the bull, who’s back on the dirt road. I can’t hear what they’re saying from this distance, but the one with dark hair is making slow gestures with his hands while apparently having a full conversation with Brutus.
The one with auburn hair takes the lead, twirling his rope before sending it flying. It lands around Brutus’s thick neck, and the bull loses it, bucking and twisting like a demon possessed.
I gasp, clutching the kittens tighter against me, one of them meowing loudly.
The other two cowboys come in from the sides,ropes snapping through the air. Within seconds, they’ve got the bull triangulated, muscles straining as they hold him steady.
I can’t stop staring.
They’re all shirtless, just jeans, boots, sun-drenched skin, and pure focus. Dirt kicks up around them, sweat gleaming on their backs as they wrestle with an actual monster like it’s just another day.
How are they not terrified? That thing nearly killed me.
The bull releases a furious grunt, hooves tearing into the dirt, but they hold their ground, tension in every muscle I can see. And somehow, unbelievably, they win. Brutus finally calms, sides heaving, as they guide him down the road like it’s no big deal.
I blink. Did that actually just happen?
“Impressive,” I admit.
“They’re good at what they do,” the photographer mutters while she packs up some of her camera equipment. “Been running this place for years now. I’m Belle, by the way. And you are?”
“Sophia Hollis. Believe it or not, I’m actually supposed to be here. I inherited this place from Rose Martinez’s grandson.”
Belle’s eyebrows shoot up so high they nearly hit her purple hairline. “Oh, this is going to be interesting.”
My shoulders pull back at her loaded tone. “Why do you say it like that?”
“Because those three out there? They think this ranch is theirs. They had some agreement with Rose about buying it after working here for five years. And, well, she passed before the five years were up.”
My stomach drops. “But… it was left to me. I have the paperwork.”
“Well then, honey, you’re about to have one hell of an awkward conversation.”
2
SOPHIA
I’m staring at Belle packing up her photography equipment while I still hold on to the gorgeous kittens. After a long moment, the front door opens wider, and the three cowboys file back in. My knees actually wobble in response. Traitor knees.
These men are tall, still shirtless, and I’m suddenly breathless.
They stop short when they see me standing there with their kittens, and something shifts in the air. It makes breathing difficult.
“Well,” Blue Eyes almost grunts, his voice rougher than before. “Brutus is back where he belongs. Though your car has seen better days.”
I try not to stare at their bare chests, all those muscles, the way they shift when they move. I really do. But my body isn’t listening to my brain right now, and every inch of exposed skin seems to radiate heat.They’re all just standing there like a calendar come to life, towering over me, jeans slung low, dust on their arms, muscles still tense from the whole bull-wrangling thing. How many men in Chicago can say they’ve taken on a charging bull with nothing but a rope and raw nerve? Yeah… not exactly a common skill set back home.
My fingers tighten around the kittens. Distraction. That’s what I need. I spot a single-seater sofa nearby and shuffle over, gently placing the fluffballs down. They immediately pounce on each other like tiny gremlins, batting tails and chewing ears.
The room goes quiet.
Then the Alpha with blue eyes and dirty-blond hair says, “Guess introductions are in order. I’m Cash Winslow.”
The one with dark brown hair and bewitching mocha-colored eyes gives a short nod, sending my stomach into a ridiculous flutter of butterflies. “Walker Stone, and we live here on the ranch.”
Of course his voice is low and smooth. His jaw is dusted with stubble, and there’s this quiet steadiness in his eyes that makes it really hard to look away.
And the third, with a cowboy hat and auburn hair, doesn’t say anything right away. Just watches me with those green eyes in that judging way.
