Page 6 of Knot Your Problem, Cowboy
There’s nothing for me here. Just the overwhelming scent of three Alphas, which scares me because of how attracted I am to it, whose home I’ve just dropped into like a grenade.
For a second, none of them speak.
Then Ridge runs a hand along his jaw, exchanging a look with the others. “We’d be open to discussing price,” he says slowly, like he’s still trying to wrap his head around the fact that this is even happening. “But maybe you should talk to your lawyer first. Get the full picture before anyone signs anything.”
“Yeah,” Walker adds.
Cash just watches me, jaw tight.
I nod quickly, grateful for the pause in pressure. “I actually have his info.” I dig in my shoulder bag withshaky hands until I find the printed email, crumpled but legible. “Ben Hartwell. He’s based in town. Says his office is on Front Street?”
Belle perks up. “Hartwell? I saw him this morning when I grabbed coffee.” She eyes me, already shifting into motion. “How about I take you into town? We’ll swing by his office, and you can figure things out from there.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She nods toward the door. “Grab your stuff, and we’ll go.”
Then she turns to the guys. “I think I got all the shots I need anyway. Thanks for the last-minute heroics. You three just sold every calendar in a five-state radius.”
Walker gives a small smile. “Glad we could help.”
“Anytime,” Ridge adds, tipping his hat slightly.
Cash just nods, his expression unreadable. “We’ll be here when you return, Sophia.”
His voice hits with just enough weight to make my stomach flip. I really can’t pin down their reactions. Are they happy, pissed? What is their deal?
I glance back once as I follow Belle out. The three of them are still standing there, shirtless, gorgeous, and silent. And I can’t help but feel like I’ve dropped a huge bomb on them. I’m just as rattled. Walker goes to collect the kittens in his arms as we walk away, my pulse racing, my stomach knotted. I’m so far out of my comfort zone right now.
“Thanks for the help,” I say awkwardly. “Even if we are on opposite sides of this situation.”
They just smile, and it leaves me more uneasy. Tough crowd, but I can’t blame them. Yet, how was I supposed to know they’d made a deal with Rose?
Belle’s truck is a cheerful yellow monstrosity that looks like it could survive the apocalypse. As I climb in, I sense three sets of eyes burning into my back.
“So,” she says conversationally as we bounce down the dirt road once we take off in her truck. “On a scale of one to ten, how screwed do you think you are?”
“What do you mean?” I glance at her, tugging on my seat belt.
“Oh, honey.” Belle laughs, one hand on the wheel like this is her favorite soap opera. “The way those boys were checking you out? Scenting you? And then you hit them with the little detail that you’re inheriting their home out from under them?”
I scoff. “They weren’t checking me out. They were shocked. Just like me.”
Belle arches a brow without looking away from the road. “Uh-huh.”
“They were probably just processing. You know, the whole surprise-stranger-just-claimed-their-ranch thing. Not everything is about pheromones and… and shirtless dominance vibes.”
I groan and slump in my seat, staring down at my black leggings, flip-flops, and my favorite cropped tee with tiny rhinestone stars on the collar, the one I worebecause it’s cute and comfortable. There’s a smudge of dirt near the hem and a streak of kitten fur clinging to the front. I try to brush it off like that’s somehow going to make me look more put together.
I sigh dramatically and mutter, “All I’m missing is a tiara and a nervous breakdown, and I could headline my own rodeo.”
Belle just grins. “You’re gonna fit in just fine around here.”
We drive through the countryside that belongs on a postcard—rolling hills, wildflower meadows, mountains in the distance. Belle chats about the town, pointing out landmarks and sharing gossip.
Grabbing my phone, I decide to email the lawyer and tell him I’m popping over to see him soon if he’s free. Hoping he can slot me in.
“That’s where Cash got into a bar fight with three truckers last year,” Belle continues. “Won, too, though don’t ask me how. Ridge used to be a huge rodeo star before his accident. And Walker, he’s got some kind of weird Dr. Dolittle thing going on. I swear animals understand him better than people do.”
