Page 143 of Wrangled

“Look, if that’s him, you’d better go deal with him, I’ll—”

“What thefuck?”

I stilled. “Teague?” In the silence that followed, my mind went on a wild sprint through all the possibilities.

“Boss? I think you’d better come down here.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?” He didn’t sound panicked. If anything, I could’ve sworn I detected amusement.

“It would be easier to show you than explain over the phone.”

“Fine. I’ll be right there.” His tone went a long way to alleviating my concern. I grabbed my hat, and headed for the kitchen. I poked my head around the door. “We all set for supper tonight?”

Matt was on his phone, grinning.

I arched my eyebrows. “Am I interrupting something?”

He jerked his head up. “What? Oh. Sure, I’ve got everything ready.” That grin hadn’t faded. “And there’ll be plenty—for everyone.”

I went to the front door, shaking my head.

The world’s gone nuts.

As I walked down the path, I noticed a car parked beside the bunkhouse. Our last guest had apparently arrived. I crunched my way across the gravel, wondering where everyone was. As I approached the door to the bunkhouse, I heard raised voices inside.

Teague appeared at the door. “You’d better get in here.”

I walked in to find all the hands standing in the middle of the floor in a huddle, talking loudly. I guessed the three guys standing to one side, all wearing puzzled expressions, were the guests.

“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded.

Everyone froze, and the knot of ranch hands dissolved to reveal—

Oh my God.

It was Toby.

He gave me a warm smile. “Hey.”

I didn’t take my eyes off him, my heart racing. “Teague? Could you take everyone to the stables, please?”

“But—”

“Now, Teague. Give them a tour of the ranch. Whatever. Just… take them out of here?”

Butch snorted. “Yeah, good idea. We don’t wanna be around for the next part.”

They filed out of the bunkhouse, until it was just me and Toby.

I stared at him. “What are you doing here?”

“My business partner booked two weeks here—for me. He bought the air tickets, rented the car… all in my name. I only found out yesterday.”

I was trying my best to remember how to breathe.

“And as for why I’m here? Why I decidednotto refuse his generosity? I…I broke my own rule.”

I frowned. “What rule? The not-doing-boyfriends rule?”

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