Chapter 2

Zoe

Saturday 12.24 pm

After several wrong turns and a last-minute phone call, I arrive at the ranch.

My already frayed nerves only increase as I check my cell, and grimace at the confirmation she was right about no cell access.

I need to be contactable. My job isn’t nine to five. I never should have let Molly talk me into this.

I climb out of my car, stretching my back out and am immediately met by the smell of manure, hay and an extremely good-looking man wearing a cowboy hat.

He extends his hand, a broad smile on his tanned face. “Zoe? I’m Liam Cooper.”

A nervous smile grows as his fingers curl over mine. There’s something about him that sets me on edge.

“Hi. I’m a little early. Um, don’t suppose you have a phone I could use?”

His smile only grows, teeth unnaturally white as he releases his hand. “Ah, your friend warned me you’d try to tie up my landline.”

I try for a smile since he’s obviously unsympathetic to my plight. “Molly exaggerates. I just need to make one—”

He shakes his head, a wide grin on his face that seems out of place. “Sure. You can make a phone call. Right after you take a riding lesson.”

Not sure what else to do, I jam my hands in my jean pockets, feeling increasingly awkward. “So, I’m being blackmailed?”

He grins even wider. “You could call it that. I’d prefer to call it, facilitating your relaxation.”

I’m not sure what I expected, I was half convinced the brochure had hired a model, but Liam is every bit as attractive in real life.

No wonder Molly was so keen for me to come in her place. I can only imagine the amount of women who come here solely based on Liam’s picture on the brochure.

By the time he’s retrieved my overnight bag from my car, I’m growing uneasy at the way he’s looking at me. Like I’m a prize he aims to win.

His bold appraisal of me brings back way too much of who I came here to get away from.

Derek was charming, gorgeous, and he promised me the sun and the stars and he turned out to be a complete and utter flake.

To distract myself from thinking about charming men, I look at my surroundings and take in endless acres of green grass, swooping up hills, with black dots in the distance I can only assume are cattle or horses.

There’s a large building with an ‘Open’ sign. Seating out front, and flowers along the deck.

A couple are seated out front, talking, wearing cowboy hats, and drinking coffee in the sun.

It’s as gorgeous as the brochure claimed it to be. And the more I take in the ranch’s proprietor, I realize Liam Cooper is too. And from the confident swagger, it’s obvious he knows it.

I’m still trying to convince myself he’s just being friendly when he leads me in the direction of three small log cabins. “Molly signed you up for the afternoon trek.”

I swallow and follow him along the pathway. Of course, she did. She’s probably phoned him and told him I want to do everything. “I guess I should give it a go.”

He smiles so suggestively; if I weren’t already on alert, I’d be now. “I’ll go saddle you a horse. Unless you’d like me to show you the other ways to relax around here, darlin?”

Darlin? His eyes drift south as we walk, and all the wind leaves my lungs.

I can appreciate he’s gorgeous, but just like my ex, he’s too mindfully gorgeous. And men like that, men who know the effect they have on women, and who spend more time styling their hair than I do, are never the sort of men who stick around.

I scramble to find an excuse, and it comes out a little harsh. “I’m sure you must have other things to do.”

His eyebrow raises and a flickering of either annoyance or amusement appears. “I always set aside a little time to welcome a guest.”

I’m sure that’s true but I still feel distinctly uncomfortable as he hovers at the doorway to my cabin.

He’s waiting for an answer, looking at me with a smile I’m sure makes women weak at the knees.

I swallow and at movement coming from behind him, glance over his shoulder.

A tractor comes to a stop beside my car, and another man, dressed in jeans, boots, and a plaid shirt, jumps down.

He looks so irritated; brow knotted, face twisted in a scowl. Dressed the way he is, it’s hard not to compare him to a young Clint Eastwood on the set of a western.

Liam seems to notice my attention has wandered and turns so he can follow my gaze. His shoulders stiffen. “That’s my brother, Tyler. He’s the lead wrangler. It’ll be him getting you acquainted with a horse before this afternoon’s trek.”

His eyes land on me and he stares with so much intent, my cheeks flush. “Or if you prefer service with a smile, I could teach you?”

I gulp and shake my head almost immediately. I know exactly what he means by service. “No, thank you. I’ve taken up enough of your time as it is. I’ll just go inside and unpack.”

His eyes narrow, but the smile is back in place before I can blink. “Whatever you want, darlin.”

“Except a phone call.”

He chuckles as he hands me a key and twists the door open for me. “Room service finishes at eight and starts at six. Tea and coffee provided. There’s a list of activities you can sign up for. And right after the trek, you can use the phone.”

I force a smile, wishing he’d just leave me alone, but he walks inside the cabin and places my bag down.

Since I don’t want to be in my room alone with him, I watch the lead wrangler pull out a hose and start to wash the front of the tractor. “What’s he doing?”

He scratches his chin. “Washing the bucket. He was picking up roadkill and taking it to the dump. Everything has to be sanitized afterward.”

I nod slowly. “That’s part of his job? Picking up roadkill?”

Liam smiles. “Sometimes, the state does it. But left too long, it attracts predators that we’d rather keep away from our livestock.”

My eyes stay locked on Tyler and his clean up job. “Oh.”

Liam breezes past me, way too close for it to be a mistake. “Don’t worry. Predators rarely come into the ranch.”

I swallow. Wondering what on earth I’ve gotten myself into. Flirty cowboys, enforced horse riding lessons and dangerous animals weren’t part of my weekend relaxation plan.

I step back into my room, hand on the door. “Well, thanks.”

He tips his hat. “Let me know if you need anything. Tyler will be here in a few minutes for your first lesson.”

I can only hope his brother isn’t as flirtatious. The last thing I need is unwanted male attention.

I’m so desperate to get rid of him; I just nod and almost close the door in his face.

I lean against the closed door, look around the small cabin, and blow out a breath.

With a sigh, I flop back on the bed and stare at the ceiling thinking about Derek, about my do list, now on hold till I get back to civilization.

A knock at my door makes me jump. With a sigh, I peel myself off the comfy bed, and open the door to the surliest expression I think I’ve ever seen on a handsome man. “You ready for your lesson?”

He stares at me, looking even less enthusiastic than I feel. Oddly, it’s a welcome relief after his overly friendly brother.

I gesture to my clothes. “Is this okay? For riding?”

He looks me over, takes in my jeans, and boots, and nods. “What do you weigh?”

My jaw slackens and I frown hard at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“For the horse.”

It’s an explanation of sorts but delivered so rudely, I fold my arms across my chest and scowl back at him. “I don’t know exactly. Maybe 110?”

He looks me up and down and seems to frown even harder. “You sure about that?”

Any worry I had at him also being a flirt was obviously unwarranted.

For brothers who both got lucky in the gene pool looks-wise, their personalities are as different as chalk and cheese.

I go for sarcasm and hope he picks up on it. “Are you always this charming?”

His face relaxes a little and the faintest of wry smiles appears. “Pretty much.”

He steps back onto the grass. “Liam should have saddled Star for you by now. You ready?”

I nod even though I’m not ready to get on a horse for the first time in my life.

At least I don’t have to worry about him flirting with me like his brother.

The way he’s looking at me, with such obvious disdain, it’s a wonder he’s even going to teach me.

***

Tyler

I step back and try not to stare as she closes the door and joins me on the front porch.

She’s beautiful. Long dark hair to her waist, high cheekbones, dark eyes with long, lush lashes. Shit. She’s a walking hard-on.

I’m surprised my brother hasn’t magically appeared to take control of her lesson himself and give me more jobs no one else wants.

He must be busy. Because even for him, he’s been slack. As we approach the training ring, I see he’s saddled Gypsy, a 15-hand Morgan and extremely free-spirited horse Dad gave me for my eighteenth birthday.

Worse, Gypsy starts stamping her foot and shaking her head when she sees me letting me know Liam’s pissed her off.

I frown at Burt, one of the oldest stable hands, and the only man to stay on after my father died.

I turn to Zoe and gesture to where Gypsy is standing waiting beside the mounting block. “This won’t be a good horse for you. Wait here and I’ll go saddle another. And tie your hair back, it could get caught on something.”

Her eyebrows rise but she leans against the fence and anxiously looks at Gypsy.

I nod at Burt. “Where’s Liam?”

He shifts from where he’s leaning on the fence. “Had to go into town. He asked me to saddle Star. I told him she’s been limping, but in his infinite wisdom he’s decided that isn’t an issue.”

Anger bites into me as Burt shakes his head. “I saddled Gypsy instead. I figured if you were just leading her around, she’d tolerate a lesson.”

My eyebrows rise. I’m surprised he could saddle Gypsy, but it explains why she looks so perturbed and he’s right, Gypsy would have been fine with Zoe if I was there to keep her calm.

But I have another problem. An ongoing one Liam doesn’t seem to give a shit about. “When did Star start limping?”

He shrugs. “She came back from the trek yesterday favoring her left.”

I spit a curse. Burt’s been around horses longer than I have. If he’s concerned, there’s reason to be. “Is the vet coming?”

He shakes his head and rubs his chest as though it’s bothering him. “Got hold of Joel’s wife and she thinks he’s planning on going to his fishing cabin till Monday while she visits her sister.”

I lean against the fence and watch Gypsy nibble at the lead rope attached her to clip. I say nothing, just work my jaw as I try to think of a way around this.

I exhale deeply as Zoe starts walking towards me, brow knotted in concern. “Is something wrong?”

I glance at Burt and grimace. Everything is wrong. Liam is putting the horses’ wellbeing behind his desire to keep the guests happy. “The mare you were going to ride this weekend is lame.”

Her eyebrows rise, but she doesn’t seem overly disappointed. If anything, she appears to be relieved.

Burt clears his throat and jerks his head towards the barn. “Why don’t we take a look-see?”

I’m not sure this is the sort of experience my brother wants to give the guests, but she’s already moving towards Burt.

I run my hand over my face, knowing Liam is somehow going to find a way to put this back on me.

Not only is she missing out on her lesson, but if she can’t ride Star, then the afternoon trek is out too.

By the time we reached the stable, I know for sure, this is Liam’s doing. By refusing to set weight limits on riders, he’s injured one of our horses.

Star is one of the gentlest horses we have. As I approach her stall, I don’t need to examine her hoof to see she’s in pain.

All my muscles tense as I try not to curse aloud in front of Zoe. As I enter the stall, Burt is way too open considering Zoe is around. “I thought you were going to talk to him about getting some weight restrictions on that website?”

I keep my hand on Star’s flank and speak in a calm voice as I gently lift her injured foot. “I did. Twice.”

I check the shoe and immediately see the soft tissue damage.

I release her foot and do a check of the others to make sure I have all the information before I attempt to locate our local vet.

Liam isn’t going to be happy. If Joel has gone to his cabin, he may charge a higher call out fee to work on his vacation time.

I rub my hand over Star’s nose and shake my head. “Tell Liam she can’t be ridden. I’ll go find Joel. See if I can convince him to come take a look.”

I close the stall door and find Zoe’s staring at Star as if she’s annoyed.

I think she’s going to complain her weekend is ruined but she looks from me to Burt. “Is she in pain?”

When neither of us answer, her cheeks heat and she looks so concerned I could almost like her. “But she can be treated though?”

Burt nods, but his face is twisted as he rubs at his chest. “You okay?” I ask.

He manages a weak smile, but he’s growing paler by the second. “Fine. You find Joel. I’ll handle things here till you get back.”

I’m not so sure he is fine. But I can’t stay here and wait for Liam’s permission, so I turn on my heel to go try Joel on the CB radio.

I’m more than a little surprised when Zoe says goodbye to Burt and follows after me. “Is it normal for the lead wrangler to pick up roadkill?”

I frown sidelong at her. “What?”

She chews her lip and keeps pace with me as I head to the office. “It just seems out of your job description?”

I can’t answer that. Even though I want to. “He’ll be back in a few hours. I’m sure he’ll have other activities for you to do.”

It’s a dismissal but either she doesn’t notice I’m trying to get rid of her or she doesn’t care.

I pause at the bottom of the stairs and fold my arms across my chest. “The lesson is off.”

Her brow knots as she leans against the railing. “I realize that. I was just wondering if Liam is going to so ah, so ‘hands-on’ with me all weekend?”

I nearly sigh aloud. Another woman falls prey to the real predator on the ranch. “I don’t have time for this. I need to go.”

A shallow smile grows on her face as she nods. “Maybe I should leave?”

She stares at me like I have the answer. I know what Liam would say if he were here. He’d do everything he could to convince her to stay. Possibly for the wrong reason.

But I’m not Liam. And I don’t really give a shit whether she stays or goes.

What I care about is getting Joel’s opinion before Liam decides to put a guest on Star.

“That’s up to you.”

I have nothing else to say to her, so I pivot on my heel and stomp up the stairs. I pick up the phone and dial Joel’s office.

There’s no dial tone. Possibly a downed line caused by the wind last night. I slam the receiver down and pick up the CB radio instead.

Movement from the door makes me frown. Zoe is leaning in the doorway, eyes on the phone, as I shake my head. “We don’t allow guests in here.”

She nods slowly, eyes still on the phone. “I’m sorry, but I really do need to make a quick phone call.”

I depress the talk button and ignore her as I try the channel Joel uses on his truck. “Joel? This is Laughing Cat. Do you have your ears on?”

Nothing but static comes back at me, making me think Joel’s already inside his cabin or he’s out fishing.

“Joel? What’s your 20?”

Nothing comes back at me, so I toss the radio back on the desk. I lean against the desk, eyes on Gypsy patiently waiting for me and look at Zoe. “You should go back to your room and wait for Liam. He might be able to give you a partial refund.”

She shakes her head. “I didn’t pay anything. A friend of mine won this weekend as a prize.”

I barely acknowledge her as I walk past and head down the steps. I know she’s following me when I hear her light footsteps on the stairs behind me.

I turn and frown as she comes alongside me. “What?”

Her mouth pinches. “The phone. Can I use it?”

I shake my head. “It’s out of order.”

Her face falls. “Oh. Is there anywhere to get cell coverage?”

I should have known she’s addicted to her phone. Typical city girl. I gesture to the mountains where a cell tower has been placed. “We only get cell coverage closer to the tower. We’re in a valley and the terrain blocks the signal.”

I stride across the grass, ready to mount Gypsy when she steps in front of me. “Is that where you’re going? Higher elevation I mean?”

I know where this is going, and I’m pretty certain Liam would tell me to do what she’s asking.

I give her a nod and open the gate so I can retrieve Gypsy. Zoe hovers by the fence line. “You’re riding up the mountain? Is that safe?”

I work my jaw as I stare at her trying to figure out why she seems concerned. “His hut is on the water. Near the track that leads to the cell tower.”

She steps close enough for me to smell her perfume. “And how long does it take to get, um, to Joel’s fishing cabin?”

Now I know for sure she’s addicted to her phone. “I’m not taking you.”

Her brows knot together. “Why?”

I shake my head. “I don’t have time to explain this. I need to get Joel before Liam…”

I let my voice trail off before I say something I’ll regret. Liam tends to act before he’s fully considered the ramifications.

I expected her to be annoyed, I expected her to be lapping up Liam’s act, I did not expect her to say something to make me want to take her with me. “Well, this is great. I came all this way, only to be sleazed over by one brother and insulted by the other.”

She spins on her heel, and before I can think about what I’m saying, the words slip out. “Sleazed over?”

Her eyes dart around as if checking no one is listening, then she lowers her voice. “I’m sure he has all the women swooning…but…”

When she shudders, my eyebrows rise and I find myself agreeing to take her.

Knowing she dislikes my half brother after knowing him less than an hour is more than enough reason to let her tag along.