Convincing the Rancher Read online

  But thank goodness there was Betty, a woman who had been instrumental, apparently, in helping bring Samantha and Jack together. In addition to her matchmaking talents, Betty was an incredible baker, and Tess had paid her to make a few dozen of her locally famous blueberry muffins. They were a big hit with the crew. At least one thing had gone right this morning, even if it was Betty’s triumph, not her own.

  Sugar and coffee distributed, Tess breathed in relief. Miraculously, the CEO was chatting happily with Ben while one of the crew members applied makeup to his aggressively preserved face. The camera crew was starting on the scenery footage, filming the road disappearing into the sky shining pink with the last smears of sunrise.

  Tess sipped her own coffee, grateful for a couple seconds of calm. There’d been a few mishaps this morning, but maybe this day was getting a bit better. Her conscience pricked. As better as it could get, considering she was about to film a promotional spot for a wind farm on the land Slaid’s family had worked and loved for so long. What a mess.

  “What were you thinking we should use for the backdrop of his little speech?” asked Will, the youngest and funniest member of the camera crew, as he poured himself more coffee.

  “Those wild-looking cliffs,” Tess answered. “It doesn’t get more rugged than that, and the cows are all the way on the other side of the pasture.”

  “Perfect,” Will said, giving her a glance that was full of admiration. “You look great in that color, by the way.”

  A couple of weeks ago, she might have flirted back. Maybe even have met up with him tonight. But she was surprised to find that she didn’t have the heart for it. “Thanks,” she said shortly, and crossed the street to where the CEO and the rest of the camera crew were climbing the gate into the cow pasture. She pointed to where she thought they should set up, relieved to find that the head cameraman agreed with her.

  She leaned on the rough wood and watched. The cameras were set up and Allen pulled off his parka, revealing a down vest and plaid shirt—a folksy outfit that Tess knew had been carefully chosen to help promote his pioneering image. Unfortunately, Allen hadn’t factored in the autumn cold. Rather than looking outdoorsy and confident, the CEO looked like someone who was freezing and trying not to show it.

  Ben helped Allen position himself in front of the hills. “Action!” the lead cameraman called, and the CEO launched into his speech about the importance of the windmills. A speech Tess had written just for him.

  He got about three sentences in before the first cow showed up. The big beige animal strolled calmly over to the camera and gave it a sniff. The cameraman yelped in surprise and tried to push the enormous beast away, but evidently Slaid’s cattle were curious creatures. A few more lumbered over to snuffle at the camera and introduce themselves to the video crew.

  Tess heard a shrill “Shoo!” and looked over to see that one cow was nuzzling Allen, who was flapping at it with frantic arms. It all looked extremely surreal and if Tess wasn’t so horrified, she’d be laughing. She had no idea what to do—she knew nothing about cows. But when she saw Allen being chased by the large chocolate-colored animal, she figured it was time to intervene.

  Wishing she’d put on her sturdy boots instead of her heels, Tess awkwardly scaled the fence and tottered across the rough grass. Pulling off her scarf, she approached the brown cow, who now had the CEO cornered against a rock as she lovingly blew her grassy breath in his ear.

  “Hey, cow, go away!” she called, shaking the eggplant wool in the air. The big brown beast didn’t even look her way. She went closer, trying to put the scarf in between the cow and the CEO. “Get out of here. Go!” She snapped the scarf at its wet nose, sending silent apologies to the gods of cashmere when she realized she’d actually made contact and there was now cow drool on the beautiful fabric. “Go!” she shouted again.

  She glanced at Allen. This was his company, and he’d chosen to site his project on land that he knew had been leased to a cattle ranch. Couldn’t he at least help her? But he seemed frozen in fear. A ghostly pale, geeky man-boy who had spent most of his life in front of a computer screen and couldn’t figure out what to do in the face of a real-world problem. Well, a cow-town problem. “Go away!” Tess commanded again.

  And then she heard the laughter. Whirling around, she saw Slaid leaning on the gate, his truck parked haphazardly on the side of the road behind him. He’d clearly pulled over in a hurry to take in the disaster that was her video project. He was probably thrilled to watch it all fall apart after the way she’d given him such a hard time at the harvest festival.

  “If you’re not here to help, go away!” she yelled to him. And then realized how bad that sounded. She looked back at Allen and saw the shocked expression on his face. Here she was, the public relations consultant they’d hired at considerable expense, orchestrating a video shoot overrun by curious cattle and screaming rudely at the locals. In that instant, she could see it all through his eyes and it did not look pretty.

  Slaid was still laughing, but to his credit he swung a long denim-clad leg over the gate, then another, and jumped down into the pasture. Despite his football-player build, he moved quite gracefully. In his cowboy hat, shearling jacket and boots, he exuded a manly confidence that made the quivering CEO behind her seem even more like a frightened child.

  Apparently the cow had lost interest in Allen because it was now investigating Tess’s hair. Slaid came up next to her and gently but firmly pushed the cow’s nose away.

  “Move along there,” he ordered quietly, and the cow obediently walked a few paces from Tess and then glanced back. “Go on, get going now.” Slaid gave it a friendly swat on its rump and the cow hustled off. Then he quietly and confidently dispatched its curious buddies before walking back to Tess. He wasn’t laughing out loud anymore, but the humor was still there, gleaming in his gray eyes. “Anything else I can do for you?”

  Allen pushed himself off the rock. “Thank you, man,” he said, reaching up to give Slaid a high five that the mayor good-naturedly returned. “Good thing you came along. I’m afraid my public relations gal here wasn’t really prepared for cows.”

  Gal? He’d really just called her a gal? Ed would rue the day he sent her out here.

  Slaid moved past the CEO and came to stand before Tess, tipping his hat. “Ms. Cole. I’m really sorry I was late getting out here today. I know we agreed I’d be here an hour ago.”

  Tess studied his face, confusion swirling. He was either trying to help her out or dig her deeper into this awkward hole—she wasn’t sure which. And then she understood. He was trying to help her out—taking the blame for this fiasco by pretending he was some ranch hand she’d hired.

  Gratitude and guilt were an odd mix. She didn’t deserve his kindness. She hadn’t been kind when she’d mocked his homemade flyer at the fair. “I understand, Mr. Jacobs. Although you understand—” she couldn’t keep the saucy tone from her voice “—I will have to dock your pay?”

  “Of course, ma’am.” He was all contrition, except for the muscle in his cheek that twitched from trying not to laugh.

  “Could you please stick around during the rest of the shoot to help manage the cattle?”

  “Certainly, ma’am,” he answered, and delivered a very sexy wink before walking away with an exaggerated, bowlegged swagger. She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Slaid put himself in between the camera crew and the cows, and she hoped the smile she gave him expressed the appreciation she felt.

  Allen turned toward her.

  “So let’s try this again. Are you ready for your close-up?” she said brightly, making sure she kept the upper hand. Gal, indeed.

  “That was really farsighted of you to hire a wrangler,” he told her, maybe hoping to redeem himself after his gal comment.

  “Thank you. Unfortunately he was running late this morning. I’m just glad he finally made it.” She could see Slaid over the CEO’s shoulder, and when their eyes met he quickly looked away, but not before his
grin melted her knees a little.

  Fortunately, the rest of the shoot went smoothly. The cows stayed where Slaid told them to and they got Allen’s speech in just two takes. Then the camera crew went off to get more footage of the hills and Tess walked over to where Slaid stood. “Thank you for taking care of the cows.”

  “Yes, thank you!” Allen appeared by her side. “Hey, would you mind if we took a picture together?” At Slaid’s look of surprise he added, “The wife and kids would get a kick out of seeing that I was hanging out with a real cowboy.”

  “Um, sure?” The look he shot at Tess over Allen’s head was full of disbelief and delight at the absurdity of this man. He gamely stood there as Allen posed next to him and Tess took the photo on the CEO’s phone.

  “And now I’ve got to get back to town. If you don’t mind, Tess? I’ve got a meeting scheduled with the mayor.”

  Tess looked at Slaid, horrified, and he met her glance with his own expression of alarm. Had he not checked his calendar today? He seemed to understand the question in her eyes because he shrugged sheepishly and then turned to the CEO. “How about I give you a ride back to town? There are a few things I think I need to explain. Do you mind waiting by my truck over there while I square things away with Ms. Cole here?”

  He spoke with authority, and the CEO went willingly. After he’d left, Slaid grinned at Tess. “I’ve got us in a real mess now.”

  “It’s my fault, too. I shouldn’t have played along. What are we going to do?”

  “I’ll explain what happened and take the blame. I don’t care what he thinks of me.”

  “Well, maybe if he gets mad, he’ll fire me and I can go home,” Tess mused. “I’m not sure that would be a bad thing.”

  “Depends on your perspective, I guess.”

  She didn’t understand that and wasn’t sure she wanted to. “Look, no matter what happens, I appreciate the rescue today.”

  “So when can I pick up my paycheck for my cattle-wrangling services?”

  “You weren’t working out of the goodness of your heart?” It was impossible not to joke with him a little. It felt good after all the tension that had been between them. Plus, he was giving her his half smile that just made her want to see more of it.

  She was rewarded when he flashed her a quick grin. “Are you kidding? I had half a mind to let that cow give Allen a big old hug. After all, that guy’s project is messing with my best pastures. But I couldn’t let you look bad in front of him.”

  Tess sobered. “Considering how I teased you about your flyer at the festival, you could have just sat back and watched me fail. But instead you took the high road and helped.”

  “I guess that’s just more my style.” He was studying her face as if trying to read something there and Tess looked away, conscious that her style wasn’t nearly as gracious as his.

  Allen had reached Slaid’s truck. He had his arms crossed over his chest, waiting. “You’d probably better go,” she reminded Slaid. “Thank you again.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  “And, Slaid—” if he could be gracious, then she had to try, too “—I’m sorry about the harvest festival. I shouldn’t have sprung all that on you.”

  “Hey, we’re professionals, right? No apologies needed. Isn’t that what you told me the other night?”

  “Well, yes, but...”

  “Plus, maybe I should be thanking you. You schooled me at the festival—showed me how this community-relations work needs to be done. Next meeting I set up, I’ll make sure to sneak in some food and music.”

  Tess smiled at that. “It always helps. Especially food.”

  “Thanks for the tip.”

  He stood there a moment, looking at her with a crooked smile. Tess shifted uncomfortably.

  “Look, if you really want to thank me for my cattle-control services, you could come riding with me tomorrow.”

  “I don’t ride.” Although the thought of seeing Slaid in his element was tempting. “You saw me today. I can’t even handle a cow. What would I do on a horse?”

  “I’ll teach you.”

  “I’m pretty sure some things just can’t be taught, cowboy.”

  He laughed. “Wait and see. Come on. Consider it my payment for my hard work today.”

  She should say no. Nothing good could come of them spending time together. They’d probably just fight. Yet despite their differences, she was starting to look forward to their various run-ins. He might be intent on making her wind project fail, but she kind of liked him. After all, he’d just pretended he was her hired hand and was about to take the blame for just about everything that had gone wrong here today.

  “Okay. I’ll go. On one condition. We can talk, really talk, about this wind project.”

  He was still smiling, and she couldn’t look away. “We can talk.”

  “And be prepared. I wasn’t kidding when I said I don’t ride.”

  “Tess, I have no doubt you’re successful at anything you put your mind to.” Slaid’s eyes were dark and intent on hers now, but humor still quirked a dimple along his cheek. “Except maybe wrangling cows. But give you time, and you’d get that, too.”

  Tess shoved her hand in her pocket to keep from running her finger down the dimple in his cheek. She remembered, suddenly, doing exactly that, at the hotel bar, in Phoenix. She turned away to where she could see the CEO pacing impatiently in front of Slaid’s truck.

  “Tomorrow,” Slaid said quietly. “I’ve got a lunchtime meeting, but I can pick you up afterward. How about around two?”

  Tess tried to remember her plans for tomorrow and failed. Tried to remember all the reasons she should say no and failed. All she could remember was the last time he’d looked at her this way with such a deep, seeking glance. It was when he’d lain over her in the bed two years ago. He’d turned the desk lamp on so he could see her. Her skin shivered with the visceral memory of the way he’d watched her in the lamplight, the way he’d touched her. “Okay,” she answered finally. “Tomorrow. And thank you again for today.”

  They walked in silence back to the road.

  She’d spend tonight and tomorrow morning studying up on her facts and figures. And tomorrow during the ride, she’d help Slaid see how easily his cows and these windmills could coexist. And she’d just have to ignore whatever feelings seemed to be between them. That was her specialty, right? Ignoring feelings and doing what needed to be done.

  When they got back to Slaid’s truck, Allen was leaning on it with his arms crossed, tapping his foot. “Everything okay?”

  “Oh, yes,” Tess answered. “I was just thanking Slaid one more time.”

  “Well, be sure to pay him well. Hiring help in a strange place is always tricky,” the CEO said wearily as he got into the truck.

  Tess looked at Slaid, but he just shook his head slightly and grinned. He swung into the driver’s side and Tess heard him say, “Mr. Tate, I think there’s been a little misunderstanding,” before he turned the ignition and the engine roared to life.

  She wondered if Slaid’s political skills could save her job once Allen found out that his cowboy was actually the mayor of Benson.

  Tess walked over to say goodbye to the camera crew and got into her rental Jeep with relief, grateful to be out of the cold. Grateful to have twenty-four hours to get ready for her ride with Slaid. The image of him shooing the cows away and calling her ma’am afterward flitted into her tired brain, making her smile. She couldn’t believe she’d played along with Slaid’s ridiculous charade. Maybe she’d let herself be unprofessional because it felt so good, and so rare, to let her guard down and be a little silly. And there was something about Slaid, something about his confident humor and the sparkle in his eye, that gave her the courage to try it.

  CHAPTER TEN

  IT WAS EARLY AFTERNOON, and Tess was getting ready to meet Slaid for the dreaded ride. All morning she’d had visions of falling off the horse in multiple ways—tipping off the side, sliding right off the back an
d, worst of all, the horse putting on the brakes suddenly with Tess flying over its ears, cartoon-style. Although she felt a flutter of excitement inside when she thought about spending time with Slaid, she wished she’d insisted they spend their time on solid ground.

  Her cell phone rang just as she was trying to decide how much makeup was too much for a horseback ride in the middle of nowhere. On one hand, she wanted to look good. After all, she was going riding with a gorgeous guy. On the other she didn’t want it to seem as if she cared too much about what he thought of her. Luckily, the name flashing on the screen of her phone belonged to the only person she knew who loved makeup more than she did. Her and Samantha’s other best friend, Jenna Stevens.

  In place of hello, Tess said, “How much makeup is too much for a horseback ride?” Jenna would know. She’d fallen in love with a man from Benson and had spent a fair amount of time riding the mountain trails with him on their visits from San Francisco.

  Jenna laughed. “You’re talking to a ballroom dancer—I don’t think there is such a thing as too much!”

  “Seriously, Jenna, I’m out of my element here. What do you do about makeup when you visit Sandro’s family on the ranch?”

  “Just the basics. Mix some foundation in with your sunscreen so it’s just a light layer. A little eyeliner, mascara and blush. Clear lip gloss.”

  “Thank you!” Tess wiped off her red lipstick. “So what’s up, Jenna? How are you? How’s Sandro?” While Jenna chatted away about the flat she and Sandro had just purchased in San Francisco, Tess removed most of her foundation, trying for the casual look Jenna had described.

  “Who are you going riding with?” Jenna asked. “Is he cute?”

  “Yes. And he’s a really long story.”

  “I’ve got time,” Jenna said. “I’m packing things into boxes.”

  So Tess told her about Slaid, about the one-night stand and how they were now on opposite sides of a bad situation.