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  It’s nearly four in the afternoon when Axel barks twice to let me know that our guests have arrived. I’ve ploughed the driveway for them, finished my workout, showered, and was just hunched over my bank statement when the big black SUV finally pulls into the long driveway. I knew they’d have trouble in this storm. Why they insisted on coming on a day like today is beyond me. I grab my wool coat off the rack, slip on my boots, and head out to greet my guests. I think back to my conversation with Ty earlier. He called to tell me to ‘smile pretty for the camera’ and not to forget that if I can come off as likeable on air, it could mean some decent sponsorship money, which he and I both know I need.

  I watch as the bonehead driving comes barreling down the snow-covered driveway. He’s never going to make the curve at that speed. I can tell from here. I shake my head as I watch him slide into the ditch. Sighing, I walk down to meet them. I’m going to have to get the tractor to pull them out, which means I’ll need to put chains on the tires to keep from ending up in the ditch myself. That alone is going to take me over forty-five minutes.

  When I get up to the vehicle, the guy in the driver’s seat unrolls the window and gives me a sheepish look. “I’m not really used to winter driving.”

  “I can see that.” I smile to soften the edge of my sharp words, remembering what Ty said. As much as I hate to play the PR game, I have to keep my eye on the prize. And a big prize it is.

  I look past him to the blonde little beauty sitting next to him in a light pink sweater and some jeans. She smiles at me with enough warmth to melt the snow. I give her my best, cocky cowboy grin and a little nod. “You all right?”

  She nods. “I’m fine, thanks.”

  “You must be Julia.”

  “I am, and this is Kyle, he’s the camera crew and sound tech rolled into one.”

  “Nice to meet you, Kyle. I’m Ryder,” I say, even though my gaze is fixed on Julia. I stare at her longer than I should, mesmerized by her bright blue eyes. I didn’t know eyes could come in that shade. She must have colored-contacts. Probably fake boobs, too. Nobody looks like that without some enhancement. “So, I guess before we can do any filming, I’ll have to pull you out of this ditch.”

  Kyle speaks up. “I’m sure I can call a tow truck. I have an AAA card.”

  “You could call ‘em, but they might be several hours getting out this far. Especially with this cold snap.”

  “Well, we’re going to lose the light if we don’t film now. We wanted to get some shots of the ranch and the animals.”

  “Suit yourself.” I shrug as he turns off the engine.

  He swings the door open and steps out, landing up to his knees in snow. “Dammit! That’s cold!”

  I watch as Julia opens her door, then stares down at the snow for a second. Not wanting her to get a boot-full, I say, “Hang on. I’ll come get you.”

  She looks at me and her cheeks go a little red. “Thanks. I don’t exactly have the right footwear for this.”

  Stepping down into the ditch, I wade through the snow to her while she slings her big bag over her shoulder. I pick her up out of the seat like I’m carrying a sack of sugar. She’s about as light and twice as sweet as she wraps her arms around my neck.

  Julia says, “Oh, I didn’t know you were going to carry me.”

  “There aren’t too many other options that don’t include you filling those designer shoes of yours with snow.”

  “Right. I guess so.” Her breath is warm on my neck and the sound of her smooth voice does something to me that hasn’t been done in a long time. I trudge back to the road, trying not to notice how delicious she smells—like two of my favorites, cinnamon and vanilla. I can’t afford any distractions right now. Certainly not beautiful, blonde ones who smell amazing and feel just right in my arms.

  When I put her down on the road, I’m temporarily filled with regret at letting her go. Then I mentally slap myself to snap out of it.

  She gives me a shy grin and thanks me, looking one part embarrassed and two parts excited. Our eyes meet and I find myself forgetting what I’m supposed to be doing right now. Luckily, Axel interrupts the moment by trotting over to her and sticking his nose right in between her thighs. She lets out a little laugh.

  “Sorry about that, Julia. He only does that to especially pretty women.”

  Her cheeks flush as she bends over to pet him. As soon as she does, he backs up and sits down, brushing the snow off the road with his wagging tail. “Did you train him to do that?”

  “No, ma’am. I did not.” I’d never want anyone’s face in between those thighs other than mine. Not even Axel, who has a very different reason for wanting to be there.

  I suddenly realize that Kyle is grumbling as he unloads the equipment out of the back of the SUV. I’m tempted to leave him there to do it, but my momma taught me better than to ignore someone in need—bad driver or not. Within a few minutes, we’ve got our arms loaded with stuff, including Julia’s overnight bag, so she can change into her on-camera clothes. Thoughts of her changing flash through my mind before I can rein them back in. We walk in silence for a minute, with Kyle trailing behind us.

  “You’ve got a beautiful spot here, Ryder,” she says, smiling as she looks around at the ranch and the mountains surrounding my land. “It’s so peaceful.”

  “Thanks. I imagine this is as different from L.A. as you can get.” I fill my lungs with air, trying to cool off.

  “It is.” She walks next to me, with Axel between us. Something about it feels natural, good even.

  “I bet you can’t wait to get back to the city.”

  “Not at all. This is a nice change of pace.”

  When we reach the house, I hold the door open for her. I toe off my boots and gesture for her to come with me down the hall to the bedrooms. As tempted as I am to drop her bag at the foot of my bed, I take a right and lead her to the guest room on the far side of the house. “Here you go.” I set the bag down on the bed and turn to her. The look she’s giving me says something that my heart longs to hear. Clearing my throat, I step past her, taking in the scent of her again as I brush by. “I’ll let you get changed.”

  “I’ll be out in a few minutes. On-camera makeup takes some time.”

  I turn back to her. “You look just fine to me the way you are.”

  Julia blushes. “Tell that to my producers.”

  “Give me their number. I’d be happy to straighten them out.”

  She giggles, then shuts the door, leaving me standing in the hallway like a fool for a minute. I look down at Axel who’s standing next to me. Shaking my head at myself, I head back to the kitchen to make a pot of tea. I figure if she’s from L.A., she probably likes green tea, which I have in the cupboard because my mom likes it when she comes to visit. Julia’s probably a vegan, too. And if I had to guess, she probably thinks bull-riding is barbaric. But she sure is nice to look at, even if it’s just for today.

  I look out the window and see Kyle filming some scenery shots around the ranch. The snow is coming down so fast now that I can barely make out the barn behind him or his SUV sitting in the ditch. If this keeps up, I may have a couple of houseguests I wasn’t planning on.

  Three

  Julia

  Well, I don’t know if I’m dizzy from all the snow swirling down or almost flipping over into the ditch or what, but I have never felt a pull to a man like I do with Ryder. He’s God’s gift to women and he knows it, too. His gorgeous face pops into my mind—those light green eyes, the dimples that make an appearance when he smiles, his chiseled jaw. Oh, and that deep voice of his that actually makes my knees go weak. I flop back onto the bed, thinking of him carrying me out of the SUV, his strong arms wrapped around me. I have never had a man do something so chivalrous before. Not one time. I felt so light and small when he lifted me, like I’m made of feathers. I grin, thinking of the way he smells—like leather and cologne. I sigh, staring up at the wood-beam ceiling.

  I bet he has a girlfriend. Or a fiancé
e. Or several of each. Probably all rodeo queens who model underwear. But still, it was nice to be looked at like that just now—like I’m a steak covered in A1 sauce and he’s starving. I turn my head and look out the window, watching the snow come down. A part of me wants to get stranded here for the night—the lady parts of me, that is.

  I snap out of it and stand, a little disgusted that I’m finding myself so drawn to a cowboy. He’s all wrong for me. I need a nice accountant or history professor who I can curl up and read with at night. Not some rootin’-tootin’, honky-tonk lovin’, muscle-bound, hot-as-heck…okay, that’s enough, Julia! Get to work so you can get out of here!

  I stand and unzip my bag, pulling out my makeup kit, some tights and my dark blue sweater dress that forms to my curves in a way that Kyle once said was, ‘most pleasing.’ Yucky when those words come from Kyle’s mouth, but I wouldn’t mind if Ryder agreed with him. I hurry to the en-suite, which turns out to be a pretty classy one at that, with white fixtures and marble countertops and a heated tile floor. I take extra care to get freshened up and looking good, and by the time I’m ready to emerge from the room, my heart is pounding like a steady drum. As I walk down the hall, I think about living here, in the wilds of Montana on a ranch with Ryder—trading in the four-hours of commuting for the simple life. Days in the kitchen, or maybe at my computer, followed by nights in his bed. But, that’s a foolish thought. I don’t want any of this.

  I find Ryder in the kitchen, leaned against the counter, looking all manly in his plaid shirt and jeans. He’s looking at his phone, which brings me out of my pioneer fantasy and into present day reality. I’m a reporter here to do a job, and he’s my subject. He looks up when he hears me come into the room and his mouth drops open a bit. “Wow,” he mutters as his eyes rake over me.

  He blushes a little, then runs one hand through his dark hair, looking a little embarrassed. “Where do you want to do the interview?”

  “I had originally thought we should do it outside, but…”

  “Yeah, maybe the bull barn. It’s warm and dry in there.”

  I bite my lip, wondering if he’s in on the ‘get Julia on a bull’ plan. “I don’t know what my producers told you but I’m not going to ride a bull.”

  He gives me a look that says that idea is the dumbest thing he’s ever heard. “Of course, you’re not. Bull-riding can get you killed.”

  “Tell that to my boss.”

  He sets his jaw and folds his arms across his massive chest. “They’re not serious, are they?”

  “Pretty much. It’s what I do.” I fiddle with the hem of my sleeve, not able to look at him in the eye. Even after only a few minutes of being around Ryder, I know he’s a man of his own mind. He’d never let anyone tell him what to do. “I interview the athletes, then make an ass of myself trying out sports I can’t do.”

  “Well, in this case, you best tell them no. It would be a sin if that were the last things you say ‘yes’ to.” His words float across the kitchen and wrap around me, warming me up with all the ways I want to say ‘yes’ to him. Starting with a long, slow kiss and ending with us on the kitchen floor naked. He pushes off the counter and walks over to me, filling the space in front of me with his big body. “Well, I suppose we should get to it.”

  My entire body heats up and my jaw drops. Could he read my mind just then? What if Kyle walks in? What if he has a girlfriend, or a fiancée, or a wife? What if he means something else entirely? “Pardon me?” My words get caught in my throat and come out a little gravelly and breathless.

  “The interview?” A slow smile spreads across his face.

  “Right. I’m here to interview you.” Oh, smooth, Julia. Very smooth.

  A knock at the door interrupts us and Ryder calls, “Come in.”

  Kyle comes in the front door and stamps his shoes off on the matt. “Bad news. I only packed one of the camera batteries. It may not have enough juice to do the interview.”

  I shrug. “Well, that’s okay. Ryder, is there a plug-in in the barn?”

  “Yup,” he says. “No problem.”

  Kyle shakes his head. “Forgot the cord, too.”

  Now, I’m mad. I take a deep breath and exhale before I start yelling at him in front of Ryder. “So, now what?”

  “We’ll have to try the interview, but if it dies, I’ll have to head into town and get a cord,” Kyle says.

  I sigh, then say, “Well, let’s give it a try.”

  I walk to the door, with Ryder behind me. I’m in my tall, black leather boots now, which won’t keep my toes warm at all on the walk to the barn, but they’re really all I’ve got for this outfit. I tug my black wool coat on and pick up my bag which has my pad of paper and pens.

  “Damn, that snow is going to wreck my hair,” I mutter when the door swings open. Normally, I don’t care about my hairdo, but with the interview, I have to think about it.

  “Here.” Ryder’s voice comes from right over my shoulder. I turn and see him holding up a black cowboy hat. “This’ll keep the snow off.”

  I can hardly look at him in the eye. He’s just so incredibly good-looking. I nod and thank him, then he gently places it on my head.

  He grins down at me. “You should keep it. There might be a cowgirl in you after all.”

  Four

  Ryder

  A few minutes later, we’re snug in the barn, standing in front of Vicious’s stall as Kyle sets up the equipment. I watch as Julia looks over her list of questions and jots a few notes. She turns to me. “So, I’m going to give a few facts about your season to start with, then I’ll ask how ready you’re feeling for the World Championships, then a few questions about your bulls. Then we’ll wrap it up.”

  “Okay. Sounds good.” I watch her mouth as she talks and I hang off every word like a schoolboy. I don’t even care how dull her questions are, if they’re coming from those lips, I’ll be happy as a pig in shit to answer them.

  She smiles up at me. “Should I leave the hat on?”

  I nod, thinking of how I’d like to see her in nothing but that hat.

  Kyle walks over and hands her a microphone. While the two of them test out the sound and the lighting, I take the opportunity to remind myself to focus on the task at hand. This is just part of my job. I need to answer the questions, then get these two out of here so I can get back to my normal life and forget all about this woman.

  Kyle stands behind the camera. “Step a little closer together. I want to be able to see the bull behind you.”

  “Okay,” she says. We both move in until we’re touching.

  I have my arm behind her and I settle it on the small of her back like it belongs there. “Is this all right?” I ask her quietly.

  “Yes,” she says in a low tone.

  “Whenever you two are ready,” Kyle says.

  “We’re ready,” Julia tells him.

  “In three, two…” He holds up one finger, then points to her.

  “Hi, there. This is Julia Rutherford from Baker’s Creek, Montana. I’ve travelled all the way from Los Angeles to meet one of the world’s biggest contenders for the upcoming Bull-Riding Finals, taking place next week.” She takes a quick breath, then keeps on talking and smiling. “This is Ryder West, and yes folks, that’s his real name. He’s been riding bulls since he was a little boy and with any luck, he’ll be able to turn his greatest passion into a million dollars.” Turning to me, she smiles and asks, “So, Ryder, how do you feel about your chances next week?”

  “Confident, Julia. I’ve been preparing for this my whole life and I’m one-hundred-percent ready.” We lock eyes while I answer her and it’s all I can do not to pull her to me and kiss her.

  “Can you tell our viewers a little about bull-riding?”

  “Sure.” I turn to the camera with a little grin. “It’s pretty dangerous, so don’t try it at home.”

  Laughing, Julia says, “I hope they’ll know that already. I meant about how the scoring is done.”

  “Right. Well
, there’s a maximum of one hundred points in each ride. Up to fifty for the rider and up to fifty for the bull if he gives you a real hard time.”

  “I see. And you have to stay on for eight seconds just to qualify, right?”

  “That’s right. If you don’t make eight, your score doesn’t matter. But eight seconds on an easy bull doesn’t count for much. You gotta hope you get a rank draw.”

  “Where I come from, rank means smelly. What does rank mean to a bull rider?”

  “Mean as all heck. A rank bull doesn’t just want to throw you off, he wants to spear you in the leg and stomp on your head.”

  She turns to the camera again. “Sounds to me like bull-riding is one of those sports that got started by some drunk guy saying, ‘Hold my beer and watch this.’”

  I laugh a little and nod. “Sounds about right.”

  “Speaking of rank bulls, you’ve got two pretty rank fellas behind us here in these stalls. Can you tell us a little about them?”

  Kyle clears his throat. “Camera’s dead. I’ll have to head back to Great Falls to find the right cord.”

  Julia sighs loudly but doesn’t say anything. I’m a little disappointed that we can’t keep going. For once, I was enjoying an interview. I let go of Julia’s back and say, “I’ll grab the tractor to get you out of the ditch.”

  “Thanks, Ryder,” Julia says. “I’m sorry we’re such a hassle for you. I’m sure you have much better things to do than pulling us out of the ditch.”

  “It’s no trouble, really.” I glance down at her again, feeling that tug in my chest when I look at her. “You might as well go warm up in the house. I made some green tea for you earlier. You might have to heat it up a bit.”

  “Green tea?” She chuckles. “I didn’t expect you to be a tea drinker.”