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“We’ve been tracking Steel Born Ranching for a year now and, if I may say, you’ve got quite the company brand. It’s reputable, efficient, and the product is among the best in the industry.”

“Thank you. Coming from the head of Orin, that’s high praise. It still doesn’t tell me how I can help you, though.”

“You cut right to the chase. I respect that. Well, Ms. Newman, I’d like to talk to you about a partnership between Orin and Steel Born.”

Maggie’s heart slammed against her rib cage. “What kind of partnership? I am not interested in selling my business, Mr. York, no matter how far Orin’s reach is.”

“Again, I respect that choice. But I don’t want you to sell. I want you to come on board Orin as a consultant and let us feature your two higher-end equipment lines in our catalog.”

“You-you do? But Orin has a great reputation. Why do you need me at all? I’m not even enough of a competitor to steal more than a fraction of your business.”

Is this real life? Am I really discussing my brand with Orin-freaking-Mechanics? She’d have been able to cross it off her dream-job bucket list if she’d thought to reach that high.

“You underestimate your impact and equipment, Ms. Newman.”

“Call me Maggie, please. And I don’t think I do. I know I do good work, but I fail to see what that work could do for your already-established customer base.”

“If I’m being frank, it would give them access to a better line of equipment more suited to their needs. You’re a talent we’ve never seen before, Maggie, and having you on our team would be a win for us all around.”

“I-I don’t know what to say.”

“I’ll send you the formal offer we’re prepared to make via email—is your company email an okay one to use?”

“It is. But do you mind if I ask where I’d need to be for the consultant position?”

“Sure. Optimally, it would be great if you were in the city, but it’s not impossible if you were in a suburb.”

The pull San Antonio had on her had almost been severed, but now it was tugging at her heart with the force of her dreams behind it. Fate sure had a funny way of testing her resolve, didn’t it? Jill would love this.

“One last question before you send what is probably a tempting offer. I have an exclusivity contract with MB Enterprises for Steel Born’s premier line. It’s for a year.”

“I think we can work with that. MB Enterprises was smart to make that kind of deal with you, but I’ve come to expect that kind of forethought from their CEO. You know, I approached him to sign with us a year ago, but he wanted you.”

“He did?”

“Yep. It’s part of how you came on our radar.” The irony slapped her across the heart.

“Thank you for thinking of me, but can I have time to consider the offer?”

“Of course. I’d be worried if you didn’t. How about I come to you later next week and you can show me how your product works on an actual ranch while we talk business. I see that you’re working on a property outside Austin.”

How did he know that? “I am. My father’s ranch I inherited.”

“It’s outfitted with Steel Born?”

“It is.”

“Great. I’ll set up a visit and look forward to seeing you in a few days. I’ve always wanted an arm of Orin on that side of the state, so this might help convince me.”

He hung up and Maggie sat there, her phone in her hand, shell-shocked. She had an appointment with a man who had the ability to change her life and catapult her into the ranching equipment stratosphere. And she had Bennett to thank for it.

She had Bennett to lose if the deal went through, too.

Chapter Fourteen

Maggie muddled through the rest of her chores and still wasn’t any closer to deciding what to do. Not even when the email from Mr. York came in at the end of city business and she was faced with an opportunity to become a millionaire overnight.

It was too much, too fast. Bennett. Her ranch. Jill. Steel Born. Orin.