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“Okay. How do I do that?”

“I want you to walk with me. Don’t make me drag you kicking and screaming, or carry you.”

She nodded. “Okay. Where are we going?”

“To Nate’s office.”

CHAPTER3

The first thing she noticed was that the man she’d seen earlier, the one she’d deliberately diverted from his office, was once more sitting with a pile of paperwork in front of him. He didn’t even look up from it while she fidgeted in the doorway.

“Sit.”

It was a command, there was no doubt about it, and on any other day she would have balked at following it. She would have snarled in no uncertain terms that she was not a dog, and she wouldn’t be ordered around like one.

But these weren’t normal circumstances. For one, her butt was warm and still tingling with sensation, and herf-yousetting was currently experiencing technical difficulties. For two, Goliath was standing just behind her, and if she turned and tried to flee she’d just slam into him. She was sure it would be like hitting a brick wall, so weighing the options—one outcome she knew, and one she didn’t—left her choosing uncertainty and sliding into the chair across from Nate’s desk without a word.

He made her wait. Chyanne stared at him, wondering what he would say, but he kept scribbling on the paper in front of him like he had not a care in the world.

And as much as she hated to admit it, she was beginning to sweat. How was that even possible? She had faced Goliath, and while she hadn’t exactly won, she was more or less intact. So why was this man, who was not as tall and nowhere near as ripped, making her squirm?

It was impressive. Damn him.

At last, he looked up. She almost expected him to look smug, but he didn’t. In fact, his expression was so impassive a casual observer might have thought he’d never seen her before.

“Miss Saunders?”

She nodded, but he just stared until she muttered, “Yes.”

“Miss Saunders, when you are in my office you will refer to me as ‘sir.’ Is that understood?”

Her mouth dropped open.He can’t be fucking serious?She tipped her head back to gape at Goliath, and he gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod. She turned back to Nate and cleared her throat. “I’m not really comfortable with that.”

He tilted his head to the side. “Really? Why not?” And the damnedest thing was he sounded like he really wanted to know.

“Um…” Her mind whirled in search for answers—or at least answers he wouldn’t find outright disrespectful. She squirmed on the chair and felt a responding throb of pain in her rear. “It just seems very old-fashioned. VeryHandmaid’s Tale.”

Nate rolled his shoulders back as he considered her. “I’m afraid I don’t know what that means.”

Chyanne laughed.Why am I not surprised? This macho man probably spends all his time beating innocent girls, who would have time for TV after that?“What aboutLittle House on the Prairie?”

He nodded. “So, your argument is that this is 2022, and you, a successful, grown woman, shouldn’t have to call a man ‘sir.’”

She felt her body relax as she exhaled. “Yes. Exactly.”

“I see. Well, then I’m afraid this really isn’t the place for you, Miss Saunders. I’m sorry you came all this way.” Then he turned right back to his papers as though it didn’t make one bit of difference to him. “Chandler, would you mind telling Ashley that we need to relist the ad for the rodeo rider?”

“Wait!” The word was a squeak as her fingers curled around the armrests.

Nate looked up. “Yes?”

“But… that’s why I came.”

“Yes. And you just said you won’t follow the rules of our ranch, so I’m sorry, but you’re not the one we’re looking for.”

“But… that’s not fucking fair!” she burst out before she could think better of it.

“Chyanne.” It came from behind her, said in a voice that was soft as velvet-covered steel.