Page 17 of Cowboy Seeks Husband

“That’s what you say now. But built like a horse is hung like a horse, and your—” The rest of the sentence was covered by the slam of the screen door as Walker headed outside.

It hadn’t always been easy to grow up with two people so openly affectionate with each other and easy with talk of sex—especially when he was a teenager—but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Most of the time.

The humid heat hit him like a ton of bricks, and the urge to tug at his tie was nearly overwhelming, but he didn’t. He tossed the truck’s keys in the air and caught them again, aiming for the battered old Ford, as a black Range Rover bounced up the black asphalt driveway. Which was in dire need of resurfacing. One of the jobs he’d get done once this ridiculous show was over.

A man with shaggy blond hair and a tired smile rolled the window down. “Afternoon,” he called out. “I’m here to give you a ride.”

Walker halted mid-stride, tugged his aviators down, and stared at him.

“I know the way to my own barn.”

The guy winked. “Just following orders.”

Walker didn’t move. “You’re serious? I can’t drive to my own barn?”

“Sorry, man. Rules of the game.”

Absurd. But not this guy’s fault. Walker smirked a little, straightening his glasses. “Afraid I’m going to get cold feet and run for the hills, huh?”

“Not that I’ve seen hills forested enough to hide in around here, and you’ve got quite a few miles down south to go before you could hide in a swamp.”

Laughing softly, Walker rounded the nose of the SUV and opened the passenger door. “When will they get here?” he asked when he sank in the seat. He had to push it back to make his legs fit.

“Nervous?”

Walker tugged at his shirtsleeves. “I want to say no, but I’d be lying.”

The guy laughed and pulled away from the house. “I’m John, by the way. Your new producer. Let me offer my condolences for having to put up with Molly at the intro shoot.” He winked and grinned. “She’s a barracuda, that girl. Hope you weren’t too attached to her. They’ve shifted her to produce some contestants, which means you’re stuck with me now.”

Walker gave him a wry smile. “Are you gonna manipulate me into saying and doing things I don’t want to do? Because she was damn good at that.”

John snorted as they bounced down the driveway. “Believe it or not, she’s not all that bad once you get used to her. She just tends to treat the folks on the show as commodities, not people.”

“And you don’t do that?”

“I try not to.” He smiled again, and Walker liked his relaxed vibe. “But I admit I’ve got a job to do, and I’m good at getting it done.”

“Fair enough. So what happens now?”

“Lots of waiting around, I’m afraid. You’ll get a gander at all the contestants really quickly while Andy explains what’s going on—he’s on set again today—and then, once the camera’s rolling, you’ll have to pretend you’ve never seen any of the guys before.”

Walker cringed. “Sounds like a blast.”

“You’ll do just fine,” John said and reached out to pat Walker’s shoulder. “Everyone’s nervous at first.”

“You’ve produced on shows like this before?”

“A few.”

“Any I’d know?”

John glanced at him. “Watch a lot of reality shows, do you?”

Walker averted his eyes and stared out of the window. “My step-mom does.”

“Right…”

Against all expectations,the barn had been finished in time.