Page 6 of Knot Your Problem, Cowboy (Wild Hearts Ranch #1)

CASH

I practically leap out of my truck the second we roll to a stop behind the main house, sucking in lungfuls of fresh Montana air like a drowning man. That twenty-minute drive from town nearly killed me.

Her scent. God Almighty, her scent is everywhere, clinging to my clothes, burrowing under my skin, wrapping around my cock like a silk fist. Jasmine tea and vanilla bean with rain on summer grass. It’s strangling me in the best and worst way possible.

I watch her climb out of the passenger side, those impossibly toned legs unfolding from my truck.

This morning my biggest worry was dealing with that ornery stallion who keeps breaking through the north paddock fence.

Now? Now I’m trying to wrangle the goddamn beast in my jeans that’s been rock hard since she slid into my truck .

She catches me staring, and I snap my gaze away, moving to the driver’s seat to grab my hat. Perfect. I’ll just hold it casually in front of me, totally natural. Nothing to see here, folks. Just a grown man hiding behind his Stetson like a teenager at his first dance.

“Everything okay?” Her voice has this little lilt to it, like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.

“Peachy keen,” I manage, gesturing toward the back door. “After you.”

Fuck me sideways, those leggings should be illegal. Black fabric hugging every curve, following the gentle swell of her hips, the perfect roundness of her ass. My fingers itch to trace those same lines, to peel that material down and discover if she tastes as good as she smells.

I guide her through the mudroom, past the kitchen, and into the front parlor.

It’s the nicest room in the house with a massive stone fireplace, leather couches that have seen better days but are comfortable as hell, and that big round table in the back where we play poker every Thursday with whoever wants to join us.

“Ridge! Walker!” I holler toward the stairs and outside the front door. “Get your asses in here!”

Sophia settles onto the single armchair, crossing those legs that are going to haunt my dreams. She’s spectacular. Not in that obvious, trying-too-hard way I’ve seen in town. She’s got this natural elegance that tightens my balls.

Her reddish hair catches the afternoon light streaming through the windows, all those shades of copper and gold twisted together like expensive whiskey.

She pushes it off her face and over her shoulders, leaving her neck exposed, and sweet merciful hell, I want to press my mouth right there where her pulse flutters.

Her skin looks as soft as cream, scattered with tiny freckles across her nose.

But it’s her eyes that really get me. Deep green like summer pine needles.

She’s got this way of looking at you dead-on, no bullshit, but then her gaze will skip away like she’s remembered she’s been caught staring.

Makes me want to dig into every single thing about her.

What happened to her and Rose’s grandson?

What’s her life like in Chicago, and is she happy there?

What would it take to make her look at me without that careful distance?

Ridge appears from upstairs, Walker from the direction of the rear rooms, and they both stop dead in their tracks just outside the parlor room when they see her properly.

Walker’s breaths speed up. While Ridge, who claims his busted scent senses make him immune to Omega appeal, shifts his weight like he’s been sucker punched.

“So,” I drawl, settling onto the couch across from her. “Sophia’s got some news from the lawyer.”

She uncrosses and recrosses her legs, and I have to bite back a groan. “Well, this is awkward.” She laughs, but it’s nervous as the guys enter the room and take seats on either side of me. “Turns out I’m not just inheriting a ranch. I’m inheriting… roommates?”

“I need a bit more information.” Ridge’s voice is flat, careful.

“According to the will, I have to live here. On the ranch. For three months.” She rushes through it like ripping off a Band-Aid.

“Starting immediately. Or I forfeit everything. So… surprise? You’ve got a house guest who has no idea what she’s doing but evidently needs to figure out the whole rent situation back home and probably buy some actual boots because these”—she gestures at her flats—“are going to get ruined.”

The silence stretches out like taffy.

“So what do you think?” She’s twisting her fingers together. “I really didn’t plan this, but I guess when life hands you lemons, you… move to Montana and pretend you know anything about horses?”

“Yep. When life bucks you off, from the saddle,” I say automatically, “you dust off your ass and climb back on.”

Walker snorts. Ridge rolls his eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall out.

“Really?” Walker grins. “That’s what you’re going with?”

“It’s wisdom,” I defend.

“It’s a bumper sticker,” Ridge counters.

Sophia’s fighting a smile; I can tell. “So… three months of bumper sticker wisdom? This should be interesting. ”

“Anyway,” Ridge says, settling back in his chair. “We’re happy to have you here. Ranch could use a fresh perspective.”

“Plus, Cookie will be thrilled,” Walker adds. “He’s been complaining that we don’t appreciate his cooking enough. Says we eat like bears.”

“We do!” I point out.

“Exactly. You’ll class up the place.”

“Oh!” Walker suddenly jumps up, heading to the corner of the room. “Almost forgot. We had your car towed to Murphy’s Garage in town earlier. Grabbed your duffel bag from the back.” He holds up the bag.

“You did? Oh my God, thank you! I didn’t even think… Crap, I still need to call the rental company.” She’s already pulling out her phone. “Let me just… I’ll step outside for a minute. Excuse me.”

The second the patio door closes behind her, we all exhale like we’ve been holding our breath underwater.

“Well?” I look between them. “What do you think?”

“I think,” Walker says slowly, “that we’re in trouble.”

“Big fucking trouble,” Ridge agrees, but he’s almost smiling. “Did you see how she didn’t even flinch at your philosophy? Most people run.”

“She gave it right back,” I say, probably sounding too pleased about it. “She’s an Omega, and I swear to God she’s doing something to me that no female ever has.” I adjust my thick cock through my jeans, not even trying to be subtle about it.

Walker grins like a beast. “Her scent is fucking hypnotic. Like sinking into warm honey. Makes me want to roll around in it until it’s all over me.”

“Makes me want to bend her over that chair and find out what other sweet sounds she makes,” I admit.

“Fuck,” Ridge mutters, but he’s shifting in his seat. “You two need a cold shower.”

“You’re telling me you don’t feel anything?” Walker challenges. “Not even a little?”

“I’m broken, remember?” Ridge cuts him off, but there’s something in his eyes that says different.

“Bullshit,” I call. “I saw you lean in when she walked past.”

“I was being polite.”

“You were sniffing her like a bloodhound,” Walker accuses, grinning.

“Like a dog who found bacon,” I add.

“You know my sense of smell doesn’t work, assholes,” Ridge mutters, but his lips are twitching.

The patio door opens and Sophia returns. We all pull back into our seats. I catch the worry on her face before she even speaks, the way she’s nibbling on her bottom lip between her teeth.

“All okay?” I ask.

She drops into the chair, looking deflated.

“Well, that was fun. Apparently, I need to send them the mechanic’s details and pay a hefty deductible that I definitely don’t have right now.

Not until…” She waves vaguely. “You know, three months, when I can actually access any of this inheritance money from selling the ranch.”

“How much?” Walker asks.

“Two thousand.” She waves her hand like it’s nothing, but I see the tension in her shoulders. “Plus whatever the mechanic charges for the repairs.”

“That’s fucked,” Ridge says bluntly.

“Yeah, well.” She shrugs. “Story of my life lately.”

There’s something raw in her voice that makes me want to dig deeper. What else has gone wrong for her?

“We could lend you the money,” Walker offers.

“No.” The word comes out sharp, almost angry. She takes a breath. “Sorry. I mean, thank you, but no. I don’t take charity.”

“It’s not charity,” I say carefully. “It’s?—”

“It’s three strangers offering to pay my bills on day one.” Her green eyes flash. “I know what that looks like. What it leads to. Thanks, but I’ll figure it out myself.”

The temperature in the room drops about ten degrees. She thinks we want something from her. Payment in another form. Lone Omega, three Alphas, middle of nowhere. She’d be stupid not to be suspicious.

“Fair enough,” Ridge says, breaking the tension. “Your ranch, your rules.”

“Right. My ranch, sort of.” She says it like she’s trying to convince herself. “For three months, anyway.”

She suddenly straightens in her seat. “I want to help out around the ranch. Earn my keep, learn the operation. I may be selling, but I’m not going to be a freeloader.”

“You own the place,” Ridge reminds her. “You don’t need to earn anything.”

“Maybe not.” That stubborn chin lifts. “But I’m going to anyway.”

“That’s fair and I admire that,” I add.

“Well, the only thing is,” she adds, staring down at her hands, “I’m not sure I feel comfortable living in the house with you all.

You’re still strangers. And it’s just… I’m an Omega and…

But I’m not kicking you out. I see there are other places on the property.

Maybe I can stay in one of those instead? ”

She gestures vaguely at us, cheeks turning pink.

Fuck me, but that blush makes me want to find out how far down it goes. I notice Walker’s hands clench on his thighs, see Ridge’s jaw tick. The biological imperative is already working on all of us, that primal need to claim, to protect, to possess.