Page 5

5

JOY

“–and it wasn’t sugar… it was salt!” Marina exclaimed.

I couldn’t help but giggle, imagining her client eating a cake that tasted so bad.

We were behind the main house at Wolf Ranch. The lawn had lounge chairs with thick cushions on them that faced the barn and the fields beyond. It was a pretty spot. The sun was low on the horizon, glinting through the trees.

Marina lived here with her man, Colton, along with Colton’s brother, Rob, and his wife Willow. There was a bunkhouse down by the barn, which had a rotating group of ranch hands living in it. I heard the only people staying there now were Johnny and his wife Emma.

“If you’re not throwing pottery, what have you been up to? It feels like it’s been ages since we got together last.” She held up a finger. “In fact, it was snowing. Remember, Colton had to pick me up from your place.”

I nodded. “I do. That was a storm.”

She leaned over with the wine bottle and refilled my glass.

“As for what I’ve been up to, work,” I told her. “Work. And more work.”

I’d already told her about the broken shipment.

“Spending all your time in your garage isn’t fun.”

I shrugged. “It’s not a garage, it’s my studio. You stay inside in your kitchen to bake.”

She waggled her eyebrows. “I have Colton to carry me out of there and get me to do other things.”

I grinned. I could only imagine how he carried her–probably over his shoulder–and what those other things were.

“I love that you have Colton,” I said with a sigh.

“We need to get you a man.”

Instantly, I thought of Mr. Towel, my neighbor. Now he was all man.

I’d gone to bed the night before thinking of him. Heck, I’d even seen his dick, and we hadn’t even gone on a date! I knew the man was packing. Knew he was gorgeous. Literally every inch of him. Despite his apparent grouchiness, I knew he was kind to his daughter. Protective. Bossy.

I’d touched myself thinking of him, minus the towel.

How he’d growl and boss me around.

How I’d like it. How I’d come when he ordered me to do so.

How–

“Earth to Joy. Where’d you go, and can I get a ticket to join you?” she asked.

I sighed. “Sorry. I was thinking about my new neighbor.”

“Oh?” She looked intrigued. “Good or bad?”

“Good. Very good.”

As if talking about him, I conjured him up.

Because I could swear my new neighbor just came out of the barn. It wasn’t that close, so maybe I needed glasses, but I would recognize that stellar form anywhere. And then–

It was him! Because galloping like a pretend horse right behind him was a little girl.

“Him.” I pointed.

Marina whipped her head around.

“Wes?” she gasped. “He’s your new neighbor? Seriously?”

Wes . I never got his name.

I nodded. “You can’t miss the red hair.”

“Oh my gosh, he’s gorgeous. I know I’ve got Colton, and he’s perfect, but I’m not blind. If you’re into a grumpy ginger guy, he’s it.”

“Is he… mean?” I asked, thinking of little Remy. She was sweet and bright, and I didn’t want anyone to be unkind to her, especially her dad.

“Mean?” She laughed. “Nooooo. Aloof. Standoffish. Not shy. Introverted. Heck, he’s just plain grumpy. But look at him with his daughter. See if that doesn’t make your heart melt like butter.”

He was tossing her up onto his back and pretending to be a horse. I could hear her giggling from here.

“So where’s Remy’s mom?”

“Deadbeat,” she muttered with a wave of her hand. “She abandoned the baby right after she was born, from what I can gather. I suspect that’s why he’s so grumpy. He was single-dad-ing it on the rodeo circuit for three and half years, if you can believe it.”

“He was in the rodeo?” I squeaked, my mind going to even hotter places. That guy on the back of a bull?

“Yup.” Marina fanned herself then laughed.

“He took her all over the country? Are you serious?” I stared out at the pair of them before they disappeared back into the barn. “How did that work?”

“I don’t know–not too well. I mean, the rodeo pays well, and I guess he was saving up to be able to buy that house next to you, but the circuit is hardly the place for a baby or toddler.”

I shook my head. “I can’t imagine. So how did he end up here? Through Boyd?”

Everyone in Cooper Valley knew Boyd Wolf had been a rodeo star before he met his wife, Audrey, and retired from the circuit.

Marina took a sip of her wine and nodded. “Exactly. Boyd saw Wes last time the rodeo was in town, and when he found out Wes had a four-year-old on the road with him, he offered him a foreman position here. I think he and Rob sort of made the job up for him because it’s not like Boyd or Colton couldn’t do that work.”

My heart melted even more. Not only was Wes a hero for going it alone as a dad on the road, but the entire Wolf clan were heroes for caring enough about his kid to create a well-paying position for him to get him off the back of a bull. That couldn’t be safe.

“He’s not much of a talker, but I pried out of him that even though the money was good, he was relieved to quit because he knew it was time for Remy to go to preschool and interact with other kids.”

“He sounds like a stand-up guy.”

Marina turned her gaze to me. With her dark hair, her eyes were striking. “Honey, he’s a good one. Rob wouldn’t have hired him if he wasn’t. He wouldn’t have lasted a day, and you know that.”

All of the men at Wolf Ranch were nice. Attentive to their women. Big and brawny. Perhaps a little intimidating, but she was right. They wouldn’t let some dick work here.

“No girlfriend?” I grinned at Marina. “You know. Asking for a friend.”

She smiled back. “No girlfriend. He hasn’t dated anyone since he’s been here, that I know of. I think Remy takes all his focus, but you never know. That could change when he meets the gorgeous girl next door.” She stood. “Come on, you want me to introduce you?”

I gave her a wry grin and stayed sitting where I was. “We’ve met. And honestly, he didn’t seem all that impressed at our first meeting.”

Me, though? I was very impressed with what I saw of him.

Marina waved a dismissive hand. “Well, like I said, he’s grumpy. Don’t let that deter you.”

Deter? Maybe help instead.