Page 2 of Ropers Can’t Tie Knots (Kissing Ridge Cowboys #3)

two

Hunter

“ Y ou can go right in, Mr. Burke.”

The secretary in the lobby of the swanky law firm buzzes me through, and I navigate the halls to my lawyer’s office. I would’ve preferred keeping this matter with a lawyer in town, but most had dealt with my grandfather at some point, and I wanted an unbiased opinion.

Which proved harder than I initially thought.

With a light knock on the door before opening, I step inside to meet with the man who has hopefully untangled some of the mess my grandfather left behind.

“Hunter. Nice to see you.”

Jonathon Conway thrusts his hand forward with a nervous smile.

He always carries this air of uncertainty when we meet, and I really hope it’s just me being overly sensitive and not that he lacks confidence in his profession.

I have a lot hanging on him being competent and not another asshole in a custom fit suit.

“Likewise, Jonathon.” That’s a lie. I’d rather not see him, but I still know how to operate with a bit of social decorum. Most days anyway.

After taking our seats, he opens a file on his desk and passes me a large manila envelope .

“I have good news and bad news.” He starts, and my heart sinks.

“Can we please start with the good news?” Fuck me. If this is another shitty day that comes at me when I’m not prepared, I might actually weep. “I could use some.” So could my lines of credit and bank account. Probably my fucking blood pressure, too.

“Yes, of course.” He taps his fingers on his desk and clears his throat.

A nervous sound that has me on edge more than I was when I sat down.

“I secured you access to the first trust for physical property. The account to maintain the costs of the ranch should have had you listed at the financial institution. I believe it was an intentional oversight as it clearly states in clause 5.3 that the current inhabitant should draw funds as needed for property and business maintenance.”

My chest loosens with his words. I can believe it was intentional. Not a stretch in the least, and yet another example of how money can influence people to do the wrong thing.

“So I can submit all the receipts I’ve kept for the animal and equipment care, property taxes and the like?”

“Oh yes. The trust specifically states for care of the animals and property under the ranch name.”

If you could name what relief feels like, it’s the decision to hire a lawyer and help with this bullshit. The last eighteen months have been hell. I thought I’d lose everything. While it wasn’t directly willed to me, I wasn’t kicked out and trusted to care for the property.

But I couldn’t pay for it all on my own.

The taxes on the land alone were staggering.

The only thing that kept me afloat was my name on the business of breeding rodeo livestock.

My name was only on it because I registered the paperwork.

Since it was my efforts running it, and essentially my company, I put my name on it all.

Jeremiah Burke was furious, but he also never changed it.

Maybe he never changed it because he knew he’d bend me over in the will and I’d have to see all my hard work dismantled piece by piece.

I had to sell it all off, though. It broke my heart, and if it wasn’t for Jackson pushing me to get a second opinion on this, I might be living out of my horse trailer now.

“It’s all summarized in the envelope for you. I’ve already sent all the legal documents to the trustee with instructions and you should be able to get your money back in the next week, if not sooner.”

“Thank you so much, Jonathon. Now, what’s the bad news?”

He fidgets with the papers in front of him, and I brace myself. I’m used to bad news these days, but it doesn’t get any easier each time it’s delivered.

“The second trust about the estate residue…I couldn’t get to it. Your retainer only covered my time for the first trust.”

Oh. That’s not as bad as I thought.

“I understand. You don’t work for free.”

I also can’t afford to pay him another three grand right now to help with the other trust.

“I do require payment up front for these cases, and I’d be happy to help again when you’re able to handle the fee.”

“You’ve been extremely helpful so far, and this helps. I’ll be in touch then when I’m ready to continue, if that’s okay?”

“Of course. You have my card. Just schedule an appointment and we can tackle what’s next. ”

After leaving the law office, I take a walk to the small park nearby and grin when I find a hot dog cart. It’s still early, and she’s just setting up for the day, but I want to celebrate with a hot dog. Is it odd? Probably, but I’m hungry and hot dogs make me happy.

“Good morning! When will you be ready to open?”

The young woman smiles as she continues to load drinks into a cooler.

“If you come back in five, you can grab the first dog of the day. I just put them on the grill.”

“That’s perfect.”

Finding a bench nearby, I sit and dial Jackson’s number to relay the good news.

“Oh man, Hunter, this is the best news ever. I’m so happy for you! Does this mean you won’t lose the ranch then? Your money problems are solved?”

“Yes, and no. I still need to submit all my receipts and get the money back. It will clear up all the debt I incurred to keep things going, but the reality is there isn’t anything left to keep going.”

“Because you sold all the stock, you have nothing to provide an income and with no rodeo…”

Jackson trails off while I nod, even though he can’t see me.

“Right. I dismantled the entire stock breeding operation, Jack. I have a few old bulls and that one bronc nobody wanted, but they aren’t good enough to rebuild from. Thankfully, their care won’t drain my resources now, but…what the fuck am I supposed to do for money now?”

Not that I expect Jackson to have a solution. It’s my fault I stayed working for my grandfather when I knew damn well it wouldn’t end with a good outcome for me. If you look up petty bastard in the dictionary, it’s his picture. I knew that and still stayed.

But I refused to let go of this place even when he treated me like a stranger and voiced his hatred of same-sex relationships frequently. Through some twisted dream in my head, I hoped he’d do the right thing and remember how our lives used to be back when my grandmother was alive.

“What about the other will stuff? The guy was loaded. There’s nothing for you there? You kept that place running and did more work than you should have. You deserve something.”

The growl in my best friend’s voice brings a small smile to my face. Jackson is as loyal as they come and I’m forever grateful he stuck with me all these years.

“There’s another trust I don’t understand for the residue, and my lawyer said he needs another fee payment to continue. I can use my credit again, I suppose, once I get all the back payments, but I just need a bit of time to get things caught up first.”

And to breathe and celebrate that I didn’t cry in the lawyer’s office.

“You know, Gabe would probably help and let you work out a payment plan or something. Or maybe instead of rent, you could swap for his services? That might work, you know, and get this closed out faster for you.”

My skin heats at the name of the sexy lawyer.

The one who’s also set to move into my home temporarily.

Which if I had my way wouldn’t be happening, but when your friends all agree in front of the man that it’s a great idea to rent him one of your empty rooms, you have to say yes or look like the biggest dick in town .

Which is now even more awkward since he hit on me and made my dick hard with a single touch. He’s trouble for me, and it feels like I’ve set myself up for an awkward roommate situation before it even starts.

“Maybe. I’ll have to see how we get along first. No sense letting him know my business if I don’t like the guy, you know?”

I’m just grasping for reasons not to have to speak to him for extended periods.

I know that, but Jackson sure doesn’t. Gabe throws strong, ‘I want a white picket fence and 2.5 kids vibes.’ I might be wrong about that, but with the way Riley has talked about him and how often Gabe dotes on his best friend, I don’t think I’m too far off base.

I’m not a family guy, and I certainly don’t want kids.

Having me as a father wouldn’t be fair to the child.

It’s the only reason I went back into the bar after watching him get into his perfectly safe, family-friendly, full of safety features Lexus.

I don’t need that kind of commitment, and perhaps it’s self-centered for me to think he wants more than just sex, but if I hang on tight to that thought, nobody gets hurt.

Besides, it can’t be casual if we share a roof for any amount of time.

“I suppose so,” Jackson muses. If we were face to face, he’d have that knit in his eyebrows when he thinks too hard. I can hear it in his voice. “Feel him out, at least. It could be an answer to your problems.”

My periphery catches the hot dog cart lady waving, and I wave back as I stand .

“Listen, Jack, I’m going to let you go. I have a celebratory hot dog lined up, then I’m driving home. Just wanted to share that the worst of this nightmare is over.”

“Thanks, buddy. I’m so happy you have this off your mind, and the ranch stays. Let me know when you make it home.”

Shoving the phone in my pocket after a goodbye, I switch the phone for my wallet and hand the woman a ten-dollar bill.

“What are the chances you have fried onions?”

“Very good, my friend.” She removes a dome from her grill with a flourish to reveal a pile of onions in all their fried, delicious glory.

“You are a gift! Load me up, please, and don’t skimp on the onions.”

She passes me a heavily loaded jumbo hot dog, and I step off the path to enjoy it. It’s hot-dog-and-onion goodness, and it’s also a mess that leaks into my hand. I can’t be mad about that one bit because it’s fucking delicious.