Page 3 of Roughing It with the Rancher (Love Along Route 14 #11)

Chapter Three

ESMERALDA

“ H ow about we start at Starbucks for whatever fancy schmancy drink you want and then migrate over to the cafe?”

“Thank you.” He seems like the kind of man who likes to please his woman. Maybe it’ll make talking him out of fifty percent of his winnings and access to his ranch a tad easier.

“So, what are you? A soy latte kind of girl or maybe one of those matcha drink lovers like some of the wives of my ranch hands?”

“Nope, plain old Americano with cream and a little flavoring.”

“Well?” he asks, listening raptly. “What kind of flavoring? Or is it a secret recipe?’

“Two pumps of vanilla and two pumps of caramel. Oh, and make it a quad venti.”

“Quad venti? For a little thing like you?” He raises an eyebrow. “You’re not playing.”

I laugh. “A non-stop solo road trip from Oklahoma to Nevada will do that to you.”

He nods, leading me towards the counter. I open my mouth to order, but he beats me to it. “The lady would like a venti Americano … wait, what was it again?”

“A venti Americano with two pumps of vanilla, two pumps of caramel, and cream.”

“And for you, sir?”

“A venti black coffee with cream.”

“Your name?”

“Reese.”

“Like the river?”

“That’s it.”

“You can find us a table, Angel,” the cowboy drawls, noticing more people coming in.

I head to a spot in the back, looking for a modicum of privacy. The barista rings up the order, and Reese retrieves his wallet from his back pocket, lifting up his untucked shirt enough to give me impressive views of his round ass. My, my, my.

“What’s the best place around here for breakfast?”

“Peg’s on the second floor.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll have those drinks right out.”

Reese saunters towards me, sexy and brutish as they come. He moves with purpose, power in his motions. My eyes wander to his work-hardened hands and thick fingers, desire twisting me in knots. I can tell by his natural swagger that he’s the kind of man who knows how to use those strong fingers.

“Peg’s work for you? I’ve never been there, but I figure we can give it a shot.”

“Sure. Where do you normally eat in town?”

“The Five Star Diner. Down the street a way. But I figure this’ll be more convenient and a bit of a culinary adventure.”

“I like adventures.”

“Me, too.”

“Speaking of those. How does a self-professed gambling novice who hates casinos and owns a ranch end up pulling an all-nighter at a place like this?”

“All-nighter? Do I look that tired?”

“No, but I heard a few people at the Craps table whispering about how they saw you last night when they walked by and then again this morning.”

“Believe me, it was not by design. But I was at the end of my rope. Out of choices and options.”

“And so you chose the Craps table at a casino to turn things around?”

He shrugs, grinning and revealing adorable dimples. My heart somersaults in my chest as I fantasize about reaching across the table, grabbing his cheeks, and pulling him in for a long, lingering kiss. My thumbs pressed into those sexy indentations. What in the hell is wrong with me?

“Well, it worked. Didn’t it?”

“True. But why were you at the end of your rope?”

“Not for any one reason but more like a perfect storm of events.”

I arch an eyebrow, pressing my lips together and hoping to draw him out with silence.

“One too many years of famine, wildfires, grazing and water rights fights with the federal government. And the worst luck you could ask for with cattle. Although I have half a mind to believe there was foul play involved with that.”

“Foul play? As in murder?

“As in poisoned feed or water.”

“That’s terrible. It seems like someone really has it out for you. Why do you think that is?”

He shrugs. “There’s a big-name developer who’s got his sights set on buying or condemning the ranch to make room for a small municipal airport with an adjoining casino resort. Far bigger than this place. Maybe you’ve seen the plans in the local newspaper?”

“I’m familiar with the plans.”

“They want to transform Foxfire Valley into the next Laughlin or something. It’s a foolhardy venture and one paved in open land theft.”

“Seems silly with gambling legal in nearly all fifty states.”

The cowboy nods, dwarfing his chair.

“Reese,” the barista calls, and he jumps to his feet, sauntering toward the counter. I honestly don’t know how the big, gruff guy could get any sexier, which makes keeping my eyes on the treasure nearly impossible.

When he returns to the table, he asks, “Shall we sit here for a few minutes, or do you want to head straight upstairs?”

“Here’s fine,” I say, trying to force my brain back into business mode. “I’d like to get back to the conversation we need to have.”

He shifts in the chair, his eyes so raptly devouring me, I wonder if he’s heard a thing I said. To my surprise, he manages, “Let’s talk then.”

“Half that pot you’re waiting on at the cashier’s is mine.”

He laughs incredulously, his eyes narrowing. Shaking his head in disbelief, he says, “The joke was funny the first time, but?—”

“It’s no joke. I stood behind you this morning”—I don’t want to say how long—“watching you crashing and burning in one of the worst losing streaks in casino history?—”

“Now, how would you know what a bad losing streak constitutes, Oklahoma?”

I straighten in my chair, reminding him, “We have casinos, too.”

He crosses his arms, his expression stuck somewhere between disbelief and amusement. “Go on.”

“So, you can either handle this like the gentleman who kissed my hand earlier and give me half my winnings. Or you can try to shirk out of the whole thing. But I warn you. I am as persistent as they come, and I will not stop until I’ve made you see things my way.”

He licks his lips slowly, a half-grin lighting up his expression. “There goes that angel facade of yours. What are you? A scammer who goes around casinos tailing desperate guys who’ve turned around their luck?”

I chuckle. Is there even such a thing? “First off, you did not look like the kind of guy about to turn around his luck. Secondly, you would’ve walked out of here with nothing if it weren’t for me and my magic breath.”

“Magic breath? Is that what we’re calling it now?” His face hardens as he leans further back into his chair, getting comfortable.

I take a nervous sip of my Americano.

“Is the drink to your liking?”

“Yes, it is. Thank you. Now, back to our conversation?—”

“Before we go any further with this conversation, how do I know you aren’t in cahoots with the dealer or maybe somebody else at the table to rob me of my earnings?”

I laugh out loud at the suggestion. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? Really?” The creases in his forehead deepen. “Maybe you work with the house to shake down gamblers that do too well?”

I shake my head. “Well, isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? You’re the one attempting to scam me out of half our winnings, and I’m the deceitful one?”

He leans forward, pressing a big, thick finger into the table with each word to make his point. “They. Are. Not. Your. Winnings.”

We glare at each other across the table.

“Whose are they, then? As I remember, what happened at the table was a joint venture. End of story.”

“If you weren’t so damn hot when you get angry, I would’ve already left this table. Treasure, you’re wasting your time.”

“Now, I’m Treasure, too?”

He nods slowly, his eyes narrowing.

I don’t even know what to do with that nickname. Instead, I ignore it. “No, I’m not wasting my time.”

“Look,” he growls, drawing even closer so that our faces are only a few inches apart. “That winning streak would’ve happened one way or the other. You were merely a lovely distraction along the way.”

I sit back, crossing my arms and echoing his body language. Lovely distraction? Talk about condescending. It’s not even worth the breath of a response. “Half the money, and I’ll be on my way. You’ll never hear from me again.”

Except you still need access to his ranch, Esmeralda! What a tangled web. Maybe you should just level with the guy about the treasure?

“The money’s not mine to give,” he admits with a frown, looking down at the table. “Not that you deserve it anyway, but I’ve got much bigger problems than you to deal with.”

“Like?”

“Like a bank ready to foreclose on the ranch that’s been in my family for five generations.

” He shrugs. “Even when I pay off past debts, it still won’t cover future needs.

” Reese buries his head in his hands. “Maybe I need to give up and let the place go. But to know I’m the one who let five generations of the Gunner family down in one fell swoop? It’s more than I can bear.”

I take in his sad body language, my heart breaking. All he had to do was continue in the same vein, arguing with me. Angry, I could persist, but not in his current state, so vulnerable and burdened down by exactly the same kind of family pressure I feel.

Only mine involves taking Gunner for everything he doesn’t even know he’s worth in the form of a fabled treasure. My grandpa would scowl at me if he saw this. I stretch out my hand to stroke the big man’s shoulder.

“It’s okay,” I say empathetically. “You’ll figure things out. At least you’re doing better than you were a couple of hours ago.” Because of me. But I keep the score-keeping, wailing inner voice to myself.

“I’m sorry,” he grumbles. “It’s been a crazy twenty-four hours, and I need to rest.”

Nuh-uh. Not until we get our finances settled. I may feel sorry for him, but I’m no fool. I shake my head. “First things first?—”

“Are you really still on that high horse? Didn’t you hear what I said? I can’t pay you because the money I won isn’t even really mine.”

“But I’m supposed to take you at your word that if you could pay it, you would? Do I look like an idiot?”

His eyes darken, his gaze searing. “Yes, that’s the truth.

If the pot I won was one hundred percent, freely my own, I would give you half.

Not because you blew on my palm. I may have been that superstitious in the moment, but now that I’ve had time to reflect on everything, that was nothing more than a little respiratory support . ..”

I wait, but he presses his lips together, emphasizing his sudden silence. “Well, if you wouldn’t give it to me for blessing you with good luck, then why would you?”

“Because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Despite your silly western wear jacket. And it’s a blessing to know you exist.”

My eyebrows fly up my forehead. “Really? Do you say that to all the ladies?”

“No, ma’am, and I mean it sincerely. I’m sorry if you’re too jaded to accept it.

But how is that my fault? Alright, now that you’ve seen me at one of the lowest points in my life, I figure I better crawl away before I lose any more of my dignity.

” With one fluid motion, he darts up from the table, and I follow, not about to give up.

“Tragic story or not, you still owe me.”

“I don’t owe you a thing, although if I could, I would rise to the occasion.”

“If not now, then when?”

He shifts his weight, removing his cowboy hat and scratching his head. “When I’m good for the money. Give me your contact information, and I’ll make it happen.”

“Do you think I was born yesterday? I’m going to need some collateral.”

“Collateral?” He chuckles as if my suggestion is ridiculous.

“Well, apart from the money the bank will imminently devour because I refuse to let you or anyone else take my family ranch from me, the only collateral I have is a nineteen seventy-six Cadillac Eldorado convertible with a six-foot steer horn decorating the front.”

“Yuck! Seriously?”

He nods, putting his hands on his hips. “Yep, I won that about two in the morning, I’d guess, although time can really get away from you in a place like this. Too bad I lost my dually in the process.”

“You traded in a dually for the car from Dallas ? I can’t even with you.”

“No, I won it after losing the dually.”

“You should not be allowed in a place like this.”

“Agreed. Now, if you want to give me some means of contacting you, I promise I will do so with half your earnings the moment I turn things around.”

“You expect me to let you walk out of here with our winnings for something tantamount to an I owe you? No way.”

“Well, it’s that or the Cadillac, although I’m going to need you to drop me off at my house if you choose the latter.”

My mind races. Even more than half his winnings, I need access to his ranch for the treasure hunt. I twist my hands in front of me, worrying my bottom lip when it hits me …

“Marry me, Cowboy.”