Page 41 of Tempting Wyatt

A collection agency representative. Voicemail and block.

And then my favorite bar owner, Mick O’Malley, just checking in.

I need to go to The Stillery and catch up with my father’s oldest friend. But damn if I can find the time.

I answer Mick and tell him I’ll come by soon. An errant thought slips into my mind, running across it like Jasper’s crazy ass, without my permission.

I could take Ivy to The Stillery.

There’s live music on most nights. She could dance.Wecould dance.

I evict that idea before it takes hold. I don’t know whatthe hell I’m thinking. I don’t dance. It would be too much like a date, and I don’t date. I damn sure don’t date women from California who are leaving in less than two weeks.

Just as I’m trying to determine if I can repurpose the lumber from an old hay shed I was going to tear down anyway for the bunkhouse roof repairs, my walkie-talkie clicks twice. Then a burst of static.

Antonio’s voice blares over the line. “Boss?”

“What do you got, Antonio?”

Silence.

Then, “Your brother and your, uh, guest, are out near the northeast pasture. Checking fence line.”

Of course that’s where they are. The bull pasture. The one fucking place I never go.

A part of me wonders if Isaac took her there on purpose, knowing it’s the only place I wouldn’t interrupt him hitting on her. Then I remind myself that he checks the fence out there so that I don’t have to.

Because that’s where I was unfortunate enough to find my father’s body. I blink the image of his empty, lifeless eyes away.

He’d been gone for hours already by the time I arrived.

I pace the length of the bunkhouse exterior.

It’s been six months. I should suck it up and head out there. Doesn’t mean I’m checking up on Isaac and Ivy. I remind myself once again that she doesn’t belong to me. I don’t have any claim on her time here or a say in who she spends time with. She’s on vacation.

Hell, she probably came here intending to find a cowboy she could have some fun with. Isaac definitely fits the bill for that.

My throat tightens as I think about him making a move on her. My jaw flexes as my molars grind together.

I don’t have any right to feel possessive or territorial over this woman.

She’s no one to me.

I don’t get territorial over women, period. And I don’t fuck women who’ve slept with my brothers.

If Ivy decides a hookup with Isaac is what she wants, that’s fine by me. I have plenty more important things to worry about. Like not losing this fucking ranch. What my brother does with the Hollywood princess is none of my concern.

None of my concern at all.

As I grab my keys to the ranch truck, I repeat this to myself several times.

I’m still repeating it in my mind when I pick up Antonio and head out to the bull pasture.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ivy

THE THING I LOVE MOST about this ranch?