Page 32 of Tempting Wyatt (Triple Creek Ranch #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

ivy

AS SOON AS I DRIVE THROUGH the gates of Triple Creek Equestrian Center, I’m hit with a wave of peaceful energy.

The property is sprawling, but the facility is on the smaller side, nestled in a quiet valley surrounded by rolling hills.

It feels like something out of a postcard—green pastures, horses grazing lazily.

It has an undeniable charm, and I can see why Willow has carved this space out for herself, separate from the chaos of the ranch.

I roll the window down and take a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, clean air. The smell of fresh hay, leather, and the earthy scent of horses mingle around me.

I’ve never been to an equestrian center before, but there’s an undeniable heart to this one that I suspect is unique. I can feel the love and care Willow has poured into every inch of this place, and I can’t help but admire it.

Once I park on the gravel path, I make my way to the stables, where I figure I’ll find her.

When I push open the large wooden doors, Willow is seated at a desk near the back, surrounded by piles of paperwork. She’s tapping away on a laptop, her expression focused but relaxed.

She’s dressed in a loose black shirt and a pair of jeans that have clearly seen their fair share of hard work. Her black riding boots reach her knees. Her long hair is pulled into a low ponytail, and her skin has that sun-kissed glow of someone who spends most of their time outdoors.

“Hey,” I say, leaning against the doorframe. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this is amazing. It’s got such a peaceful, welcoming feel.”

Willow looks up, a wide smile brightening her face when she sees me.

“Ivy, hey! I’m glad you could make it. If you give me just a sec, I’ll give you the grand tour.”

“Sounds good.” I step farther inside, looking around.

The barn-style stables are a beautiful mix of rustic charm and practicality—old wooden beams, soft light filtering in from the high windows, and stalls lined with fresh hay. The few horses in stalls look over at me with curious eyes.

“It’s a work in progress, but I’m getting there. It’s still a small operation, but we’re growing, which is exciting.” She gestures to the desk covered in paperwork. “Just sorting through some résumés for a new hire. It’s not glamorous, but it’s part of the grind.”

I walk over to her desk, glancing at the stacks of papers. “Anyone promising?”

“So far, there’s this one candidate, Caroline. She’s from Utah, and she has a lot of experience with show horses. She seems like a good fit for the type of work we do here. She’s coming for an interview later this week actually.”

I nod, impressed. “Sounds like she could be a great addition. How much of the work do you do yourself?”

“Almost all of it,” she admits with a half laugh.

“I’m spread a little thin right now, so I could really use the extra help.

But I’m picky about who I hire. I need someone who gets the heart of this place and is willing to put in the time, even though I’m not exactly paying competitive wages at the moment. ”

“I’m sure whoever joins the team will feel lucky to be part of it.”

Willow looks up at me, her eyes twinkling. “If you want to stick around, I’d be happy to hire you.”

My face breaks into a smile. “Honestly, if I was ever looking for employment in Montana, this would be the first place I’d apply.”

She beams.

I hesitate, remembering why I reached out to her to begin with. “Actually, I could use your help with something.”

“What can I do for you?”

I fidget where I stand for a second, remembering Isaac’s warning and hoping Willow doesn’t have the same grudge against people in the movie business that Wyatt does.

“I wanted to talk to you about what I do for a living. And a project I’m working on.”

She moves the résumés aside, stands and props on the desk beside me.

“This I’ve got to hear. I have you pegged as a travel influencer or trophy wife in training. Am I close?”

I let out a small laugh. “Really? I don’t know if I should be insulted or say thank you.”

She grins. “It was the fancy car and designer shoes.”

“That’s fair.” I take a deep breath. “So I’m a writer. A screenwriter. And I came here to write quietly and disappear for a while. Not stir up trouble.”

Willow snorts. “Too late. Trouble was stirred up the second my brothers laid eyes on you.”

I smile, but there’s a twist in my stomach. “Is this where you tell me Wyatt’s going to hate me when he find out what I do for a living?”

She chews her lower lip for a second. “Not hate. Wyatt doesn’t hate easy.

But he’s—” She exhales and examines a nearby brush that I assume is for horses.

“Cautious. Protective. And yeah, he’s got an unpleasant history with people who make a living off stories they don’t have to live through. Especially when that story is ours.”

I let my teeth pull at my lower lip. “Isaac told me a little bit about Nina.”

Willow makes a face. “That bitch did a number on all of us.” Her scowl deepens. “I think having you here has helped us all to see that not everyone wants to make a spectacle of our way of life. Some people just appreciate it.”

My heart races in my chest. “That’s part of why I’m nervous,” I admit.

“I was stuck when I got here, wounded after an ugly break up and already behind on my deadline.” I take another deep breath and do my best to keep going.

“But then I was deeply inspired by the ranch, by the family dynamic, and the grit it takes to do what all of you do.”

She huffs out a small laugh. “Well, we’ve got plenty of drama—that’s for sure.”

And super-sexy ranchers and cowboys all over the place, I think, but don’t say since they’re her brothers.

“It’s good drama though. You love and support each other and it shows. Oddly enough, I was planning to write another dark romantic suspense series. But this setting—the cabin, the ranch—it inspired a romantic family saga instead.”

Her eyes meet mine. “So you’ve already written this?”

I nod. “I’m over halfway finished with what I need to officially submit it to the network that made a preliminary offer on my next project. But I’m scared. No, I’m terrified. Because I don’t want Wyatt—or any of you—to think I’m doing what Nina did. I would never.”

She whistles low. “Damn. Well, Wyatt is not going to love it, that I can tell you.”

“I know. And I’m reaching a point where it’s either time to talk to him and submit it, or I’ve got to scrap it and start over and risk losing my streaming contract.”

She grimaces. “Maybe talk to my mom first. See what she thinks about it, and about the best way to break it to Wyatt.”

The tension lifts from my chest. “Smart thinking. Willow, you’re a genius.”

She nods. “I keep telling people this. And, I mean, it goes without saying, but as long you write me as the badass sister that keeps everyone in line, I’m good with it.”

“Already done,” I tell her with a smile.

For the next half hour, Willow gives me a tour of the place.

She shows me an empty arena and says Sutton wants her to save space for a therapeutic program for special needs and differently abled kids.

I fill her in on the events from the other night, and we commiserate about Sutton’s shitty ex-boyfriend.

When she asks if I want to grab dinner, I glance at my watch and tell her I’ll have to take a rain check.

“Isaac invited me to hear a band play at a bar in town,” I tell her. “You want to join us? I asked Wyatt but he only clenched his jaw and said he had work to do before marching off, as if he had better places to be.”

She shakes her head. “Yeah, sounds like him. I don’t go out much these days. But thanks for the invite. I’m going to order pizza and probably keep sorting through these résumés.”

We say our goodbyes and Willow surprises me with a hug, saying she can’t wait to read my screenplay.

I drive away from the equestrian center realizing that with each member of the Logan family I get to know, I’m giving myself one more person to miss.