Masuk“I’ll stand, thanks.”“I’d think you were a gentleman, saving the chair for your wife or girlfriend, if I didn’t just see you order her to sit alone in the truck.”Any veneer of calmness fled. Ben cut across the room and placed his hands on her desk, looming over her. “First off, I wouldn’t have been in the Rawhide Club screwing around with other women if I was married or seeing someone.” Breathe, man. His gaze dropped to the nameplate. Whoa. Her name wasn’t Angel? “Maybe I oughta be questioning you and your motives, since you, oh, lied about your damn name and wore that ridiculous wig.”“Given my occupation, I’m sure you understand why I disguised myself. Plus, I had no idea what to expect from an establishment like the Rawhide Club since it was my first foray into such a place. Better to be safe than sorry.”“Fine. I guess I can buy that.”She fiddled with a pen. “Can you please sit down?”“Am I makin’ you nervous?”“We already established last weekend that you make me very nervous,
“You shouldn’t be. Them bankers usually have their minds made up before you even walk in the door. Bunch of controlling bastards. Least, that’s been my experience.”“I thought all the McKays had more money than they knew what to do with and didn’t owe anyone anything.”“Not all the McKays. Especially not those of us who’ve built houses or businesses or bought land. I’ve got monthly payments.”“So what do you think my chances are of getting the money?”“Most bankers are real tight-asses in this economy. They’ll take into account that you own the land. But they’ll also take into account if your proposed improvements will actually increase the property value.”Rielle sighed. “Too bad the barter system doesn’t still work with everyone.”“No kiddin’. Speaking of…thanks for checking in on the dogs this weekend.”“No biggie. I had nothing else going on. Rory was supposed to be home this weekend but she had to work.”“How’s her first semester of graduate school?”“Good. She’s still bartending
Tapping on her car window startled her. She glanced at the intruder, slicked up, anal-retentive, nosy Turton Ingvold, the man she’d secretly dubbed the turd. Because boy howdy, did the name fit him. Brown hair, brown eyes, and a total brown-noser—to everyone except her. Turton treated her with an air of derision. He’d expected to land the bank president position after the man who’d initially been tapped for the job last spring had been abruptly reassigned. But she’d been offered the plum job for this new branch office, making Turton her second-in-command.She managed to smile at him after she exited her car. “Morning, Turton.”He walked beside her—right beside her—up the sidewalk. “I trust you’ll handle the situation with Rita this week?”No hello, no good morning, no surprise. Half the time she wondered how Turton had reached management level because he had zero social skills and practically no tact. “Yes. I believe she works tomorrow.”“Good. Because I’d hate to think you were showi
Male laughter erupted.He snapped, “We watchin’ bull riding or didja bring nail polish so we could give each other manicures while we gossip?”Keely rang a cowbell in the kitchen. “Come and get it!”While plates were being filled, Ben shooed his dogs outside and turned on VERSUS. Once everyone was settled, Ben brought another round of beer before he fixed a plate for himself. He looked around, glad his cousins had put their differences aside and not only worked together, but could hang out together occasionally. They were all too hotheaded and stubborn for their working relationship to always be sunshine and roses, but at least that relationship wasn’t combative day in and day out.A collective groan rippled through the room when a bull stomped the crap out of a rider’s leg.Low stakes betting didn’t last more than ten riders because Tell won all rounds. Being a PRCA rough stock judge was an advantage.Buck-offs were more common than an eight-second ride so the speculation was high th
She started to retort when two raps preceded Quinn walking in. He cast a glance at the dogs snoring in front of the woodstove. “Did you drug my usual welcoming committee?”“No. They spent the weekend in the barn, pacing, missing their cushy life inside the house, snoozing by the fire. You want a beer?”“Sure.” Quinn placed a tinfoil-covered plate on the counter. “Libby made brownies.”“Ooh. Yum.” Keely moved dishes around to make space.Ben slipped behind the bar and popped the top on a bottle of Coors Light, nudging it toward his brother. “Before we get overrun with family, what’s up with Dad? I called him on the way home today and he said he couldn’t talk. He was figuring something out.” Ben winced. “Christ. Please tell me that ain’t married man code for him and Mom havin’ sex?”Quinn laughed. “Nope. He was lookin’ at airline schedules.”“Why? They goin’ to see Chase and Ava in California?”“Nope. Gavin invited them to Phoenix.”“Really? That’s…good. Isn’t it?”“I hope so.”His cous
“Is he keeping in contact with you guys?”“He’s called me and Quinn a couple times. When the PBR was in Arizona he went to see Chase ride. He met Ava too.”“Any idea when the rest of us get to meet him? It’s bizarre that Aunt Vi had Uncle Charlie’s baby and gave him up for adoption. And then they ended up getting married years later anyway?” She shook her head with disbelief. “I hoped Gavin’s status as an only child in his adoptive family meant he’d be curious about all of us.”He tried to find an answer that wouldn’t offend. The McKay family was overwhelmingly large, especially with the influx of babies in the last few years. From the few times Ben had talked to Gavin, the man defined cautious. It made sense he’d test the waters with his newly discovered siblings before he plunged into the gigantic McKay gene pool.After Gavin showed up on their parent’s doorstep a few months back, announcing he was their firstborn son, Ben figured Gavin had satisfied his curiosity about his birth pa
Have an important client meeting at 4:30. I’ll be home no later than 6. I promise. I’ll bring supper. Love my girl.Karla’s heart sank, dread tightening her chest. When she looked up, her friends had worry in their eyes. She forced a bright smile. After all, how long had it been since he just texted
She didn’t think she’d ever failed Ken or embarrassed him, but now that paranoid side of her wondered just that. If he was somehow ashamed of her, that she was too outgoing, too bubbly for the staid, moneyed clients he catered to. His not wanting her to be a part of him courting and wining and dinin
Her mind shook with a mix of shock and disbelief. Dismay wasn’t far behind.And she was still naked. She, who never slept bare, still lay in the bed of the man who instigated her downfall into the most forbidden sin and found a way to make her pant for it. And now, she laid in his bed like she was wa
James walked up to stand beside Karla, adding his silent support as he stared Ken down. There was open disgust in James’s expression. Ken wouldn’t even meet James’s gaze. Guilt was plastered all over Ken’s face and then resignation swamped his eyes and he stepped aside so Karla could enter the front







