The people Braxton sent came and left all week, taking pictures and writing down some notes. They’ll send me the report they prepare for my ranch. I’m not sure how I feel about strangers roaming around and judging this place that means so much to me, but I know Braxton wouldn’t send them if he didn’t trust them. Now, I’ll have to wait for them to give my idea some kind of approval. To be sure I won’t end up neck deep in debt.

This morning, when I woke up, I finally took a relieved breath, knowing there’s were no stranger roaming around today, but I couldn’t enjoy that either. Packing up everything to take to the store, I drove into town. There were still people who wanted to give condolences about my parents. I didn’t have the heart to decline their offer for a drink and small chat. I wasn’t good at socializing with people especially in the last six months, I owe them at least that. Everyone loved my parents, whether they were friends or not, and surprisingly, reminiscing with someone other than my brother, helped to ease the pain.

When I’m finally back at the ranch, it’s already close to dinner time. Even though I’m hungry, I don’t want to go inside before spending time with my horse. The sky is dark and cloudy with the upcoming storm Rage’s favorite weather for a ride in the woods and around the ranch. After quickly putting on my riding jeans and a shirt over my white t-shirt, I head for the barn. Getting Rage out of his stall, I saddle him up and jump o. As he runs in our usual route, he adjusts his pace to my need. With the familiarity years have given us, he understands what I want him to do without me guiding him with the lead.

The rain starts when we arrive at my favorite place. It’s been my escape place when I was a teenager, and even though years passed this place didn’t lose any of its beauty. Among every shade of green, a small lake sits peacefully, hidden from the outside world.

Rage drinks from the crystal clear water and waits under a tree that will protect him from the rain. He looks at me like he’s waiting for my decision to stay or leave. We wait there a little for the rain to slow down when it does, he comes closer to me. With a sigh, I nod my head, letting him know we’re leaving.

The ground is muddy on the way back, so we move slower. I quickly put Rage in his stall, I need to clean him up after he warms up. Hanging the saddle on the wooden wall, I leave to take a shower at home, but I stop close to the big gate.

I see a cab get closer to the ranch. Normally the people Brax sends come in the early hours of the morning, so I wonder why I’m having any guests now. The sun has already disappeared, and the sky is now dark. It’s pretty inappropriate time for business. Rolling my eyes, I walk to greet whoever it is this time.

The cab stops in front of the big gate of Cooper Ranch, and I wait as the door opens. The big light above the gate spotlighting the newcomer. The first thing I see is a pair of shoes with high heels.

High heels? In the muddy ground?

Then my eyes travel up, drinking in the creamy legs. A pencil skirt hugs the delicious curves of a woman, dipping to a thin waist from the flare of her hips. A green blouse she’s wearing is almost see-through with the light flashing over her, giving the perfect tease of what’s underneath. Finally, my gaze reaches her face. A heart-shaped face with auburn hair frames her soft and almost fragile features.

Who the hell is she?

Getting a closer look, I walk toward the beautiful creature in front of me. She probably hasn’t seen me yet, she’s busy trying to get hold of all of her bags without dropping them to the ground. Murmuring something I can’t hear, she closes the door behind her and walks slowly, clumsily, like a newborn foal toward me.

A chuckle escapes me as I watch her and that gives me away, she looks up.

Everything happens so fast.

One moment she’s looking at me, her lips part with a sharp intake of breath. The next second, all of her bags fall into the mud, and she stumbles with the mixture of shock and anger in her expression. Out of instinct, I reach for her, wrapping my arms around her as her hands land on my chest. In the blink of an eye, the beautiful creature ends up flush against my body.

She’s short. Even in those murder weapon high heels, she barely reaches my shoulder. Her body is light as a feather as I carry all of her weight, but she definitely has curves to kill. Her tits pressed against my chest, heaving as she tries to control her breath after the little panic and that frantic movement rubs her hard nipples against my body. My dick stirs in my jeans, and I curse silently. I don’t know how my hand ended up there, but my palm is cradling one of her tight and perky ass cheeks. I fight with myself to behave, but I’ve always been an ass guy, I can’t help but squeeze.

She gasps, and I feel her intake of breath right on my neck. I look down, and our eyes meet with a soul-searing connection. She has the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen, like an emerald. Clear, bright, and alive. I catch some gold flecks in them. Her eyes look like jewelry, and with the power they hold against me, I bet it’s a magical jewelry that would bring the most powerful men to their knees.

Who is this woman?

She can’t belong here.

“Mr. Cooper?” she finally whispers. Her breathy voice sends another jolt of arousal to my body, and I have two options. Either kiss her or letting her go. Thankfully my mind hasn’t been fogged enough to do the wrong thing, and I let her go.

After making sure that she can stand on her own feet without my help, I clear my throat and try to get my head to work. The one above my shoulders, because God knows she makes the other work with little effort.