Well, I don’t know if I’m dizzy from all the snow swirling down or almost flipping over into the ditch or what, but I have never felt a pull to a man like I do with Ryder. He’s God’s gift to women and he knows it, too. His gorgeous face pops into my mind—those light green eyes, the dimples that make an appearance when he smiles, his chiseled jaw. Oh, and that deep voice of his that actually makes my knees go weak. I flop back onto the bed, thinking of him carrying me out of the SUV, his strong arms wrapped around me. I have never had a man do something so chivalrous before. Not one time. I felt so light and small when he lifted me, like I’m made of feathers. I grin, thinking of the way he smells—like leather and cologne. I sigh, staring up at the wood-beam ceiling.

I bet he has a girlfriend. Or a fiancée. Or several of each. Probably all rodeo queens who model underwear. But still, it was nice to be looked at like that just now—like I’m a steak covered in A1 sauce and he’s starving. I turn my head and look out the window, watching the snow come down. A part of me wants to get stranded here for the night—the lady parts of me, that is.

I snap out of it and stand, a little disgusted that I’m finding myself so drawn to a cowboy. He’s all wrong for me. I need a nice accountant or history professor who I can curl up and read with at night. Not some rootin’-tootin’, honky-tonk lovin’, muscle-bound, hot-as-heck…okay, that’s enough, Julia! Get to work so you can get out of here!

I stand and unzip my bag, pulling out my makeup kit, some tights and my dark blue sweater dress that forms to my curves in a way that Kyle once said was, ‘most pleasing.’ Yucky when those words come from Kyle’s mouth, but I wouldn’t mind if Ryder agreed with him. I hurry to the en-suite, which turns out to be a pretty classy one at that, with white fixtures and marble countertops and a heated tile floor. I take extra care to get freshened up and looking good, and by the time I’m ready to emerge from the room, my heart is pounding like a steady drum. As I walk down the hall, I think about living here, in the wilds of Montana on a ranch with Ryder—trading in the four-hours of commuting for the simple life. Days in the kitchen, or maybe at my computer, followed by nights in his bed. But, that’s a foolish thought. I don’t want any of this.

I find Ryder in the kitchen, leaned against the counter, looking all manly in his plaid shirt and jeans. He’s looking at his phone, which brings me out of my pioneer fantasy and into present day reality. I’m a reporter here to do a job, and he’s my subject. He looks up when he hears me come into the room and his mouth drops open a bit. “Wow,” he mutters as his eyes rake over me.

He blushes a little, then runs one hand through his dark hair, looking a little embarrassed. “Where do you want to do the interview?”

“I had originally thought we should do it outside, but…”

“Yeah, maybe the bull barn. It’s warm and dry in there.”

I bite my lip, wondering if he’s in on the ‘get Julia on a bull’ plan. “I don’t know what my producers told you but I’m not going to ride a bull.”

He gives me a look that says that idea is the dumbest thing he’s ever heard. “Of course, you’re not. Bull-riding can get you killed.”

“Tell that to my boss.”

He sets his jaw and folds his arms across his massive chest. “They’re not serious, are they?”

“Pretty much. It’s what I do.” I fiddle with the hem of my sleeve, not able to look at him in the eye. Even after only a few minutes of being around Ryder, I know he’s a man of his own mind. He’d never let anyone tell him what to do. “I interview the athletes, then make an ass of myself trying out sports I can’t do.”

“Well, in this case, you best tell them no. It would be a sin if that were the last things you say ‘yes’ to.” His words float across the kitchen and wrap around me, warming me up with all the ways I want to say ‘yes’ to him. Starting with a long, slow kiss and ending with us on the kitchen floor naked. He pushes off the counter and walks over to me, filling the space in front of me with his big body. “Well, I suppose we should get to it.”

My entire body heats up and my jaw drops. Could he read my mind just then? What if Kyle walks in? What if he has a girlfriend, or a fiancée, or a wife? What if he means something else entirely? “Pardon me?” My words get caught in my throat and come out a little gravelly and breathless.

“The interview?” A slow smile spreads across his face.

“Right. I’m here to interview you.” Oh, smooth, Julia. Very smooth.

A knock at the door interrupts us and Ryder calls, “Come in.”

Kyle comes in the front door and stamps his shoes off on the matt. “Bad news. I only packed one of the camera batteries. It may not have enough juice to do the interview.”

I shrug. “Well, that’s okay. Ryder, is there a plug-in in the barn?”

“Yup,” he says. “No problem.”

Kyle shakes his head. “Forgot the cord, too.”

Now, I’m mad. I take a deep breath and exhale before I start yelling at him in front of Ryder. “So, now what?”

“We’ll have to try the interview, but if it dies, I’ll have to head into town and get a cord,” Kyle says.

I sigh, then say, “Well, let’s give it a try.”

I walk to the door, with Ryder behind me. I’m in my tall, black leather boots now, which won’t keep my toes warm at all on the walk to the barn, but they’re really all I’ve got for this outfit. I tug my black wool coat on and pick up my bag which has my pad of paper and pens.

“Damn, that snow is going to wreck my hair,” I mutter when the door swings open. Normally, I don’t care about my hairdo, but with the interview, I have to think about it.

“Here.” Ryder’s voice comes from right over my shoulder. I turn and see him holding up a black cowboy hat. “This’ll keep the snow off.”

I can hardly look at him in the eye. He’s just so incredibly good-looking. I nod and thank him, then he gently places it on my head. 

He grins down at me. “You should keep it. There might be a cowgirl in you after all.”