The house was quiet, but there was a noise coming from the back. Logan told me not to take any shit and I wasn’t planning on it. Blake was going to talk to me, even if I had to force it out of him. Finding my way through the huge house, I stormed outside. With his back to me and a hammer in his hands, Blake crouched low to the ground, pounding nails into a wooden fence. His muscles flexed with each strike, but I was too pissed off to even notice how sexy his body was. Who am I kidding? I noticed the first time I saw him.

“Dammit,” I hissed low. I couldn’t be thinking about him like that. He was an ass, end of story.

Getting to his feet, he glanced at me, then focused back on the task at hand. “Something I can help you with?” he muttered.

“I thought maybe, since we’re going to be stuck with each other for a while, we could talk. Our stories need to be consistent if we go out in public. I don’t know what all you know.” I said it nice and sweet, even though I wanted to take his hammer and slam it against his head.

He turned to me. “That’s the thing, Hollywood. I don’t know our story because I didn’t want to take this fucking job. Just know this, I’m not going to kiss your ass because you’re famous.”

Sucking in a breath, I could feel the blood rushing to my face.

“You see me as a dirty, worthless cowboy who doesn’t know anything other than shoveling shit and playing in the dirt.” He stepped closer and I stumbled back, the look in his eyes making me tremble. “I’m a trained killer, princess. The government calls me in to solve cases they can’t. But yet, here I am . . . babysitting you. It’s a fucking joke.”

My heart raced, anger boiling in my veins. “So keeping me safe is a joke? I’m here because Robert says you’re the best.” I laughed with no humor behind it. “I find myself wanting to explain who I am, but then I remember I don’t give a shit what you think of me. I didn’t want to leave my family and friends behind, believe me. If you want me gone, I’ll be glad to go. I refuse to be treated like shit when none of this was my fault.”

He studied me for a minute. A small smile appeared, making me shiver. “Actually, I don’t think I want you to go,” he said.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh yeah? Why is that?”

His grin grew wider. “I’m starting to think you might be good to have around. How about we trade services? I keep you safe, in return for a favor.”

“I’m not sleeping with you.”

He shook his head. “And there you go, assuming shit. I don’t need you to get a piece of ass, sweetheart. I can get that anywhere.”

“You probably do, too.” I grimaced. “Look, I don’t exactly need you either.”

“Great. Now that we have that settled, let’s get down to business. If you want me to keep you safe, you have to work for it. Chores around the ranch will do fine. However,” he started, glancing down at my manicured hands, “I don’t think those will stay pretty very long.”

I clenched my fists, hiding my long, pink nails. “Why don’t you just worry about keeping me safe and I’ll do what I have to do.”

With a devilish smirk, he looked into my eyes. I stared right back and didn’t waver. “You think you can handle the job?” he asked, his voice seductive and deep.

I stood up straighter. “I know I can. Just tell me what to do.” I wasn’t going to let him mock me.

“All right. Be up and ready to go at dawn. Let’s see what you’re made of.”

Blake

“Good morning, Mr. Evans,” Jerrod said, handing me a thermos.

I opened it up and took a deep breath. “Is this the coffee you were telling me about?”

He smiled wide. “Yep. My mom said you wanted to try it. My grandmother in Hawaii sends it to us. Supposedly, it’s the best.”

I took a sip. “I believe you’re right. Will you tell your mother thank you?”

He nodded. “Of course. She had to go in early to the hotel, but I’ll tell her this afternoon.”

Jerrod Kalani was fifteen years old and a hard worker. His mother had wanted me to hire him to keep him out of trouble. When he’d found out I was a cop, he got his act together quickly. It was fun telling him stories of my adventures undercover. I couldn’t wait to get back in that line of work again. Keeping the ranch up had taken me away from it all.

Jerrod started toward Snowflake’s stall. “Wait,” I called.

He turned around, furrowing his brows. “Is there something else you need me to do first? I have to make sure I get to school early so I can finish studying for my Algebra test.” Every morning, he’d come and help me in the barn, before getting ready for school. I never asked him to do it, but it was something he enjoyed. Plus, he got paid nicely for it.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Why don’t you go and study, instead of worrying about this today. I got it covered.”

“Are you sure?”

“Go.” I chuckled, waving him off. “And good luck on your test. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Thanks.” He rushed to his bike and sped down the driveway. As soon as he was gone, the light in Hadley’s room turned on. I could see her silhouette through the sheer, white curtains.

I had to hand it to her, she knew how to fight back. For dinner last night, I’d placed a can of beans on the kitchen counter with a note that read, Enjoy. It was meant as a joke, but she’d opened them up and ate straight out of the can. I was impressed. For the rest of the night, I didn’t hear any more from her, other than the sound of her crying softly in her room. It made me feel like shit for being a dick to her.

It wasn’t long before the back door slammed against the side of the house. Judging by the sun peeking behind the mountains, she was right on time.

“I’m here,” she called out.

Over my shoulder, I watched her approach. She had on a pair of ripped jeans and a snug green T-shirt that hugged her body perfectly. Fuck, she’s hot. It didn’t help that I could see her nipples through her shirt. My cock twitched, but thankfully, I had my back to her. Snowflake whinnied and stomped her hoof. I guided her out of the stall and Hadley’s eyes brightened.

“She’s beautiful,” she gushed. Reaching her hand out, she ran it down Snowflake’s face.

“Being a city girl and all, I didn’t think you’d like animals.”

Her gaze darkened. “You’re going to start this again?”

“What? All I said was, I didn’t think you’d like animals.”

She rolled her eyes. “And I guess I can’t sing country music because I’m from the city too, right? You can’t always judge a person by where they’re from. Obviously, you were raised in a barn, but I’m not holding that against you. Now where do you want me?”

She was a spitfire; I liked it. It took all I had not to laugh, especially when I pointed at the rake. “Snowflake’s stall needs to be cleaned out. You can take her shit and put it in the dump truck over there,” I said, pointing to the old truck. The look on her face absolutely priceless.

“So it’s literally a dump truck?”

“Yep. And once that’s done, I’ll need you to clean out the rest of the stalls. Think you can handle it?”

Sucking in a breath, she blew it out and headed straight for the rake without acknowledging my question. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched her slip into the stall and get to work. I would’ve given anything to take a picture. She looked like she’d blow chunks at any moment.

While she finished up the stall, I went about my morning workout with Snowflake and moved on to Nightshade, my black stallion. My grandfather had bought him for me a couple of years before he died, hoping we’d be a good match for each other. He was strong and fast, perfect for rounding up cattle.

After I finished my chores for the day, I sat on a hay bale and watched Hadley finish up in the barn. My hat sat low over my eyes, as if I was snoozing. She glared and flipped me off a few times, but I kept a straight face. When she was done, she stormed over to me and hit my boots with the rake.