Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“I can’t do this afternoon, but we could do tomorrow afternoon,” I tell him and hold my breath. What if he says no and I blew my one shot at getting some interest from a local newspaper?
“That works better for me,” Reed says.
We settle on a time to meet tomorrow, and I jump out of bed to grab my laptop. There’s no way I want more horny women betting on Bronco. I check my credit card balance, place the winning bid on the handsomest cowboy in town, and close his auction.
I put a notice on the website, explaining that more auctions will be happening in just a few hours. Now, all that’s left is to get some more hot cowboys on the website. And it all starts with convincing Bronco that this is a solid idea and that his best friend’s little sister is not in fact a lunatic. Easy peasy.
I swear I’m having one of those days when the universe is on my side. I was able to get one of our volunteers to come in on her day off and answer phones in the reception area. Then I managed to leave the retirement community without attracting Aunt Elaine’s attention.
Now, this. I got on the farm without Bronco knowing. It really is my lucky day. I’m more convinced of that than ever as I approach two guys bent over a tractor. They lift their heads as I approach, staring me down.
I must be quite the sight in my vintage dress and kitten heels. After all, Valor Ranch isn’t the kind of place that gets a lot of visitors, let alone women. Well, that will change soon if I have anything to say about it.
“What can we do for you, darlin’?” The one guy in a blue flannel shirt asks, looking me up and down like he’s trying to decide if he wants to ask me out. His friend barely spares me a glance before he’s back to focusing on the tractor.
“You could take off your shirts.”
That gets the attention of his friend who snaps his head up.
“Bronco didn’t mention the fundraiser?” I ask, feigning my best hurt voice. Look, I’m not proud of it. But sometimes, a girl has to use every tool in her arsenal, and the men of Courage County do not stand by and watch a woman getting upset without trying to fix it. It’s just not the way they’re wired.
“Who are you again?” Suspicious friend asks. His big, thick beard moves as he talks. The girls are going to go crazy over him. Absolutely nuts.
“I’m Bronco’s friend, from the retirement community,” I mention.
Blue Flannel flashes me the biggest grin, and I get the distinct feeling he knows something that I don’t. “Of course, course. Just forgot about the meeting. I’m Flint, and this here is Cord, and we’re available for anything you want.”
“Well,” I fiddle with the camera attached to the lanyard. “I was thinking a cowboy calendar kind of theme. You know, taking a few photos of shirtless guys against the barn. It shouldn’t take us too long.”
“No, thanks,” Cord says.
Flint’s grin grows bigger. “This is Lauren.”
Cord sends Flint a look that seems to indicate they’ve come to an agreement.
“Could we do it soon?” I press. The less Bronco knows about this, the better my odds of success are.
Cord is the one grinning now. He grabs a greasy rag and wipes his hands on it. “Like the man said, for you, anything.”
So, this is weird. But I’m not going to question good fortune. Not today.
I beam at the pair. “Perfect. The sunlight outside of the barn right now is perfect, if you can pause for a few minutes on this project. Maybe grab some props. Rope would be good. Oh, and bring your Stetsons. I’ll meet you there in five minutes.”
Forty minutes later, I’m surrounded by almost a dozen hot cowboys. I think it’s fair to say that I’m living my best life.
Flint flexes his muscles and says something about his massive guns.
I smile as I click the button on the camera again. Every photo is another few thousand dollars between Aunt Elaine and a bankruptcy filing that would put a hundred retired seniors out of their homes.
There are eleven other cowboys out here, but not a single one of them is the one I really want to see shirtless. Bronco is supposed to be down at the farmer’s market this morning.
I click another photo of Flint. I’ll get these photos edited and upload the other cowboys this afternoon, so plenty of lonely women can try their luck with the other guys. But Bronco? He’s all mine. I don’t plan on putting him back on the auction block again.
“I think I need some more shortening over here,” Flint says.
To get that freshly glistening look for the guys, I had to raid Bronco’s pantry. He’s now down an entire tub of Crisco. Maybe another one with the way Flint is going. This man loves to ham it up for the camera.