Falling For The Rebel Cowboy

John Allen’s face crumpled, and she regretted snapping at him. Her anger drained away, leaving just embarrassment that her muddy humiliation had been witnessed by this ranch hand.

“How about we get you hosed off, Frankie?” Wyatt’s voice rumbled deep as a canyon.

“My name is Francine, not Frankie,” she said, with some uncontained haughtiness for good measure.

The man pushed the brim of his black cowboy hat up off his forehead, looked down at her son. “Well, seeing how she’s covered head to toe in mud, I think she looks more like a Frankie right now. Whaddaya think, kid?”

John Allen looked up at her and laughed. “Yeah, mister!”

“Name’s Wyatt. What’s yours?” he asked, squatting down in front of her son, his jeans pulling tight on his muscled thighs.

“John Allen Wentworth,” her son said, holding his hand out.

Wyatt grinned, and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Johnny.”

What was it with this guy and nicknames?

John Allen grinned, seemingly delighted he had a nickname of his own.

* * *

WYATT UNWOUND THE hose and turned it on, letting the water flow. “Ready?”

The woman grimaced but stepped toward him without a word. He let the water run over her legs, but some of the mud had already dried and wasn’t washing off. Squatting down, he ran his hand over one leg, then the next, rubbing it off. He took his time, making sure to clean off every streak of dirt.

Was it for her sake?

Or his?

“I th-think you’ve got it all now,” she said.

Too bad. He wouldn’t mind washing a few other parts of her body. He stood up and glanced at her cherry-red cheeks. “Cold?”

“A little,” she said, not looking at him, and rinsed her muddy hands off under the hose.

“Francine, what is going on out here?” a man shouted behind him.

Wyatt turned to see a man in a perfectly pressed gray suit storming down the path from the lodge.

“Dammit,” she whispered next to Wyatt.

Instinct had him stepping in between her and the big, angry man.

“Dad, I can explain,” she said, stepping around Wyatt.

“Are you all right? Why are you all muddy?” Frankie’s father whirled to face Wyatt. “What did you do to her?”

“It’s nothing—” Frankie started to say.

“What’s your name? I’m going to report you to the owner.” Mr. Suit pulled a phone out of his pocket.

“Dad, I just tripped in the mud, and this nice man—”

“Wyatt Sullivan,” he said, holding a hand out to her father, knowing damn good and well he wouldn’t take it. “Part owner of Sullivan Guest Ranch.”

Father and daughter glanced at him. “You are?” they asked at the same time.

He tipped his cowboy hat at her. “Yep.”

“Anyway, Mr. Sullivan was helping me so I wouldn’t track mud all over the lodge.”

“Thank you for helping my daughter.” The older man looked calmer but still had a suspicious look on his face. “You don’t look like a luxury-ranch owner. Besides, I met the owner, Angus,” her father said.

“That’s my dad.” This man didn’t need to know Wyatt’s share wasn’t final yet. He would get it when he could prove to his dad he was home to stay.

Wentworth ignored him. “Francine, why don’t you get cleaned up. We need you back in the meeting.”

He looked down at his grandson. “And make sure John Allen doesn’t get dirty, too.” He dialed a number on his cell phone and went back the way he’d come.

“I’m really sorry, Mr. Sullivan,” she said.

“Wyatt,” he said, trying to keep his cool as long-forgotten rage bubbled up from his past.

“Wyatt, I apologize for my father. He can be a bit...” She bit her lip.

“Bossy?”

“He is my boss.”

“Sorry,” he said. “So, here for work, not vacation?”

“Well, it’s a working retreat for us. Since we’ll be here a couple of weeks, we decided to let everyone bring their families. We try to keep everyone happy.”

“Where are y’all from?”

“New York City.”

He blinked. “Long way to come for meetings.”

“We have our reasons. Besides...” She gestured at the scenery. “It’s nice to see mountains instead of skyscrapers for a change.” She lifted her wrist and checked her watch. At least that wasn’t ruined. “I need to get cleaned up and back to the conference room. Thanks for your help.”

“You need any help getting back?”

“I think we’re fine. Thank you.” She took hold of her son’s hand. “Come on, sweetie.”

“See ya round, Johnny.”

The kid beamed, his grin a mile wide. “See ya!”