Her Cowboy's Caress (Taken by Cowboys: Part 1) A Billionaire Western Romance Read Free Page B

the only thing that kept
their business on track.
    “Do you ever miss the old days, Nate?”
Spencer said suddenly.
    Nate looked at him in surprise. He hardly
ever heard Spencer mention their shared past. “I can’t say that I
do. It feels like another life, you know? Like I was someone else
back then.”
    Spencer nodded. “I know what you mean.
Sometimes when we get these guests from New York, I start thinking
about it again. Then I’m amazed all over again that I’m here now.”
He gestured out the window, to the stunning view of the sun
cresting over the Big Horn mountains and bathing the wide-open
valley in fresh morning light.
    “I get that feeling, too, sometimes,” Nate
said, rising to pour both Spencer and himself another cup of
coffee. “Most of the city people that come here just seem so
desperate to get out of there, you know? It makes me want to ask
them, why do you live there if you feel so miserable?” He shrugged,
and then laughed. “Then again, neither of us is really one to
talk.”
    “True,” Spencer admitted.
    “Speaking of city slickers,” Nate said, “do
we have any new arrivals coming in today?”
    Spencer flicked to another page on the list.
“One,” he said. “From New York, in fact. Jessica Jones. Goes by
Jess.”
    “She’s alone?” Nate asked.
    Spencer glanced at the paper again. “Looks
like it.”
    “Let me guess,” Nate said. “Another
stick-skinny city girl who’s more concerned with keeping her
manicure intact than taking advantage of the great outdoors.”
    Spencer frowned. There was something
familiar about the name. “I’m not sure,” he said slowly. He had a
vague memory of having spoken to this Jess. He spoke to so many
people on the phone that it was hard to keep track, but something
about this particular conversation stuck in his mind—a feeling more
than anything else. “I think this one might be different.”
***
    Two flights and a long car ride later, Jess
had finally arrived at Big Horn. She had dropped off almost
immediately after the plane took off and slept for most of the
duration of the trip. She’d been even more exhausted than she’d
thought, working long hours over so many months with hardly a break
and then rushing to make arrangements for her extended stay out of
the city.
    As the car drove under the wooden archway
that spelled out “Getaway Guest Ranch,” her fatigue was replaced by
a sudden surge of excitement. She was really there.
    “Here we are, miss,” the driver said as they
pulled up to a large wooden lodge. “This is the main building where
you’ll be checking in.”
    “Thank you so much,” she said, handing him a
folded wad of bills.
    He looked embarrassed. “Oh, no, miss. The
ride’s already been paid for by the ranch. It’s part of the
package.”
    “Oh, I see,” Jess said. She unpeeled a
couple of bills from the bunch. “Well, at least take this,
then.”
    The man looked like he didn’t know what to
do. Jess felt nervous. Maybe this wasn’t customary practice out
here like it was in the city?
    “Oh, come on. Just take it,” she said,
thrusting the cash into the man’s hand. She opened the car door and
jumped out, the sunlight enveloping her like a blessing. She closed
her eyes and turned her face to it. Maybe it was all the vitamin D
she’d been missing during her long days in the office, but it felt
like her skin was drinking it in.
    The driver came around with her suitcase
from the drunk. “Have a pleasant stay, miss,” he said, tipping his
hat rather formally.
    “I’m sure I will,” Jess said out loud as she
watched the car drive away.
    She stood for a minute and made a slow
380-degree circle, taking in her surroundings. Happiness welled up
in her as she did. Instead of the grey high-rises of the Manhattan
skyline, there were snow-capped mountain peaks. Instead of miles of
pavement on tightly gridded streets and avenues, there were
wide-open spaces and meandering paths. In place of the polluted
East