Wanted By The Billionaire Cowboy - A Second Chance Romance (Billionaire Cowboys Book 6)

  Wanted by the Billionaire Cowboy

  Wanted by the Billionaire Cowboy

  Holly Rayner

  Contents

  1. Delaney

  2. Sean

  3. Delaney

  4. Sean

  5. Delaney

  6. Delaney

  7. Sean

  8. Delaney

  9. Sean

  10. Delaney

  11. Delaney

  12. Sean

  13. Delaney

  14. Delaney

  15. Sean

  16. Sean

  17. Delaney

  18. Sean

  19. Delaney

  20. Delaney

  Epilogue

  Copyright 2020 by Holly Rayner

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the explicit written permission of the author.

  All characters depicted in this fictional work are consenting adults, of at least eighteen years of age. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased, particular businesses, events, or exact locations are entirely coincidental.

  Chapter 1

  Delaney

  “It’s been an exercise in futility so far,” Delaney said into the phone as she steered her pickup onto Willowbrook Road.

  She let her foot off the gas and reached for the sheet of directions to Rancho Caballos Blancos that she’d printed out before leaving home. Her destination: 18 Willowbrook Road.

  Yep, I’m on the right track, she thought to herself as she accelerated again. A little cloud of dust rose up behind her truck. The dirt road was dry; it’d been weeks since a good rainstorm had rolled through east Texas.

  “I’m hoping this place is the one,” she said. “I’ve sunk enough time into finding a venue. If I have to arrange one more meeting like this, I’m seriously going to lose it.”

  Her friend Jessie laughed. “Oh, come on, Miss Valedictorian. Where’s your Pepper Ridge High School spirit?”

  “I think I left it on the football field the day I graduated,” Delaney said dryly, as her pickup rolled over a particularly deep rut in the road and the bun of her hair nearly hit the ceiling. “Fifteen years ago.”

  Jessie laughed. “Who are we kidding? You were never Miss School Spirit. You always had one foot out of the door at that place… dreaming about bigger things.”

  The road took a sharp turn. Delaney steered around it, and a large arching sign made of wood and iron appeared. The words Ranchos Caballos Blancos were stenciled along the top of it.

  “I left the spirit stuff to the cheer squad captain,” Delaney said.

  She slowed and took a right. A shadow passed over the truck as she passed through the arching gateway to the ranch she’d never seen before. This better be good, she thought as she looked at the long, winding, dusty driveway ahead. Still there was no ranch in sight, and she’d already traveled over an hour to get there.

  “Speaking of favorite cheerleaders, I saw Katie Hollins at Kirk’s birthday party last Saturday. Weren’t you on the squad with her?” Jessie asked.

  “Yeah, but she graduated a few years before me. I think she was in your grade. Hey, how did the party go?”

  “Pretty good, actually,” Jessie said. “I thought you were going to come? Kirk wasn’t wild about the surprise bit, but I could tell he was happy with the turnout.”

  Delaney grimaced as a wisp of guilt tickled her conscience. She’d told Jessie weeks ago that she’d make it to the surprise party that Jessie had planned for her husband, Kirk. Delaney even remembered checking the “Yes, I’ll be there!” option on the online party invite. Yet again, she’d had to bail at the last minute.

  “I’m really sorry,” Delaney said.

  “There were some cute single guys there,” Jessie said. “Even one of Kirk’s friends that I invited with you in mind.”

  Delaney sighed. Her friends were always trying to set her up with some guy or other.

  “I had this big job come up at a ranch out past Parshall,” she explained. “A whole herd of cattle needed vaccines and checkups, and it ended up taking longer than I thought. I really wanted to be there. I just—”

  “I know, I know, you’ve got business to do,” Jessie said. “You don’t have to give me the whole song and dance. I’ve heard it before—work, work, work. Girl, it’s all you do! How are you going to meet a nice guy if all you do is poke big sad-eyed cows with needles all day?”

  Delaney couldn’t help but laugh at this description of her work as a large animal veterinarian.

  “That is hardly all I do, Jessie,” she said, just as a ranch in the distance came into view. “I poke horses with needles, too.”

  The property had a clean and cared-for appearance, and she could see that the barn was big enough for the purposes of the reunion. The house beyond the barn was a large affair built to look like a log cabin—except it was anything but a cabin. It was massive, with beautiful stonework and expanses of window that reflected the azure blue afternoon sky.

  Delaney tried to imagine what her former classmates would think, pulling up to this property on the night of the reunion. She could imagine lights strung up around the barn, balloons, a banner… Yep, it would work.

  She slowed down and looked closer at the barn. A man was standing near the entrance, leaning against the wall to one side of the door. He had one leg bent at the knee, balanced against the wall behind him. His cowboy hat was tilted down low over his brow, but she could just make out the fact that he was watching her as she drove up.

  Jessie was chattering about the party. “…a little too much, if you ask me. But that’s how she is, and she’s Kirk’s boss after all, so—”

  “Hey, Jess?” Delaney said. “Sorry, I gotta go.”

  She glanced at the clock on her truck dashboard. It was 4:10. She was supposed to meet the ranch owner, a man by the name of Sean, at 4:00.

  “I’m late and this guy’s waiting for me,” Delaney explained.

  “Okay, go,” Jessie said. “I hope this is the one! Good luck. I’ll see you soon at the River Valley Horse Show. Cadence can’t wait to give you a kiss.”

  Delaney grinned, thinking of Cadence, Jessie’s prize-winning American Quarter Horse, for whom Delaney had been providing vet services ever since Jessie had bought her eight years ago.

  “I’ll bring her an apple,” she said happily, before getting off the call.

  She stuffed her phone into her oversized purse, along with the folded sheet of information about the ranch, and then stepped out of the truck. The early spring air had a gentle coolness to it, and it was instantly refreshing after her long drive.

  Gravel crunched under the man’s cowboy boots as he crossed the driveway, making his way toward her. He was tall, and younger than she’d expected.

  Many times, ranchers at these successful places—and this place was certainly successful, given the sprawling “log cabin” mansion that graced the property, plus the abundance of acreage—were up in their sixties and seventies. But this man looked to be in his early thirties. Like me, Delaney thought.

  He had a lean yet muscular build, likely due to hours of manual labor in the fields. Delaney had never once met a soft rancher. They were made up of hard, lean muscle because of the active lifestyle that running a ranch demanded.

  This man was no exception.

/>   He wore camel-tan work pants, a thick brown leather belt with a large silver belt buckle, and a white tee with a faded denim shirt over it. His hat, also tan, sat low over his sandy blond hair. She could see blue eyes that matched the denim of his shirt barely visible just under the hat’s brim.

  His jawline was square and defined, his cheekbones high, his nose perfectly formed. His eyes were denim-blue, but not clear—they held some depth, and his lips just barely curved up at the sides like he was amused for some mysterious reason. He was all-American handsome with just a dash of intrigue tossed in, and Delaney felt her knees weaken as he approached.

  She wasn’t prepared for this. A fluttery sensation of attraction coursed through her, throwing her off her game. Usually, she was so composed. Years of working as a vet had taught her how to hold herself with just the right balance of kind assertiveness to get business taken care of. But as the man extended his hand to her, it took a moment for her to react.

  “Sean Macintyre,” he said in a deep, smooth voice. He waited, hand out, for her to react.

  For just a split second, she couldn’t remember her own name. She reached for his hand and shook it while trying to gather herself.

  Finally, she did.

  “Delaney,” she said. “Delaney Summers. I’m, ah… here to look at the barn. For the reunion. I called last week? Pepper Ridge High School.” She was rambling, and she knew it. His hand felt delightfully warm and strong.

  “I know,” he said, his deep voice tinged with amusement.

  They released hands, and he looked down at her. He stood almost a full foot taller than her. He examined her for a minute, as if thinking about something.

  Delaney self-consciously tucked a strand of her dark bangs behind one ear. She hitched her bag up on her shoulder and wondered how she looked.

  She’d jumped into her truck after her last check-up of the day—a sheep with a twisted ankle—and she knew she had some mud on her jeans, and that her black T-shirt wasn’t the most flattering top that she owned. As a vet, she tended to dress without much care, but suddenly, she wished that she’d spent a little more time on her outfit that morning.

  “Come on,” Sean said after a moment, interrupting Delaney’s thoughts. “I’ll show you the barn.” He turned and beckoned for her to follow.

  Delaney’s boots crunched right along with his as they crossed the driveway in silence. Delaney was too flustered to enjoy the silence.

  “So, you own this place?” she asked.

  “No,” he said in a flat tone.

  His response surprised her and disappointed her at the same time. She felt so attracted to the idea that this guy owned the beautiful, cared-for property. Maybe he’s a ranch hand? she thought.

  He continued. “I just happened to be driving by, and thought I’d stop in and wait to see if any pretty ladies wandered up.”

  He’s messing with me, she realized. She smiled.

  He turned, and his lip curled up on one side, emphasizing the look of amusement that she’d picked up on earlier.

  “Turns out, I was in luck,” he said.

  She laughed. “Well, I sure am glad you happened to be here,” she said.

  He laughed too, and stepped through the open barn doors. She followed him in, out of the bright afternoon sunshine.

  The barn was gorgeous: wide open, with a brown-dyed cement floor which would be great for dancing. The walls were made of cedar boards, and the warm-toned wood also covered the ceiling. The high ceiling featured thick beams that would look great strung with lights. A few benches lined the walls, beneath windows that were trimmed with chocolate-colored wood. The air smelled like a mixture of hay and freshly cut cedar.

  Delaney inhaled as she turned in a slow circle. She finished facing Sean and saw that he was standing next to a small table. The table was set up with a coffee pot as well as a few binders and pamphlets. She’d read online that the barn was a popular one for weddings and reunions. Apparently, he had the whole venue-renting thing down.

  He had a ceramic mug of coffee in his hand. He stepped forward and handed it over to her.

  “Coffee?” he asked.

  She nodded and stepped forward to accept it.

  Once it was in her hands, he grabbed a cup for himself, and then said, “Follow me. I’ll give you the tour.”

  Delaney sipped the rich, earthy roast as she fell into step behind him. The coffee was delicious, and her view was even better. Now, this isn’t so bad, she thought to herself. If all visits to venues had been this good, I’d have never complained to Jessie!

  She couldn’t wait to call her friend and tell her how the visit went. Hot coffee, hot guy—what’s not to like? she thought to herself with a grin as she took another sip.

  He spoke as he walked. “…licensed to hold two hundred, though every now and then, we get a party with 201 or 202 people. I just make sure one or two of ’em stay outside with the horses.”

  Delaney could tell he was joking.

  “Hey, horses are good company,” she joked in return.

  “Can’t argue there,” he said. He stopped and turned. “I have folding chairs, about a dozen tables. Usually, folks set up a bar somewhere around here.” He motioned to an empty area. “That valve there is a water hookup, and there’s an outlet too, which is handy if you want lights on the bar or anything fancy like that.”

  “I think my former classmates would probably be able to find the beer even if it was hidden in the darkest corner, behind some hay bales.”

  He chuckled.

  “How about bathrooms?” she said.

  “Two, right over there.” He pointed.

  “You’ve done this before, haven’t you?” she asked.

  The other possible venues she’d visited had been much more rustic. The barns had clearly still been used for livestock, but cleared out just for events by ranchers eager to earn some extra cash by filling them with people instead. She’d even had to walk over a pile of horse manure in one, while an embarrassed woman had promised that the space would be given a good “shovel out” before the event was to take place.

  “Oh, yeah,” Sean said. “I’m usually booked up spring, summer, and fall. Mostly weddings.”

  “But you’re open the first weekend in April?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I had a couple cancel just two days back.” He motioned to a set of large barn doors along the back wall. “There’s a pasture just back there where I usually instruct guests to park. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you.”

  She stood rooted to her spot. “You know what?” she said while gazing around the gorgeous space again. “I don’t even need to see it. I’m sure—this is the perfect venue. I’m not going to find a better place, even if I wear myself thin looking. I’ll take it.”

  “That was fast,” Sean said. “We’re just getting started on the tour.”

  She laughed. “When a woman knows, she knows,” she said.

  She couldn’t help but take a long look at Sean’s handsome features as she said this. Her eyes lingered on his, and she saw something there that she almost recognized. The feeling was brief but powerful. What was that? she wondered. She didn’t want to appear too forward by looking at him so directly for more than a second, so she pulled her gaze away.

  “How much?” she asked.

  “Three thousand for the night,” Sean said.

  “Whew!” she said. “You’re not afraid to ask top dollar, huh?”

  “It’s a nice space,” Sean said. “No horse patties to step over, either.”

  Delaney laughed with surprise. “Have you been reading my mind?”

  He grinned. “Nope. I can do a lot of things, Delaney, but I’m not psychic.”

  His deep voice reverberated through her. She couldn’t help but imagine the many things he was capable of.

  He continued, “I’m just guessing you paid a visit to the Lazy J Ranch out on Montezuma Road. Most folks visit that one when they’re doing the venue-peeping circuit. It’s one of the
cheapest barn rentals around, so folks usually go there first.”

  She nodded. “You got me,” she said. “Guilty as charged. And I do appreciate the lack of horse patties around this place.”

  She sipped her coffee. As she did, she let her eyes drift down to Sean’s left hand. There’s no way this guy’s single, she thought to herself.

  A happy fluttering sensation caressed her heart as she noted that his finger wasn’t adorned with a wedding band.

  Three thousand was just over her budget.

  She fluttered her eyelashes in Sean’s direction.

  “Too bad!” she said playfully. “I’ve been given strict orders by the class treasurer to only spend $2,500.”

  Doesn’t hurt to turn up the charm just a little, she thought to herself, as she gave him a pout. It’d been a long time since she’d flirted with a guy, and she felt the thrill of it course through her body. She couldn’t help but wonder if Sean felt attracted to her, too. His joking, flirtatious manner so far made her think that he was.

  “Deal,” he said, without hesitation.

  He smiled at her in a knowing way, and she had the distinct feeling that he enjoyed her presence as much as she enjoyed his.

  After signing some paperwork and handing over a deposit check, Delaney backed up out of the lot. She waved goodbye to Sean, who was again standing at the barn’s front entrance. Her stomach was still stirring with butterflies, and she felt alive and invigorated. She was sure it was her time with Sean that had made her feel so excited, and not simply the caffeine she’d just consumed.

  I’ll see him again in a month, she thought happily. And next time, I’m going to be sure I’m not wearing an old tee and muddied jeans.