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I stared out at the horizon, letting her words settle. As much as I hated to admit it, she wasn’t entirely wrong. But having fun wasn’t exactly something I was good at, and Colton Stone? He was as dangerous as they come. But if a game was what he liked, a game he was going to get.

WITHOUT BOTHERING TO knock, I turned the handle and barged into Colton’s office. Tawnie had kindly emailed me detailed directions on navigating the ranch’s key locations and places I’d be spending most of my time. It included a map that was highlighted and annotated, points to her for organization and ease.

Colton sat behind a king-sized desk that suited his commanding presence perfectly. Dark colors made the space feel intense, heavy. But the potted plant in the corner did bring up some questions. I didn’t peg him as the kind of guy that would invest in taking care of something so unnecessary.

Behind him was a bay of open windows, casing the beauty of Stone Ranch in the distance.

He was a picture of rugged masculinity, wearing a cowboy hat tilted just enough to shadow his sharp features. His striped, pearl-snap shirt stretched over broad shoulders, and I’d bet anything it was tucked into another pair of those irresistible jeans that pulled me in a few nights ago.

“Do they not teach manners in the city?” he asked without looking up, his voice dry.

My heels clicked against the polished wooden floor as I approached his desk. I stopped directly in front of him, arms crossed and waiting to be acknowledged. Eye contact was a necessity when getting shit done.

With an exaggerated sigh, Colton finally looked up, his blue eyes piercing as he met my gaze. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Eleanor?”

I glanced pointedly at my watch before fixing him with a stern look. “I told you, eight a.m. sharp. It’s time to discuss how we’re going to protect your precious brand.”

Without waiting for an invitation, I sank into the chair across from him, crossing my legs with purpose. I caught the flicker of his gaze as it swept over me, lingering for a split second on my red heels. He thought he was subtle. He wasn’t.

Colton leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight. He interlocked his fingers and rested them on his chest. “Well then, Sunshine. Let’s get down to business.”

That nickname grated my nerves. The way he said it was so smug, dripping with his condescending tone. It shouldn’t have turned me on as much as it did, that’s for sure.

What was it about a man who was so standoffish and aloof that he sent my libido to sky-high levels?

Shaking my head, I pushed on.

“As you know, there was a last-minute switch-up, and I came instead.” I leaned back in the chair, my posture perfectly composed. “With that being said, I’ll need you to fill me in on what’s happening at the ranch.”

Colton sighed, running a hand through his hair before pressing his elbows against the desk, settling in. “I had an employee cross boundaries with a guest. He’s since been fired, and we’ve been in contact with the guest.”

“Who is aware of what happened?” I asked, watching him closely.

“As far as I know? The woman, Marcus, me, my lawyer, a few people internally and well, now…you.” He gestured toward me, his expression unreadable.

Mentally, I took note, running through every possible outcome, every angle this could spin in.

“No media involvement?” My head cocked to the side, and Colton shook his.

“Not at this time. So far, it has stayed relatively contained, which is surprising considering the bride the guest was here with has a pretty huge platform.”

Biting my bottom lip, I tapped my fingers on my knee. It was surprising. Maybe the woman didn’t want her business aired out. Maybe she was looking to handle things quietly.

“Do other employees know?”

“I’m not sure to what extent,” he said. “People talk, so I can assume some know. But so far, there has been no backlash—no real issues that have stemmed from the incident.”

My mind spun with strategies, already forming a plan. With no media involvement—yet—we had an opportunity to get ahead of the narrative. The best defense was a strong offense, and Stone Ranch? It had none.

I hadn’t seen a single thing about them online in weeks. If there was any talk, it wasn’t reaching far. That was both a blessing and a glaring issue. Because if Stone Ranch only made headlines when there was a scandal? That was a problem.

“Stay with me here,” I said, holding up a hand. “Your social media presence is garbage,” I said bluntly. “No, scratch that—it’s abysmal. If Stone Ranch is going to survive in this digital age, and any future disasters, we need a social media manager.”

Giving them an image that is well curated prior to any huge disasters gives the people a foundation to forgive if everything is handled the way it should.

One of his eyebrows arched. “We?” he echoed, tone skeptical.

“Yes, we,” I shot back, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “Once I’m done here, you’ll need someone to maintain the momentum, and I already have the perfect person in mind to fill these heels. Right now, Stone Ranch comes across as out of reach and unreachable. If you want to connect with the public, you need to get with the program.”