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Colton Stone had once again stepped in and given someone a second chance. How many more stories like this were hidden in the folds of Stone Ranch?
This is why everyone kept quiet. Their admiration for the grumpy man was what kept everything together.
A pit settled in my stomach, a new ache born from the realization that there was so much more to Colton than I’d assumed. Behind the broody exterior was a man whose actions spoke louder than his words, a man who had a habit of helping those in need.
Peeling back the layers of Colton Stone was going to be a wild ride—and I wasn’t sure where it would leave me when it was all said and done.
THE NEXT INTERVIEWS followed the same story, maybe not as dramatic or life changing as Stet’s, but they all followed similar patterns. Each person was down on their luck or looking for a fresh start and in came Mr. Stone to save the day. Of course he did!
Despite how aggravating the man was, it was clear the people who worked for his corporation were happy with him and their jobs. Most of them said they saw a long-term goal of staying with Stone Ranch in some capacity.
I wanted to despise him, wanted to be angry and aggravated with the way he behaved, but what he lacked in outward warmth he made up for in action to the people who needed it most.
With that in mind, I followed Tawnie’s recommendations and posted that video from the event on social media. I included some music and an aesthetic collage of the night, introducing Colton Stone, the caring and not-so-ruthless-after-all CEO.
One post at a time, I’d build the brand and bring the image Colton created for Stone Ranch to the world to let them know just how many amazing stories were circling and how many people found a safe place under the roof of this ranch.
Chapter 10
Colton
I MADE SURE to lock the door today. After Eleanor barged in, I wasn’t going to leave myself exposed again. I needed a space where I could breathe—away from her.
She had this infuriating ability to drive me mad. It wasn’t just her stubbornness; it was the way she deliberately pushed my buttons every chance she got. And the worst part? That only made me want her more.
She’d made it perfectly clear in the elevator that we weren’t going to revisit what had happened between us. I’d managed to keep my expression neutral at the time, but inside, I was trying not to double over from the punch to my gut.
I needed her again. One taste wasn’t enough. Hell, I doubted it would ever be enough. She’d ruined every other woman for me—nothing else turned me on anymore except the thought of her.
When I got back to my room that night, I’d jerked myself so hard my cock was sore the next morning. I’d tried pulling from my usual mental bank of fantasies, but nothing worked. That pissed me off, sending my irritation toward her, which only added fuel to the fire of my desire.
The one thing that finally brought me over the edge was the memory of Eleanor in that tight dress, her hand gripping my cock to reclaim the control she’d been losing under my gaze. My thoughts spiraled further—imagining her mouth wrapped around me, taking me to the hilt, the sounds of her choking and gasping.
How the hell was I supposed to work with her when she had me like this?
I had to do something. I was desperate, and desperation would lead me to a place I never wanted to go—begging.
I picked up my phone and called my lawyer, my voice low and strained.
“There has to be someone else,” I said, pacing the room like a caged animal. “Another PR firm, another consultant—anyone but her.”
On the other end of the line, my lawyer, Ethan, started to speak, but I cut him off. “I don’t care who they send as long as they’re not stubborn as hell and—” I paused, swallowing the word that almost escaped my lips: gorgeous.
This woman was a problem I couldn’t afford. But damn it, she was the one thing I wanted. The attraction I had toward her was all consuming, and it was knocking me off my fucking rocker.
“You’re gonna have to suck it up. You’re in a tough spot here, and we can’t afford it getting out that you fired a PR company just because the woman they sent is stubborn,” Ethan said, his tone sharp. “What message will that send?”
I groaned, pressing my hand against my hip and tilting my head toward the ceiling as if the answer might miraculously appear there. He had a point, but that didn’t make it any easier to swallow. Something had to give.
“We don’t have to say it’s because of that,” I countered, my voice low and edged with frustration. “Can’t we just claim it wasn’t a good fit? That I don’t agree with her ridiculous plan?”
“Do you honestly think that’ll hold up? Is it going to harm you or the company to let her try?”
My jaw tightened and my fists clenched at my sides. The anger bubbling inside me was close to boiling over.
“No,” I muttered, my teeth gritted as I paced back and forth across my office. “But I’m more than willing to lie about it.”
“Colton.” His tone dropped, a warning laced into the single word. “Get over it. I’m not creating another PR disaster because you’re having trouble playing nice with someone. I’ve been putting out enough fires because of Marcus.”
