Page 78

Colton

IT WAS MID-AFTERNOON, and I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the open laptop in front of me as I waited for Cooper to call. It’d been a week since the gala with Eleanor—a week since my heart and mind had experienced an undeniable shift I wasn’t sure how to handle.

Before that night, I’d been able to separate mind from body—barely. I’d compartmentalized every confusing, foreign feeling that had started to stir for Eleanor, locking them away in some mental box and proceeding as if everything were normal. But now? That box was glass; it was shattered, and she had me—hook, line, and sinker.

The photo we’d taken at the gala? It ended up as my phone wallpaper. Not the lock screen, of course—God forbid anyone else saw it—but the home screen, where it was safe from prying eyes. Not that it mattered much, considering I rarely let anyone else touch my phone. Still, the image of her, radiant and utterly captivating, was now a part of my every day.

This obsession, this gnawing need for her, was more than I could handle. Yet, I was stubborn as hell, determined to keep it all buried deep. I’d fight tooth and nail with my own psyche to ensure she, or anyone else, never realized just how much of a hold she had on me.

Control was safer than honesty. Keeping this to myself made damn sure she—and anyone else—never realized how tight that grip was.

When this was over and she was gone, I’d have no choice but to purge every trace of her. I’d burn every memory, no matter how painful, and rid my life of her entirely.

But right now? Right now, I couldn’t help but indulge myself, letting the thrill of her consume me just a little longer.

Eleanor and I had three more weeks tied to each other before her contract ended. Two months was all we had to put up precautions at Stone Ranch. And so far, so good.

In the five weeks she’d been here, Eleanor had done more than I thought possible. She’d put Stone Ranch on the social media map, orchestrated three major events, and crafted a narrative for the ranch that had people buzzing.

The past week, she’d worked tirelessly with Tawnie, training her on the ins and outs of social media, coaching her on how to engage in a way that would ensure the work continued long after she was gone.

Naturally, Eleanor dragged me along to meet more of the staff during these discussions. “You’re an untouchable grump,” she’d said with her trademark sass, insisting it was important I connect with more people than just the ones I’d personally hired.

I’d humored her, but my social battery drained to the last drop. The constant interactions had left me raw, and I was silently grateful for this rare moment alone—to sit in the quiet and attempt to pull myself together before I saw her again. Seeing Eleanor left me feeling unmoored like she was the only thing tethering me to solid ground.

Once she was gone, truly out of my life, I’d finally be able to return to normal. It had to be the constant proximity that had me so wrapped up in her. Her sass, her confidence, her goddamn laugh was like fuel to the fire I desperately needed to extinguish.

All I needed was some space. A fucking break.

Leaning back in my chair, I stared at the blank wall, my fingers tapping absently against the desk. My mind needed to shut off, but it was spinning, circling her again and again. Maybe I’d go for a ride. It had been too long since I’d saddled up and let the wide-open space of the ranch clear my head.

There was something about being on horseback that brought me back to myself when life felt overwhelming. Just me, the horse, and the raw beauty of nature with no noise, no complications. Rain or shine, it didn’t matter. Riding had a way of grounding me.

Eleanor would love it too.

Damn it.

I shook my head sharply, trying to banish her from my thoughts. Like fate itself was stepping in, my phone lit up on the desk as Cooper’s name finally flashed across the screen. I swiped to answer, bringing the phone to my ear.

“Hello,” I said, clearing my throat as I reclined in my chair. The office setup was identical to the others I had. I was a man of consistency.

“Hey, man,” Cooper’s voice came through, too casual for comfort. “How’s Wyoming?”

“Can’t complain,” I replied, flicking a piece of lint off my jeans.

“Yeah, I could tell,” Cooper said, his tone laced with accusation and something annoyingly smug.

I straightened slightly. “What the hell does that mean?”

“I gave it a week, you know, thinking my brother might actually tell me himself, but…” he trailed off, leaving me hanging, knowing it would irritate me. Why would Cooper think I’d tell him anything? We didn’t necessarily have a relationship like that, but I indulged anyway.

“Spit it out,” I snapped. “I don’t have time for your cryptic bullshit.”

He chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. “You and that pretty woman from your office went to a gala. First of all, you never go out. And second, a photo of you two ended up online.”

I froze, gripping the phone tighter. Damn it.

Scoffing, I tried to brush it off. “Since when do we talk about our personal lives, let alone romantic lives? Why the hell would I have called you about Eleanor?”