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Samantha
Ibreathe in the fresh air as I approach the gorgeous ranch I get to call home. I prefer not to have Dad with me, but I take the good with the bad. I know I can find solace in the comfort of my room and while riding my horse.
The events with Asher and Liam fill my mind, but I know I need to focus on things at the ranch.
Dad wants to use me as bait to both men, and I need to appease him for the time being before I end up on his bad side again. However, I plan to help them see through his manipulative ways and work together for all of us to benefit (without Dad).
“Are you going to behave?” Dad asks me as we walk up the front steps.
He has a sour tone in his voice, but I know how to tune it out at this point. It will either become more pronounced or disappear after a couple of drinks, depending on his mood tonight.
“What do you mean?” I ask innocently.
I giggle to myself at my inflection. I wonder what Dad would think if he knew just how wild I really am.
“Oh, don’t play innocent. You told me flat out that you didn’t want to act as a mediator for my deal. Will you behave when the ranchers ask you out again or not?” Dad blurts out.
“I will. I get to inherit the spoils of the deal once you retire, so I made the decision to play along to the best of my ability,” I smile.
“And your reaction the other day?” Dad questions.
“I apologize. I acted up,” I lie.
Dad doesn’t need to know how I really feel.
“Fine. I know you tend to say what I want to hear, but we will see how you act. If you want anything from me in your inheritance, you should think long and hard before giving the ranchers any trouble, though,” Dad tells me.
“I get it,” I sigh. “Can I go to my room now?”
“I suppose. Make yourself available when I call you,” Dad tells me.
I make my way down the hall to my room and fall onto my comfortable bed. The bed still has my horse sheets on it. The walls still have my posters from the days I dreamed of going to New York before I made it a reality.
On the wall, I also notice a picture of me with one of my model friends, Gabriella. She works as a model in New York at the same firm I work for, and I know she will have great advice regarding my situation with Asher and Liam, so I decide to give her a call.
“Sam!” I hear Gabrielle’s voice on the other side of the phone.
She sounds just as bubbly and fiery as I remember.
“Girl! I miss you!” I tell her.
“I know! Tell me everything. I want to know about your return to Texas,” she inquires. “I enjoy being at the ranch again. You need to see how beautiful it is. The air smells way better than all the pollution in New York. Plus, we have horses and pigs everywhere,” I inform Gabriella.
“I have enough pigs here in New York. You don’t know what NYC is like, especially without my partner in crime acting as my wing woman,” Gabriella tells me.
“New York guys can’t compare to Texas guys. Texas guys know how to get their hands dirty and hogtie a cow before breakfast,” I say.
“I am so sick of New York guys in suits trying to holla at me. I can use a cowboy to lasso me up,” Gabriella giggles.
“These guys may not wear suits, but they certainly know how to handle business. There’s a lot of money in the oil business,” I brag a bit.
“Any oil tycoons in particular?” Gabriella asks.
“Two, actually,” I announce with pride.
“Damn, girl. You have two guys competing for you?” Gabriella wants to know.
“Not quite. It’s even more complicated than that, to be honest. These guys want me so badly, but they both don’t like each other. Instead of forcing them to work against each other, I decided to teach them how to work together,” I divulge.
