Read Second Chance Ranch: a Hope Springs novel (Entangled Bliss) for Free Online Page A

hand and diamond-banded finger in Sadie’s face.
    And the weird just. Kept. Coming. “Wow!”
    “Yeah, to Dusty Brooks.”
    Cory’s little brother. Sadie automatically glanced at Royce, but his gaze was focused on a spot on the wall, even though there were only pictures of animals, and he couldn’t be that interested in the “Hang in There” poster with the cat barely clinging to a branch.
    Oh, kitty, believe me, I’m trying, but I’m about to slip right off.
    “Wow,” Sadie said again, because she didn’t know what else to say.
    “Dusty competes at rodeos now, the way Royce used to. He’s getting really good, and people all around the state know who he is.”
    Royce’s jaw tightened. Sadie wasn’t sure if it was caused by regret that he didn’t compete in the rodeo circuit anymore, or if he was just that annoyed by her presence. She had the oddest urge to reach out and squeeze his hand. Years ago, it would’ve been the most natural thing in the world, but now…
    Well, now he’d probably jerk away and tell her to never touch him again.
    The girl who’d disappeared into the back brought out a small carrier and set it on the counter. The cat inside was growling and attacking the bars.
    “Poor little thing.” Sadie peered into the carrier. Whoa. Not so little after all. A big gray poofball with yellow-green eyes. “You’re gonna be all right, kitty cat.”
    “That’s Oscar the Grouch,” Brianna offered.
    “He’s less green and unibrowed than I remember.”
    Royce gave a sort of snort-laugh, then his eyes met hers, and it was like he forced himself to put on a scowl again. Speaking of grouches.
    Sadie reached her finger toward the metal squares of the carrier.
    “He’ll bite you,” Royce said, but she ignored him, using her most soothing voice to tell the cat about how she’d be grouchy, too, if she were poked and prodded and shoved in a box. As soon as her finger hit his chin, he calmed and started to purr, rubbing up against the bars to get closer.
    “So, Sadie.” Brianna settled into her chair and reached for her computer mouse. “Did you need to make an appointment?”
    Sadie straightened, trying not to let the fact that she was suddenly sweating like crazy show. She didn’t want to say anything in front of Royce, but it looked like that wasn’t an option. “Actually, I’m lookin’ for a job and hoped you had an opening. I’m good with animals and—”
    “No jobs here, I’m afraid, but Royce was just saying he’s looking for someone to help out at Second Chance Ranch.”
    “Oh, no,” Sadie said at the same time Royce said, “It wouldn’t be a good job for her.”
    They stared at each other for a beat, awkwardness crowding the space between them. Underneath the weirdness, though, anger was also rising up, and she’d never been good at biting her tongue. “What do you mean, it wouldn’t be a good job for me?”
    “You said no.”
    “Well, yeah, but…”
    He crossed his arms, and seriously, when did he get a chest like that? And those muscled cords in his forearms. And was it hot in here? “But what?”
    Good-looking and well built or not—and he definitely was—he was the most infuriating person she’d ever met. Thank goodness she hadn’t actually married him.
    Instead of the satisfaction that thought should’ve brought, an icy lump formed in her stomach.
    She ran her hand across her forehead and turned to Brianna. “If any job comes up—anything at all—please call.” She placed a card on the desk, even though it said she was a singer, which wasn’t totally true these days. It still had her cell number on it, anyway. “And congratulations again on your engagement.”
    She spun and walked out of the office, thinking about how crazy it was that people as young as Dusty and Brianna were already engaged. Around here, though, it wasn’t uncommon for people to get hitched shortly after high school. In fact, it was the norm, and it wasn’t like they were getting