Page 12 of Seeking Her Studs

“And why on earth would you do that?” She says, a bit out of breath as she catches up to him.

“I might not care about what happens to you, Hollywood, but your Gram meant something to us. And around here, we don’t forget that as easily as they might where you’re from.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Blaire

Rile Ranch is more elegant than a house run by three men has any right being. With high ceilings and exposed wooden beams, the huge house feels more like a retreat than a house. And if this were any other occasion that I’m invited into someone’s home, I would compliment them. But I’d rather be trampled on by their cattle before one nice word escapes my mouth.

My grand tour consists of me trying to catch up with Colt as he beelines straight through the kitchen and living room to a hallway on the ground floor. When we reach our destination at the end of a hallway, he opens up the door and lays my luggage down on a window seat that outlooks the garden. Unlike the rest of the house, which is all dark wood and sleek lines, this room is refreshingly bright with light green walls and vintage white furniture.

“You’ll be staying here,” Colt says, as if this is a serious option.

“Oh, will I now?” I place my hands on my hips.

“You will.” He takes off his cowboy hat and his dark hair falls in front of his eyes before he pushes it back. “Your grandma asked us to take you in if you needed it when the time comes for you to collect your inheritance.”

The news hits me hard. Not only did they know about her leaving the camper to me, but she also left instructions for them when I came. She put contingencies in her little plan for me. But that still doesn’t mean I need to involve them.

“Well, I don’t. I don’t need your help.” I shrug and look away from him.

He lets out an incredulous laugh. “You know we get a lot of lost kittens around these parts, so I’ve gotten pretty good at knowing one when I see one. They’ve got the same big eyes as you, begging for someone to tell them how to survive in this world.”

I stare at him open-mouthed.

He turns his back to me and walks to the glass door that connects this room with the garden. He jiggles the door knob, checking to make sure it’s locked.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you, Hollywood, but you don’t have your whole team with you. Which means you don’t have any security guards. Letting you head back into town and stay at the only hotel in an hour’s drive radius would make you a damn target, and I might be a mean motherfucker but I respected your Grandma enough to not leave her little lost kitten wandering alone in the woods.”

I am really starting to resent this damn metaphor.

But I’ve also never felt as helpless as I do right now. I didn’t realize how reliant I’ve become on everyone else. I haven’t even driven a damn car on my own in as long as I remember, and I thought I could just pull out of here with a camper that’s the size of a small house?

“As soon as the camper is somewhat liveable, I move in there.” I shoot back. There’s nothing good waiting for me under this roof with them. The sooner I give myself some distance, the better it will be for everyone.

“We’ll do you one better. You can use our tools and hell, maybe Briggs will even tell you how to use them. On one condition.” Colt turns to face me after successfully checking the window locks.

“Here it is…” I say, rolling my eyes. Now I’ll figure out the deal I’m truly making.

It’s a dance I’ve done a million times. I’ve traded my soul so much that I’m not sure it even belongs to me anymore. I’ve accepted huge brand deals, but signed clauses that forbid me from speaking out on certain political subjects. I’ve worked with the biggest actors in the world, but agreed not tell the whole world what assholes they are. Hell, I even accepted one of the highest paid roles of my life by agreeing to pretend to date Mika Lane. I’ve never been above making trades that are unpalatable.

“What is it, then? You want money? Do an ad for Rile Ranch?” I trace Colt’s face to Briggs and Reese, who are perched at the doorway. I’ve been through a lot in my life, but being alone with all three of them is overwhelming on every level.

“You’re Grandma told us that she’d like for you to help out on the ranch if you stay here, so you’re going to take over Kaylee’s chores and give her a little break. But if you’re sticking around here, then let’s make it very clear that you need to be a positive role model to her.” Colt says with less of the bravado he had only a moment ago. Instead, there’s a look of sincerity now that he’s talking about Kaylee.

But what he’s asking of me?

Well, I was definitely not expecting that.

“It means you can’t go running off after a weekend.” Colt continues while he looks me up and down. “And if that’s your plan, then I don’t want you even talking to her and her getting attached.”

I don’t know why, but this makes my face flush with embarrassment. Or is it shame? I don’t really understand the reaction and try to shake it off.

“But if you’re going to see your Gram’s wishes through and stay until you fix her camper up, then we can make a deal. Kaylee leaves for camp soon so until then, all I ask is that you’re a positive influence in this house until then.”

I think about what I wanted when I decided to get on a plane and come here. I needed an anchor. The only anchor I know is here and it’s been dragging through the muddy bottom, threatening to untether at any moment.

But I’m not a role model. It’s a category I’ve been put into over and over again. Girls idolize me for no good reason, and I’ve never felt like I could deliver. Or even want to really. Why should I tell anyone else how to live? I barely know how to do it myself.

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