Page 6 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

“Are—are you William Harris?”

How did a fifteen-year-old girl know who I was? I usually only got accosted by businesspeople in the first-class lounge at the airport, which is why I used the family jet as often as possible. “I am.”

“You were dating Lotta?”

“Carlotta.” I’d never been able to call her by her online presence name. “Yes.”

Tears gathered in the young woman’s green eyes “Why did you break up with her?”

My sister had asked me the same question, but she’d been laughing at the time.

It had been years since I’d wanted to date. Meeting Victoria and Logan the previous fall had changed that. The two of them together possessed a spark that I wanted in my life.

I’d spent several months watching the women around me, and after careful observation, I’d decided to ask Carlotta to go for a drink. She’d seemed to have the same zest for life that Victoria did. It had only taken a handful of dates for me to get past that to the reality of the woman. She was shallow, obsessed with beauty, and had only gone out with me because of my family’s money.

I hadn’t even gotten around to introducing her to Frank.

The young woman before me only knew Lotta, the public persona of Carlotta. The owner of a popular line of cosmetics, fashion influencer, and nightlife party animal.

I took a breath before I spoke. “The two of us weren’t as compatible as we thought we were.”

The teenager sniffed. “Lotta loves everyone.”

Lotta loves money.

Just like my mother, and the last thing I wanted in my life was a woman who had too much resemblance to my mother. I smiled. “Carlotta is a wonderful person. I wish her well.”

A dark-skinned girl stepped forward and spoke. “Lotta said you were always looking at other women when you were with her.”

Years of experience and training kept the slight smile on my face. “I can assure you that I did my best to pay attention to her when we were together.”

Now all three girls were glaring at me.

How was I going to resolve this? Especially considering they were right. As soon as I’d figured out Carlotta didn’t possess the spark I’d been hoping for, I had begun looking for someone who did. When I realized what I’d been doing, I’d stopped, but it had been too late. According to Courtney, people on social media said I was a player. According to me, this meant I was more like my father than I wanted to ever admit.

The girls were still waiting for an answer, and I didn’t have anything for them.

Lucky for me, someone across the park let out the loudest yee-haw I’d ever heard.

The trio jumped, and a woman nearby yelled at them that it was time to go. They scampered away without another word.

I let out a long breath and whistled for Frank to come back. He did so with gusto. I took a minute to pet him so I could let the girl’s accusation cool.

I never should have asked Carlotta out. It had been a mistake and one that I wouldn’t make again.

Frank dropped the ball and stared at me with longing.

I picked the ball up and said, “It’s going to be you and me, buddy. Bachelors forever.”

Frank let out a whine.

I threw the ball in a new direction, roughly toward a figure sitting at a picnic table wearing a hoodie. I kept the trajectory away from her and waited for Frank to return.

Patrick, my driver and security guy, pulled back into the parking lot in the black SUV I’d rented. My stomach grumbled in anticipation of the lunch he would have with him. I was looking in that direction when a shriek came from the way Frank had gone.

I whipped around and found Frank sitting on the bench with the woman in the hoodie. He’d never approached a stranger like that before. I jogged toward them as I bellowed, “Frank!”

My dog wore a proud expression, as if he’d just found a diamond in a pile of fake gems.

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