Page 20 of Ranch Rules

Nate nodded patiently.

“But it’s pretty easy. I’m not worried.”

“Hello!” a cheery voice called from behind them.

They both turned at the sound of the voice. “Oh, there you are.” Nate’s face broke into a warm smile. “Natalie, I’d like to introduce you to my fiancée, Lora.”

She mustered a small smile. “Hello.”

The pretty blonde’s smile stretched wide as she reached out and took one of Natalie’s hands, giving it a vigorous shake. “Hi! So nice to meet you.”

After a welcome like that, it was hard not to thaw a bit. It wasn’t Lora’s fault her fiancé was a paddle-wielding dictator, after all.

“Lora is an actress with her own career but she’s agreed that when she’s in town she can help out around here with some of the office work.” He beamed at her, and she gave him lovey-dovey eyes right back. “I have some things I need to be doing, or else I would teach her.”

“That won’t be a problem for you, will it, Natalie?”

“Well, as I said, I don’t do the office work at Briggs & Spric, but I’m sure between the two of us we can figure it out.”

Lora turned her happy beam on Natalie and it was impossible not to smile back.

“All right, well, I guess I ought to be going then.” It was clear that he didn’t want to leave her, and it took several more minutes of goodbyes and hugs before he actually did.

“Hi,” Lora chirped at her brightly when they were alone.

“Hello.”

“I’ve never seen you before, are you new to the ranch?”

“Yep. First timer.” She couldn’t help but wince as she said it.

Lora laughed sympathetically. “Yeah, it can be a little... daunting.”

“That’s one word for it. I can think of a few others.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Natalie winced. Complaining to the boss’s fiancée probably wasn’t the smartest thing she could do if she wanted to keep her behind from getting another introduction to the ways of the ranch.

But much to her surprise, Lora’s grin widened. “Yeah, I remember thinking the same thing. Well, I can only imagine we were thinking along the same lines.” The other girl winked.

“Barbaric,” she ventured tentatively.

“Old-fashioned,” Lora added.

“Absurd.”

“Nonsensical.”

“Insane,” they both said in unison. It surprised Natalie so much that she burst into laughter and was immediately joined by Lora’s giggles. When they had both settled down, she gave the other girl an appraising look. She was clearly not some poor damsel in need of rescuing. It seemed that she had her head on straight, was smart, and yet...

“What?”

Embarrassed to be caught staring, Natalie hurriedly looked away. “What? Nothing. So, what exactly do you know about filing?”

“Was there something you wanted to ask me?”

Natalie dared to look at her once more. “Um... not really.”

Lora giggled. “It’s okay, I get it. If I were you—well, I guess I should say when I was you, here for the first time, I would’ve had questions.”

She bit down on her bottom lip, contemplating the offer. What if it was some elaborate prank to trap her into getting in trouble? Lora waited patiently, and finally she decided to just go for it. “I guess I was just wondering...”

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