Page 5 of Ranch Rules

Chapter Two

Natalie wasn’t surewhat she had expected, only that what she found wasn’t it. Her mind had pictured some sort of dark, dank lodge with dead animals lining the walls. But the lobby of the ranch was light and airy with gleaming windows. There was a stone fireplace, but it was done in a more modern style, with round stones in a neutral palette. The floors were gleaming hardwood and the inviting scents of jasmine and gardenias made her smile despite her misgivings.

“What do you think?”

“It’s nice,” she found herself answering honestly without evaluating her words beforehand. That wasn’t something Natalie did often, and she immediately reminded herself to be on her guard. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing, lest it get back to Mr. Dawson.

“I’m Thomas, by the way. Can I show you to your room?”

Right at that moment, she spotted a deer head and burst into laughter.

“What? What is it?”

“Nothing,” she giggled. She’d counted out the dead animals too soon, it seemed.

They didn’t have far to go. Once upstairs, Thomas stopped only a short way down the hallway and inserted a key into the lock, opening the door. Once more he stepped back, waiting for her to enter first.

Natalie walked in, pleased to see that the bed had regular white sheets. The only thing that set it apart was the quilt at the end of the bed. There was also a rocking chair by an open window and more lilac blossoms on the desk. “Sweet,” she muttered, reaching to take her bag from Thomas.

He set it down, and she could feel his eyes on her as she rifled through its contents. She felt her entire body relaxing as soon as her fingers brushed against the smooth surface of her laptop.

“What’s the Wi-Fi password?” she asked as she carried it over to the desk and began to set it up.

“I don’t know.”

Brow furrowing, she turned to look at him. “What do you mean you don’t know? Don’t you work here?”

“Of course I do. And I don’t think I like your tone.”

Her dark brows rose and her mouth dropped open in surprise. Before she knew it, she was uttering a little laugh. In that moment, she could think of a hundred more cutting things to say, but she shook her head, dislodging them. Defensiveness and the desire to argue her point was a reflex and one that she was supposed to be discarding for this trip.

“Sorry. Is it on a card somewhere?” Without waiting for his answer, she began searching the desktop for a piece of paper that would bear the login information.

“The whole point of coming to the ranch is to unplug. So we don’t hand out the Wi-Fi password.”

Her head swiveled to him, her eyes wide. “You can’t be serious.” But even as the words left her mouth, she realized that he didn’t seem amused. Despite the cheerful demeanor he’d displayed when he’d greeted her, he didn’t seem like the kind of man to joke around.

“Afraid I am, ma’am.”

“But... you run a business.”

“Well, I don’t, but I get your meaning. But our guests don’t use the internet while they’re here.”

She ignored him. “Every business has to have the internet... which means someone knows what the password is.”

“Well, of course, but as I said, that isn’t—”

“So, who is it? Whose palm do I have to grease to get such a basic amenity?”

Thomas frowned at her, and it gave her pause. Either his frown was just as imposing as his smile had been hospitable, or it was the absence of it that made his featured appear fearsome. Either way, she felt herself tensing up once more.

“I feel as though I’ve been pretty clear, Miss Natalie. You are not entitled to Wi-Fi privileges during your stay. Our owner, Nate, is the only one who—”

Finally having the information that she had been waiting for, Natalie spun around and began backtracking.

“Where do you think you’re goin’?”

But she didn’t pause to answer. She was a woman on a mission, and she always got what she wanted. It was another trademark of the business she’d chosen. She didn’t pause to explain herself when she didn’t find it necessary.

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