Zoe Friday 3.24pm From inside my fourth-floor office, in downtown Houston, I release a weary sigh. Five hours I’ve been working on this damn account. Five hours of trawling through receipts, invoices and bank accounts with absolutely nothing to show for it. I accept defeat and turn to look out the window to the coffee shop across the road. There’s a steady stream of customers, but I know I’ll go to the front of the line if Molly sees me come in. A smile twitches at my lips, having my oldest friend right across the road from my office not only keeps me in coffee, but it also means I can drop by when I need to destress. I roll my shoulders and step out of my office into the reception area, and wave at Christine. “Coffee?” I mouth. On the phone, dealing with a client, she shakes her head and taps her wrist, reminding me I have a phone call soon. I push through the glass doors to the elevators, smiling as I see a lawyer who works alongside me also sneaking out. “Coffee break?” I ask her. She groans and shakes her head. “Divorce proceedings. I’m due in court.” I wince and offer my commiserations as we travel down to the ground floor. She looks sidelong at me. “Lucky you’re sworn off men.” I laugh even though I feel anything but lucky. “Yep. That’s me, single and carefree.” She chuckles because after working alongside me for three years and knowing some of my history with men, she knows I’m anything but carefree. “How’s your dad doing?” I force a polite smile. “Still refusing to retire.” She shakes her head. “Can’t say I’m surprised. I guess that’s where you get it from?” I bristle at the comparison to my workaholic and extremely distant father. Even if there’s an element of truth in it. “They say you live what you learn.” And I learned early on, my father’s work was more important than anything, including me. She sighs wearily. “Ain’t that the truth. What about your mom? She still teaching?” Since I’d rather not talk too much about my parents, I steer the conversation back to her. “She is. What about your eldest? Isn’t he going to college soon?” When she launches into a laundry list of her son’s achievements, I smile and nod at the right times, and ask just enough questions to keep her talking about her family rather than mine right until we reach the ground floor. I step out of the elevator and wish her family well before I walk across the lobby and we part ways. Inside with the air conditioning, immersed in my work, I’d forgotten how hot it is outside. Almost everyone that passes me by is either sweating, red-faced or looking decidedly uncomfortable. Traffic is congested, commuters ready for the long weekend, leaving the city to beat the Labor weekend rush. I press my lips together and try not to breathe in the hot air that burns my lungs. The road is near melting point, and sweat is already trickling down my back. My make-up is probably running and all I can think about is getting out of this unbearable heat. I make it across the street, uncomfortable and in desperate need of a cool drink rather than the double espresso I planned on. Inside the coffee shop, I moan softly as cool air caresses my body like a welcome hug. Almost everyone inside is drinking iced coffees, so I settle on that too, and stand in line. I don’t have to wait for long before Molly spots me. From behind the counter, she gives me a nod and gestures to the whipped cream she’s currently squirting over a glass filled with ice. I give her a wave, and take a seat and enjoy the cool air as I wait for her to join me. When the line of customers has slowed enough for her to leave her assistant alone, she arrives at the table with an iced drink, loaded with cream. She slides it across to me as she takes a seat. “Hey. I was going to come see you. I have something you might be interested in.” I put my lips on the straw and drink while she pulls something out of her top pocket. “What’s that?” She unfolds it and lays it flat on the table and pushes it towards me. I keep drinking as I look at pictures of green fields, horses, and a very good looking cowboy on what appears to be a brochure for a ranch in Montana. “A ranch?” Molly nods. “Yeah. I won a weekend stay as a raffle prize ages ago. I’d completely forgotten about it until a few days ago when they called to remind me.” I cock my head at her. “It looks great. Better than spending the weekend in this heat.” She screws up her nose. “That’s the thing. It expires this weekend and I can’t go. I was wondering if you’d like to take my place?” It’s such an unexpected offer; I’m sure my jaw must be hanging open. “Um.” She chuckles. “Before you say no, and make excuses about being too busy, let me paint a word picture for you.” I try not to laugh as she pretends to paint the space between us. “Wild, open spaces, luxury cabin, clean air, hot cowboys, no cell coverage, no internet, just complete and absolute…peace.” I snort a laugh. “If you think it sounds so good, why aren’t you going?” She drops her hand and sighs. “I have a wedding to go to. I tried to get out of it, but I couldn’t.” Her eyes narrow. “So, what do you think? You fancy a weekend out in the country free of charge?” Maybe if I had someone to take, I’d jump at the chance. But no cell and no internet means zero ability to work. “What am I supposed to do all weekend?” She points to the brochure. “Plenty of things to do. It’s a custom-tailored package, specially designed to immerse you in what a dude farm is like.” My eyebrows rise. “A dude farm?” She chuckles and flips the brochure over so I can read the back. “Not what you’re thinking. Although there will be dudes. But it’s basically a working ranch. Horses, cattle, cowboy type stuff.” I finish the last of my drink and glance around the coffee shop at the wilted looking customers. “Where would I stay?” She taps on the brochure. “In a cute little cabin. Full room service, horse treks, bonfires, fishing, all included.” I check my watch and sigh as I see how late it’s gotten. “I mean, it sounds great. And I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure it’s for me.” Molly rolls her eyes. “Why? Because you can’t spend all weekend working like you usually do? Come on, it’s a long weekend, you need a vacation, and I really think this could be great for you.” I know I shouldn’t but I shake my head. “Sorry. I do appreciate it, but I’m not really—” Her face contorts into a scowl. “Zoe, when was the last time you had a day off? I know you have an important job, but you can’t carry on like this. You’ll burn out before you hit thirty.” Since thirty is still a few years away, I shrug which seems to antagonize her further. “What do you think is going to happen if you step away for the weekend?” I frown back at her, highly aware time is ticking away. If I delay anymore I’ll miss my phone call. “It’s not that easy for me. People rely on me.” She shakes her head slowly. “Oh, come on. No one is indispensable. The world isn’t going to come crashing down just because you don’t answer your phone for three days.” I push back from the table and move to rise. “I need to go. I have a meeting in five minutes.” She blows out a puff of air. “You’re really turning down an all-expenses-paid vacation in a beautiful location to sit in front of your computer all weekend?” I have no reply, so I move towards the front door. “I appreciate you asking, but I just can’t.” She stares up at me. “Wow. It’s really come to this, has it?” I’m not entirely sure what she means so I tell her so. Her response takes me right back to our childhood, sitting on the grass on her front lawn, her holding a worm and dangling it in front of me. A smile makes her lip twitch. “I double dare you to go, Zoe Foster.” It’s so ridiculous I snort a laugh. “We’re not kids anymore. You can’t make me do things that way.” Her eyes are narrowed as she gets to her feet and jabs her finger in my direction. “Do I need to remind me of what happened the last time you didn’t accept a dare?” I pull a face at her and ignore the customers who now seem very invested in our conversation. “Um,” I say. “Yeah. A big um. You missed your chance with Todd. If you’d kissed him that night, he never would have married Crystal right after graduation.” I expect her to drop it when I step outside into the stifling heat but she just follows me and blocks my path. I scowl at her. “Don’t you have customers to look after?” She nods but plants her feet letting me know she’s not planning on taking no for an answer. “Think about this then. Out there no one knows you’re an uptight, workaholic with no life. You can be anyone you want to be. Who knows you might find a sexy cowboy for the weekend.” I have no interest in a cowboy, sexy or otherwise. But the idea of being someone else for the weekend does hold a certain appeal. I glance at my watch. I have three minutes to get back. With a sigh, I realize it’s quicker to just agree to go. “Let me see if I can clear my schedule.” She grins and looks way too pleased with herself. “Fabulous! I’ll call the guy and tell him to expect you.” I haven’t actually agreed, but she lets me move, so I steal my chance and near run back to the office. Rather than wait for the elevator, I get my cardio in and dash up the stairs to the fourth floor. Christine raises her hands and taps on her watch. “I know, I know,” I say as I hurry back to my office. I make it to my desk, breathless and sweaty as my phone rings. I take a second to compose myself before I answer. But it’s not who I expected. “Hey babe, I’m back in town. Want to catch up?” Derek slurs. A cold chill runs down my spine. Damn it. Not now. He is not calling right now. He is not back in Houston. “This isn’t a good time.” With Derek, it’s never a good time. As per usual, he ignores me. “Come on, don’t you miss me a little bit?” I check there isn’t another call coming in before I answer. “No, I don’t.” “Don’t be like that. We had some fun.” I don’t have time to walk down memory lane. I’m sure I temporarily lost my mind when I let Molly talk me into having a drink with him that night. I was drunk, depressed after a phone call with my dad, so I let her talk me into going out. Derek was gorgeous, fun and I convinced myself it was kind of cool, sleeping with the drummer in a band. For a year or so, it worked fine. He’d let me know when he was in Houston, and we’d get together. I didn’t need to worry about him wanting more because he was always on the road. Until my brain started buzzing me that I was settling, and I checked his cell and realized Derek had women all over the country. “Please stop calling me. It’s over. It was over two months ago, and it’s still over.” His voice comes out shaky. “Why don’t I swing by this weekend? Talk face to face?” I know him too well to know that was not a suggestion. Whether I want him to or not, he’ll show up, probably drunk, probably with a gift, and I’ll have no chance of convincing him to leave. The words tumble out of my mouth. “I won’t be there. I’m going away for the weekend.” He’s so stunned; I hear nothing but his breathing. “Are you seeing someone else?” The red flashing light that signals another caller prompts me to wind things up. “If I was, that’s none of your business. I have to go.” His voice comes out aggressive. “So, you are seeing someone? Hope he knows he’ll always be second choice to your cell phone.” I know where this is heading, so I hang up, take a breath, and prepare to put my professional voice on. As I answer, I know I have no choice. It’s safer to just not be there when he comes crawling back, begging for another chance. Whether I want to or not, I’m spending the weekend at the ranch. *** Tyler Saturday 11.26 am I’m about ready to go pick up a deer I saw on the road when I spot Liam stalking towards me. My shoulders stiffen, jaw clenching as I try not to look at him. Instead, I pull my gloves on. “We had a late booking. Woman coming all the way from Houston.” From the irritation etched on his face, I know what he’s going to say before he says it. “She can’t ride.” I climb in the tractor before shaking my head. “Get someone else to teach her.” His forehead crinkles in annoyance. “There isn’t anyone else. Billy’s got the weekend off and Sue is in Silver Falls until Tuesday.” I can see where this is leading, so I don’t bother to engage him. “I’m here to help run the ranch not give lessons.” A vein starts to bulge on his temple letting me know I’ve riled him up. Again. “I need you to give her a lesson so she can make the afternoon trek with me.” I glare at him. “That wasn’t the agreement.” He sends me a glare of his own. “Are we going to have a problem?” My body goes rigid as irritation surges through me, heating my veins. “You should have asked me before booking so many guests.” His eyes narrow. “This is my place now. I run things my way. If you don’t like it, you can leave.” I bristle. Bitterness creeping over me as he sends me one of his smuggest looks. As if that weren’t enough of a reminder of what I’ve lost in the past year, he aims another dig as he steps in front of me. “Plenty of other wranglers would kill for this job. You have a place to stay, food, so quit being a pain in the ass.” We stare at each other, neither blinking, anger burning the more I look at him. He won’t back down. I know he won’t. He’s got too much invested in this agritourism idea to let me just stay in the background where I belong. No matter how much it kills me, no matter how much Dad would have hated city slickers crawling all over his ranch, I have no choice but to do what he says. “When’s she arriving?” The triumph on his face makes my fists curl. “She flew in last night. Driving from Silver Falls. Should be here soon. Enough time for you to get the roadkill taken care of.” I place a hand on the steering wheel. “Right,” I say. He turns on his heel and calls over his shoulder as he stalks towards the chicken coop. “And don’t drag your heels. There’s a storm front moving in.” My lip curls and I spit a curse as I start the engine. If this morning hadn’t started out bad, it’s heading that way. Scraping deer and other roadkill off the highway is a job no one ever wants. Depending on how many animals are out along the mile stretch of the highway that borders the ranch, it could take me longer than the time he’s given me. But I can’t leave them all. Not when their decaying carcasses attract Coyote, and Mountain Lions. I head out the gate and turn on to the highway, keeping an eye out for anything that will attract predators to the area. Liam would never lower himself to haul roadkill and take them to the dump. He’s all show. A wannabe who’d be screwed without me and the other ranch hands. He doesn’t spend his days trying to think about how to get the run-off from the workshop to somehow drain further down the stile. He’s not the one shifting eight hundred pound hay bales around using a tractor with a clutch that keeps slipping. It’s not Liam fixing the shed or the fence. He’s too busy bull shitting the guests, telling them about how much of an authentic cowboy he is, all the while, the ranch faces multiple problems he’s completely obvious to. He might have found a way to bring in more money, but if he doesn’t start pulling his weight, there won’t be a ranch left. I spot a deer that hit a car a few days ago and pull over. With a sigh, I jump down and crouch down to scrap the remains of a buck off the road. When I’ve managed to drag the rotting carcass to the bucket, I growl as I climb back on the tractor. With my luck, the girl I’m supposed to be teaching will be a stuck-up princess and I’ll have to spend the entire weekend entertaining her. I have no hope of procrastinating so I just head to the dump, taking note of the animals I know I don’t have time to collect today. Starting to scowl, I prepare to return to what used to be my favorite place in the world. Laughing Cat Ranch was one of the most successful ranches in the county. But that was before my half-brother showed up and destroyed every last Goddam thing I loved. *** You can read more of Tyler and Zoe’s in One Wild Weekend With Tyler Stay in touch Lexi doesn’t have social media, (too busy writing and taking care of her Autistic kiddos) but you can stay in touch with her by subscribing to receive a non-spammy twice monthly newsletter. Inside Lexi’s VIP newsletter you can expect subscriber-exclusive pricing, snippets, bookish and personal news, the occasional hot men Meme, freebies, and first looks at covers. 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