She stepped forward. “No, thanks. I’m Ava Parsons.”
The man tilted his head, peeling off scuffed leather work gloves that bore telltale smudges of sweat and dirt. He tucked them into a back pocket with a slow, easy motion.
“Ms. Parsons, pleasure to meet you. I’m Jonah Randolph, Deke’s manager. We heard you were settling in.” He offered her a hand; the calloused pads warm beneath her fingers.
“Please,” she said, tilting her head. “Call me Ava.”
He smiled, that grin broadening to reveal straight, white teeth. Creases formed at the corners of his beautiful sapphire-blue eyes.
“Jonah. Were you looking for a mount?” He leaned casually against a post, the brim of his black cowboy hat casting a shadow thataccentuated the strong line of his jaw.
Ava shook her head, laughing. “Nope. Just being nosy.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he said with a grin.
“How long have you run this place?” she asked.
“Twenty years. Deke’s a good man, treats everyone fair.”
“He is a good man.” She watched him lift his hat, run his fingers through his hair, then resettled the hat on his head. She loved when a cowboy did that and almost sighed. Deacon did it a lot too.
“Well, I’m heading out for lunch. You have a good day.”
With that, he strode down the aisle, each footfall stirring tiny whirlwinds of dust around his boots. His steps were measured, confident, and utterly magnetic. Ava found herself unable to look away as he stepped into the bright afternoon beyond the barn doors.
She quietly lifted her phone and angled it through the shadows and snapped photos of him. The camera captured his broad back, the flannel over his broad shoulders and jeans that hugged his ass, and what a nice ass it was. His hat sitting perfectly on his head. She opened her messaging app and sent the pictures to Joella with a single line:
I have a cowboy for you.
Her phone buzzed immediately.
I’ll take him!
You can’t even see his face!
I bet you could bounce a quarter off that ass. Wrangler butts drive me nuts!
You need to visit me. Trust me, the front is as good as the back. He’s six-five, just as tall as Deke.
How fast can I get a flight???
You know you’re always welcome here. Oh, and I told you Deke’s got two brothers just as handsome as he is.
So that’s where all the hot men are. Are you sure Deke won’t mind if I drop in?
He said it’s fine, but you should probably wait until Thanksgiving.
Okay, but I demand a front shot of that cowboy. Do you know his name?
Jonah Randolph. Black hair poking from under his hat, gorgeous sapphire blue eyes, perfect smile. Late thirties early forties, maybe?
Stop tempting me or I’m booking a flight.
I’d love that.
How is it going with you and Deke?
Really well.
