Read Online In Bed with the Wrangler by Barbara Dunlop - Free Book Online

herself deliberately not looking in Royce’s direction as she spoke.
    “Good for you,” said Stephanie with a vigorous nod. “We girls, we have to stick to our guns. There are too many people in our lives trying to interfere with our decisions.” She cast a pointed gaze at her brother.
    “Give it a rest,” Royce growled at his sister, twisting the corkscrew into the top of the wine. “You’re not getting a million dollars.”
    “You’re such a hard-ass.”
    “And you’re a spoiled brat.”
    “You are spending an awful lot for vet supplies and lumber,” Amber put in. “Those are the bills I found stacked up on the office desk.”
    Stephanie blinked at her. “Oh.”
    Royce popped the cork and reached for Amber’s wineglass. “Amber has some questions about the accounts. Who does McQuestin deal with at head office?”
    “I think he talks to Norma Braddock sometimes.”
    Royce handed the wine bottle to his sister then whisked his cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll go straight to Barry.”
    “I’d watch out for him,” Stephanie advised, forehead wrinkling.
    Royce rolled his eyes at the warning.
    Amber decided to stay quiet.
    “Barry?” said Royce, while Stephanie handed the salad bowl to Amber.
    Amber served herself some of the freshest-looking lettuce and tomatoes she’d ever seen.
    “Royce, here.”
    Then she leaned toward Stephanie and whispered, “From your garden?”
    Stephanie nodded, whispering in return. “You’ll want to get out of here before canning season.”
    Amber grinned at the dire intonation.
    “Sorry to bother you this late,” Royce continued. “We’ve hired someone on to take care of the office while Jared and McQuestin are away.” He gave Amber a wink, and something fluttered in her chest. She quickly picked up her wineglass to cover.
    “She has some questions about the bank account. There have been a number of unpaid bills lately.” He paused for a moment. “Why don’t I let you talk to her directly?”
    Amber hadn’t expected that. She quickly swallowed and set down the glass. Good thing her questions were straightforward. She tucked her hair out of the way behind her ears, accepting the phone from Royce, ignoring the tingle when his fingers brushed hers.
    “Hello?” she opened.
    “Who am I speaking to?” asked Barry from the other end of the line.
    “This is Amber, I’m—”
    “And you’re an employee at Ryder Ranch?” he asked directly.
    She paused. “Uh, yes. That’s right.”
    “Administrator? Bookkeeper?” There was an unexpected edge to the man’s tone.
    “Something like that.” She gave Royce a confused look, and his eyes narrowed, crinkling slightly at the corners.
    “Do you have a pen?” Barry asked, voice going even sharper.
    “I—”
    “Because you’d better write this down.”
    Amber glanced around at the countertops. “Just—”
    “Sally Nettleton.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Sally Nettleton is the accounts supervisor. You can speak to her in the morning.”
    “Sure. Do you happen to have her—”
    “And a warning, young lady. Don’t you ever go above my head to Royce Ryder again.”
    Amber froze, voice going hollow. “What?”
    “Share this conversation with him at your own peril. I don’t tolerate insubordination, and he won’t always be there to protect you.”
    Amber’s mouth worked but sounds weren’t coming out. Nobody had dared speak to her that way in her life.
    “You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. Don’t fool yourself into thinking anything different.” He stopped speaking, and the line fairly vibrated with tension.
    She didn’t know what to say. She had absolutely no idea what to tell this obnoxious man. Imagine if she really was an employee, dependent on her job. It would be horrible.
    She heard a click and knew he’d signed off.
    “Goodbye,” she said weakly for the benefit of Royce and Stephanie.
    “Told you he was feeling snarky today,” said Stephanie.
    “What did he say?” asked