Anything For You (Pinecrest, Montana #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

JOEY

“Mommy, can I go pet the sheep?” Max asks, giving me a big, toothy grin.

“Of course, Baby. Make sure to stay with Poppy, okay?”

“Okay!” He runs off and grabs Poppy’s hand as he leads her over to the petting zoo Kade set up for today.

There’s a cotton candy stand on one side of the sprawling front yard and someone else doing balloon animals. Max’s giggles at the sheep licking his hand can be heard over everything.

Or maybe that’s just my mom ears always on the listen for him.

It’s the perfect day for the reopening of The Lost Spur. With the sun high in the sky and guests’ laughter drifting through the trees, it couldn’t get any better than it is right now.

Until my eyes find those of a certain ranch hand.

Sam Shaw.

Thank God for the sunglasses covering my eyes, because it would be a dead giveaway I’m staring at him.

With Levi’s stretched across his thighs and his flannel shirt rolled up to his elbows, the Stetson cowboy hat completes the look.

Who can resist a sexy cowboy?

Certainly not me.

My eyes track him as he strolls across the grassy front lawn to grab a lemonade.

“You ready?”

I jump a foot in the air as my friend comes up next to me.

“You scared the crap out of me, Presley.”

“I called your name twice,” she says.

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Are you worried about something?”

I shake my head. “No. I want to keep an eye on things in case any guests need assistance.”

“Like I told Kade, everything is going great. No need to worry today.”

“Right.” I turn to give her a smile, clearing all thoughts of sexy cowboys away. “What were you saying?”

“Time for you to get your fortune told,” Presley says, linking her arm through mine.

“What? Why?”

Dread settles low in my belly. This is not how I want to spend the afternoon.

“Because Serena is doing them for free and you need one.”

“I thought you didn’t like them.”

“Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. She was right about me.”

“The Lovers card was an easy one for you,” I scoff.

Presley points a finger at me. “But not how we thought. We didn’t know it meant Kade was coming back to town.”

“Ugh,” I groan. “Is there any way I can get out of this?”

“Not a chance.”

She half drags me to where the town seer has a small booth set up.

Serena’s curly hair looks as wild as ever.

Even in the bright sunshine, her eyes aren’t hidden by sunglasses but by her dark-framed glasses with Coke-bottle lenses.

Gold necklaces rest on her chest, partially hidden by the same purple shawl she always wears.

“Josephine. It’s nice to see you.”

Her voice has the same ethereal tone it always does.

“Serena.” I nod my head at her as Presley pushes me into the chair. “I can’t stay long. I need to find Max.”

“Kade is watching the kids.” Presley winks at me.

Damn her.

“Good, because it seems the spirits have a lot to say to me today.”

“Like what?”

I lean back in the chair and cross one leg over the other. Even in my jeans and The Lost Spur T-shirt, the soft material clings to me in the summer heat. There are about a million other places I’d rather be than here.

“Oh. This is very interesting,” Serena whispers, flipping three cards over on her cloth-covered table. “Very interesting indeed.”

“What’s interesting?” I shove my sunglasses up into my hair and look at the cards laid out in front of me.

None of them make any sense to me.

“Well, the Tower card means significant change is coming, usually not good change.”

“Great,” I mutter.

Just what I need. More change and upheaval in my life.

“The Temperance card means patience as you rebuild your life. And with the Chariot? Well, you’ll be determined to move forward.”

“Sounds great.” I slap my hands on my knees. “If that’s all, I really need to get back and check on the guests.”

Serena looks ruffled as I stand to leave. “I can tell you more about what these mean if you’d like.”

“Maybe another time. Thanks for coming. I know everyone loves having you here.” I smile at her before walking past Presley and heading back into the lodge.

I pull at the material of my shirt. It’s sticky hot out this time in July, and the last thing I need is for Serena to tell me that significant change—not good change either—is coming.

I’ve had enough change to last me a lifetime. I got pregnant at the age of twenty-one in college and dropped out when Max was born.

His dad didn’t want anything to do with us. Sue me if I don’t like change.

Heading to the front desk, I bump into someone. Someone with a strong chest.

Staring up, I lock eyes with Sam. Those deep brown, soulful eyes that show the faintest glint of a smile. A five o’clock shadow dusts his jaw.

“Everything all right, darlin’?”

Darlin’.

That word slides through me, heating my insides more than the baking sun.

“Sorry. Distracted is all.”

“Can I help?”

I push away from him, being extra careful to ignore how hard his pecs are. No doubt from the hours spent working in the barn.

“All good. I need to get back to the desk to make sure everything is all set for the big dinner tonight.”

“Right.” Sam takes his hat off and scrubs a hand over the back of his neck. “I’ve got a few trail rides heading out that I need to get the horses ready for.”

“One of these days you’ll have to get me out there for a ride.”

“On a horse?” He cocks a brow at me.

“What else would I be riding?” I grin back at him.

I can’t help that I’m a shameless flirt. I like men and the attention I get back from them. Even if it’s bitten me in the ass more than a few times in my life.

It’s hard not to flirt with him. Even if he is my dad’s best friend. He’s so effortlessly sexy, it should be illegal.

It’s probably going to bite me in the ass.

But I don’t care.

“I need to get back to the barn. See you later, darlin’.”

“Bye, Sam.”

He spins on his cowboy boots and leaves. No man’s ass has the right to look that good in a pair of jeans.

I sigh, going back to the computer and putting Sam Shaw out of my mind. No good can come from lusting after that man.

Might as well focus on the things in my life that I can control, like my job and my son. Anything else will bring the chaos Serena told me is in my future. Something I don’t have the energy to deal with.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my life the way it is.

Even if it means ignoring the hot cowboy that I can’t seem to keep my eyes off of.