really not far from San Antonio at all.”
“True,” I agreed. Far be it from me to talk myself out of a multi-million-dollar sale. “Well, let's take a look at the house.”
We went inside the sprawling house. “While this ranch isn't the largest in the area property wise, this was one of the largest homes. The late Mrs. Warner had expensive tastes, and Mr. Warner liked to give her what she wanted. There was a smaller house on the property that was the original ranch house, and when this one was built, that one became the foreman's house.”
“Oh, so there are two full houses on the property then?” he asked, making me wonder how much time he’d spent looking at all the information I'd sent him.
“Yes, two full houses, a barn, and a few outbuildings.”
“So, if I needed to hire someone to run this as an actual ranch, they could live there.”
“That's correct. The main house has five bedrooms, and two living areas as well as a sun porch. It's a lot of house for one person. Assuming you’re single, that is,” I said.
“I am. My previous boyfriend ended things with me shortly before I took the company public. Something I have no doubt his wallet greatly regrets.”
“Good riddance to old rubbish, as my grandfather would say.”
“Precisely,” he said with a laugh. “I've heard River Gorge is rather progressive, though. That's one of the reasons I was looking here, to begin with.”
“It is. We have a bisexual sheriff, a gay mayor, and of course one very gay real estate broker, just for starters,” I said with a wink.
He tipped his head appraisingly. “And is this very gay real estate broker single?”
I started to say very, which was my normal response, when an image of Landon smiling at me at dinner last night flashed through my mind. “Ah,” he said with a grin. “I recognize that look.”
“Yes, I’m taken at the moment. By one very handsome cowboy.”
“Well, maybe if I buy this place, I’ll get lucky and find a cowboy of my own.”
10
Landon
I was finishing up in the barn for the morning and fixin’ to break for lunch when I got a text from Miller.
Miller: Just sold the Warner Ranch $$$. Let me take you to lunch.
Landon: Awesome. But I can't. I have too much to do to stop and drive into town. How about dinner?
Miller: Sounds great. The Watering Hole at 7?
Landon: Meet you there.
That was great for him. He’d shown the place to quite a few people, and I knew it was a high dollar property, so that was worth celebrating. But how touched I was that he wanted to celebrate with me was concerning. I mean, I knew it was probably just for show, but still, I liked that one of the first things he did was text me with the news.
I spent the rest of the day trying to focus on work and not on seeing Miller for dinner. I finished up around five and hurried to take a shower. I wanted to run by the garage and talk to Cody for a few minutes before I met Miller. He usually closed up around six, so I should get there in time.
I was on my way out to my truck when Ripley walked up. “Hey, you going out tonight?”
“Yeah, meeting Miller. He sold the Warner Ranch today.”
“Really? He usually texts us all and plans a celebration when he makes such a big sale.”
“Well, he texted me. We’re planning to celebrate,” I said with a shrug, hopping into my truck. Then as an afterthought, I added, “We'll be at The Watering Hole if y'all want to come.”
I poked my head into Cody's garage and called out, “Hey, you in here?”
I heard a clang like a wrench dropping on the floor, and Cody called out, “Yeah, I'm just finishing up. Give me a sec.”
I went into his office to wait. I was thinking about getting a tattoo, and I spent time looking at pictures on my phone. I had no idea what I wanted to get, but I knew I wanted one. I'd been thinking about it ever since Maverick opened his shop here in town. But I was no closer to settling on a design than I was the day he opened.
“Hey you, you're all dressed up,” Cody said.
“Not really.” I glanced down at my black jeans and dark blue button-up.
Cody rolled his eyes at me. “You got plans with Miller?”
“I do. He sold a big property today, so