Diamond in the Rough (Diamond J #2) Read Online Free PDF

the new owner of the ranch, wanted the ranch in top shape for the upcoming barbecue. The event was a kind of coming out for Beth, since she'd officially become the owner of the ranch earlier in the month. The party was only a week away, and a lot of chores remained to be done to get the grounds and stock ready.
    He worked his way methodically through the barn, raking up the old straw and laying down fresh. As he wheeled a cartload of manure out to the compost heap, he swept his arm across his forehead to clear the sweat.
    Working at the Diamond J was hard work, nothing like the job he would’ve had if he’d worked the family business like his father wanted, but he wouldn’t go back for anything. The heavy leather gloves were hot, his back ached with exertion, but this was honest work. Again, nothing like the family business.
    He emptied the cart and returned to the barn to start on the next stall. Would Gina be disgusted if she knew what he did every day? Or would she respect him for being a hard worker, earning an honest living? He thought about the trust fund his grandfather had left him. He had access to it now that he was thirty, but he hadn’t dipped into it yet and had no intention to do so. He was doing just fine on his own.
    His brow furrowed when he remembered Gina asked to bring someone with her to the barbecue.
    Even so, he couldn’t wait to see her again. If she had a boyfriend, so be it. But he wasn't ready to give up just yet. He scooped a forkful of dirty straw, putting his back into it.
    The faster the weekend went, the sooner Monday would arrive.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
    Crop Gossip
     
    Gina placed an acrylic mask with a paisley design over her sheet of cardstock and spritzed a bit of purple ink with a metallic shimmer, then lifted the template. The resulting pattern was understated and elegant. As she examined the result and considered her next layer, a sharply dressed woman appeared from around the corner of the paper racks and gasped. “That is absolutely gorgeous!”
    Gina grinned as she admired her handiwork. “Thanks. Something so easy adds so much to the project.”
    “Indeed. I’ll have to remember that for my next card.” The woman scraped a folding chair back and sat down across from Gina. “You going to do a Christmas in July card class this year?”
    That class was still two months away, but was already filling up fast. Gina nodded and looked across the table at her customer. She would recognize Christine Dorman anywhere, and never ceased to be surprised at the woman’s appearance, which never changed. No matter where she was, what she was doing, or what time of day it was, she looked exactly like her billboards and for sale signs. Her dark hair was cropped close to her head, accentuating her high cheekbones and wide, toothy smile.
    Christine pursed her red-stained lips. “Put me down for that class then.”
    “Will do.” Gina held up the pink heat gun and raised her eyebrows. “Do you mind?”
    “Go right ahead.” Christine’s brow pushed together as she watched Gina wave the small gun across the paper.
    As Gina dried the spray, her thoughts turned to the good looking ranch hand from the Diamond J. A little tremor of excitement ran through her body at the memory of him.
    She glanced at Christine. That woman knew everything and everyone in the little town of Wilder. Before Gina allowed herself to think about him anymore, she wanted to know more about him. After all, she was a single mother and had more to think about than whether or not he made her tingle with desire.
    After she flipped the heat gun off, she cocked her head and looked at Christine. “You know a lot of people in this town.” She caught her lower lip in her teeth. She felt like a teenager with a crush.
    Christine’s whitened teeth gleamed when her lips split in a big smile. “Of course. I’m the number one real estate agent in Cardwell County. I make it my business to know the people in