No Strings Attached (Last Hope Ranch Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

Nate’s—elsewhere.
    “We’re going to catch dinner at Betty’s, and then hit a movie tonight.” He smiled, unable to take his eyes off the petite blonde who returned his smile, her face beaming.
    Sally was happy for them, truly. It’s just being this close to her least favorite holiday was tainting her generosity… that, and recent events. Valentine’s Day for her had become the day she ordered in pizza, coupled with her favorite wine, shut the blinds and read all day in her pajamas. “Sounds lovely. Have a great evening.” She started to walk away, and was surprised when Nate grabbed her arm.
    “Sally,” he said lowering his voice as she took a step closer. “I’m only a pharmacist, but if I might offer some advice?”
    Sally eyed his grasp and detected he was completely serious. “Sure, Nate, what is it?”
    He cleared his throat. “It’s just that too much alcohol can cause issues… especially if, you know….”
    “Know?” Sally prompted, having no idea where Nate was going with this strange conversation.
    “If you’re trying to get pregnant,” he whispered leaning down toward her ear.
    Sally withdrew her arm from his grasp. Maybe he was joking. She waited for him to laugh—tell her he meant nothing by it.
    He didn’t.
    “Does everyone in town know about my life?” she asked. She suddenly felt as though she were the lead in a sitcom gone horribly wrong.
    Nate gave her a brotherly smile. “Just watching out for our own, right?”
    Sally nodded. Could this nightmare get any worse?
    Nate patted her arm, and in the next moment, reached out to take Charlene’s hand.
    “Hi, Sally,” Charlene bubbled forth in a bright, I-have-no-problems-in-the-world voice.
    Sally bit back a sob, and made a beeline for her truck.
    A few moments later, she sat behind the wheel in Dusty’s parking lot. Already several patrons were gathered there, given the number of vehicles in the lot. She gripped the wheel and told herself she should just go home, put a quarantined sign on her door, and call in sick for the next…oh, maybe the next five to ten years. Long enough for people to forget.
    She knew better. Hell, people still talked about Nate’s grandfather, a decorated WWII veteran, who one Friday night decided to streak across the football field during the halftime band performance in solidarity of his peer’s request for a nude beach day as part of the resident activities at the Sunnyside Nursing Home.
    George Smith was apprehended and eventually set free on bond. A couple of band members quit the band. The nursing home allowed George to stay, but nude beach day never happened. Still, it didn’t stop folks from reminiscing now and then, just for a good laugh.
    Sally figured she didn’t have a prayer of people forgetting this rumor anytime soon. She noted Aimee’s SUV and Liberty’s truck and knew her friends were inside waiting for her. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her keys and bag, and walked in to face the proverbial music, with her head held high.
    ***
    Rein glanced at Clay. “You’re sure you don’t want to come on back to the ranch? Wyatt’s making his famous chili, and if Gracie behaves, we might get in a game of poker.”
    Clay watched his friend load the last of his tools in the lockbox in the back of the truck. He reached inside the cab of his truck and slipped a relatively clean sweatshirt over the shirt he’d been working in all day. He’d gotten used to the altitude of the mountains finally, far removed from his Texas roots or even California, where he’d lived for a short time with his sister. But the air had turned colder as the sun started to set—colder as in the Polar Vortex variety. “Might join you later. I told Tyler I’d meet him for a beer over at Dusty’s.”
    Rein grinned as he yanked open the driver’s-side door. “Be careful. I hear the girls are meeting there tonight to discuss this year’s bachelor auction.”
    Clay frowned. He hadn’t lived in this area for