Trusting Sydney (The Temptation Saga 6)

Sam wasn’t one to wallow in misery. He’d had his share of it, losing his mother when he was only ten, his father years later. Nearly losing his baby sister. If he’d wallowed in it, he would have had a shitty life.

Still, life had grown stale.

He needed a change. He’d hoped against the odds that Sydney might be that change.

Nope. Not to be.

He dressed quickly and headed over to the main house to see Dusty. She and Zach were sitting at the table, drinking coffee.

“Glad I caught you,” Sam said. “I thought you all might have headed over to the grounds already.”

“No, not for a few hours yet,” Zach said. “Have a seat. Want some coffee?”

“Don’t mind if I do. Don’t get up. I’ll get it.” Sam poured himself a cup and sat down next to his sister.

“Rumor has it you left the party with one Sydney

Buchanan last night,” Dusty said.

“Rumor has it that’s none of your business, little sis.”

Zach smiled. “Give the man a break, darlin’. You know men don’t kiss and tell.”

“This isn’t a man. He’s my brother,” Dusty said. “Now spill it.”

“There’s nothing to spill,” Sam said. “I gave her a ride home.”

“Now I know darn well you and Chad hooked up with Syd and her friend at the stock show that time. You remember, don’t you, Zach?”

“Dust, you’re gonna have to give your big brother a break here. He clearly doesn’t want to discuss this.”

“There’s nothing to discuss, and that’s final.” Truer words had never been spoken. He and Sydney were over. Heck, they’d never begun. Sam took a long drink of the coffee. Good and strong, just as he liked it. “Case closed.”

Dusty sighed. “Fine. I understand.”

“In that case, Dust and I have something we need to talk to you about,” Zach said.

Sam took another sip. “Yeah? What is it?”

“Well, our ranch foreman is retiring, goin’ down to Arizona with his family.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“We need a new foreman, and Dust and I think you might be the perfect man for the job.”

Sam perked up. “I’m listening.”

“You wouldn’t have to sell the Double D, Sam,” Dusty said. “You could have your foreman run it. It’s a small operation, and you’ll be making more than enough here to keep it running. I know you don’t want to sell it. It has sentimental value to both of us.”

He set his mug on the table. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to do business with family.”

“Which is why I’m offerin’ you a cut,” Zach said. “That way, you’d be an owner of sorts. Dust and I have discussed this at length with Dallas and Chad and their wives. We all agree you’re who we want.”

“Plus, it’d be great to have you here, Sam,” Dusty added.

A new place. A new job. New challenges. New people to meet, and family to spend time with. It might be just the cure for a life that had grown stale.

Sounded like a gift dropped from heaven.