Free Christmas With the Billionaire Rancher by Mandy Baxter

them to come on back.”
    â€œChloe! ’Sup?” Derrick strode through the door with a wide grin.
    â€œHey kiddo. Hailey said you brought a friend along.”
    â€œHope it’s okay if I tag along.” Warmth suffused Chloe’s skin at the sound of Nate’s voice. He strode in behind Derrick and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I stopped by to see if I could take you to lunch and found out you already had a date.”
    â€œYou didn’t tell me you knew somebody so cool, Chloe,” Derrick said with a wide grin.
    Nate gave her a lopsided smile that nearly buckled her knees. “I don’t know about cool,” he said. “Little man and I got to know each other while we were waiting in the lobby. Talked soccer,” he added with a wink. “I have a feeling he’s cooler than me.”
    â€œNo way.” Derrick practically bounced with enthusiasm. “Did you know Nate saw Leo Messi play? In person! How freaking awesome is that?”
    Chloe’s gaze locked with Nate’s. “Definitely awesome.”
    Nate shrugged and gave her a sheepish half-grin that melted her heart. “A friendly. When I was overseas.”
    Derrick looked ready to burst out of his skin with excitement. “Can he come to lunch with us, Chloe?”
    His hazel eyes flashed with heat. “I’m buying. It’s the least I can do considering what you did for me last night.”
    Derrick looked from Chloe to Nate, a too-knowing grin spreading over his young face.
    â€œOkay then.” Time for a change of subject. She was sure her face had flushed to a deep rose. “I think we’d better take Nate up on his offer. Pizza?”
    â€œYeah!” Derrick exclaimed. “Want pizza, Nate?”
    His gaze met Chloe’s again. Intense and full of unspoken need. Need that echoed her own to a T. “Pizza sounds great.”
    â€œGreat.” Chloe’s words came slowly. “Let’s get going, boys. I’m starved.”
    She grabbed her purse and rounded the desk. Derrick took off at a tear down the hallway. Nate waited for Chloe in her office doorway and held out his hand. Chloe laced her fingers with his and he brought her knuckles to his mouth and kissed them.
    â€œHope this is okay,” he murmured in a husky tone that sent a zing of electricity through Chloe’s body. “I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see you.”
    It was better than okay. Chloe’s stomach twisted into a pretzel as she walked with him down the hall. “I’m glad,” she replied. “I couldn’t wait to see you, either.”
    He flashed a wide smile. “Perfect.”
    Perfect. Chloe couldn’t agree more. In fact, she was beginning to think that this was too perfect. Too good to be true. She just hoped that by contacting Travis for help with the foundation, that she wasn’t about to bring all of this perfection to an end.

Eight
    â€œWhat’s his name?”
    Nate watched as Chloe nuzzled the little white-faced calf through the slats of the chute. Damned thing was already pushing a hundred and fifty pounds and would take all of his muscle to restrain. But Chloe treated it like it was a helpless newborn, tiny enough to carry around in her arms.
    â€œHe doesn’t have a name,” Nate replied. “He’s a steer.”
    â€œHe has to have a name.” If Chloe had it her way, every last cow on the ranch would be wearing a name tag and a bow by the end of the week.
    â€œHis name’s cheeseburger,” Nate replied.
    Chloe swatted at his shoulder before moving her hands to hover over the calf’s ears. “Nate! He’ll hear you!”
    For the past few days, Nate had felt as though he were living another man’s life. And that scared the shit out of him. With Chloe around, his mind was more than occupied. The familiar panic attacks made fewer and fewer appearances. His muscles had begun to