living up to the stipulations set forth in this document.”
Ashley had no interest in having someone watch over her shoulder for the next several months. She liked working on her own, doing her own thing. That’s why she’d left a highly successful and high-paying position at a Los Angeles publicity firm to start her own business. But she would put up with almost anything to earn Mr. Sinclair’s business. And if that meant she had someone following her around, so be it. She didn’t have to like it, only deal with it long enough to make it through her trial period.
“That sounds fair, Mr. Sinclair.” She quickly read the document, slowly went over it a second time, then signed her name before she passed the paper back across the table. “With whom will I be working?”
“I won’t divulge a name yet, but I have someone in mind. I’ll be in touch next week.”
“Thank you, sir.” Ashley accepted the copy of the document he gave her, then stood, holding out her hand. “I appreciate this opportunity and look forward to earning your business.”
Mr. Sinclair shook her hand with enthusiasm, smiling as though he’d just received a fabulous gift. “I’m hoping this endeavor proves to be a beneficial one for us both, Miss Jarrett. I’ll be in touch soon with more details.”
He escorted her to his office door, and Ashley turned to give him a parting glance.
“To clarify, sir, you don’t mind if I continue with my current accounts, do you?”
“No, my dear. Not at all. In fact, I hope you’ll continue with what you’ve done in the past, such as helping your cousin’s bull riding career and working with Lasso Eight.”
“I will, sir. Thank you, again.”
“My pleasure, Miss Jarrett.”
Ashley offered Mr. Sinclair’s assistant a polite nod as she hurried toward the elevator in his office building, then made her way to the parking garage where she’d left her rental vehicle. Mr. Sinclair could have lived anywhere in the world, but he’d grown up on a ranch in central Oregon and still owned the property. He had a large office building in Boise, Idaho, as well as offices in Dallas, Texas, and Wichita, Kansas.
Grateful he’d asked her to meet him in Boise, it meant Ashley could spend the weekend visiting her cousin, Chase, and his sweet wife at their ranch near Hermiston, Oregon.
She stopped to get a bite to eat, then began the four-hour drive to Chase and Jessie’s ranch. Instead of relaxing, her mind played over the conversation with Mr. Sinclair. The more she thought about him giving her tasks and someone being around to enforce them, the more upset she grew.
What in the world had she just agreed to do?
Chapter Two
“Hello? Anyone home?” Ashley called as she dragged her suitcase through Chase and Jessie’s front entry. She shut the door behind her, anxious to keep the summer heat from following her inside the cool of the house.
When no one greeted her, she carried her suitcase up the stairs to the room Chase referred to as hers. She’d picked the paint colors and bedding and decorated it to suit her tastes. Whenever she visited the ranch, the room was always ready and waiting for her. She tossed the suitcase on the bed, removed her suit jacket, kicked off the heels she’d been wearing, and made her way down the back stairs to the kitchen.
“Hello?” she called again, but the house remained silent.
Familiar with the kitchen, she poured a glass of iced tea, helped herself to a jam-filled cookie from the jar on the counter, then wandered through the quiet house.
As she gazed around the spotless living room, she took her phone from her pocket, ready to send Jessie a text, when she heard footsteps and voices in the kitchen.
“Hey! Do you mind some company for the weekend?” she asked, hurrying into the room.
“Ashley!” Jessie greeted her with a big smile and a warm hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Did we know you were coming?” Chase asked, giving her a hug before stepping back with a curious look on his handsome face.
“I thought I’d surprise you. I had a meeting in Boise and decided to drive up for a visit before I head back to LA.”
“That’s great. We can put you to work,” Chase said, pouring glasses of iced tea for him and Jessie, then leaning back against the counter.
“Doing what?” Ashley asked, wondering what her cousin had in mind.
“The annual Lasso Eight photo shoot is coming up. We’ve only got a