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Finally, he saw a truck approaching the gates. It stopped and a large man climbed out. He was wearing a flannel shirt with jeans and cowboy boots.
This was the owner? What had the guard said his name was? Hawkins?
The gates opened, and the man stepped forward toward him.
“Hello, Mr. Starr.”
“Hawkins.” He nodded, watching with narrowed eyes.
“Call me Derek. Now, what can I do for you? I don’t believe you have a reservation?”
For fuck’s sake.
Why hadn’t he thought of that?
“I’d like to make one.”
Derek’s eyebrows rose. “I see. You’d like to stay at Rawhide Ranch as a guest?”
“Yep. How do I do that?”
“Are you a Dominant, Mr. Starr?”
Whoa. That was a weird question. “Is that a prerequisite to stay here?”
“All guests of the Ranch need to fill in a few forms before they are… accepted. And sign an NDA.”
An NDA?
“So, I need to get my lawyer involved? To stay at a hotel?” Brand asked. “Look, I really just need to see Jolie Ryan. I know she’s staying here.”
“We’re not a hotel. Perhaps it would be best just to call Ms. Ryan?”
“You don’t think I’ve tried?” he bit out in frustration. “She’s not answering her phone. It goes directly to voicemail.”
“You’re a friend of hers?”
“No.”
Derek just stared at him.
“Not exactly. Things are… complicated.”
“Hmm.” Derek drew out his cell phone. “I have someone with Ms. Ryan right now. She’s been informed that you’re here and she said that she would call you.”
“I’m not leaving here without seeing her. How do I know that you… you people aren’t keeping her here against her will?”
“Ms. Ryan is free to leave whenever she likes.” Derek’s frown deepened as he read something else. “I need to get back.”
“Wait! What is it… is something wrong with Jolie?” His heart started racing.
“Why would you think that?”
“Because she wasn’t feeling well during our last concert.”
“Ahh. And that’s why you’re here? To check on her? She told you she was coming here?”
“No, I, um, pressed a mutual acquaintance to tell me where she was.” And he wasn’t going to apologize for that. “I need to know she’s all right.”
