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Through word of mouth, I’d already started spreading the idea, and the employees seemed excited. Just like at the other ranches, Tawnie and I had toured this morning. I could already tell this last hoorah was going to be a hit.

Chapter 36

Colton

I PACED BACK and forth in my room, wearing a path into the floor. My nails were chewed to hell, nerves twisting through me like a live wire.

I knew what I had to do. I just wasn’t sure I was ready to do it.

Eleanor found enough evidence to expose the truth, but she still thought it would be smart to release a statement on behalf of Stone Ranch—just in case the news went public anyway. My lawyer had already been in contact with Stacey’s team, laying out everything we had and making it clear that we knew of the bribery.

When I showed Ethan, he smirked and nodded, clearly impressed by Eleanor’s digging. I still couldn’t believe the lengths she’d gone to in order to find the truth. Without her, I don’t know what I would have done. A part of me hoped I would’ve held my ground, but in that moment, I was so close to giving in to anything they’d want.

Eleanor reminded me of the fight.

“Colton, you need to take a deep breath,” she said softly.

Eleanor sat on my bed, legs crossed beneath her, wrapped up in my blanket like she belonged there. Her glasses had slipped down her nose, and her laptop was open in front of her, fingers poised over the keys.

After dinner, she’d somehow found my room—showing up unannounced to work on the speech and help me prepare. Public speaking had never been my strong suit. It was one reason I’d chosen to stay anonymous for most of my career.

“What the hell am I even supposed to say?” I stopped pacing and planted my hands on the footboard, looking at her like she had all the answers. And maybe she did.

“That’s why I’m here,” she said, a small, knowing smile curving her lips. “You tell me what you want to say, and I’ll put it on paper, make it sound…better.”

I exhaled sharply. “How about this: Thanks to a self-righteous prick, I am standing in front of you today to defend myself because clearly, he is a fucking nutcase.”

Eleanor laughed, already typing. She bit her bottom lip in concentration as she tweaked my words, and damn if that didn’t distract me for a second.

“Due to the actions of an individual who believes they have the power to play with other people’s livelihoods, I am standing here today to defend my brand against unfounded claims made by someone clearly acting irrationally.”

I stared at her, letting out a slow huff. That was…impressive.

“See?” She pushed her glasses up with one finger, peering at me with those sharp, knowing eyes. “Trust me, Colton.”

Her voice was soft, but it hit something deep.

I sighed and ran both hands through my hair, resuming my pacing. My T-shirt rode up slightly with the motion, exposing a strip of skin between it and my sweatpants. I didn’t miss the way Eleanor’s gaze flickered there for half a second before she cleared her throat and looked back at her laptop.

“Fine,” I muttered. “I’ll start with this: I take full responsibility for my part in what happened and for the people who were hurt. Never did I want this to happen—it was never my vision for someone I hired to have their hands in something so fucking awful. The employees at Stone Ranch are like family, and it hurts to know that one of them chose to act so viciously toward the people who came here expecting a good time.”

Eleanor’s fingers flew across the keyboard as I spoke, the words pouring out of me faster than I could stop them. With each one, the weight on my chest lightened, fraction by fraction.

“If anyone is to blame, it’s me,” I continued, raking a hand through my hair and leaving it there. “I let down not only my employees but the guests who walk through our doors. Stone Ranch should be a safe, trusted place, and because I didn’t step in when I should have, someone got hurt here, under my roof. And that kills me.”

I swallowed hard, my voice rough. “I don’t blame them for being angry. For wanting justice. Hell, if it were my family, I’d walk in and burn the fucking place to the ground, starting with whatever asshole was highest in charge.”

I kept pacing, the words slipping free like water from a busted dam.

“But don’t punish the employees of Stone Ranch,” I said, voice firm. “If you need someone to hate, hate me. Throw every nasty word, every ounce of anger my way because I can take it. I’ve always taken it. I just hope that through the efforts we’ve made—and the ones we’re making now—you’ll be able to trust the ranch again. Trust the experience it’s meant to provide.

“Marcus was a manipulative bastard, out to cause problems at every turn. And a lowlife like that deserves far worse than jail time.”

I finally stopped pacing, exhaling sharply. When I turned back to Eleanor, she hadn’t stopped typing once. She sat there, focused and determined, her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she molded my raw words into something solid.

Something that might actually make a difference.

And damn it all if I didn’t want to pull her into me right then and there.