Espino, Stacey - Her Cowboy Triple Team [Ride 'em Hard 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (7 page)

Things were too tense for her liking, so she decided to add a little humor. “You can hire me for the job. That would more than cover anything you did wrong.”

She got the desired effect. Ben’s lip tilted at the corner, and he leaned slightly closer. His body loosened, no longer stiff and proper. “That goes without saying, darlin’. I wouldn’t want anyone else for the job.”

If he hadn’t smiled, she would have assumed he misunderstood her. She wanted the job because she was the most qualified, not because of some unnecessary debt. “You know I was kidding, right?”

“I wasn’t. We need someone to handle the books. You certainly know what you’re doing. Clay wouldn’t have let you run his business if you weren’t capable.”

“He’s right,” said
Austin
. “You know your stuff, and our folks are down south for the season. The
Alberta
winters have taken a toll on our mother’s arthritis. It won’t be long until they decide not to come home at all.”

She didn’t know that. Kayla had met Mr. Richmond at the feed store when she first moved to town. He was a lot shorter than his two sons, with salt-and-pepper hair. He’d been friendly and respectable during all their transactions. But if he was gone, that meant the house was empty except for Ben and Austin. The Richmonds’ only two sons. The room suddenly felt too warm, too small.

“So it’s just the two of you running the whole operation?”

Austin
nodded. “It’s not easy. We have some hired help, but the days are still long. By the time we take off our boots at night, we don’t want to be thinking about ordering seed or sorting the books.”

“That makes sense. I’ll do what I can to help.”

So the brothers weren’t lazy at all. It continued to amaze her how a little ignorance could tear people apart.

* * * *

Austin
tried his best to hide his smile. Kayla Roberts had actually agreed to work for them, even after Ben had made a sorry fool of himself at the Garner corn roast.
Austin
had been away driving their parents to the airport or he’d never have let Ben get so wasted. Some of the other ranchers were already speculating about their choice to sign on with the GE grain company, so he didn’t want any more attention spotlighted on his family. The thought that Ben may have ruined his chance with Clay’s sister had been indigestible. But she’d come for the interview despite the barbaric way his brother had thrown himself on her. She wasn’t just beautiful but also forgiving.

He hadn’t failed to notice Kayla at the office. She was a vision, a welcome sight after dealing with rough and filthy, back-talking men all day. Now she was sitting in his home, her dark, thick hair pulled back off her pretty face. Kayla had the darkest eyes, smooth skin, and lush lips. He watched her fidget, her unease palpable. She was the lamb in a wolf’s den.

“Can I get you a drink? Coke, lemonade?” asked Ben.

“Sure. A lemonade would be nice.”

The interview was a formality. They both wanted her to take the job, and not just because she was qualified.
Austin
was well aware of his crush on the secretary but wasn’t one to announce his feelings. In fact, he withdrew from her, keeping his office visits brief and formal so as not to give his true desire away. He had personal insecurities when it came to women.
Austin
had been badly injured in a hay-baler accident when he was a teen, leaving his chest and side gruesomely scarred. It kept him from getting too close to women, certain they’d laugh or reject him once they saw him naked.

When he found out Ben had been just as smitten since the corn roast, wicked thoughts began to form in
Austin
’s head. They’d shared women in the past, but those were just passing flings. Kayla wasn’t the type of woman a man threw back. She was a keeper, a woman he could love. The first step in their fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants plan had already come to pass. She was in their house, and he’d have plenty of opportunities to prove himself worthy as potential lover and provider.

They were alone in the room now that Ben had left to get her a drink. She glanced up at him occasionally, shy and reserved. Her sweetness was part of her overall appeal. There were so many loudmouthed cowgirls in town that he savored Kayla’s soft voice and gentle nature. They were alike in more ways than she realized.

“Didn’t you want me to take a test or anything?”

“The job’s yours, darlin’.” He moved in closer, sitting on the wooden coffee table in front of her. “It was always yours.”

“Oh…Thank you,” she whispered. Her plump lips stayed slightly parted after she said the words, making him crave to lean over and kiss her.

“It’ll be nice to have a woman in the house again. Our momma’s been ill for some time and not able to take care of much.”

Austin
hadn’t had time for women with the responsibilities on the ranch keeping him separated from the outside world. It was one stress after the other, and it would be nice to close his eyes and let someone else take care of him for a while. A woman’s love was exactly what he needed. A good wife would provide all the care and attention he could ask for, not to mention satisfy his rampant sexual needs. He argued with his brother over the littlest things thanks to having perpetual blue balls the entire season.

Every time he ventured to the feed office, Kayla was right there, impossible to avoid. He didn’t like the idea of mixing business and pleasure. If things went sour with Kayla, her brother could drop the hammer on him. He’d have to find another distributor outside of town, and it would be a nightmare. But it seemed to be a godsend when she agreed to come for an interview. He’d overheard her talking about wanting to find new employment, so he jumped at the chance. The one phone call changed everything. The conflict of interest was gone, and she’d be underfoot for his planned courtship.

“Did you want someone to clean and cook or keep books?”

She didn’t sound offended, just curious. But he wanted to make himself perfectly clear. If he wanted a maid or a chef, he’d hire one. He wanted a woman for companionship, to take the edge off the endless days of working their large-scale ranch.
Austin
wanted what his parents had—unconditional, irrevocable true love.

“Kayla, the only thing you’ll need to worry about is keeping our books straight. Other than that, you’re free to enjoy the land, make use of the horses, anything you want.”

Austin
had tried to spoil his girlfriends in the past, buying them expensive gifts and taking them shopping, but their true colors quickly showed through. It was time for him to stop trying to buy love. He couldn’t make his shortcomings disappear. His scars would always be with him, so he wanted a woman who’d love him for the man, not the padded wallet. Kayla’s brother was swimming in wealth, yet she refused his handouts, living in a little apartment above the hardware store. It was the big gossip last month until the bioengineered wheat took over the hot seat. So he had high hopes that she wouldn’t try to use him for money.

She bit her lower lip and worried her hands together until finally deciding to slip a palm under each thigh. “I wouldn’t mind bringing one of my easels with me. I’d love to paint some of the views on my lunch break…if you don’t mind.”

He had the distinct feeling Kayla Roberts was about to capture his heart.

Chapter Six

It was later than he’d hoped. Grant tried to finish up all the work on the ranch early, but there was an endless list of things to do at this time of year. By the time he got into the house for a shower it was already seven o’clock in the evening.

Grant pulled his truck along the curb outside the hardware store. None of the businesses were open past five in their town, family forever more important than financial matters in their neck of the woods.

He had a dozen long-stem yellow roses wrapped in brown butcher paper. It was all he could find in the kitchen. He pulled down the visor with his free hand and checked his reflection briefly before slapping it back up.

“This is ridiculous,”
he muttered.

Matthew was right. He needed to man up and go after the woman he wanted, not sit back and let her walk out of his life because of a stupid misunderstanding.

After a deep breath for courage, he took the final steps to face Kayla. He wouldn’t blame her if she hated him. It had been three days, and she probably thought she was jilted.

He opened the door which led to the staircase up to her apartment. The narrow stairwell was unlit and claustrophobic once the door shut behind him. There was a thin band of light coming from underneath her door. He stood there on the landing for the longest time to work up the courage to face Kayla. Grant was used to hardcore cowgirls like his mother and Angel, who’d sooner kick him down the stairs than accept an apology three days late.

Grant heard a faint scratching sound from the other side of the door, and then it swung open, flooding the dark landing with a wash of warm light. Kayla screamed loud enough to put the heroine in a horror flick to shame. He instinctively reached out to cover her mouth.

“It’s me, Kayla. It’s just me. Grant.”

She tried to catch her breath, nearly sagging from the adrenaline rush. “What the hell are you doing standing outside my door in the dark?”

“Actually I was working up the nerve to knock. I came to apologize for being such an ass.” He handed her the roses.

She looked puzzled as she took them into the cradle of her arms. “What are these for?”

“I wouldn’t know where to start. For taking advantage of you, and not calling after the fact.”

She turned around, walking back into her apartment. Since she’d left the door wide open, he followed her in, closing it behind him. He nearly tripped over the orange tabby trying to weave through his legs.

“That’s Sepia,” she said as she pulled a heavy vase from the lower cupboard of her kitchenette. “And you didn’t take advantage of me. I’m a grown woman and I can make my own decisions. I was with you because I wanted to be.” She filled the vase with water and began arranging the roses.

“It’s not the cowboy way. You’re a good woman, and I should have respected you proper.”

She shook her head. “I’m not young and delusional. I never expected the happily ever after, but I do appreciate you apologizing for not calling.” Kayla opened a drawer and reached in for a pair of thick-handled scissors and began cutting some of the flower stems at different lengths.

“I’m not used to this stuff.” He wanted to say the fancy, flowery words that were in his heart, but he wasn’t an educated man. Farming was all he knew, and he wondered if it would ever be enough for a sophisticated woman like Kayla. “I’m not used to caring about a woman so much that I don’t know what to do or say. I should have called you the next day, but I clammed up, afraid I’d driven you away by moving so fast.”

She stopped her busy task, setting the scissors down, and turned to face him. “I never stopped you, so I’m just as much to blame.”

He closed the distance between them, seeking her warmth and soft skin. She’d been plaguing his waking thoughts since he watched her disappear into her apartment days earlier. Now she was so close, almost in his grasp. Should he dare to reach out to her? Would he make the same mistake again because he couldn’t control himself around Kayla?

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you, darlin’.”

He traced a finger along her jawline, savoring her delicate femininity. She leaned into his touch, the one sign he needed to know he wasn’t alone in his desire.

“Thank you for the flowers,” she said, barely above a whisper. Her eyes beckoned him, her lips taunting, full and moist.

He threaded his hand through her thick hair to support the base of her head as he leaned in for a kiss. The first was the faintest brush of the lips, just enough to feel the connection, the warmth, and the locked-up passion.

“I’ve missed these lips,” he said as he pulled back.

“What else did you miss?”

“Everything. Our conversations, your smile, the way you frown when I tease you, and the times I try to guess what you’d look like under all the layers you wear.” He swallowed hard after he felt he’d crossed that imaginary point of no return.

“There’s not much to see, trust me.”

Grant planned to show this filly just how much she meant to him.

* * * *

For a moment she’d been lulled by whatever erotic spell Grant cast over her. She wanted him to make a move, to admit he wanted her in dirty ways. After moping and wondering what she’d done wrong, she reveled in the fact it was all a misunderstanding. He hadn’t used her and then discarded her like her old boyfriends had. Having him back warmed her from the inside out, gave her the validation she so desperately needed.

“I saw plenty the other night. Enough that I want to see a lot more.” He began his invasion, backing her up until the edge of the counter island bit into her lower back.

“There was darkness and shadows when you saw me. Under this unforgiving light, I guarantee you’ll be taking back your roses and steering clear of me.”

He shook his head slowly, not taking those narrowed, predatory eyes off her. “I don’t want to hear you talkin’ like that, sweet thing. You’re perfect. Exactly the way I want you.”