Honey Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #2) (7 page)

"I don't think I've read anything about his
family. Is he married?"

"Nope. Although, I think he came close
once. He mentioned something in passing but didn't elaborate. Are you
interested, Ann?"

Ann felt herself blush. "Goodness, no.
Believe me; I don't want to get involved with a man ever again." Images of
Jackson floated into her mind's eye: laughing, riding his horse, sitting behind
his computer, pouring a cup of coffee.

Sarah said, "Hey, there's Dixie. Now you
can meet her. Excuse me a sec." She walked to the counter and Ann heard
her call Dixie's name. A pretty woman with bouncing sable hair tied back with a
scrunchie turned around and grinned at her. A few minutes later, carrying a cup
of coffee, Dixie followed Sarah to meet Ann. As soon as introductions were
made, Ann instantly knew Dixie was sweet and likeable, nothing like Pritzy.

Dixie said, "I'm happy we're finally meeting.
Jacob and Julie come in often and speak wonderfully of you. And so does
Sarah."

"Thank you. I've heard great things about
you, too." Ann's heart sank. She had a feeling Dixie would be perfect for
Jackson.

"Looks like business is booming," said
Sarah.

"Yes, it always picks up during summer with
tourists on their way to sightsee Anasazi ruins. So tell me the latest, Sarah.
We haven't talked in ages."

Sarah munched on her bear claw and filled Dixie
in about Jacob and Julie trekking off to Alaska. She didn't mention anything
about Miles Brightman arriving, however. After that, she said, "Ann is
working at Triple T overseeing the main house."

Dixie looked interested, "Jackson was in
earlier. He's always so nice." She leaned in, "And sexy as hell."

Ann smiled but felt her heart kick. It looked
like Dixie was interested in him.

On the drive back to Lazy M, Sarah asked,
"So, what do you think about Dixie? Should I invite her to dinner with
Jackson?"

Ann gazed out the window at pastures of cows
whizzing past. "Definitely. She's a lovely person, inside and out."

"Yeah, she's got that girl-next-door look
with her freckles and big brown eyes. My only question: How can she be around
all those pastries and not gain weight? Okay, I'll tell Sage you gave her a
thumbs-up."

Ann forced a smile at her friend.

* * *

Ann nervously rubbed her hands together. The day
before had been her one month anniversary at Triple T and she hadn't seen
Jackson. Since today was Tuesday, she'd prepared dinner for him. She wondered
if he'd tell her she'd passed her trial period or ask her to find other
employment. He'd seemed happy with her work; although she'd learned years ago
with her husband that she couldn't count on anything. If Jackson didn't bring
the topic up, she was going to ask because the suspense was too much. She loved
working at the ranch and needed to know her fate. The buzzer on the oven distracted
her thoughts.

She was setting out place mats on the patio
table and had her back to the open terrace doors when she heard, "Hello,
Annie." Jackson's voice startled her and she whirled around with her hand
over her heart.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
He stretched. "The house smells wonderful. I'll take a quick shower."

"Okay." She watched his retreating
back and bit her bottom lip. She was such a weenie sometimes. Her grandmother
Molly had often lovingly chastised her for being so timid. She'd say,
"What the hell, Ann, stand up for yourself." Ann smiled at fond
memories, and then laughed. She'd called Molly a few days earlier and had to
say a hasty goodbye when her grandmother had informed her Newt was on the other
line.

Ann returned to the kitchen and set the food out
buffet style on the island so they could dish their plates and take them to the
terrace.

"I'm so hungry my stomach is touching my backbone,"
Jackson said from the doorway.

"Well, help yourself."

"No, you first."

Jackson was always gentlemanly. On the patio, he
set his plate down and then pulled her chair out. She sat and watched a flock
of cowbirds land in the pasture. "How was your day?" he asked.

"Oh, quite lovely. I ordered a new light
fixture for the mud room and some extra shelving. I got a really good deal at
the Ace Hardware."

"Annie, you're a fabulous shopper…and cook,"
Jackson said between bites.

"Thank you. I enjoy finding sales and cooking.
In fact, I've baked cookies for you to take to the men tomorrow. I asked Jim
Bob if he'd mind and he said they'd love it."

"The hands are still raving about that
chocolate cake."

"Uh, Jackson?"

He reached for his iced tea.

"I…ah…was wondering."

He sipped his tea and set it down.

Ann heard Molly's voice in her head.
Spit it
out, girl.

In a rush, she said, "Yesterday was the end
of my one month trial period and I was wondering if you wanted to keep me on.
You know, offer the job on a permanent basis if I was a good fit?" She
gnawed her bottom lip and looked at her plate.

* * *

Jackson watched Annie chew on her lip and heat
flooded him. She wanted to know if she was a good fit. The woman was driving
him crazy. Everything about her turned him on. She was as timid as a mouse and
yet it suited her.

He reached across the table and touched his
index finger to her hand wrapped tightly around her glass. "Annie, I'm
such an idiot. The day you interviewed for the job, I knew it was yours. I just
figured you did, too. Yes, the job is yours for as long as you want." He
withdrew his hand.

Annie lifted her eyes to his and the smile she
gave him practically turned him to ash.

After dinner, he quickly helped clear the dishes
and then high-tailed it to his office. He needed to get away from Annie. If he
didn't, she'd probably catch on to how aroused she made him and then he'd be up
shit creek. Heaven only knew how much she'd had to endure from that low-life
husband of hers. The thought of him touching sweet Annie made him sick to his
stomach.

He switched on his computer to check his latest venture,
but mostly to distract his thoughts from Annie's slim curves.

Oh, yes, his investment was looking good. Next,
he sorted through his emails and read his monthly report from Mitchell
Brokerage. He'd made a crap load of money. Good, now he could start remodeling
the ranch hands' quarters. He'd wanted to enlarge the game room and add another
pool table and card table, maybe even some video games, and now he could.

He checked his calendar. Sage and Sarah had
invited him to dinner that Friday.

* * *

Ann hated the fact that she was attending the same
dinner Sage and Sarah had conspired to get Jackson and Dixie better acquainted.
At first she'd refused when Sarah had called begging her to come. They didn't
want the dinner to look like what it was—a set up. But, because Ann was wont to
deny her friends anything, she had finally agreed and now rode to the Lazy M
with Jackson in his big pickup.

He popped a CD in the stereo and George Strait sang
I Just Want to Dance with You.
He said, "I really like what you've
done to the guest room. I think Alligator will feel more comfortable when he
visits."

Ann laughed, "Alligator?"

Jackson turned the music down. "Yep,
Alligator. His real name is Al Kosky. He's a friend who lives in New York. He
was born in the Bronx and he's built like a tank. Nicest guy you'll ever meet,
but he scares the crap out of most people because of his size."

"Will he be visiting anytime soon? I'm glad
you warned me," Ann chuckled.

"Maybe. He vacations once or twice a year
and usually ends up at Triple T for a week." Jackson laughed, "He says
that's all the time he can stand bein' around horseshit; excuse my
French." The song ended when he pulled into the long drive leading to the
Lazy M Ranch. He said softly, "I like that song, Annie."

Ann didn't trust her voice and nodded.

Jackson said, "I'm glad you're coming to
dinner, too."

"Thanks." She felt suddenly shy. She
wondered if he knew Dixie was going to be there. She got her answer when they
pulled in front of the main house and he said, "I wonder whose car that
is? Looks like it's not just us for dinner."

Sage opened the door to Jackson's knock.
"Hello, Jackson, Ann. Come on in and take a load off. Sarah and Dixie are
on the terrace watching a beautiful sunset."

Jackson handed him the bottle of wine he'd
brought.  "Smells wonderful in here."

Ann agreed, "It certainly does."

"Thanks. It's all Sarah's doing." Sage
accepted the wine, looked at the label, and quirked an eyebrow.
"Niiiccceee." He motioned with the bottle for them to follow him.
"Let's join the ladies."

When they entered the back porch through the
kitchen, Dixie and Sarah stood to greet them. "Howdy, Ann, Jackson,"
Dixie greeted warmly.

"Grab a seat," said Sarah.

Ann's heart twisted when she saw how perfect
Jackson and Dixie looked together. He'd removed his hat when they'd entered the
house and his golden hair glistened in the fading light. Dixie's pale
complexion contrasted strikingly with his dark one, and she was tall and
beautifully proportioned. The top of her head reached Jackson's chin, whereas
the top of Ann's head met his lower chest. Sage motioned Jackson to a chair
beside Dixie. Sarah patted the one between her and Sage for Ann.

Ann asked, "Where are the boys?"

Sarah said, "Jacob and Julie took them to
the movies to see the latest 3-D animation flick. It's about a flying horse,
something the twins will be talking about from morning til night for weeks to
come. I suppose we'll have to buy the flying horse toy and all his cohort
toys," she laughed.

Sage joined her laughter, "I'm preparing
myself for the onslaught."

For the next hour, the small group discussed the
weather, ranch issues, coffee shop issues, children issues, and a mish mash of
other topics. Sarah got up a few times to check on their meal and when she
called from the back door that supper would be served in ten minutes, Ann
jumped up to help her. While Sarah removed the pot roast from the oven simmering
with potatoes, carrots, and onions, Ann tossed the salad.

"What do you think?" Sarah whispered.
"Did I do good in matching them up?"

Ann forced a smile. "You did great. They
look wonderful together."

"Thanks for coming. I didn't want it to
look like a set up, although I think they know it is."

Ann poured some more dressing on the salad.
"I wonder if he'll ask her out?"

"Let's hope so," Sarah said with
enthusiasm.

"Yeah, let's hope." Ann tried to sound
just as enthused, but it came out kind of flat.

"Well, looks like we're ready."

* * *

After their guests left, Sage and Sarah washed
dishes and discussed the evening. While drying the wine glass Sarah had rinsed
and handed him, Sage said, "I'm not sure what our next step should be. It's
obvious they've got a hankerin' for each other."

"I know. Every time I looked at Jackson, he
was looking at Ann. And she kept trying to look happy thinking we were matching
him up with Dixie. Believe me, I know how she feels. When Chrissy Cabot showed
up looking for you the summer we got together, I thought I would die of
jealousy. It didn't help that she was tall, curvy, and gorgeous."

Sage stopped drying the wine glass. "You
want to know what I thought when I drove up and saw her at the door?"

Sarah nodded.

"I thought, 'What the fuck have I done to
deserve this'?"

"Sage!"

"It's the truth. I had been on cloud nine
because of our developing relationship—that's a nice way of saying I was on
cloud nine because we were sleeping together and you weren't looking at me with
daggers anymore."

Sarah reached a wet hand to caress her husband's
cheek. "I love you."

Sage tossed his towel down. "What do you say
we forego the dishes and do something we're really good at?"

Sarah stood on tiptoe and lightly kissed his lips.
"I'm always striving to improve myself."

Turning the kiss into a passionate one, Sage
said, "Baby, I love you so much."

* * *

Ann needed to get her mind on anything other
than how well Dixie and Jackson fit together. As far as set-ups go, the night had
been a success. Jackson had laughed and joked in such an easy manner with Dixie
that it made Ann green with envy and she hated the feeling. The only good thing
was that Dixie was much better suited to Jackson than Pritzy.

Reaching for the book on her nightstand, she
decided to lose herself in
Honey Kisses.

Fannie ran wildly through the woods. Seeing
Johnson with Priscilla speared her heart worse than any physical pain could
have accomplished. Inadvertently, while performing her daily task of collecting
eggs from the henhouse, she had heard voices inside the barn, and gone to check
it out. Oh, the torment of finding Priscilla with her lips pressed against
Johnson's.