“Why?”
“I might need to borrow your truck for a couple of weeks if you’re not going to be using it.”
“No problem. There’s not a truck at the D&R?”
“Well, yeah. Sure, but…”
“But what?”
But she didn’t want to ask Reno for anything.
“Nothing. Just being a little weird about the new job, I guess.”
“Look, if there is any problem getting one of their trucks, of course you can come get mine. Now don’t you wish you’d bought a truck instead of that motorcycle?”
She laughed. “You never miss the chance to bitch about my Fat Boy, do you?”
“And I won’t stop until you sell it or I die.”
She sobered at his words. “You’re not going to die.”
“No, I’m not. So you better start writing up that ad to sell it.”
“I’ve got to go. Let me know what the doctor says tomorrow.”
“Sure. Magda, thanks for coming home.”
His words dug a crater into her heart. “You take care. Talk to you tomorrow.”
She clicked off and headed back to the house, wondering how big of a mess was awaiting her in the kitchen.
Chapter Five
The truck issue turned out to be a non-issue. Reno handed her a set of keys the next morning with, “You’re going to need the truck to shop,” and then left with Darren, both of them on horseback. All the fretting for nothing.
The payment issue was also resolved with a phone call to Parker Market. Once Reno explained the situation to the owner, he had no problem accepting the D&R credit card for Magda’s purchases.
Magda spent the next couple of days doing deep cleaning. It was obvious Reno and Darren—one or both of them—had done some surface cleaning before she’d arrived, but there was still plenty of built-in and ground-in dirt that had to be dealt with. She didn’t mind the cleaning. In fact, she got pleasure out of it. She was positive most people would think her nuts because of that, but she had a to-each-his-own philosophy.
Another tine in her philosophy fork was the dining situation. When she’d worked for Mitch, she hadn’t joined him for meals. She’d never known when he’d come home for dinner. Some nights it had been close to nine before he was done for the day, and other times, he was in by five and starved. Dinner at five she could have handled, but nine? No way could she have held out that late.
Plus, his ex-wife, Joanna, had lived to make Magda’s life a living hell. Mitch and Joanna had been married when Magda had joined the household over Joanna’s strong objections. Joanna had resented Magda from day one. Even after Mitch and Joanna’s divorce, Joanna always found a reason to be back in Mitch’s house. If Joanna had found Mitch and Magda dining together, no matter how innocent, she’d have made more of an issue of it than it was. It had been better to not feed fuel to that dragon.
Magda maintained the separation between employee and employer at her new job until the fourth evening. After sitting a big bowl of chili in front of each brother, she went back for cheese and onions and was surprised when neither man began to eat. Usually, they dug in the minute the food was on the table.
“Is there a problem?” she asked, wondering if the chili had been a mistake.
“Yep,” Darren said. “The problem is that you that refuse to eat with us. Reno and I have been talking about it. What gives?”
Her gaze flicked from one man to the other. “Uh, I work for you.”
Reno shrugged. “True, but…” He waved his hand around the room. “We aren’t exactly formal here.”
She didn’t say anything because she wasn’t sure what to say.
“So,” Darren picked up the conversation, “we think you should put your butt in a chair and eat with us.” He grinned as though daring her to slap his head for saying butt.
“Have you eaten?” Reno asked.
“No. I usually eat after you finish.”
“Good.” Reno popped out of his chair, went to the cabinet, grabbed a bowl and a spoon and put them on the table. “Sit. Eat,” he ordered. “And don’t even think about arguing with us.” He winked. “We’re your bosses.”
Nodding, she sat, but she wondered if sitting with Reno every night for dinner would feel like she was trying to play house. She pulled her shoulders back. No, it wouldn’t feel like they were playing at being a couple because she wouldn’t let it.
The next day was New Year’s Eve. Magda had spoken with her dad about noon to see if he had plans for the evening. Of course he did. He and Blanche were having dinner and watching the fireworks in town. When he’d invited Magda to join them, she’d cringed. How ironic was it that her dad had a date for the big evening and she didn’t. She turned him down.
Darren had mentioned that morning that he and Reno would both be gone for dinner so not to bother cooking. So she didn’t. When they got in from working, she had cheese and crackers and chips and dips for them to snack on if they needed to take the edge off an appetite.
Darren, who she didn’t think ever missed a chance to eat, grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and pulled up a chair at the table.
“Thanks, Magda. I’m starving, and I don’t pick up my date for dinner until seven.”
“I can make you a sandwich, if you want.”
“Would you? That’d be great.”
As she pulled turkey, ham and cheese from the refrigerator, she asked, “What about you, Reno? Want a sandwich while I’ve got the stuff out?”
“If you’ve got time.”
Frowning, she set the sandwich ingredients on the counter. “What do you mean? It only takes a second.”
“I mean, you might need to be getting ready for a date or something.”
She nodded that she understood what he was really asking. “Nope. No date.”
“You’re not going into town to watch the fireworks?” Darren asked. “Whispering Springs does quite a show.”
“I know. I went every year, but not this year. I have a quiet evening with a good book planned. You guys have dates, right?” As the question left her mouth, she knew she’d made a horrible mistake. She didn’t care if Reno had a date. It wasn’t any of her business one way or the other.
“Yep.”
“Who’s the lucky girl?”
“Sarah Jane Mackey.”
“Bro. That is so wrong,” Reno said.
“Why?” Magda wondered what was wrong with Darren’s date. She didn’t recognize the name, but that didn’t mean anything.
Reno took the plate with the sandwich Magda offered him. “She’s got a crazy crush on Darren, not that I understand it at all.” He sat at the table and used his plate to gesture at his brother. “You’re giving her false hope. Unless there’s something there I don’t know?”
“No, I’m not,” Darren replied and picked up his sandwich. “She knows where things stand. I’ve told her I’m not interested in marriage and not looking for anything long term. She gets it.”
Magda screwed the top back on the mayo and then looked at Darren. “I don’t know this girl, but if she’s got her sights set on you, that little proclamation wouldn’t mean a damn to her. It’d be more like a challenge or a bump in the road. Might slow someone down, but not detour them.”
Darren blew out a long breath. “Damn. Why can’t women just say what they mean?”
“I just did,” Magda said with a grin.
“Not you. So far you’re the only female I know besides my sister that says exactly what she means, even if you do have a wicked head slap.”
She laughed. She liked Darren. He was handsome and funny and she wasn’t sexually attracted to him at all. Unlike Reno, who was gorgeous, sexy, hot, heart-throbbing and…she had to stop listing his attributes before she jumped him at the table in front of his brother.
“What about you, R
eno?” she asked. “Date tonight?” She tried for light and unconcerned about his answer. She hoped she pulled it off, but she wasn’t sure when the look he gave her was a squinty-eyed stare.
“Yeah. Doubt you know her. Cora Belle Lambert.”
“Elise Belle’s little sister?” Magda asked. “Sure I do. She’s a doll.”
“Why is it that all the Lambert girls are named after cows?” Darren asked with a mouthful of cracker and cheese.
Magda couldn’t stop the shriek of laughter that burst forth. “Sorry,” she said. “But you don’t know how many times I’ve had that thought.”
“Probably a good thing they don’t have any sons. They’d probably have named them after bulls.”
“Hello,” Reno said. “I’d like to introduce you to Bushwacker Lambert.”
Darren and Magda howled.
“We are being so bad,” Magda said, wiping tears from her eyes. “Stop it.”
“Asteroid Lambert?” Darren said.
“Bad Bob Lambert?” Reno added.
“Stop it,” Magda ordered, still laughing. “My gut is hurting.”
Darren pushed back his chair. “I’ve got to get moving if I want to get to Sarah Jane’s house by seven.” He patted the top of Magda’s head. “Thanks for the chow.”
She shook her head and grinned as she watched him leave.
“Don’t you need to be getting dressed for your date too?”
“Not yet. I’ll let him get done with the bathroom before I go up.” He put his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “I hate you’re staying home by yourself tonight.”
“I don’t. I have a great book going and I’ll watch Carson Daly do the countdown, so I’ve got a full night planned.”
“Oh, yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “Sounds like an action-packed evening for sure.”
She lifted one shoulder. “To each her own. What time do you need to leave?”
He glanced at the clock on the stove. “Soon. I’d better go hurry Darren out of the bathroom.” The chair skittered on the linoleum as he pushed it back to stand. “Magda.”
Their gazes met. “Yes?”
He shook his head. “Never mind. Have a nice evening.”
His back was straight and almost rigid as he left. She wanted to call him back, ask him what he was going to say a while ago, but she didn’t. She’d drawn the line in the sand, so to speak. He was staying on his side and she had to also.
Even if what she wanted to do was erase that line with her foot.
The guys left within the hour, leaving the woodsy scent of male cologne wafting behind them. Once their trucks were out of earshot, the quiet in the house was overwhelming. She wandered through the downstairs rooms, finding absolutely nothing that needed to be cleaned or straightened. Sure that the upstairs had to be a mess, she headed up. To her surprise, it wasn’t nearly as bad as she’d expected. Of course, there were wet towels on the floor of the bathroom, but at least that gave her something to do. She carried those, as well as the dirty jeans and shirts from today, down to the laundry and put in a load.
With nothing to do, she pulled out the flour, sugar and eggs and started making cookies for the week.
As it got closer to midnight in the Eastern Time zone, she flipped on the television and found a countdown program. She muted the sound. She simply wasn’t in the mood for happy music. She wanted to sulk, and nobody could do a better sulk.
A few hot cookies called her name from the kitchen and she answered the call, plating up a few with a glass of milk. If a sugar high couldn’t get her into a better mood, nothing would.
She’d just stuffed a milk-soaked chocolate-chip cookie into her mouth when she heard the back door open. She froze. Her heart slammed against her chest. Nobody should be coming in that door until well after midnight. One of the great things about the D&R was its isolated location made it peaceful and quiet. However, one of the bad things was its isolated location where nobody could hear you scream.
Replacing the milk glass in her hand with the baseball bat on the floor, she stood posed poised to defend herself. She cocked the bat back over her shoulder.
“What the hell are you doing with that bat?” Reno asked, taking a step back when he saw it.
She slapped her hand over her heart. “You scared me to death. What are you doing here?”
“Cora Belle drank too many beers and got sick. I took her home and decided there was no reason to go back to town. Thought I’d just head home.”
“Oh.” She set the bat on the floor by the couch and retook her seat. “Sorry.”
“I’m not. At least not so much. I like Cora and everything, but she’s a little immature.”
“How old is she?”
“Twenty-one.”
Nodding, Magda said, “Oh yes. I remember those days.”
Reno sat on the other end of the couch. “Cookies?”
“Fresh from the oven.”
He grabbed two off the plate and devoured both with two bites. “Good.”
She laughed. “You sound like a caveman. Good food. Need more.”
Grinning, he said, “Good food,” and then beat on his chest. “Need more.”
When she laughed, he did too and then headed for the kitchen. Shortly, he was back with more cookies and a big glass of milk.
“Not that it’s any of my business, but how can you drink milk on top of an evening of beer?”
“Easy.” He took a swallow. “I didn’t drink any beer.” He stuffed another cookie in his mouth. “I don’t drink and drive. Ever. Besides, Cora was doing enough for both of us.”
“Have you been seeing her long?”
“You really want to talk about my dating life? Or are you asking about my sex life?”
“Neither. Sorry. None of my business.”
He stretched his arm out along the back of the sofa until he could just brush her neck with his fingertips. “It could be your business, if you wanted it to be.”
“Don’t. Please.” Magda pulled her head back until his fingers could no longer touch her. Just a gentle sweep of his fingers and she had to fight the urge to lean into the stroke rather than away.
“Okay.” His fingers rested on the top cushion. “I apologize.” His voice was rough with suppressed anger. She knew him well enough to hear it.
“Reno—”
“Yes?”
She swallowed against the lump forming in her throat and tried, unsuccessfully, to slow her breathing. “Look, you said our past would not be a problem when I took this job. I took you at your word. I need this job, true, but I can find another. Just say the word and I’ll be gone.”
Running his fingers through his hair, he uttered a low curse. “No. Don’t go. I gave my word. I won’t touch you again.” He stood. “I’d better leave before midnight. Otherwise, you might think I want to kiss you.” His footsteps were heavy on the wooden stairs as he headed to his bedroom.
The problem was she wanted him to kiss her. Maybe the promise that he wouldn’t pursue her while she worked there wasn’t a deal in her best interest…or at least not in the best interest of her libido. And damn it. Wasn’t that just her luck? The deal she’d concocted was coming back to bite her in the ass.
Chapter Six
The first week in January was balmy with a front that blew in from the gulf. The sun shone every day. No rain. No ice. No snow.
Life within the little house settled into a routine. Meals consisted of lots of meat and potatoes and whatever vegetables Magda could talk the guys into trying. Muddy boots in the house only happened once—Darren, no surprise there. As she’d promised, he’d found his boots in the evergreen tree just past the front porch. He took the boot-relocation punishment well, laughing as he went to reclaim them. However, Magda suspected that the unusually warm weather and the dry ground kept him in a good humor.
The same couldn’t be said for Reno.
Since New Year’s Eve, Reno had been distant. Oh, he spoke to her. Thanked her for his meals or a clean pair of jeans, but the light had gone out of his eyes when he looked at her. She missed it.
Zeb Hobbs went for his second stent on the first Monday in January. Magda took off that day and headed to the hospital cath-lab waiting room. She wasn’t surprised at all to find Blanche Jenkins there.
Blanche was a very nice woman and Magda was so pleased to see that she was carrying the Christmas Coach purse. In a way, Magda was a little jealous of all the time Blanche got with Zeb. However, when Dr. Myles came out to tell them that Zeb had done great and that he was in the recovery room, he mentioned that Zeb had asked for them both to come back.
There was no need to make plans to stay overnight as she’d done before. This time, the procedure had been done on an outpatient basis and Blanche would drive him back to his house, and apparently, play nurse. Magda didn’t mind. How could she when she saw the smile on Zeb’s face when Blanche took his hand in recovery? Magda was the third wheel.
After getting her dad settled in Blanche’s car for the ride home, Magda kissed him on the cheek and walked to where her Fat Boy waited. The balmy weather from last week hadn’t carried over to this week, but she could live with forty-degree temperatures.
The ride back to the D&R was pleasant after spending the majority of the day inside. She drew in deep breaths of fresh Texas air, replacing the antiseptic smell of the hospital. She really needed to get out of the house more. Keeping the D&R ranch house clean and tidy was a breeze. More than once, she’d considered asking the guys if there was anything she could do to help them. Oh, she knew she couldn’t string a fence or round up cattle, but she could certainly refill water troughs and feed bags. Maybe she’d put that on the agenda to talk about tonight.
The first drop of rain splattered on her helmet face shield about twenty minutes out from the ranch. By the time she turned into the drive, the clouds had released their water stock in torrents. The guys had given her an unused stall in the barn to store her motorcycle out of the weather. Used to leaving it outside, she was glad she had a nice dry place to park it tonight. The faded-red door was heavy as she pulled to open it, but it slid to the side without a creak or squeak. She rolled her bike inside so she wouldn’t frighten the horses stabled there. Once out of the rain, she pulled the helmet off her head and sat it at the door to pick up on her way out.
Texas Bossa Nova (Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book 5) Page 5