by Marla Monroe
Thirty minutes later, all of the dirty dishes were washed or in the wonderful industrial sized dishwasher. She wiped off the tables, straightened the chairs, and made sure that the water dispensers were full before returning to the kitchen. She had made homemade cookies that morning for morning break and afternoon break. She quickly arranged some on a covered tray and set it out next to the coffee pot. She had it set to turn on at 9:55 a.m.
Lunch would be sandwiches and soup, an easy fix for her. She planned to make bread that afternoon so that normally, they would always have fresh homemade bread for sandwiches and their meals. Making bread from scratch always soothed her. It would be a relaxing way to spend her afternoon. Right now, though. She planned to head back upstairs and do a little unpacking. Her apartment had been a pleasant surprise. She’d really expected a room with a bath. Having an actual apartment was so much more than she had expected. Now she wanted to fix it up some and make it more like home.
“Hey there, Billy Jean. I brought you a surprise.”
* * * *
Laramie frowned when the sweet little chef jumped, making a soft squeal before covering her heart with her hand.
“Oh! Goodness, you scared me,” she accused.
“Sorry. I thought you heard me come in. Laredo says I stomp around like a moose,” he said.
“I’m sure I just wasn’t paying attention. What is the surprise?” she asked.
“It’s upstairs outside your apartment. I didn’t want to just take it inside without you saying it was okay. Come on.” Laramie grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the stairs.
He was pleased when she didn’t try to get him to release her hand. He liked how it felt in his. The fact that he noticed something like that made him stop in midstride. Billy Jean bumped into him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, taking a step back.
“Sorry. Guess I need brake lights as much as the horses do,” he said to cover his confusion.
Why had he noticed that he liked holding her hand? He needed to think about that as soon as he had time. Laramie had never really noticed how a girl’s hand felt in his before.
“If you don’t like what I have, don’t think you have to use it. I can take it back to storage. I just noticed that you have a lot of books and might want something to put them in.” He continued climbing the stairs with her behind him.
When they reached the landing, her gasp of surprise made him smile. She hurried over to where he’d left the old bookshelf in the hall under the light so she could see it clearly. He’d even dusted it for her, another oddity that he’d even thought about dusting the damn thing. Shaking his head, he watched as she looked it over.
“It looks like an heirloom. Where did you get it?” she asked, running her hand over the wood.
“It was in my bedroom when Laredo and I were kids. When we left, we moved everything from my room to storage so they could use the space for Mom’s sewing room.” He shrugged as she gaped at him.
“It is a family heirloom. I can’t use this. Something could happen to it!”
“Nonsense. It’s just gathering dust out there and probably going to dry rot if someone doesn’t use it and keep it tended to. Nothing will happen to it. Let’s move it in and see where you want to put it.” He walked over and put his hands on the shelves.
“Goodness, wait! Let me open the door and I’ll help you. It looks heavy.” Billy Jean hurried to open the door to her apartment before returning to help him carry it inside.
He did everything he could to take most of the weight on him, but Billy Jean was panting by the time they had the heavy bookshelf situated against a wall in the living area. She had the biggest grin on her face though.
“Like it?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. Thanks for letting me use it. I do have a lot of books. Most of them are cookbooks,” she said.
He hovered near her, unsure what he was doing. He wanted to give her a hug but figured that was too forward. He’d just met her the day before. What was wrong with him?
“I better get back to work before Laredo finds out I’m goofing off. See you at lunch.” He started to walk off, but she stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. There are cookies down by the coffeepot in the dining room if you want some.” She squeezed his arm then let go and hurried over to the bookshelf again.
Laramie smiled and left her to arrange her books. He felt good inside. Being part of the reason she had smiled warmed him. What was going on? She was a pretty woman and he was attracted to her. He’d known that almost from the beginning, but it was more than that. He already liked her, liked the fact that she didn’t have any trouble speaking her mind, but wasn’t pushy either.
The way it had felt when he’d held her hand worried him though. It meant that there was more going on between them than he’d expected. Why did it all feel so important to him? They didn’t really know each other. For all he knew, she had a boyfriend or fiancé off in Kentucky. That thought had his gut churning instantly.
Hell, I’m already hung up on her. What the hell? It doesn’t happen that fast. Does it?
Laramie couldn’t stop the swift rush of panic through his bloodstream. He tromped down the stairs and stomped out to the barn where Bo met him at the door.
“I’m going to go over the north trail after lunch. The home trail is good,” the big man said.
“Fine. I think I’ll go with you on the north trail,” Laramie said.
Bo wasn’t one to talk too much when he didn’t need to. It would give him the time he needed to think about what was going on. The big Blackfoot Indian only nodded and walked toward the first corral where they had several horses separated from the others until the vet checked them out.
He continued into the barn to find Dalton putting supplies away in the tack room. Dalton had arrived with Bo how’d answered their ad for a naturalist and trails man, though Bo said they weren’t traveling together. He hadn’t figured out their dynamic or connection yet. Sometimes he wondered if they had some sort of sexual relationship going on. Didn’t matter to him or his brother as long as it didn’t interfere with their jobs. There was something going on there, though.
“Hey, Stud. Did you show the pretty lady the bookshelf?” Dalton asked.
“Yeah. She liked it fine. Thanks for helping me cart it up those stairs.”
“Do you need me to help you move it inside her apartment?” he asked, walking over to where Laramie leaned against one of the stalls.
“No thanks. We already moved it in. She was already putting books in it when I left.” He smiled despite himself at the image of her grabbing books before he’d even walked out.
“You let her help you move it?” Dalton asked with a frown. “That was too heavy for her.”
Laramie bristled then relaxed. Dalton was right. He shouldn’t have let her help.
“Yeah. You’re right. I didn’t get a chance to get anyone. She was already pulling on it. You know how women are. No patience.”
Dalton nodded with a serious expression on his face. “She’s a pretty thing with all that hair.”
Laramie held back the urge to tell Dalton to leave her alone. They didn’t have rules about fraternizing among the staff. Montana was a remote area. Keeping their employees from dating each other would only lead to trouble before it was over with. As long as it didn’t interfere with their jobs, it wasn’t a problem. Still. He didn’t like the idea that Dalton had noticed Billy Jean.
“I’m going out with Bo on the north trail. Do me a favor and check on Reed and Dakota after lunch. They may need some help making sure the hiking trails are clear.”
Dalton smiled and nodded his head. The man’s black ponytail swayed behind him. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll help. Everything will be ready by Sunday.”
Laramie nodded and walked over to where his horse stood waiting in a stall. The big bay snorted when he reached up and stroked the gelding’s nose. Bear had been cut late and sti
ll had some sauciness in his demeanor, which was fine with Laramie. It made riding that much more enjoyable to have a horse that was a bit of a challenge. For some of the more intricate trail rides he took Jorden, a calmer, older gelding. As the lead horse, he helped keep the others under control for the riders.
For the ride this afternoon, though, Laramie wasn’t worried about other riders. He changed out lead for a bridle before walking the big horse outside. Bear tossed his head a few times then headed straight for where Bo’s horse, Apocalypse, a pale grullo. Bear and the other horse liked each other despite Bear’s macho mannerisms. Laramie just let him sidle up to him before tying him off. He wouldn’t put the saddle on until after lunch.
He might as well finish checking the ATVs they’d bought to move things around. The housekeeping staff would use them to get from cabin to cabin and they would use them to cart luggage to and from them for their guests. They didn’t have roads everywhere in an effort to keep the ranch as rustic as possible.
As he passed the main lodge, Laramie couldn’t help looking up in the general direction of Billy Jean’s room. It bothered him that he felt so out of control concerning anything to do with her. He’d been a decorated soldier and had prided himself on being able to handle anything and everything they threw at him. But one feisty little woman had him tripping over his tongue and aching to see her smile. He had a feeling his troubles hadn’t even begun to crop up where she was concerned.
Chapter Five
Billy surveyed the dining room with an eagle eye. Everything looked perfect to her. She’d gone all out to make her first dinner a success. Although she knew there would be no guests there to enjoy it, the other employees would be a good test as to how her meal plans would be received. She had to blend the local meats with her own receipts as well as make sure to maintain the quality of the experience.
Since there would be no waitresses until Friday night, she had opted to bring everything out on a cart at one time. While it wasn’t as effective and wouldn’t assure that the temperature of the food was perfect, it was the best she could come up with considering she had no help yet.
She watched as the hands filed in and took their seats, looking around at the more elegant setting with obvious discomfort. She grinned. Seeing the men out of their element would be fun. She couldn’t wait for Laramie and Laredo to walk in. The thought of catching them unawares had her grinning like a kid. How immature was that?
Billy didn’t have long to wait. The two men ambled into the dining room and stopped as soon as they saw the décor. They looked at each other and smiled almost as big as she had then marched over to take their seats. Unfortunately, it proved to be directly across from where she had planned to sit. She scowled as they effortlessly opened their napkins and settled them across their laps before reaching for the correct glass of water and taking a sip.
Billy huffed out a breath before schooling her face and rolling the cart out into the dining room. She served each of the wranglers along with Shelby, Rusty, Shakespeare, and her employers. Then she served herself and rolled the cart away. She returned with two large pitchers of tea and allowed Dakota to take them from her and pass them around. Then she too took her seat.
The moment she was seated and had her napkin in her lap, the men exploded into action, cutting into their meat and spearing their beans with forks. She glanced across the table to see Laramie and Laredo casually sipping their tea and watching her. She felt heat crawl up her neck into her cheeks at their stares. She could tell they were enjoying her discomfort and that pissed her off despite the shot of arousal that snaked through her body.
“I don’t believe it. This is amazing!” Dakota said. “Looks too damn fancy to be this good.”
“That’s because you’re a barbarian that’s used to eating off a grill, dude,” Dalton said with a laugh.
“Bite me, man. I don’t see you eating your salad first,” Dakota returned.
“I’m a savage. It’s expected of me,” Dalton said.
Everyone laughed as they dug in with all of the enthusiasm she’d hoped for. Billy looked up once again, feeling the weight of their stare, to find both men enjoying their salads while still watching her. She couldn’t take it any longer.
“What?”
“If it was your intention to make everyone feel uncomfortable, I think you failed,” Laredo said.
“That wasn’t my intention at all. I needed to see how my way of cooking would go over with your employees to make sure it would appeal to everyone. Not everyone likes the same things.” She frowned at him then looked at Laramie. “Neither of you seem the least bit uncomfortable with it.”
“We’ve eaten in enough fancy restaurants to be able to navigate the silverware issue in our sleep. Maybe it was us you were hoping to trip up and not them,” Laramie suggested, watching her closely.
She lay down her utensils and sighed. “I was only trying out recipes and setting the table to complement the meal. I wasn’t trying to make anyone uncomfortable. I don’t think I did, either. They all look like they are enjoying their meal.”
Billy looked around and found that everyone was eating without hesitation and no one appeared intimidated. Even Bo seemed at ease with his meal. The big, dark Indian seemed nice enough, but his quiet, intense stares did make her nervous. She looked away and found herself staring back at Laredo.
“The food is delicious. It’s exactly what we were hoping to serve our guests.” Laredo took a bite of the elk steak.
His praise warmed her all over. Not just as a chef, but as a woman as well. Why did the two men affect her that way? She felt almost giddy with it. She returned her attention to her meal. Everyone talked and joked around her until she noticed that everyone seemed to have finished. She stood up and turned to return to the kitchen to roll out the desserts next.
Dakota and Laramie both stood up at the same time with an offer of help.
“Thanks, but I can get it. I’ll be right back.” She hurried to the kitchen and returned with the cart.
She didn’t even get the chance to wheel it around and ask what each person wanted. They descended on her like an army of ants. She couldn’t stop the giggle erupting as Reed deftly picked her up by the waist and set her out of the way.
“I’d say they like your cooking,” Laramie murmured in her ear.
Billy turned to agree and found that he’d bent over, which placed their lips only inches apart. She stared at his then her eyes jerked up to meet his. They seemed to have darkened to a rich dark chocolate, dripping in sensual syrup. They drew her in until she found herself beginning to lean closer.
The sound of someone clearing their throat startled her into jerking away. When she looked up, it was to find Laredo staring hard at his brother, a very disapproving glint in his eyes.
Before anything could be said, Billy all but ran back to the kitchen to catch her breath and grab the now empty serving cart to use to clear the table. When she returned, everyone had returned to the table with their desserts. A few of the men had managed to snag two. She quickly made her way down the table, accepting empty dishes as she went. When she made it back up the other side to where Laramie and Laredo had been sitting, they’d already gone. She scooped up their empty plates and retreated to the kitchen once again.
Deep inside, Billy knew she’d gone from employee to open season with Laramie. That realization worried her more than a little. She didn’t need that sort of complication in her life and certainly not with her first job after the mess she’d had with Gregg. It was like a broken record in her life. Why did she keep getting mixed up with her bosses? She had to put a stop to it somehow. This position was important to her, and to her future as a chef.
She hoped that once she’d proven herself here, other job opportunities would open up for her in other places. She wanted to run a kitchen for a large restaurant or perhaps a major resort. This wasn’t where she wanted to spend her life, a cook for a ranch. Just being this close to horses had her nerves on edge. N
o, Billy wanted to move on as soon as she could. Yet a small part of her that she tried to keep under lock and key, relished the possibilities. Her body reacted and responded to both Laramie and Laredo, which confused her no end. Yes, they were identical twins, but she could tell them apart. Why was she attracted to them both, then? And what would she do if they both decided she was fair game?
* * * *
“What the fuck are you doing?” Laredo asked. He couldn’t believe his twin was flirting with their damn chef.
His brother threw himself into a chair across from Laredo’s desk where he now stood. It was obvious now that Laramie hadn’t expected whatever had happened to happen. His brother looked as shocked as he felt.
“I don’t know. Hell, Laredo. For a second there, it didn’t even register where I was. All I could see was her and how soft and plump her lips looked.” He heaved out a disgusted sound. “I thought I’d figured it all out while I was out riding the north trail with Bo this afternoon. I guess I was wrong.”
“What are you talking about?” Laredo felt a twinge of worry in his gut.
“I’m attracted to her. I thought it was just because she was new and had that pretty, dark-red hair that looks like thick molasses.” He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s just a simple case of lust, man. I really like her.”
“Hell. We don’t need this, brother. You know that. Too much is at stake with the ranch and our family. This has to work.” Laredo struggled to maintain control, digging his hands through his short hair.
“I know. I don’t understand it either, but there’s just something about her that has me all tied up when I’m around her.”
“Then stay the fuck away from her,” Laredo said, telling himself the same thing.
“Yeah. Well, with the guests arriving on Sunday, I’ll be plenty busy from now on,” he said.
“Were there any problems on the north trail?” Laredo asked, needing to change the subject before he confessed to his brother that he was having the same problem with their chef.