A Lone Star Romance: Book 2 in The Only Love Series

by Violet Sparks

  The jacket slid from her shoulders. Kiki became aware that a blush rose to her cheeks as the man allowed his eyes to roam over her.

  "Sleep tight," he whispered, then strode from the room with the same gait she'd seen earlier.

  What nerve!

  When she heard the entry click shut, she ran to the front of the house and turned the bolt, locking herself inside. Kiki leaned against the door, catching her breath. When that man pulled the coat off her, it felt as though she were being disrobed.

  How embarrassing!

  As her heart pounded against her chest, the feisty Hawaiian hoped she'd never see him again.

  Chapter 2

  -Mr. Liu?-

  Kiki awoke to a soft rustling sound. She rolled over in the bed, enjoying the luxury of sleeping on a king sized mattress. Her small condo in Santa Monica only allowed for a twin. She'd slept well. In fact, she didn’t know when she'd been so comfortable. As she heard the noise again, it jolted her back to reality. Someone was in the bedroom with her.

  Lifting her head, she spied Mr. Liu going through the closet. She hadn't noticed it last night, but in front of the foot of her bed, two wooden doors opened into a large wardrobe. With his back to her, she could recognize his small frame and thick, black hair as Asian features. Cropped short, his utilitarian haircut didn't surprise her. He wore a blue shirt and dark slacks with nondescript black shoes. All business, she guessed. She reached for the magenta silk and lace robe she'd left on the bed post and slipped it around her shoulders, covering her matching spaghetti strap gown.

  "Uhm, uhm." She cleared her throat, hoping to tactfully let her client know she was awake so he'd take his leave.

  He must be just off the boat to come in here like this.

  Liu ignored her and kept rummaging through the closet.

  "Excuse me, Mr. Liu?"

  The man froze for an instant, then said, "I ain't Lu, and breakfast was at six."

  Shocked by the pitch of the intruder's voice, Kiki guessed it was a girl rummaging through the closet . . . a girl shaped like a boy. The interloper flung several garments over an arm and turned to face her.

  Built straight up and down, with no chest or waist line, the young woman appeared to be in her late teens. She had a pixie-like face, but that bowl hair cut did nothing for her looks.

  "Whatcha lookin' at?" the teenager said with a disrespectful tone.

  Kiki decided to take the high road with this youngster.

  "Good morning. My name is Kiki Tam, and I'm here to work on Mr. Liu's Asian art collection. What's your name?"

  "Peg," the girl said, plopping the jumble of suits and shirts she'd removed from the closet onto the bed.

  "It's nice to meet you, Peg. Do you know where I'll be able to find Mr. Liu?"

  "Whatcha think I am, his social secretary? If you'd a stayed in a bunkhouse like you were supposed to, I wouldn't need to be moving his clothes all over the ranch. I got better things to do, ya know, back at the big house."

  Kiki drew in a deep breath, wondering what kind of working conditions she'd have to endure on the Bar H.

  "I'm sorry if I've inconvenienced you, Peg. If you give me a chance to get dressed, I'd be happy to help you move Mr. Liu's clothes. That way, you wouldn't need to make so many trips."

  The girl scrunched her button nose and twisted her pursed lips while considering the offer.

  "Better not. Boss man might not take to ya doin' manual labor." Her features softened and she added, "He's in Amarillo, by the way. Attending the cattlemen's convention. Won't be back 'til the end of the week. Ranch manager will show ya everything ya need. Just come up to the big house after ya eat breakfast. I left a tray in the kitchen. But I'm warnin' ya. Lu said ya ain't to be spoiled. It's six a.m. for yer breakfast from now on."

  With that, Peg picked up her load of clothing and headed out of the room. Kiki noticed that the teenager walked like a boy. She waited until she heard the front door shut before getting out of bed and trotting to the kitchen. It had been a long time since she'd eaten, and her stomach rumbled.

  She gasped when she saw the view from the large windows of the great room. A desert like vista stretched before her, complete with a snaking river, buttes, and a canyon in the distance. Green grasses sprouted from the water's edge, signifying a mild winter, and she spotted cattle grazing on the verdant turf. Dark clouds rolled across the sky, allowing sunlight to stream across the land intermittently, revealing various shades of reds, tans, purples and greens in the soil, rocks and plants. The scene looked like a painting. Movement caught the corner of her eye, and she turned to see a toothy cowboy waving exuberantly at her. He was less than fifty yards away, on horseback. Surprised someone spotted her, Kiki quickly backed away from the glass, pulling the fabric from her robe across her body and tying its belt.

  In the kitchen, she found a tray laden with pancakes, eggs, and bacon, along with a silver pot of piping hot coffee. She tucked in and ate more than she thought possible. Peg came and went several times while she enjoyed her meal. Kiki made sure to compliment the girl on the breakfast.

  Once full, the art expert unpacked her bags, placing her clothes in the now available closet space. She chose a black suit for her first day on the job, with an off-white blouse and black pumps. The nubby cropped jacket with cream trim around its edges shouted its designer label and went well with the matching pencil skirt. She combed her hair and applied eyeliner and red lipstick before leaving the house. Checking herself in the hall mirror, she had to admit that she looked smashing.

  A blast of cold air hit Kiki as she made her way towards what she assumed was the big house. Yards to her right, a deep veranda surrounded the rock and log structure. Shivering by the time she reached the large wooden front door, she tried the knob and let herself in. She found herself in an enormous room. White washed stone and stucco walls stretched to a high wood ceiling. Large beams traversed the room, joined by dark metal plates and bolts to other sizeable timbers, creating the triangle shapes which held the roof in place. Two large, wrought iron hoops served as rustic chandeliers, a dozen lights on each. A massive stone fireplace held a roaring fire, surrounded by leather couches. Three large, woven rag rugs defined conversation areas amidst the wide plank, hardwood floors. The head of a large animal, some sort of strange-eyed deer with short horns, gazed at her from high above the oversized mantel. Arts and crafts table lamps created a warm glow in the room.

  "Hello, anyone home?" Kiki raised her voice and waited for a response, hoping someone would hear her.

  The sound of boots clodding against the wooden floor drew her gaze to the left, where a smiling cowboy appeared from a dark hall.

  "Well, you must be K. K. Tam. Pleased to make your acquaintance. I'm Nash Williams, ranch manager," the middle aged man said as he approached.

  Nash displayed a dazzling grin, silver-blonde hair, and a gait that revealed he'd broken his share of broncos. Well built, with his fingers hooked on his belt loops, the manager exuded warmth and friendship. He gave Kiki a hearty handshake once he reached the position she'd taken next to the fire.

  "I'm Kiki," she volunteered. "Pleased to meet you, as well."

  The man scratched his head and chuckled, nodding.

  "Well, I have to admit, we kinda thought K. K. would be a man. We planned to put you and Al up in one of the bunk houses. We were shocked to find out you was a lady. You've sort a' created quite a commotion round the ranch this morning."

  Kiki's mouth gaped open, remembering the cowboy on horseback who'd spotted her half-dressed.

  News travels fast around here.

  "I'm very sorry if I've inconvenienced you in any—"

  "Not a' tall, Miss. It's just kinda funny is all. We're not used to your . . . uh, I mean a pretty girl like you working on the ranch."

  She guessed he was about to say your kind, but caught himself. Pacific Islander and Chinese mixed with a Caucasian heritage gave the Hawaiian an exotic look, at least to those not used to Asians. She could s
ee Nash blushing behind his stubbled cheeks and chin. His kind demeanor meant she'd take no offense. She was prepared for some reaction to her race here in the heartland.

  "That's kind of you to say, Nash. As you must know, Alfred Shen was in an accident and won't be joining me. For the time being, I'll be operating alone. I'm ready to get started as soon as you can show me where I'll be working."

  "Of course, Miss Tam. Would you like a cup of coffee before you begin?"

  "No, I'm fine for now. Peg brought me a wonderful breakfast. And please, call me Kiki."

  "All right then, follow me."

  The ranch manager headed towards the front door, stopping at a coat rack. He selected a leather jacket and handed it to Kiki.

  "You might be needing this, at least between buildings."

  "Oh, yes. Thank you so much."

  The man helped her into the oversized coat before grabbing his own and opening the door for her.

  "That building over there is where we're headed," he said, pointing to a large metal structure beyond her lodgings. He thoughtfully took her elbow and guided her towards the rust-colored barn. Walking on the rough stone pavers wasn't easy in three-inch heels.

  Nash ducked inside the storage building before her in order to switch on the lights. Kiki entered as fluorescent fixtures, high above, hummed to life one after another, gradually illuminating the space. As her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, she noted the dust-covered cement floor, large crates atop wood pallets, and metal shelves crammed with all sizes of boxes. The interior seemed cavernous.

  "This was meant to house new ranch equipment, but when Lu inherited all this," —he waved his arm towards the far reaches of the building— "we converted it. See, we've even got a thermostat. Your boss told us to keep it at an even seventy degrees at all times."

  "It must have been something when the trucks showed up here," she said almost to herself.

  "Oh, it sure was, Miss. All that way on dirt roads, those semi drivers didn't know what to think," Nash said, chuckling. "Now, what will you need to do your work?" he asked.

  She looked around and sized up her new working environment. A Los Angeles high rise, this was not.

  "I'll need a long table and several chairs. Oh, and some better lighting where I'll be sitting. Is there any internet connection in here or Wi-Fi?"

  He rubbed his chin.

  "I think you'll have to go up to the business office for that. See, it's on a high spot on the ridge. There's no trees up there, and it's the only place we can get a signal twenty-four, seven. It's where your cell phone will work too."

  Her almond eyes grew round. She wasn't used to this kind of isolation.

  "Would you mind showing me your set up there?" she asked.

  "Not a' tall, Miss. I'll get the boys to wrangle up the furniture you need, and then we'll head up the ridge."

  Almost on cue, four cowboys entered the storage shed, removed their hats and grinned at Kiki, their eyes as wide as saucers.

  "Hello, boys. Miss Tam needs a long table, chairs, and better lighting. Get her some extension cords too. Anything else you can think of?" he asked, turning to Kiki.

  "I left my reference books and laptop on the kitchen table. The books are kind of heavy. Would anyone mind bringing them here?"

  All four young men moved forward at once to volunteer.

  "Bob, you head over and retrieve Miss Tam's things, then join the rest getting the furniture. I want everything ready when we get back, understood?"

  They all nodded, still grinning. Not a word was spoken as she and Nash left the building, but she felt four sets of eyes trailing after her.

  "Don't let the boys bother you, Miss. They're all good fellas. They just ain't used to seeing your . . . well, I mean someone like you, dressed up and all. I'll make sure they don't bother you too much or get on your nerves."

  "Thank you."

  The ranch manager walked her around the building to a path that led up a steep hill. She took a deep breath when she saw the trail leading to the business office. Climbing stairs lay in her immediate future.

  The place was little more than an old shack. Two computers, desks, wing chairs, and a bookshelf filled the small space. A miniature refrigerator hummed in one corner while a narrow stone fireplace filled the opposite. A leather love seat that had seen better days—in a Louis XVI style, Kiki noted—perched in front of the hearth. At least windows allowed for natural light.

  Nash fired up one of the computers and wrote down a user name and password for the art consultant before going over sign-on procedures. It took about thirty minutes for Kiki to get the hang of their antiquated system.

  Conversing with the ranch manager, she got the nerve up to ask a question that had been plaguing her since she arrived.

  "How did Mr. Liu end up with a ranch in Texas?"

  The corners of Nash's mouth twitched upwards, but he suppressed his grin.

  "Well, Miss Kiki, he inherited it, just like the art collection you'll be evaluating," he answered, keeping his eyes on the computer screen.

  It seemed odd to her that an Asian man would have a claim to a ranch in the Lone Star State.

  What kind of cowboy would this Chinese man be? More queries flooded her mind. Was he raised out here? Why didn't he relocate and allow Nash to run things alone?

  By the time they made it back to the art collection, the cowhands had everything in order, and she forgot her worries regarding her new client. Even her laptop had been plugged in via an extension cord.

  "This looks great. Thank you," she said.

  "All right, then. I'll have someone come get you at lunch time," Nash said, then added, "don't lift anything too heavy. Just wait for one of the boys. I'll send one by every hour or so to see if you need help. We'll work it that way unless you've got a better idea."

  "No, that would be great to start with. Hopefully, I'll figure out a system once I get a look at everything."

  He took his leave, and she began peeking into the crates closest to her. Packing materials kept her from getting a good look at anything. She walked the interior, counting rows of shelving, then estimating how many boxes she'd be examining. It was going to be a big job. She grabbed a notebook from among her textbooks and collector's guides and sketched a floor plan. The first thing on her agenda would be to organize and catalogue the items by origin, age, then type. She guessed she'd need a week for that, if she were lucky.

  Chapter 3

  -Progress-

  It turned out, Kiki was lucky. The promised snow storm never materialized, and with the help of various ranch hands, she had the entire collection organized in five days. She apologized profusely for taking them away from their regular responsibilities, but Nash assured her it was all right.

  "While the boss is away, the mice will play," he commented.

  At least with the artifacts grouped, she'd only require help when moving larger items. She could begin the fun part of her job now.

  She'd managed to get on speaking terms with Peg and actually enjoyed the girl's company. She usually missed breakfast, but the teenager set aside a roll and coffee for her each morning in the kitchen of the big house.

  Kiki's typical work day started after her visit with Peg. She'd head to the barn-cum-warehouse and begin with dating an object. Then, she'd refer to her text books and price guides to confirm her conclusions and estimate the value of the item. If the piece needed a light cleaning, she'd perform that. She would catalogue the treasure and move on to the next article. Usually, she missed lunch, which was offered in the big house. It was the hefty meal of the day, and she preferred to work without interruptions during that time. At least that's what she told herself. The idea of running into the cowboy who had driven her to the ranch unsettled her. The ranch hands typically served themselves dinner, coming and going at their leisure, but she was sure to encounter him if she joined everyone for the noon meal.

  The last thing on her daily agenda proved to be a hike. She would head to the busines
s office around dusk, either before or after she took her dinner, to do research on the internet, place phone calls, check emails, and send updates to her boss.

  When she arrived in the kitchen Thursday evening, she was surprised to see most of the ranch hands still hanging around. Those seated stood when she entered, making Kiki a tad uncomfortable.

  "Oh, please don't get up," she said as one cowboy pulled a chair out for her.

  She sat as another young ranch hand placed a plate before her. Typical of the evening meal, a bowl of soup and a sandwich suited her just fine. She heard a hushed discussion in one corner.

  "Sorry, Miss, but Sam done ate the last piece of pie," Cody said.

  Cody often checked in with her at the barn to see if she needed help lifting anything. Sam sometimes hung around the business office and walked her down the stairs when she'd completed her computer work.

  "That's fine. I'm sure I couldn't eat another bite after I finish this," she replied, nodding towards her dish. She noticed Sam's sheepish expression and the dirty looks several cowboys shot in his direction. The cook made a mean pie.

  "Hey," Peg spoke up.

  She hadn't even noticed the girl sitting at the far end of the table. She tended to blend right in with the cowhands. Kiki figured maybe that was Peg's intent.

  "Some of the boys are headin' to town tomorrow night for some dancin'. Wanna come?" she asked.

  Kiki swallowed hard and asked, "Are you going, Peg?"

  "I will if you will," the girl answered.

  A chorus of Yes, come along, It'll be fun, and You gotta give it a try erupted as the younger hands encouraged the visiting art consultant to join them.

  "All right, maybe we'll come," Kiki said, not feeling she had much choice in the matter. "Come by and see me later, Peg, and we can discuss it," she added.

  The girl gave her the thumbs up, while whoops and applause filled the kitchen. What had she gotten herself into?

  As promised, Peg dropped by later that night, interrupting Kiki's research. She always recognized her knock. It sounded like a mule kicking the door down.