She nodded, her throat tight, dashing the tears away with the back of her hand. Presley retrieved the blanket, handing it to Seth, and then hung back, unsure what to do. He laid the blanket flat and lifted the cold body onto it, then wrapped it up gently. His hands moved quickly but surely and she was impressed that he didn’t try to hide how this affected him. His expression was grim and his eyes bright with unshed tears.
He patted the blanket. “That’s a good girl. We’re going to take you home now.”
She stood back as he easily lifted the canine into his arms and hiked back to the truck, carefully placing his burden into the back. He leaned against the bumper and took a deep breath. “This is going to break Trask’s heart. Man, he loved that dog.”
“Was she hit by a car?” Presley sniffled. She’d never seen anything like this and she wasn’t good with blood.
“Yeah,” Seth sighed heavily. “It looks like she got hit and then wandered away from the main road to die. Dammit, I hate this shit.”
She patted his arm. “You did a good thing, wrapping her up. I’m not sure I could do that.”
He shook his head. “I bet you could. You found her and got me here. I know it wasn’t a pretty sight. Are you okay?”
The fresh air was working on her nausea and she felt surprisingly fine. She’d been of more use this morning than she had in the last six months. Doing right by Millie was a buttload more important than organizing a cocktail party or reserving a charter flight.
“I’m okay. Let’s take her to Mr. Trask.”
Seth nodded. “Let’s go.” He touched her sleeve. “Thanks again. I don’t know if I would have found her without you.”
“You would have, but it would have just taken you longer, that’s all.”
Seth turned the car around and headed back to the main road.
“Hell of a first day for you. You must be really missing Florida right about now.”
Funny thing was, she hadn’t thought about Florida for the last hour.
* * * * *
“They have good food here. I hope you’re hungry,” Seth said, opening his menu. Presley was surprised to find she was starving. Maybe it was the fresh cold air, but she had an appetite for the first time in days.
She and Seth hadn’t had the most pleasant of mornings. When they’d pulled up to Trask’s place, the old man had known the truth just by their expressions. He’d been sad but determined to give Millie what he called a “Christian burial.” Seth had insisted on digging the grave and they’d laid the dog to rest with its favorite toy and pillow.
It had been a simple gesture but spoke volumes of how deeply this old man felt for the dog. Presley had tried to comfort him but he had shaken his head with a sad smile.
“No need, darlin’. Life can be hard here in these mountains. Millie lived a good, happy life with not a worry in the world. We should all live like that.”
Presley had agreed wholeheartedly. Worry-free living was looking pretty good these days. She perused the menu, but felt the heat of eyes everywhere. She peered over the plastic menu. “Is it my imagination or are there people staring at us?”
Seth shook his head. “No one is staring at us. They’re staring at you.”
She felt heat creep into her cheeks. “Because I’m new in town?”
Seth nodded, still studying the menu. “That and you’re not bad to look at.”
“Thanks,” she said dryly. “When I was a little girl my dream in life was to be not bad to look at.”
She felt a warmth in her stomach at his words, despite her sarcastic response. She’d seen an attractive side to him this morning in addition to his physical charms, which were more than abundant.
He chuckled. “You sure are different than I expected.”
He had her attention. “What did you expect?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, just something different. Evan told me you worked for some billionaire. I was expecting…I don’t know. A glamorous blonde or something.”
Was he disappointed? Had he secretly hoped for a blonde he could have a fling with? “Would it make you feel better if I told you I was a blonde yesterday?”
He tilted his head, studying her closely. “I can’t imagine you with blonde hair. The brown looks so natural.”
“That’s because it is. This is the color I was born with. The blonde was just for fun.”
“Fun? I hear blondes have more fun. Did you?”
No, she hadn’t. Not really.
She held up her menu, not liking where her thoughts were going about her boss. She changed the subject. “What do you recommend?”
“I’m having the meatloaf. Do you eat meat? If you don’t, I wouldn’t recommend saying it too loud. This is Montana.”
Presley smiled. “I do eat meat, but I’m not fond of meatloaf. How are the burgers?”
“Good. The fries are—”
Seth broke off as the waitress came to take their order. He ordered the meatloaf special and she ordered the bacon cheeseburger with home fries. They didn’t talk much as they waited for their food, so it was almost a relief when an attractive young woman with short dark hair came into the diner, heading straight for Seth.
“Seth, I was hoping I’d run into you here.”
Seth stood up, his chair scraping the floor in his haste. “Eliza. I didn’t expect to see you today. I’d like you to meet my new secretary, Presley Lawson. Presley, this is Eliza Denton. She’s the librarian in Harper.”
Presley shook hands and the woman’s smile widened. “Do you like to read? It would be wonderful if you could join our ladies’ book club. We meet once a week. Six o’clock on Wednesdays at the library. End of the street next to the school. Please say you’ll come.”
Presley remembered Evan’s words about being here awhile and blending in. She smiled back. “I do like to read. What kind of books does your group read?”
The woman waved her hand. “Oh, this and that. A little of everything.”
“I’d be pleased to join you and see what it’s all about then. Thank you.”
Eliza turned back to Seth. “I saw your mother at the library this morning. She invited me to dinner tonight and wanted me to remind you to invite your new secretary.” Eliza smiled at Presley. “I’m so glad I ran in to you. His mother is a fantastic cook. You don’t want to miss her fried chicken.”
Seth looked distinctly uncomfortable and Presley wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t want her to come to dinner, or he didn’t want her talking to Eliza. She decided she wanted to do both.
“I’d love to come to dinner. I love fried chicken.”
Eliza’s eyes lit up. “Great. I’ll call Marion.”
Presley waited for Seth to be polite, but when he didn’t Presley nodded toward a chair.
“Please join us for lunch. There’s plenty of room.”
Eliza laughed and sat down next to Seth. “I am hungry. Have you ordered yet?”
“We did, but not that long ago.”
Seth still hadn’t said anything, which Presley thought was strange. When his phone rang, he excused himself from the table. Eliza leaned forward, her eyes twinkling.
“You lasted the morning. That’s more than can be said for his last secretary. Did he tell you there isn’t a woman in town who’ll work for him?”
“He didn’t, but I got the gist from the notes that were left in the desk. It appears that someone started a diary a few years back and each secretary kept notes on him. They made him sound like Attila the Hun.”
Eliza slapped a hand over her mouth. “He’s actually a very nice man, but he’s tough to work for. He can be difficult.”
“I can deal with difficult, so we should get along well. How do you know Seth? Are you family?”
Eliza leaned forward even further, her mouth in a wide grin. “I’m afraid it’s worse than that. I’m his girlfriend.”
Presley felt a shock run through her body. For some stupid reason, she’d thought Seth was single, which was absurd
. He was a very handsome man and probably had many women after him.
“Seth seems like a nice man,” Presley said awkwardly. “You make a cute couple.”
Seth came back to the table with a frown. “I’m needed out at Perry’s place. Can you find your way back to the station?”
Presley nodded. “Of course. Is everything all right? Isn’t that where Deputy Hank is?”
Seth’s brows came together. “It is. Perry is screaming about some of his cattle being missing and some dead. It’s a big mess.” He pulled a key off his key ring and handed it to her. “Here’s the office key. I’ll call in a little while.”
The waitress came and put their plates down on the table. Seth sighed. “I was hungry, too.”
Eliza grinned and picked up a fork. “Don’t worry, I’ll eat it. It won’t go to waste.”
Seth grumbled as he left the diner and Presley tucked into her cheeseburger. It was really good and before she knew it, it was gone from her plate. She’d been hungrier than she’d thought. It felt good to be pleasantly full again.
Eliza was making similar progress on the meatloaf and soon they had two empty plates.
“So have you lived in Harper your whole life?”
Eliza nodded. “I have, except for when I went away to college. I like small town life, I guess.”
“Have you been dating Seth a long time?” Presley wanted to smack herself upside the head. She really didn’t want the details, but she couldn’t stop herself.
Eliza rested her chin on her hand. “About six months or so. If you live here long enough, you eventually date everybody.”
“Everybody?” Presley pictured some sort of square dance where the people changed partners.
“Everybody. It was only a matter of time before either Seth and I married someone or started dating each other.” Eliza flushed. “We’re not what you would call ‘in love.’ We like each other. We have a date for family functions and Saturday night. He’s a good man, but…”
Eliza’s voice trailed off and Presley could see there was more to the story.
“There’s a man.”
Eliza sighed. “Isn’t there always?” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. It would never work. He wouldn’t be interested in a boring librarian.”
Presley straightened in her chair. “You’re not boring.”
“You just met me.”
“I can tell,” Presley argued. “You’re not boring.”
“I am. That’s why Seth likes me. He likes everything to be calm and controlled.”
“Seth sounds like he’s got a big stick up his butt. What’s the other guy like?” If Seth liked calm, he wasn’t going to be interested in Presley. Her life was anything but calm.
Eliza giggled. “I can’t wait for the day you tell Seth Reilly to pull the stick out of his ass. Please tell me so I can be there.”
“You can be there. Now tell me about the other guy.”
Eliza’s face went dreamy. “He has long dark hair that pulls back into a ponytail. He drives around on his Harley in tight blue jeans and a black leather jacket. He’s muscular and his face is carved from granite. And he has the most beautiful green eyes. He’s sex personified.”
“Holy crap, he sounds hot. All women love a bad boy. What does he do?”
Eliza scrunched up her face. “He’s the town blacksmith.”
Presley’s eyes went wide. “They still have those? I had no idea.”
“They do. You should see him stripped to the waist, with his leather apron and blue jeans, black boots.” Eliza shuddered delicately. “Oh man, he’s like a god.”
Presley’s eyebrows shot up. Eliza looked decidedly smitten. “You should go for it. You’re pretty. I bet he would love it if you came on to him. Men love that shit.”
Eliza shook her head. “I could never do it. I wouldn’t know what to do, what to wear.”
Presley glanced down at the woman’s clothes. She was wearing the usual City of Harper uniform of jeans, boots, and a sweater.
“How about you and I go shopping? I can help you pick out some clothes.”
Eliza grinned. “Would you do that? I never know what to wear.”
“I’d love to. Are there stores near here?”
“We can go into the city on Saturday. I can drive.”
“Sounds like a plan. Now how do we get you two together? Hmmm…” Presley tapped her chin in thought. “If only we could get you in the same place together at the same time.”
Eliza’s face lit up. “The barn dance. There’s an autumn barn dance this weekend.”
“Perfect. We’ll shop for clothes early in the day and do this dance thing in the evening. What’s this guy’s name?”
“Alex. Alex Peterson.”
Eliza was beaming, but then her face fell. “There’s only one problem.”
“What?” Presley thought they had a good plan.
“Seth.” Eliza slumped in her chair. “Seth. How can I do this to him?”
Presley sighed. “Oh, yeah. I don’t want Seth to be hurt.”
Eliza shook her head. “He won’t be hurt. We don’t have those kinds of feelings for one another, but it isn’t truthful. I can’t try and lure in another man if I’m dating Seth.”
Presley nodded. “You’re right. So you just go the dance and have a good time. With Seth. I’ll still help you shop, though, if you want.”
“I’d love that.” Eliza looked at her watch and signaled for the check. “I better get back to the library. I’ll see you at dinner tonight.” Eliza reached out and hugged Presley. She hadn’t been expecting it but she really liked this woman right off the bat, and returned her hug. Presley tossed a few bills on the table alongside Eliza’s. Prices were very reasonable in Harper compared to Tampa.
“It will all work out. I’ll see you tonight.”
Presley walked slowly back down Main Street to the sheriff’s station. It was nice to make new friends in town but she wasn’t sure how wise it was for the friend to be the girlfriend of her new boss.
A girl who wanted another man.
And Presley was attracted physically to her boss.
Shit. This was so fucked up, on so many levels.
Chapter Four
Seth had to hand it to Presley. She really was a charming woman. His entire family was hanging on her every word, smile, and gesture. Or maybe it was just him. He’d driven her out to the ranch after work and her sweet scent had about driven him over the edge the entire way. She smelled like flowers and vanilla and he’d had a tough time not pressing his nose to her neck to take a deep breath.
Besides, he had a girlfriend. He and Eliza might not have a great passion but they had friendship and respect. Eliza was quiet and shy. She never made a scene or tried to piss him off just for fun. She was the kind of woman he never had to worry about.
Presley was a woman who would keep him up at night. She was talking to his mom and dad, gesturing with her hands while she told a story about one of her friends. Her face was lit up and she looked so animated. So damn beautiful. Almost as beautiful as she had looked this morning when she’d found Millie. She was soft-hearted and she’d tried hard to make both him and Trask feel better, when it was clear her own heart was breaking for the animal.
Presley looked around the room appreciatively. “You have a beautiful home. The fire makes the room cozy.”
Seth sat down on the couch and stretched out his long legs. “Presley has been suffering from the cold since she got here.”
His mother looked puzzled. “I thought you came from Illinois? It must be cold there as well?”
Fuck. Shit. He needed to remember her new identity. It was a good thing Evan had never told him Presley’s real name. He’d blow it for sure. This woman had his brains scrambled like his morning eggs.
Presley smiled, cool as you please. “I did, but the wind here is much sharper than I’m used to, that’s all. Seth worries too much.”
His mother laughed. “Yes, Seth is our worrier. Wo
uld you like to see the Elvis room?”
Seth wanted to hide in the cushions of the sofa but he wouldn’t fit. He’d hoped they’d be able to get through the meal without the eccentricities of his family coming to light, but it wasn’t to be.
If Presley was surprised by the request, she didn’t betray it with even a flicker of an eyelash.
“I’d love to see it. Are you fans of Elvis?”
His dad grinned, eager to show off his Elvis collection. “We are. You can imagine our excitement when Seth told us he’d hired a woman named Presley. Are your parents also fans of The King?”
Presley shook her head. “I’m afraid not. They just liked the sound of the name.”
“It’s a lovely name. Let me show you the room.” His mother and father led her down the hall and Seth relaxed, drinking his beer. His new secretary was too disturbing. He hadn’t expected to like her so much. There was something eminently nice about her, almost innocent and fresh. She’d said people opened up to her and talked about their personal lives, and Seth could see why. She had an open, trusting face. Luckily, he wasn’t the chatty type or she would have known all his secrets by now.
He heard the squeak of the screen door and Eliza walked in, shaking the wet snow from her short hair. He felt a twist of guilt in his gut. He liked Eliza and she was his girlfriend. He shouldn’t be thinking about another woman. That was not the kind of man he was. He’d always prided himself on his loyalty and fidelity.
He took her coat and hung it in the closet. “Beer? Wine?”
Eliza nodded. “A glass of wine would be good. Where’s Presley?”
“Seeing the Elvis room with my parents.” Seth poured her a glass of wine. “Did you have a good day?”
Their conversations were like this. Nothing too deep or personal. Nothing like when Presley got him talking about losing his virginity within five minutes of meeting her. This was better, nothing out of control or crazy. Eliza was soothing to him after a long day.
She sipped at her wine. “I did. Listen, Seth. There’s been something on my mind for awhile and well, after talking to Presley today I think you and I need to talk.”
The words came out all in a rush and Seth sucked in a breath. It appeared Eliza wanted to have a personal conversation. One he wasn’t prepared for.
Cowboy Command Page 5