“This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” Olivia babbled. Emma watched as Wyatt stopped beside Olivia and shook his head.
“You can’t ride a horse that small,” Wyatt told her.
“I have no intention of riding any horse, cowboy, but this little one is just precious.” Olivia laughed. “I want one.”
Emma smiled as Wyatt shook his head and led the little horse into the barn. Emma looked over at Jake. “Why did you get a mini?”
“We thought it would be a treat for the kids to see. If it goes well, we’ll get another one,” Jake told her, and then he kissed Becca.
“You two need to get a room.” Emma huffed. They both looked at Emma and grinned.
“I know a great B and B where we could get a room.” Jake laughed.
“Oh, no you don’t. I just cleaned the rooms and put clean sheets on the beds. Go home and mess up your own sheets,” Emma scolded. “More guests are arriving later today.”
Becca laughed and looked at Jake. “I say we go home and mess up the sheets, Stone.” She looped her arm through his and they walked toward where they’d parked their individual vehicles, separating to retrieve their own, and then they drove off one following the other.
Emma was so very happy for them. Becca moved in with Jake after he was shot during her rescue, refusing to let him out of her sight. The man who had abducted Becca shot him when Jake made himself a target. Olivia and Emma lived at the B and B now. The mudroom which had been at the back of the house had been gutted and remodeled into a small apartment, and the housekeeper’s quarters had been upgraded with a new bathroom, which included a bathtub where it once only had a shower. Emma envied Becca and Jake their love for each other, but was truly happy for them. She just wished she had someone in her life. Her eyes instinctively moved to Gabe and found him watching her. Their eyes met and held. Her breathing faltered when she saw his eyes wander over her face and linger on her lips, but when his gaze met hers again, she blushed. His mouth twitched beneath his mustache as he looked away from her. Emma needed to get away from him and looked around for Olivia.
“She’s in the barn with Wyatt,” Gabe said in a quiet voice.
Emma jerked his way. “What?”
“Olivia. I assume you’re looking for her. She’s in the barn with Wyatt. Probably bugging the hell out of him.” Gabe smiled.
Emma felt a smile lift the corners of her lips. “You’re probably right.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand why he doesn’t like her.”
Gabe chuckled. “Oh, I think he likes her all right. He just doesn’t want to.”
“I don’t understand why not. Liv’s beautiful and he’s not in love with Stephanie anymore.”
“Thank God for that. I’m glad she broke up with him. I never could imagine her as a sister in-law.” Gabe gave a mock shudder making Emma laugh.
“I don’t know what he ever saw in her anyway. Stephanie’s always been a bitch for as long as I’ve known her,” Emma huffed.
Gabe laughed. “I can’t believe you just said that. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you cuss, Emma. I think you’ve been hanging around Liv too much.”
She smiled shyly and turned to go back into the house. Gabe fell in step beside her. Emma halted in midstride and looked at him. “Where are you going?”
Gabe raised an eyebrow. “It looks like I’m walking into the house with you.”
She put her hands on her slim hips and glared up at him. “Why?”
Gabe chuckled. “Are you trying to get rid of me, Emma?”
“You never wanted to go anywhere with me before. Why now?”
Gabe’s intense gaze met hers. “I think you’re beautiful, Emma.” Her mouth dropped open. Gabe put his finger under her chin and pushed it shut. She put her hands on his chest and pushed him. Gabe sputtered. “What the hell was that for?”
“Don’t you dare tell me you think I’m beautiful, Gabriel Stone. You still think of me as a little girl.” She spun away from him and headed toward the house. She’d nearly made it in the door when he grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.
“There is no way in hell I think of you as a little girl. I’m not blind, Emma. I’m a full-grown man and I know a beautiful woman when I see one.”
Emma blinked back tears as she gazed up at him. She hated how he towered over her. The top of her head only came to his chin. “Leave me alone, Gabe.” She slammed the door behind her as she went into the kitchen.
The oven timer went off almost immediately after she entered the kitchen, so she removed the cake pan to a cooling rack. She mumbled to herself as she took off the oven mitts and threw them on the counter. When she heard the door open, she refused to turn around, knowing it was Gabe. After a few minutes of silence, she couldn’t take it anymore and turned to look at him. She bit her lip to keep from groaning. He stood leaning against the door, his arms folded across his broad chest, and his booted feet crossed at the ankles. His hat sat low on his forehead. As if they had a mind of their own, her eyes raked over his tall frame. His black hair, which was a little long in the back, touched the collar of his T-shirt, making her fingers itch to touch it. His straight nose, high cheekbones, and amazing dark brown eyes surrounded by thick, lush lashes any woman would kill for, made him one sexy man. The thick mustache he always wore topped a sensual bowed lip but it was his full bottom lip that made her mouth water. She allowed her gaze to roam over the chiseled jaw covered with stubble before it traveled down his broad chest but when it landed on the fly of his jeans, her cheeks flamed. His worn jeans were tight across the fly and left little to the imagination. She quickly turned her back to him.
“Emma…” he started to say when Olivia tried to push the door open.
“Jesus, Gabe. Move your ass so I can get in.” Olivia narrowed her eyes at him. “Your brother is waiting on you.”
Gabe sighed. “Can’t you talk to him for a while?”
Olivia burst out laughing. “It’s like pulling teeth getting him to talk even a little bit.” She shook her head. “I tried talking to him but all I get from him are grunts or one syllable answers. I gave up and decided to get out of the heat.”
Emma and Gabe stared across the room at each other, but finally Gabe rolled his shoulders and went out the door. Once he closed it behind him, Emma collapsed in a chair and put her hands over her face. She felt Olivia sit down beside her.
“Did I interrupt something, Em?” Olivia touched Emma’s hand.
Emma shook her head. “No not really. He just…” She stopped, lowered her hands, and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Just what?” Olivia asked.
“He told me he thinks I’m beautiful.” Emma tried to laugh but it ended up coming out as a sob.
“That’s bad?” Olivia looked at her with a confused expression.
“I don’t know, Liv. He’s thought of me as a little girl for years and now he says I’m a beautiful woman,” she said blinking back tears. “I don’t know what to think.”
Olivia tilted her head. “I think he’s finally noticed you, and it scares you.”
Emma nodded. “I think you’re right.” She looked at Olivia. “What should I do?”
Olivia smiled. “Go with the flow, Emma girl. Just see what happens.”
Emma grinned, even as she wiped her eyes. “I’ll see. Now, what really went on with you and Wyatt in the barn?”
The smile left Olivia’s face. “Nothing. I really do think he hates me though. He barely speaks to me. I tried asking him things about the horses but he mostly ignored me. If he wasn’t so damn hot I’d give up, but I’ve never seen a sexier man in my life and so I can’t give up yet.” She shrugged. “I’ve never quit when I wanted something and I want Wyatt. I just don’t understand why he doesn’t like me.”
“I told you he’s not interested in a relationship. Wyatt goes from woman to woman.”
“Well, in case he hasn’t noticed, I’m a woman. Why can’t he make a stop at me?” Olivia huffed.
“I’m sure we’d be fantastic together. Hot.”
“I think you two would burn the town down.” Emma giggled.
“I have to get him first. I’m not interested in marrying the man. Can’t he see that?”
Emma had no answer for that. Olivia was gorgeous and Emma couldn’t understand why Wyatt wasn’t interested. She couldn’t imagine there was a man alive who wouldn’t want the raven-haired beauty. She resembled a young Elizabeth Taylor, but with a Cindy Crawford mole at the right side of her upper lip. Emma had seen men stop and stare at Olivia but Wyatt didn’t seem to notice her at all. Should she tell Olivia what Gabe had said? Emma mentally shook her head. That might do more harm than good. Men! Can’t live with them and can’t shoot them.
She heard Olivia sigh as she walked past Emma and headed into her room. Olivia had the housekeeper’s quarters, and Emma had the new apartment. The rooms upstairs were for the guests, and they were full. The town of Clifton was thrilled the B and B was doing so well. It meant more business for the town since the guests loved shopping in the small town.
Toby Lewis, one of the ranch hands, had a trail ride scheduled later in the afternoon. The group would camp out for the night by a large pond on the property. It was Emma’s job to cook for the guests and pack lunches. Children were going on this ride-along with adults so Emma made up sandwiches and added carrot sticks. She smiled as she added cupcakes to the packs. There was a list showing who could have what in their meals. One little girl was allergic to chocolate, so Emma put a strawberry cupcake in her pack.
Emma had jumped at the chance to be the cook when Becca asked her. She’d always loved cooking and baking, so it was like a dream come true for Emma to work at the B and B.
She poured more batter into the cupcake pans, slid them into the oven, and set the timer. Picking up a magazine, she took a seat at the table and skimmed through it. Always looking for new recipes, she had her scissors beside her. When Olivia entered the kitchen again, opened the refrigerator door, and gazed into it as if something would magically appear, Emma shook her head. The woman should weigh over three hundred pounds the way she ate. She tried not to grin when she heard Olivia clear her throat. When Olivia did it louder, Emma sighed and looked at her.
Olivia grinned at her like a little kid. “Can I have a cupcake?”
“They’re for the guests,” Emma told her.
“One is going to make a difference?” Olivia stuck her bottom lip out in a pout.
Emma huffed, stood up, took a cupcake from the container sitting on the counter, and handed it to her. “That is all you get.”
Olivia took a bite and closed her eyes. “Mmm, heavenly. You are amazing, Emma.”
Emma shooed her out of the kitchen. “Go work on the books.” She laughed when Olivia winked at her and left the kitchen. If only Emma could get that type of reaction from Gabe. She had to quit getting all gooey-eyed when she saw him. She didn’t know what to think about him anymore. Muttering under her breath, she got the ingredients out she needed to make dessert for dinner that night. The guests had the choice of eating what she fixed, going to the diner in town, or taking a thirty-minute drive to the next town over to a fancier restaurant. Most of them ate whatever Emma prepared. An hour later, and covered in flour, Emma saw Jake pull up. He came in the back door and chuckled when he saw her.
“Did you actually use any flour in the baking?” He leaned against the door and folded his arms across his broad chest.
Emma smiled. “I do get a bit messy when I bake.”
Jake raised an eyebrow. “A bit?” He shook his head. “I came over to ask if you could work some time in to work with Misty. She doesn’t respond to anyone like she does you. I’ll pay you for your time.”
Misty was Jake’s American Quarter horse which Emma had won several ribbons with in Barrel Racing competitions. Emma loved the horse and the feeling was mutual. “I’d love to. Since we don’t serve dinner on the weekends, I could come over then.”
Jake grinned. “Yeah, I know.”
Emma blushed and laughed. “I guess you would know, wouldn’t you? Considering you’re marrying the owner of this place, you should.” She wiped her hands on a towel. “I can come by Saturday after I have breakfast, if that works for you? And you’re not paying me. I’m happy to do it.”
“If you insist. Any weekend you can work with Misty is fine with me.” Jake winked. “You can also ride her in the competition in September if you want.”
“I would love to.” Emma smiled. “I’ll get her in shape.”
“Get who in shape?” Olivia entered the kitchen and smiled at Jake when she saw him at the door.
“Jake’s horse. Misty. I won quite a few blue ribbons with her in Barrel Racing.”
Olivia gave an exaggerated shudder. “No friggin’ way would I get on one of those things.”
Jake and Emma laughed. “You don’t know what you’re missing, Liv,” Jake told her.
Olivia snorted. “There’s only one thing I’m interested in riding and it sure as hell isn’t a horse.”
Jake straightened up from the door. “And that’s my cue to leave.” He tipped his hat and disappeared through the door, leaving it to swing shut behind him. Emma and Olivia looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Olivia wiggled her fingers at her as she headed out of the kitchen for the front desk to check in guests leaving Emma smiling behind her. “I’ll be out as soon as I put this cake in the oven and clean up.”
Usually they sat at the front desk together checking in guests. Today was no different. Emma would answer questions about Clifton since Olivia was still learning as she’d only been here a few months. Olivia listened as Emma answered them. As they watched several of the children running in and out, Emma’s heart nearly stopped when Gabe walked in. She watched as he stopped to talk to the kids. The little boys were asking him if he was a real cowboy, and he seemed to be enjoying himself with them. Emma couldn’t help but think he would make a great father. His eyes met hers as he walked to the counter.
“How’s it going?” Gabe asked as he took his hat off. Olivia talked with him and Emma tuned them out, until she heard her name.
“What did you just say about me?”
“I just told Gabe you were going over to Jake’s on Saturday to do some kind of barrel thing with a horse.” Olivia smiled.
“Barrel Race,” Emma and Gabe said together.
“Pffft…whatever.” Olivia waved her hand.
Gabe looked at Emma. “Are you going over to work with Misty?”
Emma nodded. “Yes. Jake came by earlier and asked me. I do miss riding her.”
“Are you going to compete in September?” Gabe asked.
“Compete in what?” Olivia butted in again.
Emma grinned. “There’s a rodeo competition in September. I won last year.” She nodded without looking at Gabe. “I think I will compete this year,” she said as she glanced up at Gabe. “You’re going to, aren’t you?”
“Do you compete in the same thing as Emma?” Olivia asked.
Gabe chuckled. “This is all new to you, isn’t it, Liv?” At her nod, he continued. “I compete in tie-down, or calf roping as some call it. Jake competes in reining, and Wyatt competes in cutting.” He paused then grinned. “Look it up. It would take too long to explain it all.”
Emma laughed at Olivia’s wide-eyed expression of confusion. “I’ll tell you all about it when we have some spare time.”
Gabe put his hat on and after giving a terse nod. He left without saying why he stopped by. Emma exhaled as he walked out the door. Two young girls coming in stopped to stare up at him. Emma saw him smile and put his fingers to his hat as he passed them. They giggled and walked into the foyer, glancing back over their shoulders at his backside. Emma wanted to skin them alive. She glanced at Olivia when she heard her snicker. Olivia raised her hands in surrender. Emma went to the kitchen to check on her cake. As she was taking it out of the oven, Olivia walked in and sat down at the table
. She tapped her fingernails on the table. Emma hissed out a breath.
“Say whatever it is you’re thinking, Liv.”
“Why do you suddenly go so shy around Gabe? The man can’t take his eyes off you and you barely look at him, even when you’re talking to him. Don’t you know that’s your opportunity to let him know you’re interested?”
Emma felt tears stinging her eyes and blinked them back. “I can’t allow myself to be hurt by him. All Gabe cares about is sex. He doesn’t want a commitment, and I do. I want to get married and have children. Didn’t you see him look at those young girls who came in?”
Olivia placed her hand on Emma’s arm. “People change. Take a chance. You could be the woman for him. Those young girls were just that…young. Gabe wasn’t interested in them. He was just being polite.”
“I have no idea how to act around him. I’ve known him almost my entire life, but the only thing I know to talk about with him is horses.” Emma sniffled.
“That’s a start. Then just be you.” Olivia smiled at her. “You’re gorgeous. I know Gabe sees you that way. You don’t see the way he looks at you like I do.”
Emma frowned at her. “Just how does he look at me?”
“Like a starving man looking at a delicious smorgasbord.”
The comparison made Emma burst out laughing. Olivia joined in. “Now, if only I could get Wyatt to look at me like that, we’d all be happy.” Though she knew Olivia was teasing, Emma could see the sadness in her eyes. One Stone brother down, two to go.
Chapter Two
Emma left the B and B a little after nine on Saturday morning and the temperature was already in the mid-nineties. The sun beat down on the countryside, baking the ground. The hydrangea bushes flourished in the shade of the front porch boasting fat clusters of purple flowers. The large oak tree centered in the front yard provided the only shade. Horses grazed in the field next to the barn, their tails twitching to chase away flies. Jake’s ranch was only five miles down the road so it didn’t take her long to arrive there. She pulled up to the large metal building which Jake used for training. When she opened the car door, the heat felt like a blast furnace. She jogged for the door and stepped inside. The air conditioning was a godsend. Letting her eyes adjust, she looked toward the arena and saw where Jake already had three barrels set up for her. Wood shavings covered the floor of the large enclosure, filling the air with a fresh scent.
Gabe (Men of Clifton Montana Book 2) Page 2