by Debra Holt
She should have known it was all too good to be true. “And it’s obvious that it wouldn’t work anyway.”
His frown deepened as his gaze narrowed on her. “Obvious? You think so? Why?”
“It’s clear you aren’t in favor of the idea of having anyone help you out in your office or with your daughter. To have someone forced upon you wouldn’t make for a conducive working environment. It works better for everyone to be able to be pleasant and have some enjoyment in their work. It makes for better productivity.” It was difficult to be as professional in her delivery as she would have liked, but they didn’t teach her in her business classes how to face a prospective employer in a bedroom, not an office, and when they were both dressed in very little clothing… and he had just copped a feel of her breast.
“Pretty speech there. And how do you know I’m not a pleasant person to work for?”
An eyebrow rose as she landed her blue-eyed gaze on him. “I base it on the last few minutes in your company. You know nothing of my abilities, you obviously don’t value your mother’s opinion of my qualifications, and you’ve stated you intend to tell her that I am not hired. Did I leave anything out?”
His grip brought the coverlet draped around his waist to a tighter fit as he moved slowly around the end of the bed and did not stop until he was within a foot of where she stood. He was tall and she had to look up. Which was a good thing in one way… her eyes had something to latch on to besides the broad expanse of a naked chest with its light smattering of golden brown hair that fell into a “V” that disappeared under the folds of the cloth at his waist. Her fingers curled as she shook her mind away from a sudden urge to reach out and test how soft those fine hairs might be. Concentrate!
“I think any discussion on this topic can wait until the morning. So, let’s trade.”
“Trade?” What was he talking about?
The silver gray eyes fell to the shirt she still clutched in front of her chest. “My shirt for this wrap. On the count of three. And I promise not to look… if you do the same.”
Was that a hint of sarcasm in that glint that appeared in his eyes as he spoke the words? Well, if he was trying to rattle her, he was going to come up short.
“One, two, three.” She held out the shirt, her eyes locked with his. Emma determined to keep an even smile on her face.
He took his time, a hint of a smile turning up the corner of his mouth, a taunting hint. The material was slowly unwrapped.
Emma was determined to not let him see he was undermining her control. The shirt remained hooked on the finger of the hand still in the space between them.
Finally, the cover was held out toward her and her free hand grabbed it, bringing it against her front. He reached for the shirt but not nearly as fast. And, when he did take it off her finger, he didn’t do anything but smile.
“Thanks. You have sweet dreams.” He sauntered out of the room and Emma counted to twenty and resisted the urge to turn and take a peek. When the door latched behind him, she exhaled the breath she had been holding. Great first and last impression. Now she needed to come up with plan B as she just lost her job before she ever got started. Too bad the son wasn’t as nice as his mother. Maybe he was adopted!
*
Way to go in not listening to me, Mother. Cole turned once again and punched the pillow before balling it under his head. He was having a devil of a time getting comfortable. Something else he was ready to blame on the woman across the hall, who was sleeping in his bed to which she had no right to do. This was what happened when his mother wouldn’t listen to what he said and believe he meant it.
Maybe he had told her he could use someone with computer skills for his office. But that was all… and he was only saying the words to make a hasty exit from the whole subject in general. He had landed in another mess.
He turned on his back and stared up at the ceiling above the bed, his arms locking above his head. Sleep wasn’t coming anytime soon. His mind wouldn’t shut down. It was the same subject as many other nights. What could he do? He was trying to make everyone happy and do what was expected of him. He knew what his mother had said that day was right. It was just as right all the other times she had brought up the subject.
Charlie needed a woman’s touch and a home that was more than just a house. He knew that. But the problem was, he wasn’t about to risk any more disappointment or pain… certainly nothing that might touch his daughter. She had been too young when his ex-wife had deserted them. He was grateful for that. And he was determined not to place her in any situation where someone else could inflict the same harm again. And now it just got harder with the advent of the woman across the hall.
How was he supposed to know she was in that room? He did what he had done many nights before when he had gone to meetings with his dad and Charlie was on an overnight. He went on autopilot, shedding his clothing, and crawling under the covers. Only tonight when he reached for the pillow next to him, he had encountered a female breast… a very nice, firm one as his memory brought the moment back in Technicolor. That caused another sensation to warm his body. One that had become somewhat of a stranger in recent months. Even then, just the memory caused him to kick the covers off his body, seeking cooler temperatures.
When the lights had come on, and he had picked himself up off the floor, he had glimpsed the rest of a very nicely shaped body that disappeared from view in seconds behind his shirt. That was when his gaze took in the rest of the woman in front of him. She had long chestnut-colored hair that fell thick around her shoulders and down her back. Brilliant, large blue eyes blazed at him in a face that held his attention longer than he wanted to admit, his gaze noting the mouth with the fuller bottom lip that she seemed to have a habit of running a sliver of her pink tongue over in a nervous gesture. The movement had also caught his attention more than once.
He admitted it. Cole had snuck more than a couple of glances at the tanned length of leg that the shirt didn’t conceal. Not bad. And then she had spoken and that pretty much put an end to his perusal of her assets. She was a woman who had no problem standing her ground. That had caught him off guard. He had to admit while it aggravated him, it also intrigued him. She wasn’t mean, just forthright in stating facts. She had a brain… and a body. And those reasons together made her an even worse choice for his household.
Well, whatever his mother had promised her, she could just forget it. He would have a word with Mae in the morning and then she could send Miss Emma whatever-her-last-name-was packing. And his life would continue just fine. He punched the pillow again to emphasize his point. The covers came back over his legs.
*
“Before you begin, I will speak.” Mae was ahead of her son who came into the kitchen just as she was pouring a cup of coffee. She pushed it in front of him as he slid into one of the chairs at the table. “You said I needed to find you someone to straighten out your office and I did just that. The fact that she and Charlie hit it off so well, is just an added plus.”
Cole halted the mug half way to his mouth, his gaze locking on his mother’s. “Charlie? How did she meet Charlie?”
“She rescued your daughter from that old, dilapidated garage behind Jim Davies’ store yesterday. Charlie had followed a stray pup inside and I couldn’t get through the opening to get her. Emma came along and went right in after her. Charlie took to her like I’ve not seen her do with a stranger before. She was so sad when Emma had to leave.”
“And that would be far worse when she leaves from the job after being in it for a while. No girl like her is going to be content on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. She wouldn’t stick it out long. Charlie doesn’t need heartbreak and people moving in and out of her life.”
“Emma agreed to at least six months. And we even shook hands on it. She was on her way to Dallas with a couple of job interviews lined up when she had engine trouble. It sounds serious. And this works out well because she can build up her funds, fix the truck, and then be on her way
. You know I’ve always been a good judge of character and I believe she’s the type to keep her word once she gives it.
“Get over it, Cole. I offered her the job you gave me permission to fill. There’s got to be something else going on here for you to have this sort of attitude toward making any changes in your life. What’s going on? And putting on your ‘considering look’ doesn’t work on me.”
The woman was watching him with that eagle eye of hers and he took a long sip of his coffee. Something told him that she wasn’t going to give up on the subject. And she was getting too close to a topic he didn’t want her near.
“Nothing else is going on.” He leaned back in his chair, arms folded over his chest. He axed his considering look. “If you offered the job and she accepted, and you made clear what her responsibilities would be, then I suppose it’s best to get this over. I’ll go along with the six months. But this is the end of your interfering in the running of my household and my life. You’ve got to let me handle things my way for Charlie and me. Agreed?”
Mae bestowed a wide smile on her son. “As you say. I’m sure you’ll be happy with my choice. And you will thank me in six months.”
“Don’t get carried away. And who knows? She might have changed her mind after last night. She might not want to stick around. Whenever she gets out of bed, you might ask her.”
“I already did. And she agrees to much the same as you just did.”
“Already did? You mean she’s up?” That brought his attention to alert.
“She was up and having coffee with your father when I finally came in… about five-thirty this morning. She went with him down to the garage and then he was probably going to show off the barns. I told them not to be late for breakfast. Which I better get going right now.” She stood and began moving pans and utensils around the cabinet and stove.
She was humming, too, obviously pleased about something. Cole wasn’t going to ask what it was. He had an idea he had just been played by a master.
*
No one was in the first barn that he checked. Cole moved on to the garage where the larger machinery was kept while being worked on. That was where he found the pair. He stopped, hands on hips, giving himself a moment or two to take in what he was seeing.
Only his father’s legs were visible from beneath the farm truck that usually hauled bales of hay to the different fields for the animals. The hood was up and there was a shapely figure of a female dressed in denim jeans and red and black top draped over the side fender, her feet balanced on a step stool while the top half of her was somewhere inside the engine compartment.
“That’s the way.” His father’s voice drifted within his hearing. “You hold that lug nut tight with those pliers and I’ll just fit the top on and screw into place. That’ll just about fix her right up.”
Emma went up on tiptoe, the stool giving just a slight wobble, and Cole made his move. He slid one arm unceremoniously around the trim waist and lifted the woman off the stool and out of his way. It was a move she didn’t take too kindly towards him making.
“Quit the kicking and squirming,” he ordered, moving her off to the side and setting her feet on the ground. He turned his attention to the engine compartment. Retrieving the pliers from her fingers, he bent over and secured the nut. “Go ahead, Dad.”
“Got it.” The man slid out from underneath the truck, using the hand his son shot out to him to pull himself to his feet. “Emma and I had already done all the others, don’t know why you showed up to do one.” He shot the girl a broad grin. “My son don’t treat you right over at his place, you come back here and I’ll hire you right on the spot. You have the makings of a good farmhand.”
“Based on what? She held a pair of pliers steady?” Something about his father’s words of praise irked Cole on top of everything else the woman had put him through the last few sleepless hours.
His father gave him a long look. “Get another cup of coffee and better manners to go along with it. I’ll be up at the house getting my breakfast. You put away the tools and then apologize to Emma, as you escort her nicely to breakfast.”
Cole didn’t respond. He looked at where Emma stood, arms crossed over her plaid shirt, her hair braided in a long braid which she flipped over her shoulder. Her blue eyes were just as brilliant in the morning light and they spoke volumes, and he would wager that none of them were nice words.
“Maybe I should have used a bit more finesse, but it wasn’t safe being on the edge of that stool. You could have been hurt.”
She simply stood watching him, no response. Was she giving him the silent treatment or something?
“I apologized.”
“Your father and I were doing just fine. I doubt falling off a two-foot stool would have seriously injured anyone. I’m a lot tougher than you might think. I was glad to be able to help him. He’s been very kind and I appreciate his niceness.” She turned on her heel and left him.
“Niceness? What kind of word is that?” He received no response.
She continued on her way toward the house. It didn’t help his attitude any when he caught himself watching her departure in the way a male enjoyed watching a beautiful woman in a form-fitting pair of jeans walk… Hold on! Since when had he spent time ogling any female’s figure? A long, long time. That fact didn’t make his disposition any sunnier. Emma Cramer was trouble. He didn’t know how he knew it, but he knew it just the same. Six months… and not one minute more! He couldn’t wait for that day.
*
“Have another biscuit, Emma. Don’t be shy around our table. I married the best cook in the state, as the size of my waistline can attest.” Vernon passed the plate to Emma with a grin. “And try both the bacon and the sausage. Can’t find any better tasting pork. You have plenty of scrambled eggs?”
“Just in case anyone cares, I would like another biscuit and some more eggs, too.” Cole watched the interactions of his parents with Emma and felt more unease. Things were settling around him at a speed he couldn’t seem to slow down.
“Don’t be silly, Cole. We don’t get to spoil too many guests around here, so we’re making up for it. You can certainly help yourself with no problems.” His mother smiled her reply across the table.
“Guest? Since when is an employee a guest? Or did she already change her mind and will be leaving us… after breakfast, of course.”
“She did not change her mind. But you are correct on one thing. I’m not a guest and as such, I fully expect to help with the cleanup.” She met his gaze with her own.
Cole opened his mouth to make a comeback, but a sound caught his attention. He turned in that direction. “What was that? Is something in the laundry room? That sounded like an animal.”
Vernon just raised his brow a bit and continued to study the food on his plate. He left it to his wife to supply the answer.
“Sounded like one because it is one. Remember I told you about how Charlie ran into that dilapidated garage after a stray puppy? And how Emma crawled in and rescued them both? Well, Emma was also kind enough to give the puppy a home at Charlie’s pleading.” Her smile grew broader as she beamed it on her son. “Guess that means little Angel will be living at Charlie’s home after all. Isn’t it grand how things work out? Charlie fell in love with that little one.”
“Just grand. But that dog will be leaving when its owner leaves. Then Charlie will be upset. I believe the dog should stay here. Best solution.” He didn’t expect anyone to counter that edict as he rose and grabbed his hat off the back corner of his chair, sliding it on his head.
“You aren’t leaving yet?” Mae asked as he stopped at her chair and dropped a swift kiss on her forehead. “Emma’s not quite finished. You’ll want to take her to your place so she can settle in and all.”
“Sorry. I have a meeting with the county judge. Guess you’ll have to settle her in and all.” He tossed a look at the woman sitting quietly and watching him with her eloquent blue eyes.
While her demeanor a
nd words might be polite enough for an employee, her eyes could certainly send a different signal. Well, he was the boss and she would soon find out what his rules would be in his house.
He kept the grin off his face until he cleared the room and was headed toward his vehicle parked in the drive. Served those two scheming females right. He had work to do and wasn’t the welcome wagon. Besides, Emma Cramer coming to his home was not his idea. The less interaction with the irritating Miss Cramer, the better he would like it. And she need not think he would be treating her as a guest in his house. She had her place and that was how it would be. In his house, his rules were the law… same as in his county.
Chapter Four
“Believe it or not, I did raise my son to have better manners. He’s got a lot of pressure on him right now and all. And… well, the situation with Charlie’s mother may have colored a lot of things over the years, too. I hope you won’t take anything he says to heart. You just stand your ground and give it right back to him.” Mae led the way up the walk toward the three-story home that was to be Emma’s residence for the next six months. Emma tried to pay attention to what Mae was saying, but her gaze was taking in everything else.
Cole and Charlie’s home was something out of one of her childhood dreams. It was a Victorian-styled farmhouse from decades gone by. The wide porch ran across the front and down the sides. Larger-than-usual-sized windows were probably the norm in order to take advantage of the unfettered breezes. There was an understated country elegance about it and she had to smile. Her mother would have loved it. Emma would have given anything to have had such a place growing up.
Yet, there was something about it that wasn’t right. The yard needed some tending. The flower beds were plentiful, but with overgrowth and a few scraggly bushes here and there that were trying to hang on. It just seemed to need attention and a little loving care. Evidently, Cole Drayton didn’t possess a green thumb. But then, he was a busy man. Mae had said as much. Emma decided she could cut him some slack in that regard.