Bachelor for Hire (Bachelor Auction #1)

by Charlene Sands

  She leaned forward, put her elbows on the table and braced her chin with her hands. “Have another cookie, Code, and I’ll tell you about my cat.”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” he said, picking out the biggest one in the lot.

  Then he leaned way back ready to listen to Hayley go on and on about her pet. He was a pushover for warm cookies and smart conversation, which this was not, yet he hadn’t had this good a time with a woman in ages.

  *

  Hayley knocked on Brand Matthews’ door at the Lucky B Ranch and glanced around the place. The other day when she was here, she hadn’t paid attention. She’d had that note on her mind and not much else. But today, she noticed some subtle changes. Flowers bloomed in a bed bordering the house and fresh paint covered the walls. The ranch was small by Paradise Valley standards, but it was well-kept.

  No doubt thanks to Code.

  He was a hard worker. He felt he owed it to his uncle for raising him. But according to her grandmother, Brand wouldn’t have it any other way. He loved his nephew unconditionally and raising him had given a childless man new meaning in life.

  After a few moments, she knocked again.

  “Hold on, I’m coming.” Brand rasped from behind the door, his voice even more gravelly than she remembered.

  “Take your time,” she called out. “I’ve got all day.”

  The door was yanked opened. And she found Brand smiling like a fool. “You haven’t lost your tongue, I see,” he said.

  The old guy looked pretty good, if not a bit more bent over than the last time she’d seen him. He had a shock of white hair, a complexion weathered by years in the sun, and the most startling blue eyes she’d ever seen on a man. Often those wise eyes gave away what he was thinking.

  “Gosh, I hope I never do.”

  He gazed at the covered dish she held in her hands. “What did you bring me?”

  “Invite me in, and I’ll tell you.”

  The man cursed at himself. “Where are my manners? I think they got lost when my hearing went bad. Come on in, Hayles.”

  No one but Brand had ever nicknamed her and it was something special between them. “I think I will.”

  “You remember where the kitchen is?” He pointed behind him.

  “I think so.”

  But he led the way anyway and she followed his super slow pace. “Smells like your Grandma Marie’s sonofagun stew.”

  “You haven’t lost your sense of smell, Uncle Brand. That’s for sure.”

  “Gosh, Marie would bring it to the senior center some days and I’d be the first in line. I’m sorry she’s gone, honey. Real sorry.”

  “Me too. I miss her, but she lived a long and happy life. She always said she had a life filled with blessings.”

  Marie didn’t dwell on the fact that her only son and daughter-in-law barely spent any time with her. They’d spare her a visit if they were traveling on business anywhere in the vicinity and let’s face it; Montana wasn’t exactly a hub of enterprise. Her dad’s consultant business was mostly international these days.

  “That’s all anyone can hope for,” Brand said. “Gosh, I’m sure glad you called this morning. We didn’t get a chance to talk after you ran out during the auction.”

  She didn’t want to get into that with Code’s uncle. “That’s why I’m here now, so we can catch up.”

  She set the covered dish down on the stove and turned back to him. “I hope I did the stew justice. I’ve never made it without grandma’s help.”

  “If it tastes as good as it smells, then you’ve got nothing to worry over.” He rubbed at the whiskers on his chin. “Gosh, I sure didn’t think I would see you again, with you being a big shot movie star now. I’ve seen all your movies, girl. You’re good.”

  Warmth rushed up her throat and she imagined how ruby red her face must be right now. A true redhead blushing was not a pretty sight. She should be used to people complimenting her, but hearing the pride in his voice, was a bit humbling. Her own parents barely acknowledged her success much less made her feel good about what she did for a living.

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  “Cody, too.”

  “Cody what?”

  “He’s seen your movies. All of ’em. He’d go up to his room and watch you whenever they were on TV.”

  “Oh, uh.” She didn’t know what to say to that. Was Uncle Brand trying his hand at matchmaking?

  “He’s a fan, but you didn’t hear it from me. The boy’s touchy lately. But I figure you two will work it out on your weekend date.” Brand smiled.

  “Right,” she said, cautiously.

  “Must be something happening if a lady bids ten grand on a man.”

  “Nothing’s happening, Uncle Brand. It was charity and I was happy to do it.”

  His bushy white brows cut into his forehead. “If you say so. He’s not going to be here tonight, you know. He took off to run errands in town and then he’s gonna play poker with some of the boys.”

  “Good for him. I didn’t come here to see him anyway. I’m here to have a visit with you.”

  A smile settled on the old man’s face. “That’s nice.”

  She really wasn’t here for Code today, although she’d been disappointed when he hadn’t returned her call on Monday. She’d left him a message stating her car hadn’t been tampered with after all. It was an oversight on the mechanic’s part and he’d apologized for the neglect. The car needed a new alternator, and she’d been so relieved to find out, she’d called Code right away to tell him the good news.

  “Seems to me my nephew will be sorry missing out on your company and having the best stew in three counties. You’ll stay and share the meal with me, won’t you?”

  Brand’s hopeful expression was too sweet to crush. She hadn’t planned on staying. She was only to drop off the stew to two men who were in need of a decent home-cooked meal, and have a short visit with an old friend. “Sure, I’d love to have dinner with you.”

  He nodded and then his face twisted up. “You any good with making biscuits?”

  “Yeah, I think I can swing that.”

  “Widow Benedict stopped over this morning with a fresh-baked pie from Mindy Sue. That sweet girl’s got herself a job working at the Copper Mountain Gingerbread and Dessert Factory now. Violet says she’s doing real good. We’ll dig into that pie for dessert.”

  “Well, don’t you have it all figured out.”

  “Sure do. I’m nothing, if not prepared.”

  *

  Hours later, after a satisfying meal and a dozen games of gin rummy with an old card sharp, her eyelids began to droop. “Uncle Brand, it’s after ten. I think I should get going and let you get to bed.”

  “Just one more game, Hayles. Maybe I’ll let you win one.” He gave her a wink and a smile and shoved a big pile of pennies to the center of the round table. She’d already lost four dollars.

  “How’d you get so good at rummy?”

  “Years and years of practice. I bet Code’s hauling it in tonight, too. I taught that boy all he knows about playing cards. Are you in?”

  She shoved her remaining pennies into the pile. “I’m in. All or nothing. Hand me those cards. It’s my turn to shuffle.”

  “That’s a girl. You know, I never held it against you, running off to Hollywood like you did.”

  “Oh, Uncle Brand, thank you for saying that.”

  “A person’s got to pursue their dreams.”

  “Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it.”

  “Sure, it is. Look at you now, a big star and all. You having regrets?”

  Some. She’d been rebellious and wild. She’d given her Grandma Marie trouble, running around with boys, coming in late at night, and doing everything in her power to be contrary. If the whole world said red, she screamed blue. She couldn’t be like everyone else. She had to stand out. She had to prove to the world she was special. It was what she clung to when thoughts of her parents’ abandonment muddied up her head. Now,
she had the life she’d always wanted. But she was busy all the time. Too busy to have a real relationship and sometimes life got lonely.

  She began doling out the cards. “I wouldn’t call them regrets exactly. There are some things I would change though. And I never meant to hurt Code.”

  “No hard feelings, here.”

  Code’s voice gave her a start. She lifted her lids to find him standing in the kitchen doorway, looking every bit the rancher now in faded jeans and a red plaid shirt peeking out of a tan leather jacket. His face was covered in day old stubble that begged to be touched.

  By her.

  “Well, would you look at what the cat dragged in,” Brand said, tossing down his cards. “Come in, boy. Say hello to Hayles.”

  Code tipped his head. “Hayley.”

  “Hi, Code.”

  “You’re home early,” Brand said. “Hayley and I had dinner and were just finishing up our rummy.”

  “Actually, Uncle Brand. I really should be going.” She rose and gave him a smile. “I’ll take a rain check on that last game.”

  “I’m gonna hold you to that, girl.” He stood and put out his arms. Hayley walked over and hugged the old man, remembering similar warm unconditional hugs she’d gotten from her grandmother.

  “Good-bye, Uncle Brand.”

  “Cody, you walk Hayley out.” He gestured with a wave of the hand. “See that she gets off the ranch okay.”

  “Oh, no. That’s not necessary.”

  “Sure thing,” Code said to his uncle. “I’ll be right back.”

  “You take all the time you need to say goodnight to Hayley.” The old man grinned.

  Hayley grabbed her purse off the sofa on the way to the front door.

  “It’s cold out there,” Code said. “Don’t you have a coat?”

  “It’s in the car.”

  “Nice place for it.” He slipped his jacket off. “Here, put this on.”

  She didn’t argue. It was only a twenty foot walk to her car, but the thought of wearing the jacket that had first warmed Code’s body tonight was too good to pass up. She was drawn to him, big time. And seeing him tonight caused a wild stirring in her heart. “Thanks.”

  He helped her into the sleeves and then tugged the jacket closed, his hands gripping the edges tight. A tick pulsed in his jaw and a hot blast of awareness traveled between them.

  A moment clicked by and he continued to hold her. Was he thinking about the last time they were this close? That day in the barn, just steps from here, when dire lust mingled with adolescent curiosity and she was ready to give him everything. He’d shed her outer clothes, slid his hand up her leg and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.

  Ironically, there hadn’t been any more tomorrows. Not for them.

  “Code.” Her heart hammered against her chest.

  A noisy sigh slipped from his mouth, a sound he probably didn’t want heard and then he took a hard swallow. “Are you warm?” he asked finally.

  She searched his face, noting every handsome line and angle. “Very.”

  “Good. Let’s get you to your car.”

  He opened the door and she walked out first. “You really don’t have to,” she said, turning around and bumping into his rock solid chest. “Oh!”

  He grabbed her, his arms wrapping her tight. She’d been in no danger of falling, but his instincts had taken hold and he’d secured her anyway. The man was a natural born protector. And now, she was in his grasp again and it was pure heaven. A warm rush pushed through her body and she tingled from head to toe.

  “Hayley,” he murmured quietly, as if aware of the sudden shift between them.

  She brought her chin up and he dropped his gaze down to her mouth. There was need in his eyes and dark sizzling desire. A moment passed and then another and it was torture standing there, unable to move, her pulse racing, waiting for him to make up his mind. And then he bent his head and angled his mouth close to hers. It was exquisite having the whisper of his lips so near. “You do amaze me, woman.”

  And then his mouth was on hers, taking her in a beautiful soft kiss.

  God, he tasted so good. Just like she’d remembered, all dreamy male, firm and giving. Heat spiraled up inside like a prairie wildfire, hot and smoky, warming up every bone in her body. A long-winded whimper escaped her throat.

  He moved closer and took her face into his palms. She fell into those striking mahogany brown depths and decided she could live there, all warm and cozy.

  “Keep making noises like that and I’m gonna drag you into my uncle’s barn again.”

  Drag her? She’d gone willingly and she’d been halfway to heaven before they’d been interrupted. It was the day she’d recognized how much Cody Matthews had come to mean to her—the day both her body and her heart had been involved. The memory pulled another throaty moan from her lips. “I remember.”

  He shook his head as if resisting her was futile and then claimed her lips in another bone-melting kiss. Inside her boots, her toes curled. And an eruption of goose bumps paraded up and down her arms. Until she was sure she’d never remember another man’s kiss. Until his kiss became a long onslaught of pleasure. His lips demanding and delicious, she could go on kissing him for hours.

  Then suddenly, he backed away, regret pulling his mouth into a frown. But his heart had to be beating out his chest the way hers was. He couldn’t put that much passion in a kiss and then walk away. Maybe, Code had mastered major acting skills that could rival hers. Yet, there was nothing false about his kisses. There was nothing false in her feelings for him either.

  Code filled her up with honest emotions.

  “This isn’t happening again,” he said on a deep breath as if just coming to his senses.

  She thought his other senses were right on.

  But obviously, he was regretting kissing her already. He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward her car, eyeing the new Ford sedan parked by the corral fence. “I see you’re driving a rental car now.”

  How quickly he turned his emotions on and off. He must’ve had lots of practice. She was an actress, but she wasn’t that good. Her heart was still pounding hard.

  “Y-yes. I didn’t want to press my luck with the grandma mobile.”

  His lips twitched at the description of the car, but a full smile was tucked away somewhere cold and dark as they continued on. “Good thinking.”

  When they reached her rental car, she pivoted to face him. “Code?”

  She was ready to question him about what just happened between them, but he put his head down, refusing to look her in the eyes.

  “I told you once already, I’ve got nothing to offer you. I shouldn’t have kissed you, Hayley. It was a mistake.”

  She lifted her chin and wanted to tell him she could decide that for herself. But her pride was hurting and she felt worse than a fool for thinking that maybe Code liked her again. That maybe he wanted her, but now her stomach ached and she warned herself not to pull down her shields. She couldn’t allow anyone to reject her, ever again. Not even Code.

  “Yeah, it was,” she said quietly, though her body was still humming from his kisses.

  His brows rose at her agreement. Then he nodded. “Go on, get into the car,” he said. “Call me if something scares you again. But other than that, I’ll see you Friday night.”

  “Right. Friday night. Our date.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Well, see you around. She practically purred, just to get his ire up and then climbed into her car. It was only until she was halfway out of Paradise Valley that she realized she was wearing Code’s warm fleece-lined leather jacket.

  She sure as hell wasn’t turning this car around to return it to him.

  He’d just have to do without it.

  But the joke was on her, because every time she pulled breath into her lungs, his delicious, woodsy scent surrounded her and images of being in his arms just minutes ago, flashed in her head. Her lips were slightly bruised from his kisses an
d the subtle taste of him lingered still on her mouth. So much for putting Code out of her mind tonight.

  A few minutes later, she drove past Bramble Park and down her grandmother’s street. She was just making the turn into the driveway and caught a glimpse of her grandmother’s car on the street in front of the house. Something was off. The body of the car was practically sitting on the ground, all four tires flatter than flapjacks. Had someone slashed the tires? An icy chill pushed through her body and crazy thoughts raced through her head.

  The mechanic had delivered the car and parked it in front of the house the other day. She hadn’t so much as touched it. Nothing had been awry this morning when she’d left to run errands in her rental car and she hadn’t noticed anything wrong when she headed to see Uncle Brand this afternoon either.

  Had someone maliciously tampered with the car? Her shoulders began to shake uncontrollably. She bit her lip wondering what to do. She couldn’t go into the house. Someone might be in there, waiting for her.

  Before she could back out of the driveway, a car came out of nowhere and parked behind her. The headlights blinding her eyes, she couldn’t make out who it was. She couldn’t go forward toward the garage. Her grandmother had never installed an automatic garage door opener and being trapped in total darkness at the back of the house by a total stranger held absolutely no appeal.

  She was stuck.

  Lord in heaven.

  A door slammed shut and footsteps hit the ground.

  Someone was coming.

  Chapter Three

  Hayley had no choice. She did what any other panicked woman would do.

  She laid on the horn. The sound blasted through the neighborhood, probably waking the dead, too, but she didn’t care. Maybe the horn was enough of an alarm to scare off whoever was approaching her.

  She kept it up, her only source of defense. Hard knocking on her window made her jump and turn to the sound. “Uh!”

  “Hayley!”

  It was Code.

  Her shoulders slumped and her panic turned to relief. A big bubble of tears formed in her eyes and began streaming down her face.

  “Open the door,” he ordered.

  She fumbled, but managed to unlock the door. He did the rest, whipping the door open and crouching down to get a better look at her.