But it made her wonder just how many women Hunter had dated. How many women he’d seduced since leaving Marietta and becoming a success story.
A sliver of jealousy wound through her and she closed her eyes for a moment. It was none of her business if he’d slept with half of Seattle. They weren’t dating. They weren’t even sleeping together.
Yet.
She turned the frying chicken over and sighed.
Oh, man, but did she have a tough choice to make or what? She tried to visualize Jim’s face. It was a little fuzzy. Hunter’s image kept replacing it.
Sex with Hunter would be just that. Sex. No strings. And their fling would have an end date of next Sunday. And saying yes to Hunter meant an end date with Jim immediately.
Jim represented stability and a future that would likely end up at with a walk down the aisle. Was she crazy to consider throwing that away?
She wanted to get married. Of course she did. But she wanted to be in love when she did it.
And the bottom line was, in the handful of months she’d been casually dating Jim, he’d never once nearly made her knees give out the way Hunter did.
“Why don’t you carry these out to the table for me.” Her words were curt, but if Hunter noticed he didn’t say anything.
“Happy to.” He took the plate and winked. “I can’t promise they’ll arrive there safely.”
“Did he just threaten to eat all your delicious biscuits?” Claire came into the kitchen, brows raised as Hunter left it.
“Yes.” Katie sighed. “And, right now, all I can think is how I want to climb into his lap and feed them to him like they’re grapes. You know, like the painting of that woman feeding her man grapes. That’s a thing, right?”
Claire laughed. “Sure. Only you want to feed your man biscuits?”
“We’re country, not vineyard.” She shot Claire a look. “And he’s not my man.”
Her future sister-in-law harrumphed. “He would be if you let him be.”
“Not long-term.”
“Is that what you want?”
“I don’t know.” And she didn’t. She still had no clue who she should choose. One choice was logical, the other was completely impractical but everything her heart—and body—craved.
“Well, Katie, you’d better figure it out.” Claire picked up the plate of fried chicken and moved to follow after Hunter. “The man leaves next week.”
Yes. She was all too aware of that.
Katie turned off the stove and went to wash her hands, wishing she could wash away this attraction to Hunter just as easily.
Hunter hadn’t been sure if dinner would be awkward or not. What with Lance and Dan gone, and it just being him and the Marshall Ranch usual.
But it wasn’t uncomfortable in the least. No one brought up the other two men’s absence, which made him wonder if Katie must’ve said something.
Dinner had been an amazing feast of comfort food and conversation. When was the last time he’d had fried chicken? Maybe not since he’d left Marietta. He never ate fried food in Seattle. Sushi, yeah. Fried chicken was definitely harder to find. And he doubted he’d find any as incredible as Katie’s anyway. And those biscuits. Dear God, he hadn’t realized how rarely he ate gluten now, until he’d sank his teeth into those buttery, flaky carbohydrate bombs.
Then there was the dessert. Claire had brought out a rich, chocolate sheet cake—smothered in thick fudge frosting—that still had his blood buzzing with sugar.
All the food had been ingested while conversations jumped from topic to topic, the one that had dominated was Claire and Wyatt’s wedding in August. He’d decided he really liked the couple.
Then there were the two ranch hands, Tim and Lyle, they seemed pretty nice too. Grilling him about his company and the games with genuine curiosity. There was a relaxation during the meal that he hadn’t experienced all week, and he knew it had to be because Lance and Dan weren’t here.
“Should be a good night for star watching.” Wyatt glanced his way while clearing his plate. “We’ll have a bonfire going out back after sunset if anyone’s interested. You can tell your friends once they return from wherever they went.”
“I’ll be sure to let them know.” Or maybe he wouldn’t. Who knew when they’d come home anyway.
“Need to borrow the Wi-Fi again?” Katie teased, though her gaze was serious. “Work to do?”
Momentarily thrown, Hunter shook his head. “No, I’m okay on that.”
Until dinner, he hadn’t thought about work in at least twenty-four hours. Which was almost crazy really. His company, the constant push to grow bigger, consumed him.
The first day he’d arrived on the ranch he’d nearly been climbing out of his skin to check emails. Each day that compulsion had lessoned. He’d check in tomorrow after the cattle drive.
“You coming out to the fire later?” He tried to keep his question casual as he glanced at Katie.
Wyatt glanced sharply their way, but Claire caught his arm and steered him out of the room, murmuring something in his ear.
Katie’s gaze searched his briefly, before slipping away. “I’ll probably come outside for a little bit.”
“You should. I don’t want this day to end just yet.”
Her gaze slid back to his eyes. “Been a good day, huh?”
After taking a moment to really think about it, he gave a small nod. “Yeah. It has. I especially liked the hiking part. When we reached the top and we—”
“Yes, I know. You don’t need to remind me of what we did.” She grimaced, her cheeks flushing as she darted a look around the room.
They were alone now though. The ranch hands had disappeared right after dinner.
“Where are you off to?” He reached for a couple dishes to bring to the kitchen.
“I’m going to lie down and read. I like a little quiet time in the evening.”
The idea of her spending her free time reading pleased him. Reading was something he enjoyed doing when time allowed. And time allowed him that luxury right now, he realized.
He scratched his beard and nodded. “You know what? I think I might do the same.”
“Really?” She looked surprised. “Honestly, if you want to use our Wi-Fi, it’s fine. I can give you the info.”
“Thank, but I’m good.” The idea of lying in the cabin on that soft bed with a book in his hands, sounded even better. “I’ll see you later tonight at the fire later.”
“I said I probably would. Don’t get your hopes up.”
There was no probably about it. The flicker of awareness in her eyes gave her away.
“Thanks again for dinner. You’re an incredible cook,” he called out, as he headed toward the door. “I’ll gain fifty pounds by the end of the week if I’m not careful.”
“I’ll make sure to find ways to keep you active.”
He paused in the doorway and turned to raise an eyebrow. Now didn’t that just sound suggestive.
“Outside activities, of course. You know what I meant.” But her words were rushed and she bit her lip after.
“I can imagine I do.” He couldn’t help an incorrigible grin as he left the kitchen. He gave a low belly laugh when he heard her sigh of exasperation behind him.
She really made it too easy.
Two hours later, Hunter was a couple hundred pages into a book he’d bought at Christmas and had never had a chance to open.
The fading sunlight in the cabin was what ultimately drew him from the story. He tucked a bookmark in to hold his spot and closed the book, setting it on the bedside table.
He could’ve turned on a light and kept reading, but he decided to take a moment to just be still with his thoughts.
Lying back against the pillow, he folded his hands behind his head, staring at the knotty pine ceiling.
These cabins had to be newer. Likely no more than a decade old. They were cozy, clean, and with enough comforts to make it just as nice as a fancy hotel, but without the chaos of being in o
ne. There was privacy.
It had been a smart idea. Opening the cattle ranch to host guests during the summer. He’d read up on the history of the ranch, while researching places to go, and had been surprised to see the Marshall family offered the guest ranching experience.
He hadn’t even hesitated, just made the decision to book with them. And, so far, he couldn’t bring himself to regret, despite his initial reluctance. No matter what happened with Katie. Just the fact he’d had a pretty incredible breakfast full of conversation and healing with his parents had been worth the trip alone.
Thinking of Katie had him itching to see her again. He eased off the bed, figuring someone would be out at the fire by now, and made his way outside.
The sun had gone down over an hour ago. From her bedroom window, Katie could see the yellow and orange fire licking up from the fire pit on the property.
The pit was a couple minute walk from the house and cabins. Farther away from the lights and a little bit closer to God and the stars above.
She wanted to be out there. Sitting on the sanded log benches and nursing a beer. Being outside on a summer night, hanging out with the ranch folk around the fire was one of her favorite things. And, right now, down by that fire, sat the one man who had her emotions twisted up into one giant pretzel.
She itched with the need to go down and join them, she would’ve been out there by now, but a text had slowed her down.
Jim wanted to call her on his break, which was in ten minutes. And she really didn’t want to take that call outside surrounded by people. So she stared at the fire, and the group gathering around it, until her cell finally rung.
“Evening, Kaitlyn.”
He’d never called her Katie, even when she’d told him he could, which had always seemed a little weird to her.
“Hello.” The word lodged in her throat. “How’s work going?”
“Good, good. It’s a slow night.” There was a pause for a moment. “Haven’t heard from you much.”
“I know.” She closed her eyes, guilt sweeping through her. “I’ve been a little busy.”
“Yeah, I figured. That bachelor party, right?”
“Yes.”
“You be careful. I know how those kinds of guys can get, and it’s nothing but trouble.”
Her lips twisted. What kind of guys? The bachelor party types, or the city guys? She suspected he meant both.
“I’m fine, I promise.”
“Maybe so, but I worry about you, cupcake.”
Cupcake. She cringed and gripped her phone tighter. Hunter was right, that really was a terrible endearment. But when Jim had first used it, the term had somewhat worked. On one of their first dates, he’d teased her that she was as sweet as cupcake. And then it had become an endearment.
Cupcake didn’t quite make her belly flip the way sweetheart did when Hunter had used it on her.
She stared blindly out the window again. Jim always treated her with kid gloves, which seemed weird, because she was anything but a delicate flower. She worked just as hard on this ranch as all the men.
So many people didn’t realize it though. Maybe because she volunteered for kitchen duty, more than cattle driving. She was tired of it all. Tired of being treated like she was breakable because she was Katie Marshall. The proverbial girl next door. But that was what she’d signed up for with Jim. It was probably what he liked most about her.
“Can you meet me for lunch this week sometime?” he asked. “I want to see you.”
“This week might be hard. What with the party here and all.”
Even as she said the words, she knew she was stalling. There was a big ticking clock on her decision about Hunter. And yet she was so ridiculously torn. Was she crazy to give up dating Jim for a fling with Hunter?
“Right. Okay.” His words had an edge of frustration to them. “So, Kaitlyn...”
Oh no. Here it came. Whatever it was.
“I was thinking we should take a small trip up to Glacier. Spend a couple nights.”
That was not what she’d been expecting. His words gathered like a lead ball in her belly.
They’d met almost a year ago, when he’d responded to a frightening incident on the ranch involving Claire and her old boss. She’d noticed he was a little extra friendly, but he hadn’t asked her out until they’d run into each other at a church function in March.
Four months of dating. A weekend night here and there. It had never been too serious. Nothing more than a lingering kiss. But she knew what he was asking now. He wanted more. He wanted intimacy.
Why hadn’t she expected this? Of course he would want sex. All men wanted sex.
She closed her eyes, trying to visualize making love to Jim. Panic swept through her and she couldn’t catch her breath.
“I can’t,” she whispered.
“Can’t get away for even just one night?” Disbelief rang in his words.
This wasn’t going to work. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes. “I can’t... see you anymore, Jim. I didn’t plan it, couldn’t have predicted it, but there’s someone else.”
Silence filled the connection. Heavy and uncomfortable.
“It’s that rich video game guy, isn’t it?”
Her eyes snapped open and surprise surged open at the disgust in his voice. How did he even know?
“I saw the way he looked at you that night when I showed up to deal with Eddie,” Jim muttered. “He’s not sticking around, Kaitlyn. You know that.”
She did. It didn’t change things.
“He’s not worth it. You’re not the bed-hopping type. Or maybe you’ve decided to be.”
His mean tone had her recoiling. She gripped the phone tighter and frowned.
“I’m sorry, Jim. I never meant to give you the wrong idea. I enjoyed seeing you, and it’s only just recently I’ve come to realize we’re not the best fit.”
“Wrong idea? Really?” He gave a harsh laugh. “Good luck with him, Kaitlyn. You’re going to need it.”
Silence followed and when she glanced at her phone screen it was dark. He’d ended the call.
Well. That was nowhere near the way she’d envisioned that conversation going. Not that she’d realized her decision until he’d brought up the night away.
She set her phone on the bed and folded her arms across her chest. Shame lanced through her, knowing Jim was across town making all kinds of judgments about her.
“Enough, Katie. Get your butt outside to that fire and let it go. Who cares what he thinks?”
She unfastened her braid and finger combed her hair, before making her way downstairs and out to the fire. The smell of wood burning, combined with men’s laughter eased the tension that had coiled around her muscles.
“Hey, you finally made it.” Claire’s voice rang out from the shadows.
“Too nice of a night to stay inside.” She went to join Claire on one of the log benches, several feet from the fire.
Katie hadn’t seen the other woman much today and had assumed that Claire had skipped coming outside for the bonfire again. Maybe it was her imagination, but Katie couldn’t help but think that her future sister-in-law had been lying low more often than not lately.
“Where’s Wyatt?”
“Grabbing me a snack.”
Katie shivered. “You sure chose a cold spot.”
“Not a fan of the smoke.” Claire wrinkled her nose. “Not to mention I get too hot if I sit closer.”
Katie nodded and slid a glance over the fire. Hunter was on the other side of the flames, sitting on a bench that was a bit closer to the warmth. He seemed to be deep in discussion with Tim and Lyle, and hadn’t even glanced her way.
That fact sent a prickle of annoyance through her. Do you know what I just did for you? She silently screamed.
“How are you?” Claire asked softly. “With all this boy drama?”
Katie flushed. “There’s no boy drama.”
“Oh, yes. There sure as hell is.” Claire laughed and slid
a look Hunter’s way. “Unless I’m imagining that sparks that fly between you two whenever you’re close.”
Unable to pull her gaze off of Hunter—who was still deep in discussion—Katie gave a small shrug.
“I’m not sure what it is.” Another shiver slid through her, and she was glad she’d put her sweater back on after dinner. Though she wasn’t entirely certain the shiver came from the cold.
“Oh, I’ll tell you exactly what that is.” Claire leaned toward her. “That is one hundred proof sexual attraction.”
Katie shook her head.
“Meaning, you guys are obviously dying to sleep with each other.” Claire nudged her. “You know, just in case you hadn’t figured out what I was implying.”
“Oh, no, I got it. Thanks.”
Claire laughed. “Good. So what are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t know.” And that question had been driving her crazy for the last twenty-four hours. From the moment Hunter had first kissed her and thrown her world off-kilter.
“Is this about Jim?”
“Partly.” She wasn’t ready to admit she’d ended things with him, because that still didn’t mean she was ready to jump into bed with Hunter.
“Do you think you love him?”
Her stomach clenched. “No.”
Claire nodded. “Do you think you’re heading that way? Where you’re almost in love with him?”
No. Not at all. But maybe she’d been too hasty in her decision.
“Don’t those things take time?” She couldn’t help the irritation in her voice. “I mean, maybe love can grow slowly.”
“It can.” Claire glanced over and gave Hunter a pensive look. “Or it can be like a spark near the fuse on dynamite. The two come into contact and bam.”
“Dynamite is dangerous.” Okay, she definitely sounded grumpy now. Was she second guessing her decision about Jim? “There’s something to be said about slow and steady.”
Hunter finally glanced their way and his gaze locked on Katie’s. Her breath caught and her heart did a little flip.
“I can only say how it was for me.” Claire’s words were soft, meant for the two of them. “Where every day was like a wild emotional roller coaster. Where I knew, just knew, I was in danger of falling in love with your brother. No matter how much I tried to fight it.”
Falling for the Hometown Girl Page 11