by Elle James
Selena exited her apartment, turned and locked the door behind her. Then she descended the stairs to the parking lot below and set out to walk the two blocks to Rider’s garage. Several times along the way, she considered turning back and abandoning her attempt to thank Rider for helping her during the fight. Each time, her mother’s voice sounded in her head, telling her it was the right thing to do.
Even with her mother’s voice in her head, encouraging her to take the cookies as a thank you gift, Selena couldn’t help but think visiting Rider was a really bad idea.
CHAPTER 3
RIDER DROPPED down on his back on the dolly and slid beneath the bright red antique Mustang he’d been working on all afternoon. With a wrench in hand, he loosened the drain plug on the oil pan and let the oil run into the bucket beside him. The familiar scents of oil, gasoline and the rubber of tires filled his senses, calming him, making him feel more at home and relaxed.
This was his element. Not the high rises of Dallas, nor the society-ridden galas of the swanky hotels. He’d gone to Texas A&M University to become a financial planner and help others decide where to put their money in the stock markets. He still did some of that on the side from his computer on the desk inside his office over the garage. Because of his smart investments and sales, it hadn’t taken him long to refill his coffers after his divorce. He had a knack for betting on the right stocks.
His talents with the stock market made it possible for him to enjoy the physical skill of rebuilding cars and fixing engines, something hands-on where he could see the fruits of his labors immediately.
As he fitted a new oil filter in place on the 1967 Mustang, his thoughts drifted back to Selena at the convenience store and how she’d jumped into the middle of a fight between two heavy-set guys, twice her weight. The woman had more chutzpa than any of the debutantes he’d met in Dallas. She’d been that way even as a child growing up on the ranch. She went to bat for any underdog, determined to protect and defend.
He remembered her as the little girl who would do anything to follow him and his brothers and sister out to the fields. She wouldn’t bother to throw a saddle on a horse, instead she’d mount bareback, hold onto the horse’s mane and ride like the wind to catch up with them. Her jeans had been torn, her boots scuffed and her shirt dirty from playing as roughly as any of the boys. And when she rode, her dark hair flew back with the wind, tangled, but bright and shining in the sun.
Rider saw much of that little girl in the woman she’d become, only she had curves now, and her smile was brighter. Her eyes flashed when she was angry and sparkled when she smiled at anybody who entered her convenience store.
Selena and Raul had been an item at one point in time. Perhaps that was why she had jumped into the fray to break up the fight earlier. Had he misread Selena’s intentions? Did she still have feelings for Raul?
A tug of disappointment settled in his gut. She deserved better. Raul worked construction, which wasn’t a bad thing. But he lived in a rundown trailer and drank heavily.
Selena had her sights set on higher education and a better life for herself. Rider had no aspirations for dating the beautiful Hispanic girl he’d grown up with. She had never shown any interest in him other than that of a sister to a brother while growing up on the ranch. But after seeing her today, throwing herself into the middle of a fight, he couldn’t help but think of all that passion and how it could be channeled in bed.
The thought of Selena in anyone else’s bed made Rider’s head jerk up, and he bumped it against the chassis of the car above him.
Footsteps sounded on the concrete near the entrance of the garage.
“I’ll be with you in a moment.” Rider tightened the drain plug on the oil pan and rolled out from beneath the car. His eyes widened. Standing before him, carrying a tin, stood the woman he’d just been thinking about. Heat filled his cheeks at the thought of Selena lying in a bed carrying a tin that smelled deliciously of her mother’s Mexican sugar cookies.
“Selena, what are you doing here?” Rider frowned and raised his head too soon, not realizing that he hadn’t quite cleared the frame of the car. He smacked his forehead against the metal and dropped his head back. Pain knifed through his forehead, and he groaned.
Selena went to her knees beside him and set the tin on the ground. “Rider, are you okay?”
Rider pressed a hand to his forehead. “I’m fine.” His words came out a little sharper than he intended, more out of anger at himself than at being interrupted by Selena appearing in his garage.
Selena pressed her fingertips to his forehead, a frown denting her brow. “I’m sorry. I should have made my presence known.”
Rider slid further from beneath the vehicle and sat up on the dolly. “No, that was my fault. I should have paid more attention to where I was.”
Selena lifted the can and rose to her feet. “I brought you some of your favorite cookies.”
Rider frowned. “What’s the occasion?”
Selena shrugged “It’s just a thank you for pulling me out of the fight earlier today.”
“You don’t have to thank me. Those guys would’ve hurt you. They were so set on bashing each other’s faces in, they didn’t even realize you were between them.”
Selena grimaced. “I know. Those two just can’t seem to get along.”
“I don’t know why they couldn’t have taken it somewhere else other than the convenience store where you work.”
“I’d just as soon they have their fight in front of the convenience store. That way I’m there to break it up.” Selena raised her hand. “Even if I have to call the police, rather than jump in the middle.” She grimaced. “I hate to think of them beating each other senseless and no one stopping them.”
Rider shook his head. “You always think of others. You need to think about your own safety sometimes.”
“Hellfire is my home,” Selena said. “I just want everyone to get along.”
Rider gave her a twisted grin. “Sometimes, you just have to accept that not everyone will get along.”
Selena lifted her chin. “I’m not ready to accept that.” She pushed the tin of cookies toward him. “Anyway, these are for you. Thank you for helping me out earlier.”
Rider wiped the oil off his hands and accepted the tin. “Well, thank you for the cookies. I’d say they aren’t necessary, but…” he sniffed drawing in a deep breath and letting it out, “these cookies smell so good I can’t refuse.”
Selena smiled. “They’re just like my mother’s. And I know how much you enjoy her sugar cookies.”
Rider’s smile spread across his face. “You always brought me an extra cookie after your mother baked them.”
Selena shrugged. “I knew how much you liked them.”
“Is that the only reason why you came by today?” Rider opened the tin and selected a cookie.
Selena glanced away, color filling her cheeks. “Of course.”
“I was wondering…” Rider straightened to his full height.
Selena tipped her head back, staring up into his eyes. “Yes…?”
“I was wondering…” he paused to draw a deep breath, “are you and Raul a thing?”
Selena blinked several times, and a smile quirked the corners of her mouth. “Me and Raul?”
Rider lifted one shoulder. “You know… Are you two dating?”
Selena’s grin spread across her face. “Not for a long time. Not for a year or so. Raul and I are on different paths.”
“I just wondered if that was why you jumped into the middle of the fight.” Rider shrugged nonchalantly although, inside, he relaxed at the news. “Not that it’s any of my business.”
“Why do you ask?” Selena tilted her head to the side.
“No reason. I just thought you two were so very different.”
“We are. We want different things in life,” Selena said.
“What do you want Selena?” Rider stared down into her eyes, noticing for the first time the flecks of g
old in her brown eyes.
Selena stared up at him for a moment without speaking. “I want a better life for myself and my parents.”
He blinked. “I didn’t think your parents had such a bad life, working at the ranch.”
Selena shook her head. “They don’t have a bad life. But, one of these days, I would like to see them retire.”
“And you think that improving your life will help them to retire sooner?” Rider said.
“No, I don’t think it would help them to retire sooner. But I am their only daughter, and because of that, I know I’ll be taking care of them when they get older.” She gave him a tight smile. “I want to be in a position where I can care for them in comfort.”
“There ya go again,” Rider said. “Always taking care of others. That’s what I like about you.”
Selena stared up at him a moment longer. “Why did you leave Dallas?”
Rider turned away and placed the tin of cookies on a shelf before answering. “Dallas wasn’t for me. Hellfire is my home.”
“You see? That’s the same for me,” Selena said. “Hellfire is my home as well. And I’d like to see the people who live here, live in peace.”
Rider opened his mouth about to ask Selena if she would like to go out for a drink at the Ugly Stick Saloon, but before he could ask, a vehicle pulled up outside the open garage door, and he recognized the car as one of the sheriff’s deputy’s vehicles.
His brother Nash stepped out and looked over the top of the SUV. “Hey, Rider,” Nash called out. “We’ll see you at dinner tonight, won’t we?”
Rider gave his brother a chin lift. “I’ll be there.”
Nash nodded. He tipped his hat, climbed back in his vehicle and drove away.
Selena glanced down at her hands, and then back up at Rider. “I guess I’d better get back to my studies.”
“When do you start Physician Assistant school?” Rider asked.
Selena glanced up, a sparkle in her eyes. “I was accepted into the program beginning in January. I can’t believe I got in my first try.”
“It’s your determination and dedication to getting the job done that got you in,” Rider said.
“My determination and half a dozen letters of recommendation from some pretty prominent people that somebody helped me acquire.” Her brows rose. “Thank you for getting those for me from the doctors in Dallas. I appreciate it.”
“I knew how hard you had worked in your undergraduate degree. I did what I could to make sure you got the opportunity to continue your education.” Rider lifted a shoulder. “I’m happy to hear the recommendations helped you get in. You deserved it.”
Selena touched his arm. “Thank you for today and for the recommendations. You don’t know how much they meant to me.” She leaned up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Then she turned and ran from the garage.
Rider stood for a moment, watching her disappearing figure. He raised his hand to where her lips had touched his cheek and felt a tingle he hadn’t felt in a long time. Now was not a good time to be thinking these kinds of thoughts about a girl who’d been like a sister growing up. But Rider couldn’t stop those thoughts nor the tug in his groin at her curvy shape and the fullness of her lips.
He finished working on the Mustang, pouring oil back into the oil pan and cleaning up the mess he’d made. When he finished, he glanced at the clock. It was almost five-thirty, and his mother liked to serve dinner promptly at six. If he was going to make it there on time, he’d have to hurry. He closed up the shop, ran upstairs to his apartment above the garage and jumped into the shower.
A few minutes later, he was clean, wearing fresh jeans and a button-up white shirt and cowboy boots. He raced down the stairs, hopped on his Harley and zoomed out of town to the ranch where he’d grown up. He wondered if Selena would be visiting her parents that evening. If so, he might take her for a walk at sunset. Just to remind himself of old times. Like a brother enjoying the sunset with a sister. Like hell!
“MAMA, I don’t know why you need me to help you with dinner tonight. You’re perfectly capable of feeding an army, alone, and with one hand tied behind your back. I had a lot of studying to do and needed that time to go over my books and make notes.” Selena helped ladle BBQ sauce over the ribs and place them on a platter to be served at the dining table.
“Is it a sin to want my daughter to help me prepare the meal for my employers for this special occasion? The entire family is here tonight. I just wanted to make sure the dinner was perfect.” Her mother hugged her. “I knew I could count on you.”
Selena sighed. “You know you can always count on me, Mama.”
Her mother smiled. “I know, mi hija.”
Selena lifted the tray of BBQ ribs and carried it through the kitchen and out into the formal dining room of the ranch house. She set the platter in the middle of the table and returned to the kitchen for the bowl of potato salad.
Selena’s father entered through the back door.
Her mother turned to him. “Wash your hands, Papa.”
Without hesitation, her father walked to the sink, washed his hands and then turned to her mother.
She placed a platter of bread rolls in his hands. “Take these to the table, por favor.”
Selena grinned. Her father followed orders as well as he gave them. He knew his place, and Mama was always right. Selena hefted the huge bowl of potato salad in her arms and carried it out to the dining room. Already, the Grayson family, gathered in the living room, was heading toward the dining room.
Nash Grayson led the way, sniffing as he came. “Something smells wonderful.” Nash patted his belly.
Phoebe Sinclair followed Nash into the dining room. “Wow, that really does smell good.”
Big John Grayson, father of the Grayson brothers, entered the room with his wife Ann on his arm. “Are those Margarita’s famous pork ribs I smell?”
Selena nodded and placed the potato salad on the table. “Mama worked hard on those ribs. They’re so tender they’re falling off the bone.”
Ann Grayson smiled at Selena. “I hope you and your family will consider joining us for dinner tonight.”
Selena shot a glance at her father carrying in the rolls.
Her father shook his head. “We have already had dinner.” He shot a glance towards Selena, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Selena knew her father’s statement was a lie. He always said the same thing when asked to join the family at the dinner table. Her chest tightened. Just once she would have liked to join the Grayson family at the dinner table. She had always felt like one of them. Until it came to dinner time. Beckett Grayson entered with his fiancée Kinsey Phillips, a young lady Selena was very aware of, having grown up riding horses alongside her as well as the Grayson family.
“That’s right. How come Pedro and Margarita have always finished eating when we sit down for our own meal?” Beckett asked.
Selena’s father dipped his head. “We were hungry?” He smiled and backed out of the room into the kitchen. Selena refused to meet Rider’s gaze as he entered the dining room. She set the potato salad on the table and turned to leave. By the time Selena, Margarita and Pedro had ferried all the food out to the table, the entire Grayson family had arrived, including Chance, who skidded in just as the clock struck six o’clock.
Ann Grayson glanced at the old grandfather clock and raised her brows. “Nice of you to join us, Chance.”
Chance grinned. “Always good to have dinner with the fam.” He took his seat at the side of the table. Big John Grayson sat at one end of the table, and his wife Ann sat at the other end. Nash and Beckett sat on one side of the table with their fiancées, Phoebe and Kinsey. Rider and Chance sat on the other side. Ann Grayson said grace while all bowed their heads.
Selena watched from the kitchen, checking the table over one more time to make sure they had brought out everything the family would need for their dinner. When she was certain they had everything, she let the door close betw
een the kitchen and the dining room. This was how it had always been since she could remember. The Grayson family sat at the formal dining room table, while the Sanchez family carried their plates to the table in the kitchen and sat and ate in silence. A long time ago, her father had explained, “We are the servants in this household. The Grayson family sits at the formal dining table. We do not.”
When Selena turned away from the dining room door, her mother met her with a plate full of the delicious ribs she’d cooked. “Please, sit down. Enjoy.”
Selena took the plate and sat in the seat she had always sat in as a child to the left side of her father. Her mother took a seat on the right side of her father. They bent their heads, said grace, and then lifted their forks and began to eat. A moment later, the kitchen door swung open, and Rider entered carrying his plate.
Selena jumped to her feet. “Is there something wrong with the food?”
Rider shook his head, walked to the table and sat in the chair beside Selena’s. “I hope you don’t mind if I join you.”
Selena stood for a moment her mouth slightly agape. “Is there something wrong with the dinner table?”
Rider shook his head. “Nope.” He lifted his fork, dug into the tender flesh of the pork ribs and jammed a bite into his mouth. “Mmmmmm. Mrs. Sanchez, these are the best ribs ever.”
Margarita Sanchez grinned. “Gracias, Rider.”
A moment later, Chance Grayson entered the kitchen carrying his plate. Without a word, he took the seat next to Rider and dug into his food.
Lily Grayson entered next, a smile spreading across her face. She sat next to Margarita Sanchez without saying a word. One by one, the entire Grayson family entered the room carrying their plates. Last to enter was Big John Grayson. He too held his plate in his hand, his eyebrows raised. “I don’t know why we eat in that big ol’ dining room, when the table in the kitchen is plenty big enough for all of us.” He carried his plate to one of the seats on the side of the giant table that had served many a meal to ranch hands and owners alike. “I see you were hungry enough for seconds.” He nodded toward the Sanchezes’ full plates.