by Sara Orwig
Ryan came striding back and handed the keys to her. When his fingers brushed hers, another sizzle danced in her insides. “Nice car. Want to sell it to me?”
“You’ll get the first chance if I do decide to sell it. But I really like my car and I’d hate to let it go.” She took a deep breath and looked toward the door. “I’d better go get accustomed to your kitchen. What would you like for lunch?”
He gazed at her a moment in silence. “Surprise me,” he finally said. “I’ll get ready for the next interview. I’ll answer the door when she arrives.”
Jessica nodded and left for her room to change clothes. She wasn’t putting anything away until she was certain she had the job. She thought about his offer to buy her car. For the time being she didn’t want to sell. As soon as she sold her car, it would be easier to look up records and find she had been in Texas.
She changed into jeans and a red cotton shirt, tying her hair behind her head with a red scarf. Slipping on flip-flops, she left for the kitchen. Certain Ryan was closed in his office to interview someone, she glanced down the empty hall. She hadn’t heard a doorbell or anyone talking, but the house was big enough that she wouldn’t hear when she was in her suite or even back in the kitchen.
The first thing she did was familiarize herself with his kitchen. It was as well stocked as a store. As she began collecting what she needed from the pantry, she heard someone in the kitchen and turned around to see Gwen.
“Ahh, you’re here to fix lunch,” Gwen said, smiling at Jessica. “You really don’t need to, because I’ve been filling in. You don’t actually have the job yet—right?”
“I’m trying out for the position,” Jessica said. “I’m starting with lunch. He didn’t say what he likes to eat, so I’m guessing. I’m going to make a pie first, for after dinner.”
“He’ll like that. I’ve never seen him turn down pie. You’re trying out? He doesn’t usually do that when hiring,” she said, looking puzzled.
“He said he usually hires couples. I’m divorced. I sort of talked him into giving me a chance and letting me cook for him today.”
“Ahh.” Gwen chuckled. “Good. If you need help, I’ll be happy to.”
“Thank you. That’s sweet, but this time I better do it all on my own since it’s sort of a trial to show him what I can do.”
“And you’re up for this?”
“Oh, yes,” she said, smiling at Gwen, who gave her a big grin.
“Good for you. Ask me if you have any questions or can’t find something.”
“Thanks. I will.”
“My husband has worked for Mr. Ryan since he bought this ranch. After he built the house, I was hired on to clean. We live in a house here on the ranch and we like working here. So for tonight—what kind of pie are you baking?”
“I’m not baking. It’s a chocolate icebox.”
“Very good choice. He has a weakness for chocolate. Burgers, roasts, steaks, barbecue and just plain potatoes are his favorites. That and blueberry waffles.”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
“Do you really know how to cook?”
“Oh, yes,” she said, smiling.
“Then you’ll get hired. And you’ll definitely be the prettiest cook we’ve ever had.”
Jessica laughed with Gwen. “Thank you. And thanks for telling me what he likes.”
“It’s quiet here. Are you sure you want the isolation of the ranch?”
“I’m sure. I had a bad divorce and my ex didn’t want me to leave. This will be a good place for me. I’ll like it here,” she said, thinking of Ryan’s irresistible smile.
“I’ll be through cleaning and out of here by four. If you need something or want help, here’s my cell number,” Gwen said, getting a piece of paper and jotting a number to hand to Jessica.
“Thank you. That’s very nice.”
“I think you’ll be a good addition here. I clean upstairs today. I better get started. Oh, if you want flowers for the table, Mr. Ryan doesn’t care if we pick some and bring them in for bouquets. Just watch out for rattlesnakes in the garden.”
“Rattlesnakes? I think I’ll skip the flowers.”
When the housekeeper had left, Jessica checked and found frozen raw hamburger patties that she could cook. She found buns and all she needed. She busied herself with making the pie first and setting it in the refrigerator to chill.
When noon came, she looked around, making sure everything was ready. Thirty minutes later she still hadn’t seen Ryan and she wondered if an interview was running long because he had found someone who would be more satisfactory for his cook and would have a husband to work here also.
By one she was certain that was what had happened and then she heard his boots as he approached the kitchen and stepped through the door.
Her heart missed a few beats when she smiled at him. “I’d given you up.”
“Sorry, I should have let you know,” he said. He filled the doorway and dominated the room. Would she ever get accustomed to him and see him as just another person? “I’ll look over my notes and be back in about twenty minutes. That should give you some time.”
“Sure. By then your lunch will be ready,” she said, hearing the breathless sound of her voice and wondering whether he noticed it.
“Eat with me, okay? We can talk some more.”
“Isn’t that a little irregular?”
“Because you work for me? I don’t think so and that’s all that matters, unless you don’t want to—”
“Oh, no. That’s fine,” she said, flashing a smile at him.
“Good. See you in twenty minutes,” he said, and left.
Eat with me.
His request replayed in her mind. Once again this job was taking another unexpected turn. Could she continue being close to him, associating with him daily, and still stay remote and impassive around him? He had to know he was having an effect on her every time they were together. It was obvious sometimes that he felt it just as much as she.
She hurried to get his lunch, and twenty minutes later she took the hamburgers off the small grill as he came through the door.
They sat at a table overlooking the formal garden and a pond with a fountain, a waterfall and blooming lilies.
“This is a beautiful view,” she said.
“Yes, it is,” he said in a warm voice that held a note that caught her attention. She turned to look at him as he gazed back with a faint smile. He looked back at his plate. “This looks great and I’m hungry. It’s been a long time since breakfast.”
“I baked beans,” she said. “I thought that might be healthier than the fries.”
“You’re probably right. So far, I’ve rejected both women I interviewed this morning. You’re still at the top of the list.” He took a bite of his burger.
“That’s good news because I think I’ll like it here. We’ll see how you like my lunch and dinner. Lunch isn’t really a test, because burgers are sort of always the same and very easy.”
“The burger is good.”
“Thank you. Are you planning on staying at the ranch for a while now or will you go back to Houston soon?”
“I’m in and out right now. I’ll go to Houston later this week.”
As he spoke, she gazed into his warm brown eyes. She had made such a poor judgment with her ex; was she making more poor decisions now with Ryan? He smiled and picked up his burger to take another bite.
“I’m glad to hear the job is still open,” she said.
“Oh, yes. I have two interviews after lunch. I’ll let you know how it goes. So far, lunch is good. The beans are great and the burger is cooked just the way I like it.”
“I’m glad. Gwen told me you like burgers, but not how you like them cooked.”
“You guessed well
. Gwen and her husband both work here, you know.”
“That’s what she said.” She wiped her hands on her napkin and stood up. “I have pie for dinner tonight, but I baked some cookies for now.” She went inside to get a plate of chocolate-chip cookies, which she placed in front of him. He promptly held the plate out to offer her one as she sat.
“No thanks,” she said. “I’m not a sweets person.”
“I’ll remember that,” he answered, taking a cookie.
“I don’t think you need to remember your cook doesn’t eat sweets,” she said.
“I might want to send you a present sometime and I would need to remember,” he added. He still kept his voice impersonal. There was no flirting, no touch, but when she looked into his chocolate-colored eyes with those thick bedroom lashes, a current sizzled between them. The attraction was still there, like bedrock beneath a stream of polite conversation.
She drew her eyes away, focusing on the nearby fountain. She had to get her head back in the game.
“Did you go with this guy in college?”
Ryan’s question drew her up short, and she realized she must have missed something he said. “My ex?” she guessed. When he nodded, she replied, “No. He was a bit older than I am. I’ve known him all my life.
“I think he thought I’d be the perfect wife. That I would never find out about his affairs. And if I did, I’d go along with his infidelities.” She shook her head. “I was just naive about everything. Anyway, it’s over now.”
“Your family is in Tennessee. Won’t you go back someday?”
“Oh, my, yes. I love Tennessee with all my heart, especially Nashville. That’s where I plan to live. It’s close enough to my family in Memphis to be convenient but far enough that I can live my own life and I won’t run into my ex often. Before I go back, though, I want to recover from the stress of the past few months.”
“If peace and quiet helps you recover, you’ve come to the right place.” With a glance at his watch, Ryan rose. “Excuse me, Jessica,” he said, her name spoken by him stirring a tingle, sounding deeper, more personal than when he’d previously said it. “It’s time I get back to my office and look over my notes before the next interview. Thanks for the lunch.”
She couldn’t help but feel disappointed that he would continue to interview applicants, so she went into work mode, gathering the dishes and bringing them inside. She turned from the sink and almost bumped into Ryan, who stood there with glasses in his hands. He steadied her, his fingers lightly on her shoulders, but the moment he touched her, she saw his eyes narrow slightly. Inhaling deeply, he released her. Her heartbeat raced and she wanted to lean closer to him.
But Ryan hurried out of the room in long strides.
Watching him, she took a deep breath. Once again common sense said to pack and go. She was having a volatile reaction to Ryan Delaney and he had had a reaction to touching her, too. Maybe he would hire someone this afternoon and the job decision would be out of her hands.
She cleaned the dishes and then got more familiar with the kitchen, turning on an oven to start cooking a roast for dinner. She spent the afternoon laboring over dinner, checking on the roast, making rolls and mashing potatoes. Later she set the table for the evening meal and finally reached a point where she could go to her suite to get ready to be with Ryan.
After showering, she slipped into a blue sundress and sandals and brushed her hair out. By five she was back in the kitchen to finish cooking dinner. Everything was going well, which lifted her spirits. Whether she got the job or not, she was happy to discover she could turn out a lunch and dinner when the result was crucial and time was of the essence. It was dinner tonight, one good enough to get her hired, or she was out. There would be no second chance tomorrow.
As she made gravy and steamed collard greens, she couldn’t squelch the nagging question: Was she more excited over the prospect of a dinner that would determine her future...or the thought of an evening with Ryan?
Three
Ryan straightened up over the tractor. “All right. Buy the parts if you think that’s the way to go and you’re certain you can fix it.”
“I can fix it.” Jeb stepped away from the tractor to walk with Ryan. “What did you do today? I see the red car is here. Am I going to teach her to cook?”
“No. Tonight is a test. She talked me into giving her a chance.”
Jeb’s mouth twitched. “Imagine that. I suspect she’ll talk you into hiring her no matter her cooking ability.”
“No. If she can’t cook, she goes and she knows it. But I agreed to give her a chance and let her cook dinner tonight.”
“Well, I can guess the outcome of that. As I said, I’ll be happy to teach her to cook.”
“Thanks for the offer. I won’t forget,” Ryan answered drily. “Lunch was good, a burger and beans, so maybe she can cook.”
“Even a kid can cook a burger and beans. Go enjoy dinner and the evening.”
“Sure, Jeb.” Ryan left the foreman to head for his house, wondering about his dinner. In spite of a good lunch, he didn’t expect her to have as much success with dinner. He reminded himself that she did have some credentials in her background, though, so maybe she could really cook. Why did he doubt it?
He didn’t go in through the kitchen and see her but instead went straight to his suite from a side entrance. He showered and dressed in a fresh dark brown cotton Western shirt, jeans and black boots.
While he dressed, he thought about the interviews today. None had been someone he wanted to hire, including Jessica. Jessica would be trouble at best because if she could cook beyond burgers, she had an ex-husband who wanted her back and parents who also wanted her to return. If they showed up to try to talk her into moving home, he would be involved. He was attracted to her, but he wasn’t going to seriously date her or any other pretty woman. He had too much fun making friends and flirting with a passel of willing females.
Yet in spite of the complications accompanying her, he had allowed her to stay and cook as a trial run.... He didn’t want to analyze that move.
No, he told himself. He had an out. If dinner was not particularly good, he would simply not hire her. He’d tell her goodbye and send her on her way.
Why did he have a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach when he thought about that? Because he was sorry for the troubles she had had.
“Yeah, right, Ryan,” he said softly to his reflection in the mirror. He couldn’t lie to himself. He wanted to go out with her. Sparks flew when he was with her and both of them were trying to keep their employer-employee relationship, or whatever they had, professional and unemotional. It never happened. The slightest physical contact was electrifying. He wanted a night out with her. He wanted to hold her and kiss her; he wanted to seduce her. She took his breath away with her looks.
The woman had emotional problems from her bitter divorce. She needed peace and solace—not someone hot for her.
Ryan lectured himself about his motives and tried to steel himself to get rid of her because they both would be better off. And should she persuade him to let her stay, he needed to leave her alone. Stay away from her, go back to Houston and his work and let her mend and go on her way.
Maybe he’d look her up when she got over her divorce.
On impulse he went to the phone to call his friends the Jimsons. Brad answered and Ryan talked to him briefly, checking out Jessica to learn if her friendship was what she had said and the Jimsons had recommended she come to the ranch to apply for a job as his cook.
He then spoke to Pru and after a few minutes hung up. Jessica checked out. Now it all hinged on dinner. If dinner wasn’t any good, was he really going to get rid of her?
He had told Pru about the trial meal. She had laughed and said she guessed he would hire Jessica. He suspected Pru was basing that guess on Je
ssica’s looks and his friendships with pretty ladies.
He walked downstairs and headed to the kitchen. Enticing smells of beef and hot bread lured him to the room. He heard singing and a pan clattering and water running. His pulse sped and eagerness to see Jessica gripped him.
He stopped in the doorway, his insides in a clutch while he noticed several things at once. She was not in a panic, running frantically around the kitchen trying to get dinner together. The kitchen was neat and orderly, and she had tidied up from cooking. Her pale blond hair was secured in a ponytail, tied with a scarf that matched her dress. She had her back to him while she slid a covered platter into the warming drawer in the oven. He wanted to walk up to her and slip his arms around her tiny waist, but he knew better than to do any such thing.
“It smells wonderful in here,” he said in a husky voice that he couldn’t change.
She turned and gave him a radiant smile that revealed her dimple. Right then he admitted to himself, cook or no cook, there was no way he could send her packing.
“Dinner is ready.”
“How about a drink with me first outside? It’s a beautiful evening. We could forget employer and employee for a few minutes without it hurting anything.”
“That’s crossing a line,” she said, frowning slightly and studying him.
“Doesn’t have to. We can just sit, enjoy the evening, talk a little and relax. You’ve been cooking in a hot kitchen.”
Her frown disappeared. “Not exactly slaving over a hot stove.”
“Maybe not, but this won’t be disastrous and we don’t have to cross a line.”
“Still, I don’t think you usually have drinks and dinner with your staff, do you?”
As he shook his head, he grinned. “I don’t usually have a gorgeous single woman on my staff. For just a minute, can we drop being strictly professional? I don’t want to upset you in any way, but you asked the question.”
“It’ll be a little difficult to remain strictly professional if I have a drink with you on your patio. I can’t quite address you as ‘Mr. Ryan’ the way Gwen does either.”
