The Ranger's Passionate Love

by Nicole Jordan

  "In a way, he really helped me," said Kyara, trying to be charitable. "The cafe wasn't right for this town. And he did give me an idea for how to fix it. I think I'm going to change the menu some."

  "Fried chicken?" asked Caitlin, who'd gotten to sample some of the left-overs the weekend before.

  "Yeah," admitted Kyara.

  "I might fall for him myself, if he convinced you to make that fried chicken," confessed Caitlin.

  "Okay, so he did get Kyara to make her amazing food," granted K, "and he loves his Nana. And has a perfect ass. But he still makes a habit of hiding the truth from women he's supposed to care about."

  It was hard to object. Just another liar, thought Kyara ruefully. I really can pick 'em.

  K rapped sharply on the ATV, the effect somewhat spoiled as she winced and blew on her knuckles.

  "The court finds him guilty as charged." declared K. "We sentence him to hours of blue balls as he thinks about the two hot women he gave up."

  That, at least, drew a round of chuckles.

  "That said," pointed out Caitlin, "our absence has probably been noted. We should get going."

  As Kyara settled in behind K again, ready to ride to the work site, she did have to wonder,

  How much of what I feel is because he tricked me, and how much of it is fear that he's another Devante? Does it even matter?

  Then the ATV jerked, and she clung to K, ready to move forward either way.

  What a difference a month can make, Kyara reflected, re-tying her bandanna over her sweaty forehead.

  She'd been working steadily all night, and had been for weeks.

  As busy as the restaurant had been, even cleanup took longer, since she couldn't keep up with it as she worked. Out in the dining area Kyara's newest employees, the French-fry stealing Taylor and the cornbread loving Will, bustled from table to table, changing out the linens and rolling packs of silverware for the next day.

  Crystal had been promoted, and was now helping Kyara keep up in the kitchen. At the moment she was preparing the simple syrups for the next day's sweet tea, but she turned out to be a pretty good cook, too. Kyara just wished she had full-time help, since her workers limited hours now that the school year had resumed.

  Maybe soon we'll be able to stay open on Tuesdays, too, but with Crystal running the show. Kyara had kept the tradition of closing the restaurant on Tuesday night going, despite the glaring silence between herself and Jason.

  Jay, she corrected herself. Everyone but you calls him Jay. And he doesn't get to ruin my one night off.

  So she'd kept going, spending her time talking to Caitlin, K, and Ashley.

  The trail project was almost done for the season, too. It would be another week, maybe two, before it joined with the team working the other direction from Bradford. It's just as well, figured Kyara, it gets cold up here way faster than it does in Atlanta.

  Kyara blinked at herself a bit, realizing that it had been weeks since she'd last thought of home. Too busy, I guess. It was a good feeling, even if the rest of her life seemed like it was rapidly disappearing. People had even begun dropping loud hints about how great it would be if she were open for breakfast as well. Not that I'd get any sleep at all if I tried.

  As if on cue, Crystal let out a huge yawn. Kyara took that as a hint.

  "Why don't you three call it a night?" she called out. "I'm doing braised oxtail tomorrow, so it should be a busy day." The three groaned their agreement, trudging in to drop off their work aprons. "Hey," Kyara followed up, "I never promised it would be easy."

  The teens nodded vaguely, grabbing leftovers to take home as they left. Kyara finished up, moving on auto-pilot as she scrubbed down the kitchen.

  Just as she was about to leave, a knock came at the door.

  A tingle of nerves ran along Kyara's spine. Knocks on the door late at night were seldom good news.

  It'll be fine, Kyara told herself. One of the teen terrors probably just forgot their homework here or something.

  Kyara walked to the front door, deliberately carrying a frying pan with her as she went. She peeked out the front window before going to the door, wondering who it could be.

  Jason stood in the cold autumn air, his arms wrapped tightly around a paper bag. Kyara jerked her head back from the window in surprise.

  What's he doing here? As far as she knew, he hadn't come back to the restaurant since the afternoon of their fight.

  "Kyara?" Jason called out. "Can you open the door, please? It's pretty cold out here."

  "What do you want," she called back.

  "I have a business proposal for you."

  That gave her real pause. She opened the door. Cool autumn air blasted in through the frame, cutting straight through the soft linens she used to keep cool in the kitchen. Kyara yelped.

  "Come in or go away, but I'm closing this door," she said, hunching away from the cold.

  Jason stepped in, taking the door and closing it behind him.

  They stood for a moment, just staring at each other. Kyara crossed her arms, prepared to wait him out.

  "Thank you for letting me in," he said at last. Kyara gave him a long, level look before replying.

  "You said you had a business proposal. You'd best get to it. I don't get much time in my bed, and you're keeping me from it." Kyara flushed.

  Damnit, brain. Why'd you have to say in your bed? What's wrong with 'asleep'? 'Asleep' works fine. Why mention bed?

  Even with her mind running in circles, Kyara tried to keep her gaze steady, her face a careful blank.

  "Yeah, it's, um, here." Jason shifted his weight, thrusting the bag at her awkwardly. Kyara took it, careful not to touch his fingers. She peered inside.

  "Collard Greens?" she asked in shock. "Where did you get collard greens?"

  He shrugged.

  "They do grow up here," he said. "They're just not as popular. I have Okra, too, but it's not quite ready yet."

  Kyara stared at him, mouth dropping open.

  "Where are you growing okra in this weather? It's getting way too cold."

  Jason searched her face carefully, watching her every reaction.

  "I rented some space from Mr. Fitch in his greenhouse." He blushed, adding, "Then I rented some more space. I didn't realize quite how big they get."

  "You better make sure you keep them under control," Kyara said, a little bemused. "If they get out of hand they're going to go everywhere."

  Jason chuckled a little at himself.

  "Yeah, I didn't realize quite how much I was buying when I bought five plants. I kinda of thought it was going to be a little token, not ..."

  "Enough to feed a family of ten?" supplied Kyara.

  "Yeah," he agreed.

  "Alright. You have my attention." Kyara allowed, squaring her shoulders and preparing to bargain with him. "What do you want for them?"

  Jason paused, his eyes wandering her face.

  "Your forgiveness," he said at last.

  The request stopped her short, her mind trying to switch gears.

  "What?" she asked.

  "I want you to forgive me. For not being clear from the beginning. Not that I set out to lie to you or anything, it just sort of happened. But I shouldn't have let it, at least not if I was going to pursue you romantically. But I did, so I'm sorry."

  Kyara took a moment to consider.

  "I have a history with men lying to me," she told Jason. "Especially about their jobs. What you did wasn't okay. It was a big deal to me.”

  Jason nodded.

  “That said, I might have let that push me into overreacting," she allowed.

  She saw his shoulders begin to unclench, but she continued, not prepared to give him a break,

  "I'm still not sure about forgiving you, though." She allowed the faintest hint of a smile to cross her face. "After all, trying to buy your way out of the doghouse with greens you know I haven't found elsewhere is just dirty."

  Jason matched her wisp of a smile with one of his own.r />
  "Me?" he said, mock-indignation filling his voice. "You're the one filling this whole county with talk about how good your food is when I'm afraid to come back here."

  "Afraid?" Kyara asked.

  "Sure," he said. "I wouldn't dare show my face while there are people here eating. They'd chase me out of the room for demeaning their favorite restaurant. I've had to have people smuggle me food at home!"

  "Well, then you're guilty of another lie," countered Kyara.

  Jason's eyes grew wide as he cast about for what else he could have done in a panic. She quickly took pity on him.

  "You promised that you'd ride naked down the street on a tricycle for my food," she reminded him. "Where's your tricycle?"

  His laugh filled the restaurant, and broke her down into giggles with him. It left both of them flushed and warm in the cool autumn air, each basking in the warm glow of the other.

  The trail project closed down for the season a weeks later. It was just getting too cold. The restaurant, now rechristened 'Main Street Soul,' was holding a celebration. Kyara and her crew had been working for days. The teens were in school today, but Kyara's trail friends had all agreed to come in and help out during the morning.

  People had drifted in and out as the day progressed, offering to help get things ready in little ways. Kyara's employees came in just as the big rush was just starting. They jabbered excitedly, knowing that tips would be good tonight, as would the company.

  Kyara glowed.

  Not only was the restaurant doing well, but it was becoming part of the town. No one had questioned having the celebration here. If anything, it had just been assumed.

  Then there was Jason. He hadn't pushed. He hadn't asked her out again. He hadn't shown up with any more unexpected presents. Yet he was always there.

  On the trail, she found herself working with him more often than not. He always had a pleasant little story to share, or, more often, a question about her day or how her life was going. Then he'd share a little piece of his past, or a single fact about himself.

  When there was woodscraft to teach, he'd show her, always asking if she was interested first.

  He was, in every way, being the perfect gentleman.

  It was driving Kyara crazy. You don't want a relationship, she'd remind herself. You need to keep him at a distance. But then he'd pause in a pale autumn sunbeam to stretch, or he'd absentmindedly run his hands through his tousled hair, and she'd want him. As much as she tried, he kept intruding on her thoughts. She pictured him pushing her up against a tree and kissing her, or leaning down to cup her cheek, or, on a few occasions, to run his hands along the length of her aching, eager body.

  But he never did, and she never encouraged him.

  It's better this way.

  Tonight will be too busy for any of that nonsense anyway, Kyara told herself. Before long, the rush proved her right. Even with everything possible made up ahead of time, Kyara was still pushed to her limit rushing from pan to pan, oven to oven. The crush of voices reached even into the kitchen, adding to the frantic energy of the evening.

  Kyara was so caught up in her work that she jumped when someone tapped her on a shoulder, letting out a little squeak.

  It was Jason, looking somewhat startled himself.

  "Jason Nicole Hardison, don't you ever scare a woman while she's cooking," scolded Kyara.

  Jason blinked at her.

  "My middle name isn't Nicole," he said.

  "That's what you get for surprising me in my own kitchen," Kyara responded tartly. "Crystal, you hear me?"

  "Mr. Hardison's middle name is Nicole now. I'll make sure people know," responded Crystal from the stove, not bothering to look up.

  "You've... been spending too much time with my grandmother," said Jason.

  "That one was K's idea, actually, but it serves you right. Now what makes you think you can come into my kitchen while I'm this busy?" demanded Kyara.

  "Crystal said she could handle it long enough for you to come out and celebrate. The rest of the trail crew is here."

  "Crystal?" Kyara asked, eyes not leaving Jason.

  "I got it, Ms. B. It's easier when it's all one type of food for the group, and you got the barbecue sauce all made up ahead of time. If I can't plate pork by now, I probably shouldn't be allowed back here at all." Crystal's voice even picked up the same cadence as Kyara's own, much to Jason's apparent amusement.

  "Alright, I'll be back as soon as I can," allowed Kyara, untying her apron.

  Jason took her by the hand, gently tugging her toward the door to the dining area. It was the first time they'd touched in months, and it spread a teasing warmth through her, traveling from his touch up along her arms and down, tightening and tingling along her entire body.

  The dining area was filled with happy, chatting customers. Even with the extra banquet tables she'd rented, it looked like people were barely fitting in.

  Kyara leaned in to Jason, standing on her tip-toes to get her mouth close to his ear. Even so, she wondered if he could hear her over the din.

  "OK, I'm here. What did you want to show me?" Kyara asked.

  Jason turned to her with a smile, his face not just inches from hers.

  "You're looking at it," he said back. "You helped make all this. Not just by working on the trail, or by providing all this food. You've given this town a place to gather, as much as the church or the store. I just thought you should know."

  Kyara smiled up at him, allowing herself, for this moment, to just enjoy being close to him.

  "That's very sweet," she said. "But I knew."

  Jason shrugged and looked a little chagrined.

  "I just wanted to make sure you knew," he called back. "Sometime you just seem so ...." he trailed off.

  "So what?" asked Kyara, her eyes trying to read his. Jason shook his head.

  "Not here," he projected. "This isn't really the place for it." Then he stopped, cocking his head to the side the way he did when he was considering something.

  "Do you think we might step outside for a bit?" he asked.

  Kyara glanced back at the pass from the kitchen. Large, covered bins of food were just beginning to emerge, steaming and prepared for the buffet she'd prepared for the trail party. She nodded, quickly, then followed him as he snaked through the crowd.

  They stepped outside, the November air hitting her like a blow to the face. She hugged her arms around herself, suddenly missing the heat of the kitchen.

  "Talk fast, Hardison. It's too cold out here for us Southern girls."

  Jason didn't look like he was doing much better, stamping his feet as the wind cut right through his clothes.

  "I, ah, alright. I just wanted to make sure you're, you know, happy."

  "I was happier when I was warm," said Kyara pointedly.

  "No, that's not what I... I mean you just seem lonely, sometimes. Or I thought you might be."

  Kyara looked up at him. The streetlights only reached the front of the building, and the pale moonlight left his face half in shadow.

  "People are friendly, if that's what you mean," said Kyara. To her surprise, it was true. Once she'd started telling people about her own day instead of asking them about theirs, the Northerners had opened up to her like she'd been there all her life.

  Thank you, Caitlin, for explaining that little regional craziness to me.

  "No," said Jason. "I know that. I mean, not that I've been checking up on you or anything. I just started to notice."

  "I should hope not," teased Kyara, not giving him an inch. To her surprise, he got genuinely upset.

  "Damnit, Kyara, could you not make this any harder?" he asked, his voice almost pleading.

  "I'm sorry," she said, immediately contrite. Despite everything, she found that she really hated to see him upset. "I just really don't know what you're getting at."

  "I'm trying to ask you out again," he explained, sounding frustrated, though with her or himself Kyara couldn't say. "I know I messed it up last tim
e, but I've been trying to be more open and honest, and I hoped maybe you'd noticed."

  "Oh, Jason," said Kyara. It was the first time she'd called him by his first name since she'd found out about the article. His face fell at the tone of her voice. "I just ... I can't. I called it off before I found out about any of that, remember?"