Simmons Brothers Series: Boxed Set

by Danielle Gray

  “You think that it’s because you like her?”

  “Probably,” Mark said. “I don’t want to do anything that will mess it up for her.”

  “You think too much. You can’t do anything if you don’t take the chance to do something,” Jaime replied. “Either she likes you or she doesn’t. You won’t know until you try.”

  “Thanks for the advice big brother,” Mark said.

  “My pleasure, now stop worrying about it and get some sleep.”

  Jaime got up to leave and he was left alone, thinking about what kind of mess he was going to get himself into.

  ***

  “A party?” Cat repeated. “A barbeque?”

  Her father nodded. “I have some council members and members of the town invited for it. It’s tomorrow and I expect the two of you to be perfect hosts.”

  “Of course, dad,” Mathew said. “We know how much this means to you.”

  “Yeah dad,” Cat said, relaxing mainly because she had realized that it was her off day from the ranch. “I’ll do my best.”

  “I knew I could count on you two,” her father said, smiling. “I have the Simmons too; we have to be in their good graces.”

  Cat stopped in the middle of putting a piece of meatloaf in her mouth. The Simmons? Mark was coming? What was she going to do now? How was she going to handle that?

  Over the last few days, she had spent a lot of time with him and Cat was scared now. She knew that she hadn’t meant to develop feelings for him, but she liked him, a lot. She hadn’t really hated him in the first place, though she had been annoyed by him but seeing him outside of work made it somehow more personal and therefore more nerve-wracking.

  Mathew didn’t seem to notice her discomfort but as Cat pondered on it, she was sure that she was going to mess it up one way or the other.

  Hopefully, she thought, it’s not going to be that bad. Famous last words, she thought as she put the meatloaf into her mouth.

  ***

  Cat and Mathew handled the arrangements and with the help of Gertrude, the food preparations went great as well. Mathew had cleaned up nicely, wearing a purple shirt and jeans. Cat on the other hand had opted for a dark dress which hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair was done up in soft waves and she had applied a light coat of red over her lips. She usually didn’t care much for her appearance, but she knew that Mark Simmons presence was coming had something to do with her attention to detail.

  “You look nice sis,” Mathew said. “Now they certainly won’t make the connection.”

  She nodded, feeling guilty that she hadn’t told Mathew about Mark knowing. Whatever, only two more weeks and she was going to leave the ranch job anyway. It wasn’t going to affect her. But the thought made her sad because she knew that she wouldn’t be able to see the animals, or Mark.

  I’ll get over it, she thought, but wasn’t so sure.

  ***

  Slowly guests trickled into the backyard and she got caught up on being the host. She was busy with greeting everyone and making sure that they all had drinks in their hands. The afternoon light made it fun to hang out with everyone and she was enjoying herself, until her heart almost leaped out of her chest when she saw the Simmons march in, looking like a band of handsome heroes.

  The four brothers looked dashing and attractive, different from the way they looked on the farm. Pete and Drew were in dark shirts with jeans, their hair swept back. Jaime, the only one she hadn’t properly met, was in a green shirt and had the mature look of the oldest. But it was Mark who caught her, wearing a blue shirt and jeans, his hair done up and green eyes, dark as emeralds, searching until they fell on her. She suddenly found it hard to breathe.

  They reached her and she forced a smile, saying

  “Welcome, I’m Catherine Hamilton.”

  Jaime got a look on his face and gave Mark a look which she noticed. He knew. Mark had told him. But Pete and Lana-who looked beautiful in a peach dress-greeted her warmly while Drew gave her a flirty smile. She would have started charming him if she wasn’t so preoccupied with avoiding his brother’s gazes.

  She expected them to walk away from her, but Mark remained and didn’t say anything.

  “Hi,” she said. “Surprised to see me dressed like a woman?”

  “Yes,” he said simply. “You look stunning.”

  “You clean up well too,” she returned. “I didn’t think you would come.”

  “Jaime insisted and I wanted to see Caleb Hunter as Catherine Hamilton.”

  “Satisfied?” she asked.

  “Not really. I want to see more of you,” he said.

  There was a lump in her throat now and she was finding it even harder to breathe.

  “You told Jaime?” she said to distract Mark.

  “Yes, but don’t worry, he won’t tell.”

  “I can say,” Cat said. “He seems trustworthy.”

  “All of them are. Jaime a bit more because he’s the oldest and innately more responsible, but we will all keep a confidence when it calls for it.”

  “I see,” she said. “Enjoy the party; I have to get back to being a host.”

  He gestured that it was alright and she walked away, though aware that he was still staring at her. She felt his eyes on her often and though it was meant to make her nervous, she got used to it and was even strangely, delighted by it. It made her happy and eased the tension in her, knowing that she wasn’t the only one who was aware of him.

  Maybe, she thought. It wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  ***

  “I would never have guessed that was Caleb Hunter,” Jaime said. “The picture you showed me is different.”

  “Me neither,” Mark said.

  “She’s a looker,” Jaime said. “The rumors weren’t exaggerated.”

  Mark didn’t like it when Jaime said that because he knew very well how often the male eyes were turning toward her and it didn’t make him happy. There was something uncomfortable about knowing that the person he liked was just as attractive to other men. At least Drew hadn’t gone for her, if he had, Mark might have actually lost it.

  “The barbeque isn’t so bad,” Pete said coming in.

  “I like the backyard, it’s well kept,” Lana said.

  “You should do that to ours,” Pete suggested.

  “If you pay me sure, but I might end up ruining it permanently,” Lana said laughing. “Catherine Hamilton looks very familiar to me.”

  Mark stiffened as Pete nodded and said, “Reminds me of someone, not that I have a clue as to who, yet.”

  “Caleb?” Lana said. “She does look a bit like Caleb.”

  “Probably a momentary resemblance,” Jaime said.

  “You’re right,” Lana agreed. “I’m hungry, look they are giving out the food.”

  “Let’s go get something to eat and mingle.”

  Mark remained behind, not as hungry but his eyes were still on Cat. She was in her element and it made him happy knowing that he had seen both sides of her. The hard worker and the classy, beautiful host.

  He watched as she got pulled aside by one of the male guests and growled at the obvious flirting going on. It made him mad that she wasn’t doing anything to stop it and he knew the anger was irrational. Because he didn’t like seeing the flirting, Mark did the one thing he could think of; he walked towards them and butted in.

  “Can I speak to you?” he asked stiffly.

  Cat looked at the guest and then at him before nodding.

  “Privately,” he added.

  “Excuse me,” Cat said. “Help yourself to the food and refreshments.”

  She walked away with him and he took her hand, leading her away from the thick of the crowd until they were alone.

  “What’s wrong?” Cat asked. “Something happened?”

  Mark sighed, knowing that there was no way out of this.

  “Don’t hate me,” he muttered before he swooped down and kissed her full on the lips. He could sense her shock from the way her b
ody froze, but he wasn’t ready to back away. And slowly she started to respond, her hands wrapping around his neck, before the moment ended too soon as she backed away.

  “What?” she said. “Why did you do that?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know why I kissed you. I don’t know why I can’t stop thinking about you, but I know that I think about you a lot and I don’t want anyone else to have you.”

  “Is this your way of saying that you like me?” she said, raising her eyebrows.

  “Is it working in my favor?” Mark said, with a slightly teasing tone in his voice.

  “Yes,” she said softly.

  “Then yes. This is my way of telling you that I like you.”

  “I can’t argue against that,” she said and pulled him down to kiss him again. For a few long minutes, they continued to kiss before she drew back and said,

  “We should get back or they’ll notice us missing.”

  “Fine,” he said. “But you better not forget that you’re with me now.”

  “Is that what happens after a kiss? I’m suddenly dating you?” Cat said grinning.

  “It does,” he said. “Because I have no intention of handing you over to someone else.”

  She laughed, a tinkling laugh that made him smile.

  “You got it boss and by the way, your lips are red.”

  She winked at him, before walking back to the party, leaving him smiling as he wiped off the red from his lips.

  Chapter Ten

  “This is the worst possible place to steal a kiss,” Cat complained. “I can’t believe I let you trick me.”

  “I’m told I’m quite irresistible,” Mark said, smiling down at her. “And I don’t think I need to tell you I want more from you than just a kiss.” The two were hiding in the corner of the stables with him having stolen a kiss from her while she had been clearing the hay.

  “You’re lucky that the others are at lunch,” she said. “What do you think would have happened if they had found you here kissing their male coworker?”

  “That would have been awkward,” he agreed. “But I would have explained it somehow.”

  “You’re too confident for your own good,” she said. “But seriously, let me finish working so that I can leave the ranch on a good note today.”

  That made him sober. It had been almost two weeks since they had started their dating escapades. Seeing as they saw each other every day, it didn’t take them long to be close but the first thing Cat had done was tell him that she was going to leave as soon as the election was over.

  “Do you have to leave?” he asked again. “Besides the obvious fact that I like seeing you, you’re still one of my best workers. I don’t want to have to replace you.”

  “I don’t have a choice. Besides, I live near enough, I can see you often,” she said. “It’s just I won’t be working here.”

  “It won’t be the same. The workers really love Caleb.”

  “I like Caleb too, too bad he can’t stay,” Cat said as she picked up some hay. “Now I just need to convince my dad that he can trust me with the ranch.”

  “You’ll be busy then,” Mark said.

  “You’re busy too, but you make time for me,” she said. “I’ll make time for you too.”

  “I know, I think I’m just going to have to grin and bear it.”

  She nodded and looked around to see if anyone was around before giving him a hug.

  “The quiet boss is suddenly talkative,” she mused.

  “Do you want me to be quiet?” Mark said.

  “I want you to be you,” she said simply. “I don’t think it matters if you’re quiet or more outspoken, like Drew.”

  “Drew is a different type of person,” Mark said. “Don’t expect me to be like him.”

  “Don’t worry, I don’t,” Cat said.

  “Don’t you think we should go out on a date?” Mark said.

  “Is Pete getting to you?” Cat asked.

  In a way that was the case. Now that he had someone to like and care about, Mark was feeling the urge to do the things that he had seen Pete do with Lana. Mark had never been in a serious relationship before, he had never met that person who wanted to make him be in one and he knew immediately that Cat was that person. He couldn’t imagine not being with Cat and though he thought that the intensity was growing too fast, he wasn’t mad about it. He wanted to enjoy his time with her and he didn’t want anything else to stand in the way of their enjoyment.

  “Yes, I want to go out with you Cat,” he said seriously. “Not as Caleb Hunter, as Catherine Hamilton.”

  “I know,” she said. “I want the same too. Okay, how about tonight? I’ll go home early and meet you at the diner?”

  “That sounds great, prepare to be wowed,” he said.

  “I can’t be any more wowed that I already am.”

  He laughed at that, but stopped as he saw the other workers coming in.

  “Go to work!” she hissed and he rolled his eyes at her before walking off.

  But she continued to smile as she worked, happy that it had worked out.

  ***

  “You’re too happy,” Drew complained.

  “What are you talking about?” Mark said.

  “Too happy, smiling too much,” he continued. “That’s not like you.”

  “What am I like then?” he asked.

  “Broody, quiet, menacing,” Drew said. “Certainly not happy, excited and smiling.”

  “You think too much,” Mark said. “I am not anything like that.”

  “I think what you are is in love,” Drew said. “Who’s the lucky lady?”

  “You think too much,” Mark repeated and went back to his paperwork, refusing to give Drew the satisfaction of knowing that he was indeed in love with Cat.

  He couldn’t wait until they met for their date.

  ***

  Cat didn’t think that she would take that much time to dress.

  She had always been the type of person to throw something on and then go with it but today she was mulling over wearing a dress or something casual.

  “Going out?” Mathew asked, having walked in.

  She nodded. “I’m going on a date with Mark.”

  “Ever since you told me he found out, I didn’t think that you two would be dating,” he said.

  “It surprised me too; I didn’t think he thought that way about me.”

  “Maybe it was love at first sight,” Mathew teased.

  Cat laughed but inside she felt warm at the thought of that. What if it was love at first sight? Did that mean that it would last? She wanted it to last, she hadn’t felt this way about someone before and she wanted it to last as long as possible.

  She finally dressed and then left the house, sneaking out so that her father didn’t see her. It felt strange to her that a twenty-three-year-old was sneaking out of the house but that was how it worked when she was afraid of being asked too many questions. She didn’t want her father to ask questions she might not have the answers to.

  The two had made plans to meet at the diner and when she reached there, he was waiting for her.

  “Hey,” he said warmly as he stood up to greet her.

  Before she could do anything, he had kissed her and she blushed as they were surrounded by people.

  “Not in front of everyone,” she said.

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said, taking her hand. “I’m the only one who’s concerned about us kissing.”

  She laughed, her heart going wild. “Where are we going?”

  “Let’s catch a movie,” he said. “I heard there’s a good flick on.”

  “I am guessing you already have the tickets.”

  He grinned boyishly and held up the tickets to show her. She rolled her eyes at him, but happily went along with him. It had been a while since she had seen a movie and it sounded like a fun activity. She hoped it wasn’t a sappy romantic movie, she liked something funny or horror.

  “It’s no
t a romantic movie, right?” she asked as they entered the movie theater.

  “Nope, horror,” he said. “I didn’t think you would like a romantic movie. Plus, I’m hoping you get scared and snuggle close to me.”

  “You thought right,” she agreed. “Let’s get buttered popcorn.”

  “As you say,” he said, slightly tipping his head.

  She laughed and rested her head on his shoulder as they bought the snacks. Their arms remained linked as they went in to get to their seats. The movie started off promising and she enjoyed it thoroughly as it went into the horror elements. Though she also kept glancing at him to see if he was enjoying it and the two locked eyes often as their hands remained interlocked in the space between them.

  The movie ended two hours later and she was on a buzz from it as they exited.

  “And that part when the ghost appeared to throw her into the lake was awesome!” she gushed.

  “It was,” he nodded his head. “I think they could have explained it a bit better though.”

  “I agree, they should have but overall it was good.”

  “Aren’t you scared?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “It wasn’t that scary.”

  “Lana couldn’t sleep, because of it,” Mark explained. “Pete said it was too scary.”

  “He must not like horror movies very much.”

  “He’s scared of them, to be honest,” Mark said. “I don’t know why they even went to this thing in the first place.”

  “Maybe they were feeling adventurous. Or maybe he was thinking that Lana would cuddle closer to him.”

  “Do you feel adventurous?”

  “What do you have planned?” Cat asked slyly.

  “Something very special, let’s go.”

  They went back to the diner where his truck was parked and got in. Mark drove and she leaned against the seat, letting the wind ruffle her hair. He was leading her out of town, nearer to his place than hers and she wondered what he had in mind. Finally, they stopped near a meadow like area, perfect for cattle grazing. The analogy made her smile and he stopped the truck. She hopped down and then followed him as he led her, her hand tucked cozily into hers.

  Finally, they came to an opening where what she saw made her chest tight. He had somehow managed to make a small picnic under the moonlight with the blankets and basket ready for her.