Taking a long, slow breath, he opened his eyes and looked up at her. “You are an amazing woman, Aurelia Imogene Smith.”
She smiled. “That’s the orgasm talking.”
“Nope.” Planting his palms flat on the table, he pushed himself to his feet. “That’s experience talking.” He drew her into his arms. “I’m not exactly a virgin, you know. I have some basis for comparison, and you are amazing. After knowing you for twenty-four hours, I’m prepared to be your sex slave.”
Tilting her head, she looked up at him. “Come back tomorrow night and I’ll take you up on that.”
“Wild horses wouldn’t keep me away.”
Chapter Eight
Aurelia made the chicken with regular mushrooms instead of black truffles, but once again, she couldn’t call the dish by its proper name because Matthew had talked her into stripping the meaning right out of it. The chicken was no longer in partial mourning. It looked pretty much like any roasted chicken would.
She’d figured out years ago that she wasn’t good at art, music, or writing. But cooking satisfied her urge to bring something new and useful into the world, especially when the final result was beautiful or interesting. This chicken didn’t qualify on either account.
Still, the warmth of Matthew’s gaze whenever she caught him watching her during lunch was worth bastardizing as many recipes as necessary. Several of the hands and a couple of the teenagers came up after lunch to compliment her on the meal.
She wasn’t sure if they were doing it on their own or if Matthew had prompted them, but either way, she was happy about their comments. If they genuinely liked the meal, then she was making progress. If they were only following Matthew’s directions, his support meant the world to her and she could be happy about that, too.
He found a moment during lunch to invite her back down to the corral this afternoon to watch him work with Lester and Houdini. He said some of the other boys would be included today, as well. She cleaned up the kitchen in record time so she could do that.
When she arrived, six teenagers lined the fence rail instead of seven. Emmett wasn’t around, nor was his daughter Emily, who often helped with the boys. But a tall, dark-haired cowboy named Tucker was there to supervise the boys. Inside the corral, Matthew stood back while Lester held an English saddle out to Houdini and talked to him about it.
Aurelia joined Tucker at the railing. “How come they’re using an English saddle instead of a western one?” Aurelia didn’t know a lot about horsemanship, but she recognized the difference in saddles.
“That’s Matthew’s idea. Houdini had a bad experience with a western saddle.” Tucker tipped his hat back. “Sarah called his former owners this morning, and sure enough, when they had Houdini their son was about Lester’s size and he spent a lot of time with the horse.”
“So that’s why Houdini took so quickly to Lester.”
Tucker nodded. “That’s the theory. Houdini seems to trust him. I’m not saying he doesn’t trust Matthew, because I think he does, but his preference seems to be for Lester. Matthew’s smart enough to use that.”
“And Lester’s obviously having the time of his life.”
“Yeah.” Tucker grinned. “If he keeps this up and becomes Houdini’s best friend, he’ll probably end up with a job here once he’s old enough.”
“I’m gonna get a job here when I’m old enough,” said the boy standing closest to Tucker.
Aurelia recognized Gary, a chubby boy with brown hair and freckles.
Gary’s comment was followed by the others piping up with me, too.
“It’s a great place to work,” Tucker said. “I’ve been here since last fall, and I love it.” He pointed to the black and white Paint in the corral. “Fortunately that horse didn’t cost me my job last Christmas.”
That got everybody’s attention. Aurelia and the boys listened in fascination as Tucker described Houdini’s Christmas Eve escape from the barn right before a blizzard.
“It was my fault that he got out, so I went after him on a snowmobile, which I wrecked, but I caught the horse. Then the blizzard hit.”
Gary was wide-eyed. “Then what?”
“An angel rescued me and Houdini.”
“A real angel?”
Tucker laughed. “I think she is, but she claims she’s not. Her name’s Lacey, and we’re getting married this Christmas Eve.”
“Wow.” Gary glanced into the corral. “You should probably invite Houdini to the wedding.”
“I probably should at that. Now that Matthew and Lester are teaching him manners, I might be able to find a way to work him into the celebration. There’s no doubt that horse was our matchmaker.”
“Then I’m glad he’s being trained. Maybe Matthew should see how he does with a sleigh if you’re having a Christmas Eve wedding.” Aurelia leaned against the top rail of the fence as she pictured a romantic wedding with pine boughs and mistletoe.
She hoped to have a romantic wedding someday, but she hadn’t met the man she’d want to spend her life with. Well, except maybe the man in the corral, but he was out of the question. For the first time, though, she admitted to herself that she wished their circumstances had been different.
“A sleigh would be cool,” Tucker said. “And I really am glad Houdini’s going to be a permanent part of the ranch, after all. Until they decided to hire Matthew, they considered selling him.”
“That would have been a shame.” In more ways than one, she thought. Houdini had brought Matthew here, too.
“They don’t give up on people and animals that easy around here,” Tucker said. “That’s why it’s called the Last Chance.”
“They gave up on Jeff,” one of the other boys said.
“Not exactly,” Tucker said. “You can’t keep a boy around who would throw a rock at a horse. Jeff wasn’t ready to be here. But Pete, I mean, Mr. Beckett, is getting Jeff some help. They haven’t totally given up on Jeff, either.”
“Think he’ll come back?” Gary asked.
“Not this summer. But maybe someday. I’m sure Mr. Beckett will keep track of him.”
“Look!” Gary pointed toward the corral. “Lester’s putting the saddle on Houdini!”
With that, everyone seemed to forget about Jeff as they watched Houdini being saddled for the first time since he’d arrived at the ranch. Matthew stood at his head, holding his bridle and talking to him while Lester kept up a steady stream of conversation as he tightened the cinch. Houdini turned to look at the boy, but otherwise he didn’t seem particularly worried about having the saddle on his back.
“Tighten it, and wait till he lets out some air,” Matthew said. “Then tighten it some more. Don’t want it swinging around under his belly.”
Lester followed Matthew’s directions to the letter. “I think that’s got it, Mr. Tredway.”
“Ready to climb on?”
“Yep.”
“I think we could use another helper. Gary, how about you?”
“I’m on it, Mr. Tredway.” His chest puffed out with pride, Gary slipped through the rails into the corral. “Whatcha need?”
“Lace your hands together and give Lester a leg up while I keep a hold on Houdini’s bridle.”
He was so very patient. Aurelia couldn’t help thinking what a great father he’d make, but his current lifestyle didn’t fit with a wife and kids. She’d be doing both of them a disservice if she started weaving fantasies about Matthew as a family man.
She had trouble not doing that, though, as she watched him work with Lester.
“I think it’s Lester’s voice, too,” Tucker said. “You see how Houdini’s ears are always going, picking up the sound. I don’t know what he’ll do once Matthew climbs on.”
“Is he going to do that today?” Aurelia felt a shiver of dread. She knew Matthew risked his safety all the time while working with horses, but she didn’t have to like the idea of him being thrown.
“Not today. Maybe not even tomorrow. But eventually Houdini
has to accept the weight of a grown man. He won’t always be ridden by a kid.”
“I just hope he’s careful.”
Tucker glanced at her. “You like him, don’t you?”
Aurelia felt a blush coming on. “He’s a nice guy.”
“Yeah, he is.” Smiling, Tucker looked away again.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. Just that Matthew’s sleeping in Watkins’ old bunk, and Watkins was sweet on the cook. It’s just interesting, that’s all.”
“Hm.” Aurelia had no idea how to respond. She wasn’t about to confirm or deny anything at this point.
“Yep.” Tucker nodded again, still smiling. “Interesting.”
“I’ll be heading back up to the house again tonight around eight,” Matthew announced as the cowhands sat down to eat the tuna casserole Danny had made.
“Is that right?” Tucker exchanged a grin with Shorty. “What a surprise.”
“Well, isn’t that what we agreed I’d do? Go up there and check out the menu plans for the next day?”
“We certainly did.” Shorty took a swig of his beer. “And you’ve done an outstanding job. The chicken today was recognizable and even tasted pretty good. I made a point to tell Aurelia about it, too.”
“Good. I’m sure she appreciated that.” Matthew dug into his tuna casserole but thought about the steak with shallot-red wine sauce waiting for him up at the house, and the woman who’d offered to serve it juicy and hot. Tuna casserole didn’t stand much of a chance against that prospect, but Matthew planned to eat enough to be polite.
“Apparently it takes a lot of discussion to plan something like that chicken dish,” Tucker said.
“I was thinking that, too.” Behind his wire-framed glasses, Bob’s eyes reflected amusement. “You must have to do some tough negotiating.”
Matthew shrugged in an attempt to act casual. “Not really. I mean, she suggests something, and then we figure out how to make it a little less gourmet. It’s a process.”
“A long process,” Shorty said.
“Unusually long,” Frank added as he forked up a bite of the casserole. “Hell, I think I could hammer out the Treaty of Versailles in the time it takes you two to come up with a roasted chicken recipe.”
“And dinner tonight for the kids. We had to discuss that.” He had an uneasy feeling where this conversation was leading.
“You must really be into it,” Shorty said.
Tucker nodded in agreement. “Yep, that menu planning must be absorbing your interest, big time.”
“Not really.”
“Must be,” Shorty said. “I figure it’s on your mind twenty-four seven.”
“Of course it’s not. That’s ridiculous.”
Shorty leaned back in his chair with a smile. “I don’t know how else to explain the fact that you were moaning and calling out Aurelia’s name in the middle of the night.”
Not much could make Matthew blush, but he felt his ears getting very warm. “You’re making that up.”
“No, he’s not.” Bob picked up his bottle of beer. “I heard you, too. At first I thought you were in pain, but then I realized it was a different kind of pain.” His lips twitched. “The pain of true love.” He took a drink of his beer.
“Oh, for God’s sake.” Matthew blew out a breath. “Okay, I find her attractive. I mean, who wouldn’t?”
“Hey, we totally understand,” Shorty said. “In fact, we’re only telling you this because if you’re going to keep us awake at night with your moaning and groaning, we’d like to suggest that you just spend the night with Aurelia. With our blessings.”
“It worked for Watkins,” Danny said. “He got to where he just kept his clothes here but he spent the night up in Mary Lou’s apartment. And you’re in Watkins’ bunk, so why not follow in his footsteps?”
“Yeah, but Watkins ended up married,” Matthew said. “This thing between Aurelia and me is temporary. Neither one of us is thinking long-term.”
“That’s fine. Your business.” Shorty pointed his fork at Matthew. “But, that’s even more reason to spend the night up there. Make the most of the opportunity.”
Matthew picked at the label on his beer bottle. “I’ve been wondering something. She’s a beautiful woman, so how come one of you didn’t make a move before I even got here?”
“I wouldn’t have,” Tucker said. “I’m engaged.”
“The rest of us talked about it,” Bob admitted. “But none of us felt like we could flirt with her and then turn around and complain about her food behind her back. It took somebody like you, who actually likes her food, to make any headway. So we’re happy for you.”
“And we’ll be even happier if we don’t have to listen to that lovesick caterwauling we heard last night,” Shorty said.
“Sorry about that.” Matthew’s ears still felt warm, but the guys had done him a favor. Assuming Aurelia would let him stay, he could spend the entire night enjoying her many charms. That was worth a little embarrassment.
As he had the night before, he played cards with the guys until a little before eight. They kept getting in digs the entire time, but he didn’t care. The only person who could rain on his parade at this point was Aurelia, if she refused to let him occupy her bed.
He didn’t expect that, so when he excused himself from the game, he went over and pulled his duffle out from under his bunk so he could stuff several condoms into his pockets. He tried to be subtle about it, but apparently he didn’t succeed.
“Be sure you take enough,” Shorty called out.
“Yeah, it’s hell to run out,” Danny added.
The guys were still laughing when he grabbed his hat from the rack by the door and pushed through the screen door. Then he thought of something and turned around.
“What did you forget?” Shorty asked, pulling his cigar out of his mouth as Matthew came back through the door. “Your sex toys?”
“No. I forgot to warn you bozos that if a single one of you makes an inappropriate remark to Aurelia about any of this, I will personally wipe up the floor with you. You can kid me all you want, but leave her alone.”
“We’re all good cowboys,” Danny said. The laughter had faded from his eyes. “And a good cowboy doesn’t insult women. And while we’re on the subject of Aurelia, we all think she’s a nice person. Weird cooking, but nice person. Don’t break her heart.”
“I don’t intend to do that,” Matthew said quietly. “We’re both going into this with our eyes wide open.”
Tucker gazed at him, his expression doubtful. “You may be, but take care with her, okay?”
Matthew bristled at the suggestion that he wouldn’t take care of her, but he tamped down that spurt of anger. They were being protective, and there was nothing wrong with that. He touched the brim of his hat. “Understood. See you boys in the morning.”
As he walked up to the house in the apricot glow of a midsummer twilight, with crickets chirping and an owl hooting from the top of a spruce tree, Matthew thought about what Tucker had said. Tucker and Aurelia had spent some time talking this afternoon beside the corral.
Matthew hoped to hell Tucker hadn’t told her about him talking in his sleep last night. Or more accurately, moaning in his sleep. Dear God, had he really been as pathetic as the guys had made him sound? Probably not. They were laying it on thick because they hadn’t been able to resist.
Surely Tucker hadn’t said anything to Aurelia. That would be breaking an unspoken code to do such a thing unless you had it in for the guy. Tucker had no reason to sabotage Matthew.
But Tucker had seemed sincere when he’d told Matthew to treat Aurelia well. Maybe Tucker had noticed something in her behavior that indicated she was more vulnerable than Matthew thought. He needed to be alert to any signs that she was getting in over her head, because the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.
So far, though, she’d seemed to be fine with the rules of the game. More than fine. She’d carried last night’s entertainment
beyond where he would have. Thinking about that gave him an erection that made walking painful, so he did his best to push it out of his mind.
Pockets bulging slightly with the condoms he’d tucked in them, he climbed the steps to the back door and rapped on the screen the way he had the night before. His heart beat a rapid tattoo as he remembered what had happened the last time he’d gone through this door. But if Aurelia was okay with it, they’d have all night to enjoy each other, so no laundry-room sex was called for.
She came to the door with a much louder greeting than she’d given him the previous night. “Matthew! We were just talking about you.”
“I hope it was good things.” So she wasn’t alone in the kitchen. He reined in his disappointment with the knowledge that he didn’t have to go back to the bunkhouse tonight. If they couldn’t be alone now, they’d be alone later.
“All good things. Sarah and Pete think you’re doing a terrific job with Houdini.” She drew him inside and squeezed his hand. “Come on in and have a little steak, and then we’ll discuss tomorrow’s menu.”
He took heart from that little squeeze. She was going to be as happy to see Sarah and Pete leave as he was. But it was Sarah’s house, and Pete was her fiancé, so they had more right to be here than he did. He just hoped the bulge of extra condoms in his pockets wasn’t too noticeable.
As he passed through the laundry room, he took off his hat but kept hold of it instead of tossing it on the dryer. But he’d never be able to look at another clothes dryer again without thinking of having sex with Aurelia on top of it. He didn’t dare think about it now, though, when he was about to walk into a brightly lit kitchen and make small talk with the people who had hired him to train their horse.
Sarah and Pete sat at the same small table Aurelia had slipped underneath the night before in order to provide him with a wonderful sexual gift. He’d be better off not thinking about that, either.
Tonight a Bassett Hound was under the table, his head on his paws. Matthew had heard that Sarah had a dog, but he’d never met the pooch. He said hello to Sarah and Pete before crouching down by the table. “And who’s this?” The hound gazed up at Matthew with sad eyes and his tail thumped the floor in greeting, but he seemed content to stay where he was.
The Way to a Cowboy's Heart Page 9
