by Stark, Cindy
In his opinion, her reaction bordered on being overly protective. “Maybe she’s not so afraid anymore. That happened a long time ago, and maybe this isn’t that big of a deal to her.” He tried to phrase his statement as kindly as possible since he’d already pissed off his boss’s only sister.
“Maybe. Maybe not. The only thing I know is I need my sister to be a bigger part of my life. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her until she showed up. Whatever we do, we need to make sure she’s happy and feels welcome.”
He nodded, hoping he hadn’t royally fucked that up already. He truly hadn’t meant to be mean to her or make her angry. Still, for whatever reason, he seemed to have earned an advanced degree in that area without knowing it.
Chapter Eight
“Thanks for agreeing to help me,” Daisy said to Rachel as they chopped onions and grated cheese for their spaghetti dinner. “Mom used to promise me we’d cook and bake together, but she was usually too busy. Sadly, we ended up choking down my disastrous cooking that comprised of burned frozen dinners or we’d eat takeout.”
Rachel grinned. “I’m sure you’re not that bad.”
“Oh, yeah.” She smiled in return. “I’m a horrible cook. Luckily, I have a big sister who can save me.” Daisy had realized she didn’t want to be one of those people who never found her way around the kitchen. At some point in time, she’d like to be able to cook a nice dinner for her husband and family when she finally settled down.
Rachel sighed. “On the flipside, I sometimes wish I could call the local pizza guy and have him deliver. Unfortunately, they don’t come out this far. I was forced to learn to make a decent meal back when I was younger. I shouldn’t say forced since I actually didn’t mind. I found I have a knack for cooking and enjoy it most days.”
“I bet Caleb’s grateful. What husband wouldn’t be?” Daisy slid the onions into the fry pan, and they began to sizzle, sending a delicious scent into the air.
“He is, but he’s always willing to step up, too, when I’m not in the mood.”
She nodded. “Yes. Good thinking on your part. I’d like a guy who can cook, too. Why should it always be on the girl to take care of meals?”
“Exactly.” Rachel poured a bottle of spaghetti sauce into a pan.
Daisy frowned. “I thought you made everything from scratch.”
“What made you think that?” Rachel added chopped fresh basil.
“Because everything always tastes so good.” She paused to write down the ingredients and amounts Rachel had added.
“When you work on a ranch, you learn to make use of as many shortcuts as you can.”
“I’ll remember that,” she said with hope springing inside her. “I might not be a lost cause after all.”
“It’s not that hard. Caleb cooks. Oliver can cook. Joe’s not too bad, either.”
Daisy stared at her sister for a long moment. “Oliver can cook?”
“Oh, sure. He knows how to make a mean meatloaf.” She turned and pulled a box of dry spaghetti from the pantry.
Why was Oliver in their conversation anyway? “Well, it makes no difference to me if he can or can’t cook. Oliver can barely stand me. I’m sure he’ll never offer to cook for me.”
“Nah, I’m sure you’ve misunderstood him. He’s a great guy. He can be driven and come across as remote at times, but don’t take it personally.” She nodded toward the pan in front of Daisy. “You need to stir the sauce so it doesn’t burn on the bottom. Dump in the onions, too, if they’ve finished cooking.”
Daisy glanced at the sautéed vegetables with hints of brown on the edges and decided they must be done. She added them to the sauce and then swirled the mixture a few times.
Rachel opened a loaf of French bread and began to slice it. “He told me he feels bad about making you clean the horse stalls.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” He’d deliberately made life hell that day, and she’d avoided him every day since.
“No, seriously. He mentioned it to me and to Caleb on separate occasions. Said he’d thought he was supposed to treat you like any other ranch hand. He knew that I’d cleaned the stalls plenty of times in the past, that it was an easy job that didn’t require a lot of instruction, and thought it would be perfect.”
“He thought cleaning horseshit would be perfect for me.” She leveled a sarcastic gaze at her sister. “That right there says it all.”
“Daisy, most girls and women who live on ranches know it has to be done. Taking care of animals is part of a rancher’s life. He obviously didn’t consider how it might come across to you.”
“He enjoyed it. If he had a brain or any sort of education, he’d know that I wasn’t suited for that kind of work.”
Rachel shook her head and smiled. “He has an advanced degree in geology, you know.”
She stopped stirring to stare at her sister. “Seriously?”
“Yep. He found his way to this part of the country as a geologist who studied Yellowstone. Then he found he had a penchant for ranching and switched careers. He still works for them part-time when needed, but he doesn’t like the daily bureaucracy of government work.”
Daisy had no words.
“He asked if he could come to dinner tonight,” Rachel continued. “He hasn’t seen much of you over the past couple of days, and he wants to apologize.”
Daisy closed her eyes for a long moment as she released a tired groan. “Please tell me you didn’t invite him.”
Rachel put an arm around her shoulders. “He’s a good man, he’s my foreman, and he’s also a friend. Give him a chance.”
She didn’t answer but went about setting the table instead. She only had to hold it together for three months. Less than three months, really.
****
Daisy was alone in the kitchen when Oliver came through the back door carrying a small bouquet of brightly colored daisies. She’d just convinced herself she could survive the evening if she didn’t have to be alone with the man. He wouldn’t dare be mean to her in Caleb’s and Rachel’s presence.
Then he had to go and show up when she was by herself. Her luck sucked.
Their gazes collided and held for an awkward moment full of electric energy.
“Where’s Rachel?” He finally said and glanced toward the living room.
“She splattered spaghetti sauce on her shirt and went upstairs to change.”
His eyes darkened, and she caught the spark of interest as he glanced from the top of her black sundress to her peep toe wedges. “Are you headed out on a date?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“That’s a pretty fancy dress for dinner at home.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s a sundress. Women wear them during the summer. They’re cool and casual. Not fancy. If you ever left the ranch, you’d know that.” He might be educated in geology, but not sophistication.
He grinned, and she had the distinct feeling he’d pushed her buttons on purpose. If so, she’d fallen right into his trap.
Daisy flicked a gaze toward the flowers. “I can put those in water for Rachel if you’d like.”
“They’re not for her. They’re for you.”
His reply caught her off guard. “Why?”
He stepped toward her, spiking her pulse. When he was directly in front of her, he held out the flowers. She glanced at them and then tilted her gaze upward, her brows lifted in question.
“I want to apologize for the other day. I should have been more considerate toward my boss’s sister.” The look on his face seemed sincere, but he might be a good actor.
She didn’t take them. “Is this your way of making amends because Rachel found out what you did, and you’re trying to cover your butt?”
His lips curved into a devastating smile that nearly broke her. “God, you’re full of sass. No. These are because I want to say I’m sorry. We got off on the wrong foot. You’re going to be here for three months, and I’d like for us to be friends.”
He
took one of her hands and pressed the bouquet against her palm before wrapping her fingers around it. “Beautiful daisies for a beautiful Daisy.” Heat from his hands spread into hers, leaving her with a fuzzy feeling bubbling inside. He could be quite the charmer when he wanted to be.
“Oh.” The man stole her words far too often.
“Look at those beautiful flowers.” Rachel’s voice drew her attention, and she slipped her hand from his.
Daisy’s cheeks heated. “Yes, thank you, Oliver. They’re lovely.”
Oliver quirked a brow, a hint of a smile hovering on his lips. “My attempt at a peace offering.”
Rachel approached with a big smile on her face as she glanced between them. “Good. It makes me happy to see two people I love get along.”
Oliver turned to Rachel. “Dinner smells great. Thanks for feeding me once again.”
“Absolutely. You know you’re welcome anytime, Oliver.” Rachel turned toward the back door as it opened and her husband walked in. “Let’s eat, shall we?”
“Ready to give up the city life and move to Moose Meadows?” Caleb asked Daisy halfway through dinner.
She snorted. “Yeah, I don’t think so. It’s not somewhere I’d want to stay.”
Caleb and Oliver both glanced at Rachel who quickly hid the hurt look on her face. Guilt thrust a knife into Daisy’s heart.
“Not that it’s not extremely beautiful.” She tried to retract her words. “It’s too quiet for me. I like things more exciting.”
“If you want more excitement, you need to get outside.” Oliver bit into a slice of buttered bread.
“I haven’t left the house because I don’t want to get roped into shoveling more horse sh—poop.” She inwardly groaned when she realized she’d let him push her buttons again.
“Ouch,” Caleb commented with a laugh.
“I suppose that’s true,” Oliver said, surprising her. “Can’t like a place if all you see is the inside of a barn. I bet if you gave the hills and the river a chance to seduce you, you’d love it.”
She arched a brow. “I bet if you gave the city a chance to seduce you, you’d love it.” She could play this game, too.
“Cheyenne isn’t exactly a big city,” Oliver said.
“Like you would know.” Daisy shook her head and looked away.
“You might be surprised,” he answered.
“Sounds like we have a seductive wager going, doesn’t it, Rachel?” Caleb said with a laugh.
“It sure does. But it’s true, Daisy. You’ve been here a week, and you haven’t seen the river or gotten a close look at all the beauty around us.” Rachel’s smile had returned, bringing relief to Daisy.
“I’m willing to take that bet.” Oliver leaned back in his seat and regarded Daisy with a look that set her on edge. The man could certainly inspire heated thoughts when he wanted. “You let me show you the beauty of this place and then tell me you don’t like it.”
Oh, no. He wouldn’t back her into that corner. “Only if you’ll do something more refined with me. An opera or a symphony, perhaps.” That ought to scare him off her tail.
“Deal.”
His quick agreement surprised her. “Really?”
He captured her gaze and held it. “Why not? I’m not opposed to a little culture here and there.”
“This is going to be fun.” Rachel lifted her wineglass. “Here’s to multi-cultural education.”
Daisy rolled her eyes, but lifted her glass and toasted it with the rest. “You can’t back out,” she warned Oliver.
“Neither can you.” He smiled that devastating smile, and she wondered what he had in store for her.
Whatever it was, she’d need to make sure she trumped him.
Chapter Nine
As Daisy passed a west-facing window in the house, a brilliant sunset caught her eye, and she stopped to soak up the image. The sun intended to make a glorious exit that evening, splashing bright hues of oranges and reds across the sky. As she gazed outside, she caught sight of Oliver crossing the yard to where a beautiful buckskin colt trotted around the edge of a small paddock.
She indulged in the secret opportunity to admire him from the safety of the house. Truth be told, he was a hard man to resist watching. He’d buried his dark hair beneath an old ball cap. He couldn’t have looked more attractive in his tight blue t-shirt and old jeans. Though it was a totally sexist thing to do, she took a moment to imagine how fine he’d look without that shirt. How fine it would be to take the hem of that t-shirt and slide it up his chest.
Oliver usually headed home long before now, so she was surprised to see him still hanging around. Despite his apology and his insistence that he educate her in the finer traits of living on a ranch near the Absaroka mountains, Daisy had seen very little of him over the past week.
An unsatisfied sigh slipped from her lips. She couldn’t see his mesmerizing eyes from this distance, but she knew exactly what they did to her each time their gazes met. He shouldn’t have that effect on her. Not with the friction that constantly popped up between them, but there was something about him.
She could admit that to herself, in the privacy of her mind. She could also admit it was possible to be attracted to a man’s looks and not his attitude.
The cheerful daisies he’d given her still waited on her nightstand to greet her each morning when she opened her eyes. That had been a nice gesture on his part, but she still believed he’d done it to appease her sister.
Over the past few days, Daisy had caught Oliver watching her several times when they’d both been outside in the warm sunshine. They hadn’t been close enough to speak, and she’d purposefully avoided him in an effort to maintain her peace and sanity.
Until now.
She’d bet he’d reconsidered the idea of a cultured evening out and had changed his mind. Probably hoped she’d forget the whole thing. She smiled. Nope. He’d agreed, and, after he’d made her clean the stalls, she owed him an uncomfortable evening.
She turned from the window and headed for the stairs.
Warm summer air caressed her as she stepped outside, and she inhaled the sweet smell of grass. She’d miss both of those when she left Moose Meadows and knew she wouldn’t be finding much fresh air and green grass in a big city.
Ahead of her, Oliver moved slowly toward the colt with a length of rope in his hand. His lips moved, but she was too far away to hear his words.
She gathered her red hair and secured it with a band into a ponytail as she walked. When she reached the white fence, she climbed up and sat on top of it to watch. She wasn’t quite sure of Oliver’s goal, but it looked to be interesting.
“Come on, buddy. This won’t hurt a bit.” Oliver murmured as he stepped closer to the animal. When he was a few feet from the colt, he lifted the halter.
The young horse realized his intention and skittered away, vocalizing his rebelliousness.
Daisy chuckled as Oliver frowned.
He shot a quick glance in her direction and tried again.
“Maybe he doesn’t want that around his neck,” she called when he missed for the fourth time.
He turned to her with an agitated look.
“I’m not making you nervous, am I?” Excitement flared when he narrowed his eyes.
“No.” He turned his back to her and stepped slowly toward the beautiful horse.
She smiled. He might say her presence didn’t affect him, but his actions proved otherwise. That knowledge brought her more satisfaction than it should have.
Oliver made another attempt and failed again.
“It’s obvious that whatever you’re trying to do, that horse doesn’t want any of it,” she called out.
He turned and stared at her with a long hard look. Before she knew it, he strode toward her sending puffs of dust up behind his heels as the colt headed in the opposite direction.
“Oh, shit,” she whispered. She’d woken the beast. Even though she’d done it on purpose, a thrill rushed through her.
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When Oliver stopped, he was only inches from her knees. His nearness made her dizzy, and she held tighter to the fence so she wouldn’t fall.
He tilted his head back and glanced up at her. “It’s called horse training. Ever heard of it?” Sarcasm echoed from each of his words.
She smiled. “Doesn’t look like there’s a whole lot of training going on.”
He rested his hands on the fence next to her thighs. “Looks like you haven’t been around long enough to know.”
Moisture evaporated from her mouth. Damn if he didn’t have the sexiest eyes. “I guess I should stick around for a while then.”
“That’s right. Watch and learn.” He turned away.
“Wait.” She reached for him, but he’d moved farther away than she’d realized. Her actions were enough to tip her forward, and she released a soft cry of surprise as she tumbled forward.
Before she could hit the ground, he caught her, pulling her against him, allowing her to steady herself and not eat dirt.
The feel of his chest against hers emptied her lungs. She met his gaze as her pulse galloped like a stallion inside her. Whatever silly attraction she had for him reared, demanding to be noticed.
“Thank you,” she said, sounding breathless. Her breasts pressed against him as she inhaled.
A sexy smile crossed his lips. “Careful or you’ll hurt yourself.”
She tried to clear the seductive thoughts from her mind, but couldn’t. He was so big, so strong, and she wanted to wrap her arms around those wide shoulders and taste his kiss.
He stepped back, but instead of moving away, he gripped her waist with his large hands. She sucked in a surprised breath as he lifted her into the air and set her back on the fence. She grabbed the rail, trying to gain purchase, and he held tight to her until she did.
“You good?” He tipped his head, asking for her affirmation.
“I’m good.” After that brush with his hard body, she was more than good. Despite the annoying attitude he had at times, she couldn’t complain at all about that encounter.
He stayed in front of her, one hand burning her thigh, watching her expectantly.
