Zach leaned his elbow on the counter. “I have nights like that too. I stand at the loft window staring out at nothing except what I see behind my eyes. My brother will be here tomorrow. He’s rowdy enough to keep me busy.”
Kimber removed a beer from the fridge, then a mug and a wine glass. He took the bottle. “I don’t need a glass. Can I wash my hands?”
She directed him to the bathroom. Kimber poured a partial glass of pinot noir, and when he returned, nodded toward the patio door. “Come on.” She still couldn’t understand why she did this, but being with him felt right though their conversation could blow up at any moment.
He stepped out behind her and closed the door. She turned and they stood there less than a foot apart staring at one another. He’d hate it if she reached out for him. Do it. Sighing, she indicated they take a seat in simple cushioned patio chairs. A narrow side table sat between them.
Zach placed his hand over hers on the arm rest. “Why’d you move here, Kimber?”
Oh no. First, she needed to make up her mind about Zach and to decide if she wanted this to go somewhere. Quick decision…she did. “I needed a change, and I sure got one. This ranch came up. Moving was the right thing to do.”
“You know, I recently learned a U.S. Marshal used to own this place. Old man Brooks owned it before you, right? He—”
Kimber pulled her hand from beneath his then spilled her wine all over the front of her. “Oh no.” She jumped up so it dripped onto the tile slabs, and she held the blouse away from her. A marshal had owned this place? Now it all fell into place of how Jerry had acquired it. “I need to go change.” She rushed out. In her bedroom, she ripped off her stained shirt and balled it up, holding it against her damp, sticky chest. Would she ever not have to live with worry of someone finding out?
Kimber padded into the bathroom to wash off the front of her body and soak her shirt, then got a clean bra, and t-shirt from her closet, finally rejoining Zach. He had the hose and cleaned off the spilled wine. “I’m a klutz. Always have been. I’m surprised I can walk around in the dark without tripping over something.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” He coiled up the hose and picked up his beer bottle, grinning. “Wait until you meet my little brother. You’ll get along fine. But, yeah, I guess the old owner retired from the Marshal Service, got married, and took off.”
He said it again, but there was no way he could’ve made any connection. “How long will your brother be here? What’s his name? By the way, I don’t know why everyone calls him old man Brooks. He isn’t all that old.”
Zach shrugged. “My brother’s name is Tyler. He doesn’t know how long he’ll stay.”
She laughed. “This is all so different. The desert, even the sky appears to be blacker here.” Kimber lifted her hand to cover a yawn.
Zach finished his beer and set his bottle down. “You’re tired. I’ll be taking off. Thanks for the beer and company. The ride earlier was a good time.”
“I enjoyed it more than you know. Zach?” No, she shouldn’t ask him to stay. “I wanted to ask… Did you know Wade was going to be at the restaurant when we were there?” She bit her tongue. Saying that was wrong and it came out of nowhere. What was the matter with her?
“Huh? Hell no. Why you asking?” His hands chopped through the air. “You think I set it up so he’d see you there with me?”
“No. I don’t know why I asked. I’m—”
“You know what? We’ll do better if we keep this,” he said pointing back and forth at each other, “all business like you said.”
“It was only a stupid question.”
“You got your damn stupid answer.” He strode off the patio but came back, poked her in the chest. “I’m a trustworthy man. You can either believe it or not.” Again, he hurried off, unlatched then latched a gate, by the sound of it.
Kimber sat in a dry chair and shook her head at herself. Maybe she should kiss him and get the tension and frustration over between them before it drove her nuttier than she was. Maybe she could’ve tasted the beer on his lips tonight if she’d thought before speaking. She listened as he spun up sand behind him as he left. “I hate this.” She collected the glass and beer bottle, clenching it like his warm hand had earlier.
Inside she paced from room to room swearing at herself. Something had to change. Zach needed to be fired so they’d stop tormenting each other.
***
Before going home, Zach had stopped at Rob’s Place for a Scotch on the rocks. Tristan’s ranch hand, Stuart, had been there, so they’d talked a few minutes before he left. At home, he parked behind the barn and went in the back way up to his loft. He wasn’t tired tonight so he turned on the TV for background noise. He stood, shoved his fingers through his hair, and paced some more. He’d skipped dinner.
Zach fixed a bowl of cereal then sat down to focus on the TV show, but he scanned through the channels and landed on a war movie he flicked off as quickly as he could, but not before it reminded him of the firefight. A message came in. “What the hell does she want?”
He read her text: I know you’re a trustworthy man.
“Bullshit.” The woman only knew what he’d told her. That didn’t even deserve a reply, but there he went again, straightaway into bastard mode. Then another text arrived from Kimber:
I’ll need to see you in the morning.
He tossed his phone to the table and picked up his bowl. Damn woman. Who the hell did she think she was? On second thought, he’d like to continue working while here. This job had potential. He called his brother. “Hey, Tyler, how’s the trip going? Where are you?”
“Somewhere around Boulder City. I’m getting ready to turn in. I can’t drive anymore tonight.”
“No problem. Get some sleep.”
“See you tomorrow, brah.”
“What’s this brah shit?” Zach laughed. “I’ll leave the door unlocked. When you get to the JL Ranch, tell one of the guys to show you where to go. I’ll give them a head’s up. Take care of my truck.”
“Night…brah.”
“Punk.” He disconnected. Zach read the text again. What time did the redhead go to bed? There could be a million things she’d say to him—none of it good. He better put on a bullet proof vest before approaching her. Tomorrow he’d hang up the punching bag in the barn to work off some stress—the one he found in Kimber’s office. Red would probably have something to say about that too, but maybe she’d use it.
***
After a mostly sleepless night, Zach drove up to the barn. He strode inside to turn out the horses. “Good morning, you two,” he said jovially to them. Kimber stepped out of the tack room with a horse pad in her hands. “Morning, Zach. Thank you for coming.”
“I work… You’re welcome. What’s on your mind? Need any help getting a saddle?”
“No, thanks. Why don’t you come inside?” She took the blanket back into the tack room. “I wasn’t sure when you’d be here. A morning ride sounded good today.”
“What do you want?”
Unrushed, she strode up to him. “Did you receive my texts last night?”
“Yeah. I didn’t see a reason to reply. I come here each morning anyway.”
She huffed and slapped her thighs. “Dammit, Zach.”
Sonofabitch. “What do you want from me? If you’re so miserable here why not leave? Break your lease—”
“I am miserable here,” she tossed back. Kimber fisted her hands and raised them atop her head. “You know nothing about me. Yeah, I’m very miserable.”
He bent his head back and inhaled deeply. His chest heaved. “Then let me know something about you.” He attached a lead rope to Major’s harness.
“I don’t have a choice. I’m stuck here.”
“You mean like being under house arrest?” Sighing, he removed Major’s rope, and his gaze went to her ankle, which was a stupid thing to do. He’d seen her cute ankles before, and she didn’t wear an ankle monitor. She owned a silver ankle bracelet, though, tha
t looked sexy as hell.
She raised her arms as if giving up. “No. What is wrong with you?”
Zach shrugged. You, apparently.
Kimber walked straight at him and stood staring. He turned away from her compelling gaze before he yanked her up against his body. The next thing he knew, her soft hands cupped his face. Unsure, and damn shocked, he leaned back from her. “What are you doing?”
“Stop me.”
“You don’t want to do that. I’m a train wreck waiting to happen—a mess in progress.” He closed his eyes and opened them slowly, grasped her shoulders and wrenched her against him, kissing her so she’d never forget it came from him. She tasted so good he wanted her to feel the onslaught of his tongue between her lips. He needed to taste the sweetness he knew lurked beneath her surface, but he pulled away before he did something stupider.
At least he tried to… Her fingers wrapped around his nape, and she kissed him with a wild mouth, and pleasantly. What a sensual mouth! He kissed her back with everything he ever put into a kiss, enjoying where her body pressed close to his. Her lips against his took him away—far away from this barn with a bitchy woman. A bitchy woman he couldn’t get enough of. He kissed her harder. Held her tighter. Then it ended. He could barely breathe.
Neither said anything, but their gazes remained connected. Do it again. She beat him to it, but he didn’t return it. He wanted answers and to take her to bed. Kimber lowered herself from her tiptoes. “What is this, Kimber?” Wow, he felt better already and he relaxed his muscles. The tension was gone, except for one place that reacted before their lips touched.
“I’m sorry.” She walked away. “You’re fired.”
Sonofabitch. He took a few steps toward her. “Wait? What? Why? Because I kissed you?”
“No. Because I wanted you to.”
Not my problem. “Don’t do it, Kimber. You need me around here.”
She stopped at the door. “You can’t be the only train wreck of a cowboy in this town who knows how to work a ranch.”
“What if I am?”
“Are you?”
“Yeah.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and placed his hands on his head. How could she believe he was trustworthy if he lied? “No, I’m not. Don’t make me go back home to my dad’s ranch. My little brother calls me brah, and I’ll have to drive all the way back with him saying that. I’ll probably kill him.”
Her face broke out in a broad smile, and she came back. “Okay, you aren’t fired. But don’t let me kiss you again.” Kimber turned her back to leave.
He laughed. “Ah, ma’am, didn’t I kiss you?” She stopped abruptly, lifted her hands in defeat, rushed into his arms, and he didn’t have a problem holding her tight, meeting her lips again, and kissing that delicious mouth longer, wetter, sexier than the first time. They pulled away to breathe, but kissed again. Breathing hard, he murmured against her mouth, “I wanted that. I’m always going to want it now. Why, Kimber?”
She peered at him sympathetically, “It’s one more thing in my life I have to figure out.”
Those gigantic eyes looked up into his, and he wanted those eyes to look at only him. Shit, not Kimber… Yeah. He kept her close when she meant to leave. “Then figure it out. You have a lot of agony going on inside.”
“I wish I could tell you how much. I said I’d never trust another man, and you are making it difficult to stick to my vow.”
“Then don’t distrust me,” he said softly. “I told you who I am. Don’t compare me to some other asshole who did you wrong. Kimber—”
“You’re so perfect. Too perfect for me and my problems. I’m a wreck waiting to happen myself. The collision could be awful.”
Zach laughed sardonically. “Oh, baby, you’re so wrong. The collision was, and will be magnificent.” His gaze cruised over her. “I know how to handle you and your problems. Now, can I get to work or do you still need me to go inside? You wanna kiss me again? Here I am, sweetheart.” He folded his arms and stared her down.
Her gaze raked over him, bringing on an instant erection. “You can go to work. But I need to know—”
Breathing deeply, he muttered, “Sure, you can kiss me again.” Please. Kimber smiled, but he bet she’d rather hide it.
“Has there been any progress on buying the ranch? I’m serious about this.” Her gaze drifted over him with desire in her eyes like he hadn’t seen before, and it lit him up inside.
“We’ll talk about it when Tyler gets here. He talked to my dad about it before he left, then my dad called me to confirm you as a partner. Have dinner with us tomorrow night. Someplace quiet where we can talk business?” And…make love later. Kimber’s expression softened—a look he’d hoped to see more often. He held her hands, squeezing them.
“In the meantime, Zach, please give me space today. My head is spinning. You can leave to be with your brother. It’ll do me good to take care of the chores.”
“I’ll bring my little brah…” He mocked what his brother called him, “back with me tonight to feed the horses. Have a good day, ma’am.”
“I’ll feed them. Enjoy your day off.”
“You too.” Zach left with the sugar taste of her kisses still on his lips. Without the taste and tingle, he might not believe it happened. He stopped at the door. Why the hell had he let it happen? She was his boss. And, dammit, he needed to make it happen again. “Kimber?”
“What now?” She sighed and closed her eyes for a brief moment. She truly looked defeated. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound bitchy, Zach.”
“Why did you kiss me?”
She shrugged. “I must’ve been wrong when I read the same thing in your eyes. It’ll never happen again.” She strode off in a hurry.
“Hey,” he called before she exited. “You weren’t wrong, darlin’.”
Kimber stopped but didn’t look back. He wished he could’ve seen her face after that revelation. He hoped she didn’t mean it would never happen again. He eyed the back of her standing there. Deep inside her lurked a passionate woman. One day he’d find the real Kimber Sinclair.
Chapter 10
Yesterday the security system had been installed, which might have made her more relaxed throughout the night. Kimber came to the conclusion that this was too much house and ridiculous for her to have a ranch alone. The décor was nothing like what Tressa used to like. Her choices were modern, stylish, chic city. Kimber could live with this, though today the furniture would live in a new arrangement in the room. She set about moving furniture.
Afterward, she sat at the table with coffee and a bagel, doing what she could to keep from thinking of kissing Zach. She’d had a productive time alone yesterday. Mucking the stalls and sweating did her good. Brushing and bathing her horses and an evening ride in the desert on Honey enlightened her soul. A hot bubble bath at the end of the day had brought it all together, and helped her to sleep most of the night when her mind wasn’t on that tough yet tender-at-times cowboy. His kisses still burned her mouth.
As a distraction, she read a couple ranching blogs online, coming across Tristan Carlson’s magazine with interviews with other ranchers, plus some local stuff. A picture of one of the ranchers with his wife and three sons almost brought tears to her eyes at viewing a happy family. That’s what she wanted. All of it—the husband and kids, happiness. She took a long drink of ice water to get back on track.
The blogs and magazines were informative, but boredom brought depression along as a sidekick this morning. She’d deleted her social media pages, but one remained available for a certain amount of days, so she opened it back up. Kimber peered at the redhead looking back at her, a stranger. She deleted the profile picture and added a photo of the desert at sunset.
An idea came to her. She needed to call Zach, surprised he wasn’t here. She pulled on a white cotton robe splattered with tiny blue and green roses. The hem came almost to her knees. A thin, short gown was all she wore underneath. Stepping into her boots, she sauntered to the barn
. “Good morning, fella and ma’am,” she sang to the horses. “Ready to eat?”
She took care of their feed and water, and when they finished, she patted Major first to get him in a good mood before she donned his halter. Across the way she hugged Honeycrisp, put on her halter, and turned back to Major. “You be nice now.”
Major tapped one hoof and bobbed his head. She entered the stall, and he came toward her, nudging her to show he owned this space. “Come on, boy.” Remembering what Jewel had said about him, she remained cautious. “Good boy.” Putting on the halter went off without a hitch. Once out of his stall, she unhooked Honey and walked them both out the back door to turn them into the open area. “You two be good.”
Kimber looked up before entering the barn from the backend. Zach and his brother waited at the front. Zach had an easy-going smile—his stance portraying a laid-back mood.
“Good morning, bright eyes,” said Zach. “Here’s the punk. Meet Tyler who kept me up drinking all night.” Zach stood with his arms folded, darker jeans than he normally wore, and a tan t-shirt. His brother, almost as tall as him, whipped his hat off. Tyler had wavy blond hair, bright green eyes like Zach, and a tan complexion. His body was reminiscent of a hardworking man—like his brother. He was adorably handsome with an innocent, boyish look—the opposite of Zach’s masculine, rugged appearance. Through their differences, they looked like brothers.
She pulled her robe tighter together and held one arm across her midriff to be sure it remained closed. Holding out her hand, she shook Tyler’s. “Nice to meet you.”
He put his hat back on. “You too, miss. I hear you want to be my business partner.”
“Oh, dear.” He got right to the point, while Zach smirked, but he also peered at her strangely.
“I’m sorry you caught me like this. I thought you weren’t coming, Zach. Does it sound like a good idea to you, Tyler?”
“I hate to see my family ranch go to assholes who won’t keep it up. If you wanna be part of this, I’ll call ya friend forever.”
Finding Kimber (Canyon Junction; Hearts In Love Book 2) Page 13
