Shaking the mood, she smiled. “I saw it in other carts in the store. I thought it must be good.”
“It is. Where do I sit?” Tyler had a friendly grin, but he had already gripped a chair back.
“Wherever you please. I haven’t found a favorite place to sit yet.”
He took a seat on the side of the table. Zach returned to the kitchen. “When are you naming the dog?” His hair looked as if he had sliced his fingers through it more than once. She had to make eye contact to cover her guilt at lying to him. “Actually, you know what?” Kimber peered at Zach and waited for him to turn his attention on her.
He shifted his gaze to her.
“I named the dog a few minutes ago. See the little patch of darker gray down her back? I’m calling her Stormy. She looks like the color of storm clouds.” She went to the oven to pull out the chicken that had roasted to a golden brown, then removed the other hot ingredients from the microwave, and set it all on the table.
Tyler jumped up. “Here, let me help.” He took the wine bottle to open.
Zach grabbed two glasses for Tyler wasn’t drinking wine. It surprised Kimber that he was though. He set one in front of her plate, the other in front of his across from Tyler, poured, then read the label. “Sounds good.”
“Have a seat.” This night couldn’t end fast enough. Would her stomach allow food? Without Tyler being there to tell a joke or a family story, there would be no conversation at all. No matter what, she had to deny being in the doctor’s office, or move again. And now, when she was getting used to being here. Zach could not know for sure.
***
After dinner, Kimber insisted the guys go into the great room while she cleared the table. After finishing, she brought in a bottle. “Here you go, guys.” She handed them each a glass then poured all of them Scotch. “Okay, let’s get down to business.”
Zach stood, getting right to the point. “If you agree, here’s how it’s going down in the beginning. Tyler and I go in half on the acreage. You buy a quarter from each of us. We have the perfect setup already in place with irrigation water available to use the lower section near the river, as well now.”
“So, we aren’t equal partners?” she asked dryly.
“Woman, we’re trying to make this easier on you financially. And, your name isn’t Bryson, or you’d own an equal share.”
Tyler stood. “Whoa, Zach. Relax, bro.”
Zach glared at her. “You’re the one saying you might run out of money. With the ranch already established, income will start rolling in right away, but so will the bills. We’ll each pay a third of the bills.”
Tyler sat but didn’t say anything at first. Then, “The property is mostly already fenced. “We’re planning to build some shelters on the property near the river. Gorgeous country down there. We’ll add new handling facilities, troughs, feed bunks or maybe a different kind of feeder. We’ll eventually buy more cattle.”
“My head is spinning. Thankfully, you’re familiar with this.” Kimber blew out a slow breath, her nerves getting the best of her over this new endeavor. Zach had come close to hearing those four-letter words out loud this time instead of under her breath. Damn his attitude. However, it wasn’t them teaming up that had bothered him tonight. “Let me see if I have this correct. I own less, but pay the same amount of bills as I’d pay owning a third?”
“Looks like it. Money will be split three ways, so you might as well pay a third.” Zach wasn’t too friendly. She nearly told him to get his ass out of her home.
Tyler moved to the edge of the chair. He peered at Zach. “She has a point.” Tyler said to Kimber, “We assumed you wouldn’t be able to pay for an even third. Can you?” He slid over a notebook with the numbers they’d worked out with their lawyer and banker over the phone. “As you can see, my dad is giving us an exceptional deal.”
Kimber observed the numbers then reflected on what she had in a bank account. It’d leave her dangerously low unless she got a loan, and what if there was an emergency? “You said money will be coming in right away. Then I’m okay. I’ll be able to pay off a loan quickly.” If she could get one. It looked like she’d have to talk to Jerry. She set her glass down and scooted forward. “How risky is it? Will we be okay for years, or are you talking about surviving for only months?”
Zach and Tyler peered at each other. They both smiled, but Zach said, “How about generations?”
Tyler nodded in agreement with a toothy grin.
Gulping, she said confidently, “We’ll go with your original plan for now. I’ll buy a quarter of each of yours, but I won’t pay a third of the bills so I won’t collect a third of the money.” Kimber got up to turn the coffee pot on, but wouldn’t tell the guys it was half-caff. Her heart beat fast enough without straight caffeine. She returned to her spot on the couch to see what they worked out about her share of the bills.
“Have it your way. The ranch is established,” reiterated Zach. “It’s been in our family for eighty plus years. Business has slowed for my dad. That’s why he wants to sell off, but it slowed for a ranch with the amount of cattle he has now. He refused to buy more. The risks are minimal, other than regular wear, the weather, cattle not getting sick, calves being born. There will be good years, but there might be a bad year or two in between.” Zach sat back and sipped the Scotch.
She appreciated his honesty. “I need to sleep on it before I give a definite yes.”
“Of course, you do. Take time to think it over. Talk to cattle ranchers, the bank. Have your own lawyer take a look when we get the papers drawn up. You need to be totally comfortable with this partnership. If not, well, forget we talked about it. Tyler and I have a list of potential partners to take your place in case you’re wondering. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep our land.”
“No hard feelings,” said Tyler.
Zach’s personality change unnerved her. “All right. I’ll sleep on it and talk with some people. If this comes to pass, please be patient at what I don’t know about cattle ranching.”
“Or a horse rancher,” Zach threw in with a frown across his brow, but he smiled, and it washed the frown away.
Kimber peered at him with unease. She’d be foolish to go into a partnership with him. But she needed a steady flow of income, and this sounded like the best option. “Will you two buy me out if things go south between us?”
“No problem, ma’am.” Tyler shot Zach a warning glance.
Zach gave a pert nod. “I don’t plan on it going south.”
Well, then change your damn attitude. “How about coffee and dessert?” Kimber padded to the kitchen for coffee, cups, and set sugar and cream on a tray. Zach came to stand beside her, too close again. Damn him. Was it something he did on purpose to rattle her? After her enthusiastic kisses the other night, he knew damn well what rattled her. He sat his empty glass on the counter. “Need any help?”
“I can manage.” Here she thought having Tyler around would help his disposition. Wrong.
“I didn’t mean to assume you couldn’t afford your full share of the ranch. I’m sorry if it insulted you.”
“How would you know anyway?” She scooped ice cream on top of the cherry crisp, topping it with a plump cherry. She handed him a dish. “It makes more sense, anyway.”
“Thanks. Dinner was good. This looks fantastic.”
She gave him a spoon, but he held her other hand and peered into her eyes. “It’s a bad time…for me.” He paused. “Bear with me, okay?”
She’d try. What had he meant? “All right.” Kimber lifted hers and Tyler’s dish and would return for the coffee. “Enjoy.” She led the way back to the living room. Keeping her breathing in check on the way in, she sensed Zach’s eyes boring into her from behind. The dress she wore tonight made her happy with the choice—a simple deep blue, fit and flare dress of eyelet fabric with cap sleeves and a crew neckline, and she opted for strappy heels.
While enjoying dessert, no one talked of business, and instead, she and
Zach listened to Tyler tell more stories while on recent cattle drives. Kimber wasn’t sure if half were true, but his big brother didn’t doubt him about any of it. Cattle drives sounded like fun and all, but also a lot of work with a little danger involved.
In another hour, the guys set their coffee cups down and announced they were leaving. Tyler went to the bathroom, and Kimber had Zach alone. “Can we talk privately?”
“I guess.” He carried his cup and dish to the kitchen.
Kimber followed. She didn’t mind what she saw ahead of her, either. The man would look good in a burlap sack around his ass. “Not now, though, Zach.”
Zach sat his dish and cup down then leaned against the sink facing her. “Want me to take the punk home and come back?”
Kimber set her dishes down. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. In the morning?”
“I’ll bring donuts.”
“All right.” She meant to go back into the living room, but she couldn’t without saying, “Zach, stop trying to figure out where you’ve seen me before.” She left abruptly and met Tyler in the great room. He donned his hat, and she hugged him. “Thanks so much for coming, partner.”
“Almost a partner, Kimber. Almost.” Tyler hugged her back. “Thanks for the awesome dinner. I owe you one.”
“Not necessary.” She smiled. “It was my pleasure. It’s no fun cooking for one.”
“Tell me about it.” Zach joined them. “My muscles will be turning to mush if I don’t start eating better. The kid here has had Mom’s cooking forever. Guess that’s why he looks that way.”
Zach wasn’t close to losing his muscles. “You two have a nice night and drive safe. By the way, Zach. You can always use the punching bag you put up to save your muscles.”
“You too, ma’am,” chided Zach on the way out. “See you in the morning.”
She stood at the door until the taillights faded. If she had a lick of sense, she’d pack her bags and hit the road… Kimber closed her eyes and leaned against the closed door. Tonight after being close to Zach, her sense must’ve driven off with him. Mood or no mood, she was nuts about him. There’d been more than one reason for his behavior of late.
***
Tyler thumped his hands against his thighs on the way to the highway. “That sexy woman has the hots for you, brah.”
Zach gave a hardy laugh. “Like hell. That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. She doesn’t like me. I’m not too sure how I feel about her, either.” He couldn’t forget their shared kisses and the fact he wanted more of them.
“You’re lying to yourself. You look good together.”
Again, he laughed. “Yeah, if you like the looks of two mustangs sparring.”
He stopped drumming his fingers. “Stop and give it a chance. You had to confront her about your suspicions tonight, didn’t you?”
“You know I don’t have good luck with women. Leave me alone, Ty.”
That time, Tyler laughed. “No wonder you don’t. She’s a good cook.”
“Yeah, I’ll give her that.”
Tyler slouched in the seat. “You need to lighten up and see what happens. You said she was green. Give her a chance.”
“You said you owed her one. Ask her out.” How crazy would he get before this ended? “Nah, don’t do that. I have to work for her. If this job goes south, then I’d have to drive north, and I kinda like it here.”
Tyler removed his hat and sat it over his knee. “You’re an idiot, brah.”
“Stop calling me brah. It’s stupid.”
“You know the longer you bug me about it the longer I’m gonna do it.”
Zach had enough talk about her and brah. “Hey, those stories you were telling about the last cattle drive and the rustlers? How much of that was truth?”
“All of it.”
“That was my fear. Everybody needs to be packing heat from now on. Having our own business soon, we can’t have cattle thieves stealing our profit or wolves attacking.”
“I agree. We were all carrying, even Dad. Especially Dad with his long rifles with a big scope and night scope.”
“We learned from the best. If you snore and fart all night tonight I’m beating you to death.”
“Yeah? Give it a try.”
Zach laughed. “Don’t worry, getting close to you is the last thing I want.”
“Go after Kimber, Zach. You both need it, and you know what it is.”
“It’s bad timing.”
“Because that dreadful date is coming upon us?”
Indeed, he sure needed it. With his bad luck with women, he might as well keep his gas tank full for a trip home. “I don’t do well with women.”
“You did pretty damn good in high school before the Army. You were my idol.”
“I have too many scars to have a relationship with a normal woman.”
“I don’t think Kimber is normal. Don’t sabotage it. That’s why I’m suggesting—”
“Don’t.” Zach smiled inside. She certainly wasn’t like other women he’d dated. At home, Zach told his brother to go in and relax. He walked to the pasture gate and looked out over the desert and mountain standing beneath the clear sky.
Kimber’s lips popped into his mind and he licked his at the thought of kissing her again—of holding her tight. She smelled good all the time. Tonight she looked so pretty, sophisticated, and sexy. Those calf muscles? She didn’t get those from sitting around. Her arms were shapely. She worked out. He bet she’d like the punching bag.
But what brought her here? Her words tonight chilled his bones when she said not to remember where he’d seen her. He’d never forget where. His imagination had them having a drink in the bar, a dance where he could hold her tight, and shared kisses. And now, here she was. It was nothing more than a daydream about sweeping a beautiful woman off her feet. But this woman had swept him off his feet before he spoke one word to her. He couldn’t deny it much longer.
All they had was a brief glimpse, or more like a lustful, lingering gaze. Those ice-blue eyes couldn’t be denied. What did she have to talk to him about tomorrow? Had she planned on firing him again? Zach laughed. If this was destiny, it sure was a weird kind of start to their forever.
He trod upstairs to the loft. Tyler had fallen asleep on the couch with the TV turned to a detective show. For the love of God, he had no idea or control over his fingers as they slid across the keyboard with Kimber’s name at the top: You looked gorgeous tonight. Blue becomes you. SEND.
He hadn’t expected a reply so when none came, he wasn’t surprised. Zach went into the bathroom, when a notification buzzed. He slowly picked up his phone.
She had replied: You, Mr. Bryson, know how to wear a pair of jeans.
Zach gulped and paid attention to the wave of want tumbling around in his belly and below. They couldn’t get along face-to-face so they got it on behind words? So be it. It was time to allow the ice to melt from around his heart.
Zach went to bed with the thought of her beneath him as he turned down the covers. There was a wanton and desirable woman hidden in that redhead. Closing his eyes a moment with a tip of the sheet still in his hand, he imagined her heart beating against his chest in bed. This shouldn’t happen, but he needed a woman, that one…now.
An hour later sleep evaded him. His body couldn’t relax, and his mind wouldn’t settle down. He placed his hands behind his head, listening to the easy breathing from the couch. Zach got out of bed and dressed when thoughts of war entered his head. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and went downstairs. No way was he giving into those nightmares. Not tonight.
Before daylight, and with a cup of coffee, he leaned against the paddock railing taking in the sounds of Jake’s horses breathing and grunting. He closed the barn door and got in his truck.
Zach pulled off the road outside of her driveway, debating on showing up at this hour. She had wanted to talk. He shifted and rolled up to her house. A light was on. The barn door remained closed. She could be with the horse
s right now in her robe and rubber boots.
Her front door opened. Kimber leaned against the jamb and folded her arms. She stood in jogging shorts, a t-shirt, and running shoes and short white socks. He got out and leaned against the other side of his truck. Folded his arms, too. Waited. For a moment, their gaze held in silence. The t-shirt fit snug against her breasts and made that little line between them where the cloth pulled tight. He lifted his eyes again to her hair—tied back but the ponytail bounced when she turned her head. He wanted to release it.
“Are you here to talk or work?”
Zach found his voice. “It depends on you. Are you going for a run?”
“I finished a short one. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“You have your demons, too?”
She nodded. “Come in, Zach.”
He hesitated a moment to clear his thoughts of last night and of what could so easily happen when he went through those doors. How he’d take her into his arms, lift her off those cute feet, and press her up against the wall—
“Zach?”
“Ah, yeah. Okay.” He licked his lips and sauntered to the door. She held it open and he entered first, patting Stormy on the way in.
“Want some coffee?”
“I’ve had two. One more won’t hurt. I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“Not at all? I’m sorry.”
Her tender voice always got the best of him. “No problem. I watched the sun come up on the edge of the desert.”
Kimber directed her hand toward the couch. “I’ll get some juice and your coffee. Want some juice?”
“No thanks.” He removed his hat and seated himself on the end of the couch. Glancing around, he noticed the room had been rearranged since his first visit here. Apparently, he’d been too pissed, or enamored, to notice before now.
Kimber returned with his coffee and took a seat in a chair across from him. “What did you want to talk about?” A text came in from his brother asking where he was. Zach took a second to reply that he came to work early. He’d see him at lunch or sooner. “Well?”
Finding Kimber (Canyon Junction; Hearts In Love Book 2) Page 15
