It looked like her accounting degree could come back into use after all. Kimber finished her wine and slid her glass to the side. A small amount remained in the carafe. “I understand. Partnering with you seems too good to be true. I want to learn as much as I can.”
“I call it luck and looking out for the future. Of course, one day I’ll have to move back there to run it full-time. I’m renting out my home for now.”
Oh, no. He couldn’t move away. Not now. Without thinking, she picked up the carafe and twirled the remainder of the wine. What prevented her from moving to Idaho if she owned part of a ranch there? “I hope you don’t plan on moving too soon.”
“You either.” Their gazes met and held. Zach placed his hand around hers on the carafe. “We’ll see. I’m still doing the computer work, while staying in contact with the foreman throughout each day. You ready?” Zach got the attention of the server for the check, and she brought it right over.
Kimber scooted out of the chair. A wave of heat nipped at her body when Zach’s warm hand touched her back, and like a zap from a Taser, it went right through her thin blouse almost leaving her senseless. She savored his protective touch against her. He put his arm around her shoulder outside. She handed him the keys and moved closer.
“You drive, I’m exhausted.”
“How about a rain check for dessert? I’ll wrap some up for you and Tyler. Take it home and get some sleep. You’ll have to furnish the ice cream though.”
He drew her closer. “That’s what I’ll have to do, otherwise, I’d be poor company. I’m fading fast.”
On the way home, Zach’s hand rested on the seat beside them but before they turned off the 60, he moved it to her thigh. She lowered her hand over his without saying anything. After a few minutes, his eyes closed. Kimber glanced at his handsomeness in a relaxed state. “We’re almost to my house. Maybe I should’ve driven you home.”
“I’ll be all right. Save the dessert for tomorrow. I’ll eat it here.”
She pulled up next to his truck. “It won’t be any good after tomorrow. You best eat it for lunch.”
“I’ll have it for breakfast.”
Kimber got out after him, walked around her vehicle, and stood at his door. “Thank you again. We actually got along the whole time.”
Zach winked under the dark sky then smiled. “Imagine that. I’ll go inside with you.” He hadn’t asked.
Kimber unlocked her door. In the kitchen, she turned off the alarm and glanced through her house then back at him. She quickly became undone by his presence. Stormy walked up to them, her tail in a slow, sleepy wag. “Hey, girl.” Zach walked through the house before they went out with Stormy for a moment.
He wrapped his arm around her neck and brought her close on the porch. “It’s been a good night.” Zach pressed his head against hers and slowly slid his other hand down her back, stopping at her waistband. Her heart took notice of his gentle caress.
He lowered his head to her cheek, then to her lips, and kissed her softly. She returned his kiss with desire. Her breath had been taken away. She wasn’t ready for the kiss to end, but it did. In a possessive clutch, he drew her tight against him. “I like kissing you. Don’t make me stop doing it now that it started again.”
She peered into his eyes. “Don’t worry. It won’t stop.” Kimber held him until he swayed from sleepiness. “Go home before you fall asleep standing up.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stopped at his truck and returned her smile, “G’night.”
“Drive safe.”
Inside, she set the alarm and listened as he left. She turned the lights off. The hallway to her bedroom showed golden from dimmed lights on her dresser. The scent of Zach’s cologne lingered on her blouse. She removed it, holding it against her face, then pulled on her gown. A flutter in her abdomen and lower gave her joy. There was no way around it. She’d fallen hard for him. Her midsection tightened, breathing increased.
The thin gown pulled against her nipples, puckering and hardening without her bra. She thought of their bodies pressed together tight in the barn. Zach, with his smile and striking eyes the color of the valley she grew up in, wouldn’t leave her mind.
Loneliness encompassed her. A part of her kept the wall of truth in sight, due to her own misgivings. However, her gut trusted him. She had the word of a man who was as close to her as a father could be, which brought it all back now. Oh, my dear family. What are you doing this minute?
Chapter 14
After a visit to Jewel and Bill’s—the veterinarian’s magnificent home with a beautiful country kitchen—she could only dream of having something so nice again. Kimber headed toward town, parking on the street. She strolled into the Coffee Shoppe to see if they had a newspaper.
“Hello there,” said the clerk behind the counter. “New in town I see. Name’s Todd.”
“Hi. I hope to overcome that title before long,” she jibed, taking a paper.
“You’re in Frank’s old place.”
How had everyone known? It gave her goosebumps to think so many people knew who she was while she knew nothing about them. She introduced herself. “I’m pleased with the ranch.”
“Now, what can I do for you? How about taking a seat at a table or booth, and I’ll buy you a cup of coffee as a welcome-to-town gift.”
“A cup of coffee does sound good. It’s kind of you.” Kimber took a seat in one of the smaller booths. The place was old but kept up nicely, reminding her of pictures she’d seen of old-time diners with soda jerks making ice cream sundaes, but in this case, it was coffee. “I’ll have cream and no sugar, please.”
“What brings you to town today?” He sat the coffee in front of her, rushed back to the counter, and brought her a donut. “Fresh today. Maple is one of our best sellers.”
She held up the newspaper. “Mmm, I love maple. I came to get a paper to look for a job.”
“Good luck with the job hunting.”
“Thanks.” She scanned the front page when he went to the other side of the store to wait on another customer. The day her paper had appeared in her mailbox, must’ve been a mistake, for that was the only time she’d seen it. Kimber opened the paper to the classified section. Five jobs? One was for a wait person at the Sunset Grille? She wouldn’t make much money there. Removing a pen from her purse, she circled it anyway. She hadn’t had waitressing experience since high school.
Another job stood out for a lunch supervisor in the local high school. That one’s not going to work. The next ad needed a used car salesman at a lot outside of town. Nope. She looked up when the door opened. Zach? Had the man followed her? His brother trailed in behind him, who noticed her before Zach.
“Hey, Kimber,” Tyler boasted.
Zach scanned the place until his eyes met hers. She smiled subtly, warming after her thoughts of him last night. She dropped her pen in her purse and folded the newspaper. Kimber sipped her coffee. They ordered at the counter and waited. “Hey, Red, mind if we join you?” Zach’s usual smirk had begun to grow on her.
“Sure, be my guest.” Tyler scooted in beside her leaving Zach to fend for himself on the other side.
“How you doing this afternoon, ma’am?” Tyler asked beaming. One day he’d sweep a lucky woman off her feet with his smile alone.
She glanced at Zach when his foot touched hers. “I’m experiencing Canyon Junction.” Kimber chuckled. “I visited the vet. I’m looking for a job.”
“Vets? Like military?” Zach chided.
Oh, goodness. “No, Jewel and Bill’s place.”
Zach grinned. “Bill should check on Major. Remember, he’ll need a farrier. He can set you up and do Honey next. If you can hold out, wait on finding a job. Things could move along fast in Idaho.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. I will take care of the appointment for Major, though.”
“It’s expensive,” Zach warned.
“Then I’ll need a part-time job until I become part owner to a ranch a couple good-looking cowboys ke
ep talking about.”
Zach glanced at his brother before speaking to Kimber. “I talked to a lawyer back home today. We’re working on a few clauses to protect all of us. There’ll be no problem there. Dad’s excited to meet you, but he still thinks Tyler and I have lost our minds.”
That news shocked her. “He is? When will it happen? I’ll need to make plans for the horses and dog before I travel.” Kimber leaned toward him and laid her palm over his hand resting beside his cup. “Stormy is wonderful by the way. The creepy house sounds don’t seem so bad with her there, but she pays attention to them.”
“Good.” Zach looked back when someone came in the door, and he nodded. “Hey, Beth, how you doing?”
She came over to the table. Kimber remembered her from the Carlson equine clinic. If she got it right, this one was with Zach’s landlord, Jake? Kimber smiled and spoke to Beth. “I remember you from the clinic Randy hosted. Nice to see you again.”
Beth returned her smile. “You should stop by sometime.” She turned to Zach. “You, Zach, bring her to dinner sometime along with your brother. How you doing, Tyler?”
“Good, ma’am.”
“In fact,” continued Beth, “why not come tonight? I’ll stop on the way home to pick up something delicious to fix. Enchiladas are sounding good.”
Beth’s bubbly personality made Kimber feel at ease. Everyone was so nice, but Zach had been forced to bring her to dinner. “I don’t think I can tonight—”
“Come on.” Zach tapped her foot. “How can you resist Beth’s invitation? I’ll pick you up.”
She made eye contact with him to see if he did it because he didn’t know how to get out of it. However, Zach didn’t do things he didn’t want to do. “Are you sure?”
He stood abruptly. “Yep, now I have to get out of here. Come on, little bro, let’s get to work.”
Kimber peeked to see where Todd was before sliding the donut over to Zach. Offending Todd was the last thing she’d wanted when he was so kind. She scooted out when Tyler did, the paper under her arm. “Are you going to my ranch, Zach?”
“Yep. In case you haven’t noticed, hay’s getting low. I’m about to pick up a load. I was on my way when punk here wanted to stop for coffee.”
“Good choice.” She smiled at Tyler. “Try a maple donut.”
“So, it’s settled.” Beth put her hand on Kimber’s arm. “You’ll be there? Jake and I will be pleased if you say yes.”
“It looks like it. Thanks so much. What can I bring?”
Beth reached into her purse for her phone. “How about I call you when I decide what I’ll need. Is that okay? Put your number in my phone, sweetie.” Beth handed her phone over and continued talking with Zach and Tyler. Kimber handed it back, and before the guys left, Zach turned around and gave her the look—the one that made her knees buckle and a tremble to run down her spine, reminding her of being on the porch with him last night.
“You have a good day, Todd. Thank you for the coffee and donut.” Outside she sat on a bench and opened the paper again. Before Zach and Tyler had arrived, an ad caught her eye—marketing in a printing shop.
The building was on the same block, so she walked down the sidewalk. At the last minute, she remembered Zach’s words about the sale of his ranch moving fast. Did she want to start a job only to quit? No, she didn’t, but if she didn’t have proof of the sale soon, she’d pursue a job if she had to go to Phoenix or a surrounding town like Apache Junction.
***
She turned toward the rear parking lot and caught a reflection of herself in a mirror inside a store window. She wore a genuine smile—almost unrecognizable to herself. She learned more about Kimber every day and began to like her. She left almost skipping down the street.
The sky had cleared after a bit of rain, and she eyed the mountain they called Superstition coming out of a haze since the rain. Her camera remained in her SUV, but she took out her phone and captured a shot. The mountain was an attraction for this and surrounding towns. This was her place of residence. Her mountain to brag about now.
At home, Stormy met her at the door. Kimber knelt to smooth her hand over her fur. Stormy looked up at her as if they’d been lifelong buddies. “Hey, girl. I’m glad you’re here. Let’s go outside.” She attached the leash to her collar.
Stormy barked, wagged her tail, and ran to the door. Kimber let her leash out as far as it would go to give her room to run and explore but trusted her and unhooked it. Kimber enjoyed walking around her property and getting to know each little scrubby bush and the location of the cacti.
***
I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Zach sent the text, set his phone down, and patted one of his favorite colognes onto his neck. The smell reminded him of sitting in the sand with waves lapping at the shore— refreshing and calm—the way he’d felt the day after he got out of the hospital while he sat on the beach without a care. Too bad it didn’t last, for refreshing and calm didn’t come into his life often enough. The last horseback ride with Kimber came close. Dinner last night was even closer.
Kimber replied with a text: I’m ready.
He buttoned his long-sleeved, button-down collar, coin-gray shirt and peered into the mirror. Zach smoothed back his unkempt hair, gathered it with his left hand, and secured it low on the back of his neck with a hairband. He checked his watch again then pulled on black jeans and put on a black belt trimmed in silver studs with a silver buckle, then his boots.
Tyler put his phone down and looked up at Zach. “I need your truck.”
“So do I. I’m picking up Kimber for dinner.”
“I have a date.”
“Now? I thought you were going with us. You can’t have my truck tonight. Tell the woman to pick you up.”
“If she picks me up, we might as well stay here.”
“Stay off my bed if she does. I mean it.” Zach grabbed his wallet and left through the barn. Beth had asked him to bring whipped cream. He popped into the grocery store to get two cans.
At her ranch, Zach sat in the truck a moment. He better go up to her door. Before he knocked, she opened it.
“I didn’t know you were coming to the door.”
“Sometimes I’m a gentleman.” He hadn’t meant to stare, but his gaze lingered over what she had on, which looked hot to say the least. Hot hell. Sexy. Beyond gorgeous. “Wow, Kimber, you look smokin’.” She wore off-white pants, tight all the way to the ankle. His smile couldn’t be contained. The blue or almost purple flowy material, short-sleeve top came about an inch below her waist, making her legs look longer, especially in heels. He liked the girly top on her. It made her look feminine—like she looked in the doctor’s office that day. He leaned in to kiss her, and they both smiled when it ended.
“You look nice, Zach. I like your hair tied back tight like it is.”
“Thanks. Let’s go.” A subtle smile lingered on her face. A sign she’d liked his eyes jumping out of his head at her?
“Let me set the alarm.”
Zach splayed his hands out. “I’m telling you, Kimber, you don’t need to worry around here.”
“And I told you before I do. Why does it bother you so much if I…” She quieted and didn’t continue.
“It doesn’t bother me. I keep forgetting you’re from the city.”
“You know that, how?”
“Your lips to my ears.” Zach stopped half way to the truck. “Seriously? Are we doing this tonight? Can’t you try to have a good time, and stop trying to find fault with life?”
Kimber shifted her purse strap to her shoulder. “You’re blaming me for protecting myself.”
Zach continued to his truck ahead of her, his blood pressure already rising. He opened the door and waited. They either stopped with this, or he’d be looking for a new job. What had she needed protection from? He wouldn’t dare ask this moment or one of them would be going to dinner alone. Calm down, Bryson.
“Where’s your brother? I thought he was coming.”
> “He has a date. The guy’s a fast mover. He’s been here a short time and has them stacked up at the door.” Chill, idiot.
“Maybe you should join him.”
Zach got in and sat a moment to calm down. They hadn’t been together five minutes and now this. “I could have the same thing he has if I wanted it.” He peered at her and narrowed his eyes. “Haven’t you figured it out yet?”
“Figured what out?”
“Forget it.”
“Fine.”
He rested a fist on his thigh and jerked his head toward her. “What the hell is the matter with you? Do you hate me?”
She didn’t speak for a moment, only stared toward the barn. “I don’t hate you, Zachary, you know I don’t.”
He removed his hat and tossed it to the back seat. “Now you’re calling me Zachary?”
She peered at him. “You told Jerry and me your name was Zachary. It’s a nice name.”
“And I told you to call me Zach. Are you sure you’re hungry tonight? Because I won’t deal with this stress, and if you keep dishing it out, go back inside or drive yourself.” He could shut her up by kissing that damn squawking mouth.
“I’m not dishing it out alone, you know. You, Zach, didn’t hear me.”
“I heard you.”
“You didn’t listen to me…” Her voice softened. “I don’t hate you. Quite the opposite if you want to believe it or not.”
“So last night…the previous kisses meant nothing.” What was up with the sizzling kisses then?
She lifted her hands and clenched them. “You still didn’t listen.”
Zach got out of the truck, came around, and opened her door.
Kimber sighed deeply, but when she stepped one foot down, Zach pressed his hand against her shoulder, shook his head. “I don’t want you to get out.”
She lifted those pretty eyes to his, and he was a goner. He put his other hand on her shoulder and leaned in, lowered his eyes to hers, and he kissed her tenderly. Her arms went around him—his whole world got a little brighter.
Finding Kimber (Canyon Junction; Hearts In Love Book 2) Page 18
