by Ruth Langan
The hands at her shoulders were so strong she feared he would snap her bones like twigs. But instead of the physical assault she expected, he gave her a violent shake and let loose with a string of furious oaths.
For a moment panic rendered her speechless. Then, feigning courage she didn’t feel, she lifted her chin and stared into those cold, dark eyes. “Go ahead,” she whispered, over a throat clogged with fear. “But you’ll have to kill me to keep me from telling what I know.”
“What I want to know is—” his hot breath stung her cheeks, and his hands moved lower, to grasp the flesh of her upper arms “—who you are and what the hell you’re doing in my kitchen.”
“Your…?” Her mouth opened, then closed. “Your kitchen?” She squeezed her eyes shut as the horrible truth dawned. “Oh, no.”
She swallowed once, twice, then opened her eyes and struggled to find her voice. “Don’t tell me you’re…you can’t possibly be—” her voice lowered to the merest whisper “—the other brother? The one who’s out of the country?”
Even as the question tumbled out, she knew. The same penetrating eyes and thick, dark hair. The same firm, jutting jaw. And though the face was twisted into an angry scowl, she could see the similarity between this man and the two who had hired her last night.
Those dark eyes were staring daggers through hers. “I already know who I am and why I’m here. But what business do you have in my kitchen, woman? Stealing my food? Attacking me with my own knife?”
“I wasn’t stealing…I saw your gun…” The terror evaporated as quickly as it had begun, leaving in its wake a terrible feeling of weakness. Maggie was almost giddy with relief. She hadn’t been followed. He wasn’t here to see that she didn’t leave here alive.
A trembling began in her legs. She knew if it weren’t for the rough hands pinning her, she would surely sink to her knees.
“Chance.” Hazard’s voice came from the doorway. “What’s all the commotion?”
Ace, still more asleep than awake, rushed up beside him. “Hey, bro. Looks like you’ve found a unique way to introduce yourself.”
Ace and Hazard had barely taken time for anything as unimportant as covering their nakedness. Both men were barefoot, wearing nothing more than faded denims still unsnapped at the waist.
“I’ll bet Maggie never forgets you,” Ace said with a laugh.
“Maggie? What the…?” The man holding her looked from his brothers to the woman, then took a step back and lowered his hands to his sides.
At once she leaned stiffly against the wall and prayed she wouldn’t embarrass herself by collapsing.
“Will somebody tell me what’s going on here?” came her attacker’s angry voice.
“Sorry, Chance. You weren’t here last night when we got back.”
“I was up on Tower Ridge. Been up there all night. Ever since the jet got back from Saudi. I just drove down at daybreak.”
He bent and picked up his rifle. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the woman flinch. It gave him a perverse sense of satisfaction.
“Who is she?” He pointed the hand holding the gun and saw her flinch again. “And what’s she doing here?”
“Chance, this is Maggie Fuller. Our new cook. We hired her last night.”
“Is that so?” Instead of acknowledging the introduction, he turned his back on her and said to his brothers, “Well, you can fire her this morning.”
Ace started forward. “Hey, you’re the one who’s been complaining the loudest about the swill we’ve been eating lately.”
Hazard wisely caught his arm and held him back, knowing how easily an argument could turn into a brawl. Even after all these years, there was nothing the three Wilde brothers liked better than a good fight. Sometimes a minor discussion about favorite football teams or a suspected change in the weather, could bring on a fistfight that wouldn’t end until the three were bloodied and breathless. Though it was a satisfying way to settle their disputes, and had been since they were kids, it didn’t seem a good idea to initiate Maggie into that rite so early in the day. Especially since she’d already had a taste of Chance’s temper.
“Your new cook,” Chance said with unconcealed sarcasm, “attacked me with a butcher knife. If my reflexes were a little slower, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now. She’d have it buried in my chest and you’d be planning my funeral.”
Maggie didn’t know what to expect next. Most probably a united front. The three brothers demanding an apology. And then an abrupt dismissal.
Instead, after a moment’s silence, there was an explosion of laughter.
Laughter?
Ace and Hazard threw their heads back and roared. They laughed so hard, they finally flung their arms around each other, slapping each other’s backs as they continued chuckling. And all the while their older brother stared at them with a look of silent fury.
Finally they sauntered across the room and began punching him in the shoulder, slapping him on the back.
“Son of a…” Ace glanced at Maggie, then muttered, “Son of a gun, if that isn’t the funniest thing I’ve heard in a year.” He was actually wiping tears from his eyes.
“You should see your face, big brother.” Hazard punched Chance’s arm again. “Oh, I’d pay a month’s salary to have a video of your reaction when Maggie came at you with that knife.”
“Yeah. It was a riot.” Chance was still seething with fury.
“She’ll make it up to you,” Ace said when he could find his voice. His lips curved in a grin. “Wait ’til you taste her cooking. You’ll forget all about this first meeting.”
“As a matter of fact,” Hazard said, sniffing the air. “I think she’s already started cooking. Is there something in the oven, Maggie?”
“Oven?” Dazed, Maggie lifted her head. Then gave a shriek of dismay. “Oh, no! My biscuits.”
She raced to the oven and opened the door. A cloud of black smoke billowed. It took her several moments to locate oven mitts. Pulling them on, she removed a pan of charcoal. The smoke continued to fill the room until she had the presence of mind to slam the oven door. By then, their eyes were burning, and Ace hurried to open the doors and windows to clear the smoke.
Maggie tossed the pan of burned biscuits in the sink and turned to see Chance stalking away, Ace trailing behind.
When his brothers were gone, Hazard said softly, “I’m really sorry, Maggie. But my brother’s bark is worse than his bite. After he takes time to cool down, he’ll get over this.”
“You must be kidding. Would you get over being attacked in your own home?”
He merely shrugged and muttered, “I’m telling you, if you’ll just be patient, it’ll all blow over in a day or two.”
With a muffled rumble of laughter and a shake of his head, he strolled away.
Maggie looked up to see Agnes in the doorway. On the old woman’s face was a look of unconcealed disgust.
“I hope you don’t think I’m cleaning up that mess.” She turned on her heel and was gone.
Maggie set about picking up the shards of broken glass. But after only a few minutes she sank down on the floor. Overcome with a sense of weariness, she leaned her head back against the cool wall. Well, Mag gie, you did it this time, she thought, fighting tears. It wasn’t exactly the homey scene she’d envisioned when the morning had begun. This new life of yours has certainly started with a bang.
Chapter 2
“You still here?”
At the sound of Chance’s voice, Maggie stiffened her spine. She’d had an hour to clean up the sticky mess. An hour to calm herself down and figure out just how she was going to deal with this angry man. She’d decided that her best course of action was to admit defeat. There was no way to salvage a working relationship after that little fiasco. She was resigned to moving on and seeking employment elsewhere.
From what Thelma had told her, the three brothers were equal partners in Wilde Enterprises. But of the three, Chance was the unspoken leader. She
doubted the other two would argue with him if he wanted her gone. And from the tone of his voice, his feelings hadn’t magically changed in the last hour.
She stayed where she was, stirring something on the stove. “I figure the least I can do is serve you a good meal before I leave.”
She turned and had to catch herself before her jaw dropped. He’d showered and changed. The dark stubble of beard was gone, revealing a face that was almost too handsome to believe. A strong, firm jaw that only proved her earlier opinion of him. Stubborn. Mysterious eyes the color of smoke. They probably served him well in business, to hide what he was thinking. Thick dark hair still glistening with drops of water. A body that was impossibly hard and muscled, looking like a Madison Avenue ad in tight jeans and a faded shirt.
“You figure a little food will change my mind?” His smile was quick. Dangerous. Causing a ripple of unease along her spine.
“No. But it’ll be payment for the room I enjoyed last night.” She turned away to remove the steaks from the broiler. “I like to pay my debts.”
“You could have saved yourself the trouble. I never bother with breakfast.”
“That’s a shame.” She fiddled with the oven temperature. “You’re going to miss something special.”
Ace, looking incredibly boyish and rugged in worn denims and a plaid shirt, paused in the doorway of the big kitchen, breathing deeply. “Something smells terrific.”
Maggie looked up. Her smile was back. It was easy to smile at this charmer. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I’m fixing steak and eggs.”
“I think I’ve just decided I have time for breakfast.” Ace sauntered across the room and poured himself a cup of coffee just as Hazard let himself in on a rush of frigid air. He was trailed by a thin, wiry cowboy who whipped off his wide-brimmed hat the moment he caught sight of Maggie.
“I’ll have some of that.” Hazard rubbed his hands together for warmth. “And so will Cody.”
He turned to the cowboy. “Cody Bridger, meet Maggie Fuller. Maggie, Cody’s giving me a hand with my chores this morning. So if you don’t mind, he’s joining us for breakfast.”
“I don’t mind a bit. I’m happy to have somebody who wants to eat what I’m fixing, since your oldest brother just informed me he never takes time for breakfast. Hello, Cody.”
The old man bowed in a courtly fashion. “How do, Maggie Fuller.”
Ace poured another cup and handed it to the cowboy, who sipped, then sighed with pure pleasure. It was rich, freshly ground.
“Maggie Fuller, this may be the best cup of coffee I’ve ever tasted.”
Across the room Chance frowned. It was pathetic, watching grown men making fools of themselves over a pretty face. And it was a pretty face, he decided. Small, heart-shaped, with high cheekbones and the most intriguing lips. Her eyes were dark, ringed by the thickest lashes he’d ever seen. Her hair was cut short. A simple cap of dark curls that kissed her cheeks. Despite her attempt at simplicity, there was a sophisticated look about her. A big-city look that the jeans and T-shirt couldn’t camouflage. This was a woman who would look perfectly at home wearing something sleek and sexy that clung to every curve of that slender body.
“What did you do to this coffee?” Hazard asked as he took a long drink. “Do you grind your own beans?”
“Uh-huh.” Maggie nudged the oven shut with her hip and balanced a platter of steaks.
From where he sat, Chance studied that hip, the way it sloped just so in the denims, then upward, to the tiny waist, then higher still, to the swell of her breasts straining against the fabric of her shirt. There was no denying it. Maggie Fuller was a whole lot easier to look at than their last cook. Of course, Ora Mae Prinder had been a couple hundred pounds heavier than this one and about forty years older. She’d lasted all of two days when it was discovered that the only things she knew how to make were greasy burgers and burned hash browns. That was something the three Wilde brothers could make on their own. And had, for many years when times were lean.
“Will Agnes be joining you for breakfast?”
Ace shook his head. “Agnes is out in the bunkhouse. Besides keeping house for us, she cooks for our wranglers.”
“Why doesn’t she cook for you as well?”
When the others didn’t answer, Cody cleared his throat and said diplomatically, “Cowboys are notorious for eating just about anything. Some cowboys, that is.”
Maggie turned away with a smile and retrieved the platter of steaks, which she placed on the table. Then she folded omelettes onto three plates and carried them across the room.
Chance took a look at the food, and at the wolfish way his brothers were eyeing it, and cleared his throat. “I guess I may as well stick around and find out just why my brothers hired you.”
Without a word Maggie filled another plate and carried it toward him. As she set it down, Chance caught a whiff of her perfume. Something light and floral, like a meadow in springtime. It suited her.
He watched as Maggie walked away to fetch a basket of toast. “How about you? Aren’t you eating with us?”
“I’m not hungry.” She handed the basket to Ace with a grin. “No biscuits, I’m afraid. They were so badly burned, I don’t think even the birds would eat them. You’ll have to make do with this.”
Relieved that she was able to laugh at the morning’s disaster, Ace helped himself to several pieces before passing the basket to Hazard.
Maggie retrieved the coffeepot and topped off their cups before filling one for herself. Then she sat down and watched as the four men dug into their food.
For several minutes no one said a word. Maggie glanced around, trying to read the expressions on their faces. The three brothers wore identical looks of concentration. The old cowboy merely grinned.
Finally Ace looked up. “What did you do to these steaks?”
“Just marinated them.”
“In what?”
She shrugged. “Some stuff.”
“Stuff?” Chance lifted his cup and drank, then realized that Hazard hadn’t exaggerated. After years of drinking the mud Agnes passed off as coffee, this was incredible. The best coffee he’d ever tasted. In fact, this was the best breakfast he could ever recall. He studied her over the rim of his cup.
Cody, who was thoroughly enjoying himself, managed to pause long enough to ask, “Where’d you learn to cook like this, Maggie?”
“From my grandmother. After my mother died, she came to keep house for us. I loved cooking alongside her.”
“Where’d you work before you came here?”
She stared down into her cup. “A little restaurant in Chicago.”
Chance pinned her with a look. “Why’d you leave?”
She’d had all night to think about what she would say, but now that the time had come, she found herself avoiding his eyes. Lying didn’t come easily. “They didn’t appreciate my talent.”
“And so you just turned your back on Chicago and thought you’d take a chance on someplace new. Like…oh, maybe Wyoming.”
Though she resented the sarcasm, she managed to say, “Yeah. Something like that.”
He kept his tone deliberately bland. “It’s a long way from Chicago to Prosperous, Wyoming.”
She lifted her head. Forced herself to look at him. “Maybe that’s why I did it. Just to see how far I could go.”
Ace and Hazard looked from Maggie to Chance. Though each of them had pleaded her case in the privacy of their brother’s bedroom, they were leaving the final decision to Chance.
As for Cody, he figured, with all the fireworks about to explode around the table, he’d just watch and listen. And enjoy the show.
Chance frowned. “Did you bring references from that little restaurant in Chicago?”
“No. They weren’t happy when I told them I was leaving. I figured my talent was all the reference I needed.”
“No references.” Chance stared holes through her. “I’ll remind you that you attacked me with a butcher knif
e this morning. For all I know, you could be an ax murderer.”
“And you walked in carrying a rifle. For all I know, you could be a mad gunman.”
Across the table, Ace cleared his throat to keep from laughing. He could see his older brother’s temper beginning to simmer. But it was refreshing to find someone who could hold her own against that famous Wilde fury.
Seeing the silly grins on his brothers’ faces, Chance’s tone sharpened. “There’s a big difference between carrying a rifle in Chicago and carrying one on a ranch in Wyoming.”
“Maybe. But when a woman feels threatened, there’s no difference at all. I’d put up the same kind of fight whether I was in Chicago or Prosperous.”
Cody decided to put his two cents in. “Sounds like you two got off to a shaky start this morning. What’d I miss?”
“Nothing.” Chance continued staring at the woman across the table as he mulled over his options. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d tasted food this good. He’d hate to fire a talented cook because of a single incident. Maybe there’d be no harm in keeping her around for a little while longer. Still, he knew a woman on the run when he saw one. And this woman was definitely running scared.
Finally he muttered, “Okay. Maybe this morning wasn’t the most auspicious beginning for an employee—employer relationship. I’m willing to start over if you are.”
Maggie ducked her head, but not before he saw her eyes go wide with surprise. All she said was, “I don’t mind if you don’t.”
“Good. Let’s say we give it a two-week trial. Then we’ll decide where we want to go from there.” He stuck out his hand. “Deal?”
Her head was reeling. That was all there was to it? Is this how the Wilde brothers did business?
“Deal.” She had no choice but to accept his handshake. But the moment his fingers closed around hers, she felt the jolt. She pulled her hand away quickly and pushed herself from the table.
