by Morgan Fox
Smirking, Stone replied, “You didn’t have to.”
* * * *
Paradise Ranch was massive. The property reached beyond what he could see. Off in the near distance, he saw cattle and horses grazing over lush, green grass, the benefits of a wet Texas summer.
He’d rented a pickup truck earlier that morning, and he was glad he did. He never would’ve been able to walk all the way out here in a day. The amount of land that surrounded him was simply breathtaking.
Maybe it was the number of years that he’d spent living in the desert that had him appreciating the trees and shrubs. Normally, he’d been the kind of guy to want asphalt and cement underneath his boots, but he was surprised at how nice it felt to breathe air that wasn’t saturated with carbon monoxide and to see an array of colors reach from the heavens back to the earth. No wonder Clay had settled here.
It was as close to heaven as he might get without actually dying.
Stepping up onto the porch, he knocked on the front door and waited. Somehow, he’d forgotten to ask Clay who he should ask for when he arrived at the ranch. Groaning, he hated when he got so caught up in the moment he simply forgot the basics. Leave it to him to be unprepared and caught with his pants around his ankles.
He took a step back from the screen door as it swung open. A blond-haired male in his mid-twenties greeted him. His hazel-green eyes made him unnaturally pretty for a man.
“Can I help you?”
“My name’s Stone McGraw, and I heard there was a position available for a ranch hand?” He swallowed the sudden nerves that rode up his throat. He was asking for a job he had no practical training or skills to do.
Now if they needed something blown up or a protection detail, I could do that in my sleep.
The man’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Ever done any roping or riding?”
Stone shook his head. “Nope, but I’ve fired some heavy artillery with the United States Marine Corps.”
“Damn, that’s pretty cool,” he said, grinning. “Ever ridden a bull?”
Again Stone shook his head. “Nope, but I’ve ridden some other things that might have been considered just as dangerous.” Perhaps I shouldn’t have said that…
The man let out a throaty laugh, slapping his hand against the door frame for effect. “Damn, that’s funny.” He reached out his hand, and Stone took it. “The name’s Hunter Boyd. Welcome to Paradise Ranch.”
“Hunter?” Stone asked, narrowing his brow. “I thought you were no longer working here?”
“I’m not. I just came over to see my niece…and the rest of the family, but really just her,” he teased. “How did you know I was no longer working here?”
“Clay Garrett told me. Actually, I believe it was your mother that first told me there might be a job here, but it was Clay who said you were the one no longer working here, as you were working at his wife’s ranch.”
“His wife?” Hunter laughed. “You mean my wife?” he said with pride in his voice.
Confused, Stone eyed him. “Are you referring to Clay’s wife, Delilah?”
Hunter chuckled. “He likes to think she belongs to him, but really she’s all mine.” He gently punched him in the arm as if they’d been old friends sharing a joke.
Stone was still completely confused and not really sure he wanted to dig into Hunter’s mind. His playful spirit was a little too much for his stoic self.
Hunter pushed the door open fully. “Well, come on inside. My brother Tyler’s the one you’ll need to talk to. He and his wife Abby own Paradise Ranch.”
Stone entered the house, wiping off his boots before he did. He might be a jackass at times, but he did have manners.
As they walked into the living room, they were greeted by a sweet, smiling blonde and a tall, dark-haired male whose frame was nearly as imposing as his own.
“Stone, this is my brother Tyler and his wife Abby. Guys, this is Stone McGraw. It would appear that both our dear mother and Clay sent him our way,” Hunter said, slapping him gently on the back.
Tyler crossed the living room in a few strides and shook his hand. “I got a call from Clay a short while ago letting me know you were coming on out.” He eyed him as if taking a mental picture. “So you’re looking for work, Mr. McGraw?”
“Yes. I just got out of the service, and I could use a job.”
Tyler motioned for them to take a seat on the sofas beside them. As they sat, Abby slid up alongside him. Tyler asked, “What brought you to Temptation?”
Stone crossed his booted foot over his knee, leaning back into the soft couch. “I grew up with Clay, and he was like a brother to me. Once I got out of the service, I wanted to be around the only family I’ve got left.”
“We understand about being near family,” Abby said, snuggling up to Tyler.
He smiled warmly at his wife and placed his arm around her shoulders. “We sure do,” Tyler said with a smile in his voice. “That’s why we need to make sure whoever we hire on is a good and decent person who is trustworthy.”
Stone thought for a moment. He believed himself to be a good and decent person, and he certainly was trustworthy. He wasn’t about to fuck up his life again by not being. But one thing he was, above all else, was loyal. The Marines had taught him that.
“I’m all those things, Mr. Boyd, but I have to admit, I’ve got absolutely no idea what a ranch hand does.” He swallowed the lump in his throat, waiting for the moment where he’d hear, We’d like to hire you, Mr. McGraw, but we really need someone who can jump right in and hit the ground running. There was no running in his future, more like a whole bunch of stumbling, but if they’d give him an opportunity to learn, he’d never disappoint them.
The room fell silent, until Hunter spoke. “Well, duh!” he announced, eyeing Stone with a broadening grin. “If you were friends with Clay, then you most likely have no riding skills.” He huffed out a breath. “Not to mention, you just got out of the military, and you look just as old as Clay, so I think I speak for everyone when I tell you that we pretty much guessed you lack ranching experience.” Hunter slapped him on the shoulder again. “Plus, you don’t dress like a cowboy. You still scream”—he used his fingers as air quotes—“special forces.”
Abby’s sweet little giggle turned into a room full of laughter. He hadn’t expected to like the Boyd family as much as he did. They simply were real people, and he wasn’t used to people instantly liking him. Most people were intimidated by his size and now his scars.
“Everything we do at Paradise Ranch can be learned, Mr. McGraw, so don’t worry about that,” Tyler said. “Hunter’s decided to give us a few hours of his time to help teach you a few things about riding and ranching. My other brother, Cooper, also helps out around here and will be around when you need him as well.
The sound of a baby crying silenced the room.
“Excuse me,” Abby said, standing up and leaving the room in the direction of the cry.
Looking after his wife, Tyler said with a grin, “Newborns can wear you out, but it’s all worth it.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Stone said plainly. “I’ve never even been close to getting married, let alone having a child.” He felt a sudden pull at his chest. Having children had always been the furthest thing from his mind. Shit, he couldn’t risk turning into his abusive parents and raising a child that would be anything like he was.
Tyler turned his attention back to Stone. “Would you be able to start work on Monday?”
Startled by the quick acceptance, he said, “Yes, I’d be more than ready.”
“Excellent,” Tyler said, rising to his feet. “I’d like to see you here at 5:00 a.m. on Monday morning.”
Stone’s eyes widened. He hadn’t had to be up at 5:00 a.m. in a very long time, but he wasn’t about to let a little sleep deprivation stop him from showing up to work. Standing, he told Tyler, “I’ll be here.”
Tyler shook his hand, but before he could leave, Hunter stopped him. “You’ll want to b
ring a few changes of clothes with you on Monday.”
Stone narrowed his brow. “Why is that?”
“Ranching isn’t a pretty job, Mr. McGraw.” Hunter grinned.
Nodding, Stone stepped off the porch, got into his truck, and drove toward the hotel. He was eager to see Gracie and tell her his news. Strange that he would feel such a need, but he did.
Chapter Five
James jabbed his fork into his mashed potatoes and scooped them up. The creamy, buttery goodness swirled on his tongue. The one thing he could count on was the warm, delicious meatloaf he could get at the diner. Cooking for one was a bummer, so he often enjoyed his meals out.
His day had been shit since discovering that his new coworker was tied to the reason his life had been almost ruined.
Now she was going to be working with him, and as uncomfortable as that was, he knew better than to let his feelings show. The work environment had to stay professional, even if he didn’t like it.
“James?” whispered a voice that was sweeter than honey. Turning toward the sound, he almost choked on his potatoes.
Gracie Myles stood gazing down at him. Her hypnotic blue eyes instantly robbed him of breath. Damn it. He hated that she had that effect on him.
The soft wave of her reddish-brown hair dipped over her shoulder as she asked, “You’re the deputy I met this morning, right?”
Nodding, he managed to say, “Yes.”
Did he look that different out of his uniform? Tonight he chose comfort, a plain white T-shirt, dark-blue jeans, black-cherry ostrich cowboy boots, and his off-duty black Stetson that he never left home without.
She pointed to the available seat across from him in the booth and asked, “Would you mind if I sat with you? I’ve never been good at eating alone.”
What the hell was he supposed to say? Go fuck yourself?
No, that was not his style. He’d never be able to tell her off like that. For the first time, he’d wished he’d listened to Clay about taking that blasted vacation. If he had, maybe he wouldn’t be sitting here right now staring into eyes that had to be a trick of magic. The softest, sweetest blue eyes that had him trapped within their gaze.
Groaning, he finally said, “Sure.”
She slid into the booth across from him. “Do you eat here often?”
“Yes,” he said, not making eye contact with her. His fork danced along his plate, flipping through the potatoes and green beans.
Holding the menu in front of her, she asked, “What do you recommend?”
Sighing heavily, he couldn’t believe he was being forced to create small talk with her. He was barely hanging on. Damn it, he wanted to tell her who he was. Remind her of what her fucking brother had done to him. Why did he always have to be the nice guy?
His fork dropped onto his plate, making a clashing sound. His gaze jumped sharply to hers. “Look, I really don’t know. I’m just enjoying my meal.” He grabbed the glass of tea and took a solid gulp, placing the drink back onto the table with a thud.
“I see,” she said, placing the menu flat on the table. She leaned forward, her voice just above a whisper. “Maybe it would help if I told you that I know who you are and that I fully understand how awful it must be to work with the sister of the asshole who almost got you thrown in jail for drug possession.”
His teeth clenched tight, and his eyes locked onto hers, heat blazing from them. She knew who he was. How long had she known?
Gracie folded her hands in front of her, her eyes heavy with regret. “I’m sorry you went through that. I’m also sorry my dumbass brother still hasn’t figured out a better way to live his life.” Madeline arrived at the table, and she quickly asked for a tea. “You should know that he’s a big reason I no longer live in Houston.” She licked her lips.
He sat back in the booth and folded his arms across his chest. “Then he’s still dealing?”
“Yes, he just doesn’t get it.” She paused. “I’ve been waiting for years to get away from my family. I never wanted anything to do with drugs, and I certainly don’t want anything to do with the foul, loathsome, waste-of-space people I’ve been surrounded by my entire life.”
He didn’t blame her one bit. Her situation had not been a pleasant one. Defending himself, he’d gotten a chance to see those people first hand.
She studied him, her expression softening. “You look different than you did all those years ago. You’ve grown up.”
He thought back on the first time he’d seen her. The sweetness she had around her eyes had been vacant. Her young face had been aged by hardship, but something now caused her eyes to capture a certain brightness that made him wonder if her past life had been nothing more than a dream. “You have, too.”
She nodded her head sharply. “Yes, I have.” She swallowed hard. “I’ve grown up and gotten out. I just hope my brothers don’t come looking for me.”
He preferred that her good-for-nothing brothers stayed away from Temptation as well. Call him selfish, but he just couldn’t stand the thought of seeing Adam ever again.
“Why’s that?” What he wouldn’t give to be the one to arrest her brother for drug possession. That would truly be the icing on his satisfying cake. The prick deserved it, and he wasn’t about to feel bad for the way he felt.
“For the same reason you must already be thinking. My brothers are trouble. All four of them,” she said. “They don’t care about me except when the rent’s due.”
He looked down at his food as a sudden ease lifted from his chest. He didn’t have to be so cold to her after all. Being honest with himself, he hadn’t really wanted to anyway.
He thought back to his childhood, and every time he’d caught a glimpse of her, she’d always been kind to him, even smiled with regret and sincerity. Gracie didn’t have much, but she did have pride and self-respect. He found it strange to find someone with her past who still possessed those qualities.
“I think you might enjoy the meatloaf,” he told her. “It’s sort of my favorite.”
Her face lightly pinked as she smiled. “Then I’ll have to try it.”
Madeline returned with her iced tea as well as a refill for him. “Thanks, Madeline.”
“No problem, honey.” She turned her gaze to Gracie, “Can I get you anything, sweetheart?”
Gracie smiled and said, “Yes, please. I’d like what he’s having.”
Madeline took a quick glance over at James’s plate. “The meatloaf platter it is.”
Once Madeline had walked away, Gracie told him, “Please don’t think I’m a stalker or anything, but I’ve been waiting here for about an hour hoping you’d show up. After you did, it took me a good twenty minutes just to work up the nerves to approach you.” She blew out a soft breath of air. “I know you must hate me for what my brother did to you, but I wish you didn’t.”
He sighed. He didn’t hate her. Well, maybe he had, but only through association, and also because he’d been tripping on his wounded pride. “Gracie, what your brother did to me almost destroyed everything in my life. Even my parents suffered for what he did. That kind of shit is hard to forgive.”
She hung her head. “I know.” She popped her gaze up once more. A soulful longing filled her eyes. “I hope you can find a way to at least give me a chance to prove I’m nothing like them. I might have been raised in a rat-infested shithole, had the worst parents on the planet, and be a little rough around the edges, but I’m not a bad person.” She smiled. “My moral compass is set to good.”
Taking a deep breath, he figured he had no reason to be angry with Gracie. She wasn’t the one he was pissed at, and she wasn’t the one he should be directing his anger at. Looking at her sweet face, it was hard to keep his emotions in check. As much as he tried to be cold and unapproachable, he simply couldn’t, at least not with her.
She may have been rough around the edges, but that didn’t stop him from thinking about how beautiful she was. Guilt-stricken, he had to stop thinking that he’d been the only one
hurt by regrettable circumstances. Gracie personally lived within the circle of violence and crime and had for more than twenty years. Her life had been hard, but here she sat smiling at him, trying to get her life on the right path. How she was able to look so wonderful and be so pleasant with the life she’d endured boggled his mind.
Taking her family out of the equation, he still found her to be breathtakingly gorgeous. Why did his thoughts always travel back to her beauty and sweetness? Not to mention how she managed to make his heart beat just a little faster.
Madeline returned with Gracie’s meal. “Thank you,” she said with a wide smile, a trait that was quickly becoming one of his favorites. “Everything looks wonderful.”
“I see you took my advice,” Madeline said, glancing from Gracie to James and back again.
James looked to Gracie, assuming Madeline was addressing her. “Yes, I did. The sheriff has me starting work on Monday.”
“Well, that’s wonderful. Congratulations,” she said warmly. “If you still have room after your dinner, you should try the apple cobbler, my treat.”
Gracie’s blue eyes brightened. “That’s very sweet of you.”
Madeline’s gaze fell to James. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you a slice, too.” She winked, returning to the counter.
Gracie picked up her fork and began cutting into her meatloaf. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that.”
“Get used to what?”
Pausing for a moment as if unsure of what to say, she finally said, “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to people being nice to me.” Sadness lingered in her words.
He watched as a sea of emotions washed over her. Her eyes glistened, and she seemed to look everywhere but at him. His mother spent too much time raising him right for him to just let her sit there feeling sorry for herself. Experience alone told him it was never easy being new in town, let alone toting around a truckload of emotional baggage.
Gracie needed to feel normal, and frankly, he needed the companionship. “Clay’s wife once said the same thing to me.”
