As he came up over the hill, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. It was odd enough to have Jack stop by, but there must have been twenty vehicles parked in front of his house. What the hell is going on here? Can’t anyone read the damn “No Trespassing” sign?
The last thing he wanted was more people invading his privacy. He was tempted to turn his horse and head back out with McLean, but he needed to know why they were there. He hadn’t invited them, and everyone should know after all these years he didn’t want them there either. They were here to see him. Why now?
Oh, hell no.
Only one thing had changed on the ranch in the last twenty-four hours. Surely one pint-sized woman couldn’t have managed this within a few hours. There was only one way to get the answer, and that was go inside and find out for himself.
He normally would have taken the time to unsaddle Spirit and put him in the barn. Instead, he hopped off and tied him to the post by the porch. What he needed to say wasn’t going to take long, and he didn’t plan on standing around watching them all leave either. She invited them here; she can see them out.
He vividly remembered the last time he’d been this angry. After Penny and Kim were killed, a business acquaintance had the gall to say during a meeting, “Some things are out of your control, and you just have to accept them.” Derrick had reacted wildly that day. All he had been able to hear was his colleague yelling at him to stop. Some of the men around the table had pulled at his arms, trying to hold him back. There had only been one thought in his mind as his fist came in contact with the man’s jaw several times. Shut his mouth forever.
If they had been in the US during that meeting, Derrick would have been charged with assault. Fortunately, not all countries view such behavior as a crime, and since they were both US citizens, they hadn’t cared if they’d killed each other.
That day unleashed a side of him that had always hovered below the surface. It was one he’d kept in check as a family man, but with them gone, it hadn’t taken much for him to lose his temper. The last few years he seemed to have it back under control. He was no fool. Derrick had made it a point to stay as far away from people as he could, at least when it came to dealing with them on a personal level. If he was correct in his assumption, what Casey had done was going to make that impossible, and whatever happened next was going to be her responsibility.
A large part of him said stop, turn around, and go blow off steam somewhere else. But he wasn’t one to sit back and let anyone pull control out from beneath him. Not even if you are sexy as hell. This is my ranch, my rules.
Storming up the steps, he practically ripped the front door off its hinges as he swung it open. Even though the cool air conditioning felt refreshing after being out in such unbearable heat, it wasn’t going to stop him from giving her a piece of his mind. Derrick had agreed to let her stay for a week, but she had no right to extend that offer to anyone else. This was his property, and he decided who was allowed on it. And right now I don’t even want her here.
Although the house seemed to be overflowing with people from town, no one even turned to acknowledge his entrance. That probably was a good thing, or they might all have hightailed it out of there in a hurry. Instead, they were focused on the only voice in the room.
Casey, being so short, stood on the staircase so everyone could see her as she spoke. Her voice stood out. Not only because of the sweet tone, but her accent was cute as hell. He listened for a moment, and she rattled off information in a professional business manner. He was impressed, yet there was something else he heard when she spoke. Nothing like he was used to hearing in his meetings. What was it? Compassion?
No. I’ve dealt with FEMA before. People are just a case number, nothing more.
His initial reaction faded away as he closed the door and began listening to what she was telling them. Derrick was far from happy with her, but watching her in action had a strange calming effect on him. What the hell are you doing to me?
The first time he dealt with FEMA was in a meeting hall to hear all about forms and procedures, much like Casey was talking about now. This discussion seemed to hold something different. Maybe it was because he wasn’t personally involved. The tornado had hit part of Honeywell and several other ranches, yet his had remained untouched. Even with that major difference, this didn’t sound anything like the discussion he had attended years ago. Casey was giving information but not as though she had rehearsed it a million times over. Was it possible she was new? Even her face changed, her eyes became expressive as she talked about the entire process. She laid it out in a realistic manner as though speaking to friends, not complete strangers. This wasn’t what he expected from a seasoned representative. You’re not sugarcoating their loss with promises you know very well the agency won’t keep. Darlin’, where were you five years ago when I needed you?
That thought snapped him right back to reality. She wasn’t here as a friend or a volunteer. Casey Collins was being paid to do a job. That’s all. No matter how sweetly she smiled or acted, it was a job. Derrick had to give her credit, she was better at selling the bullshit line than her coworkers had been. That just makes you more dangerous, Casey. And these people haven’t got a clue, do they?
Derrick found himself exactly where he didn’t want to be: between caring and not. Being indecisive was worse than making a decision. It was a sign of weakness, and he was known for being anything but weak.
There was only one place he wanted to be right now, and it wasn’t Texas. In the last five years, he’d only come to tend to an issue. Seeing the second tornado had missed his property entirely he should already be on a plane heading back to New York. But with what he just witnessed, there was no way he could even think about leaving Casey alone here. If he did, she would probably open up the place to the public and start running it like it was a bed and breakfast.
His stomach rumbled from the aroma coming from the long buffet-style table set up. It appeared to have enough food to feed everyone for days. Typical Texans. No power outage was going to stop them from preparing a shitload of food. Derrick shot Casey a warning look over the crowd. They better be gone when I get back.
Their eyes met briefly, but he could tell by her expression she got the message. He could only hope she’d heed the warning or there’d be hell to pay when he got back. Placing his hat on his head, he opened the door and left the townsfolk to make up their own minds. What they chose to do had nothing to do with him. His only tie to Texas was this ranch. If he could, he would leave and never return. Standing on the porch, he looked to the hill on the far right. On a clear day like today, he could see the two crosses under the jacaranda tree. It was just starting to bloom, and the purple flowers seemed to glow. It never flowered till spring, but with the drastic climate change, even the plants were confused and blooming early. The last few years he had missed it all together. He remembered the day Penny had fallen in love with the tree when they’d traveled to Jamaica on spring break together. As soon as they had returned, he had ordered one to be delivered to her.
That had been their first year of college. How could all that time have gone by so quickly? Why, then, did the last five feel like one hundred?
Derrick climbed back up on Spirit. Before he nudged him back to work, he turned one last time to the direction of that hill and tipped his hat. Since their deaths, this was still as close as he could bring himself to going there. It was all too final if he did. It’s a brutal reminder of why I’m alone.
When Casey saw Derrick enter the house, she had prepared herself for the reprimand that should have accompanied the look on his face. Mad was an understatement. The man was pissed off, and daggers had flown from his eyes in her direction.
But instead of voicing his opposition, he’d simply stood there without uttering a word. She barely knew the man, but from the brief time they’d been together, he’d had no problem voicing whatever came to mind. So, what was it about this situation that caused him to clam up? Sher
iff Bullard had warned her he’d be furious, and his wrath wasn’t something to take lightly. Could he have seen how desperate many people from town were and decided she was doing the right thing? That would be an ordinary reaction and you, Derrick Nash, appear to be anything but ordinary.
With everyone gone, she still couldn’t shake the feelings he evoked. His presence couldn’t go unnoticed. He was powerful and arrogant, two things she hated in a man, but somehow, on him, they were sexy as hell. Derrick didn’t make her tremble in fright, but trembling she was. Maybe it’s this southern heat that has me burning up. Surely it’s not desire . . . I hardly know him.
What she needed was a cold shower, but first Casey needed to put Derrick’s home back in order. She knew she’d overstepped her authority by inviting everyone here. What else could she do? The day was stiflingly hot, how could she enjoy the AC knowing they were not? It’s not how I do things.
People had left as soon as the sun had started to set. One thing about Texas: the days are hot, but the nights could be cool. It didn’t take her long to clean everything as many had helped before leaving. As she finished the last few dishes, she heard a knock on the door. Casey hobbled over to the door and hesitated a moment before opening it. Why am I acting like this is my house? I am not even a guest here.
Not answering it was also going to be rude. For all she knew it was one of the townsfolk who had forgotten something. When she opened the door, she found a man equally as tall as Derrick standing there.
“Hello, can I help you?”
The man grinned and tipped his hat to her. “Howdy, ma’am. I’m the foreman. I run the ranch for Nash.”
“Nice to meet you. Derrick, I mean, Mr. Nash isn’t here right now.”
McLean laughed. “With all those folks here from town, I didn’t reckon he would be.”
So her guess was correct. Derrick wasn’t just avoiding her, but everyone. That made no sense. The people here were so friendly or had been to her at least. Why would anyone be so cold and distant to them? “Is there something I can help you with Mr. . . .”
“Sorry, ma’am. My name’s McLean. I met Sissie as she was driving out, and she told me about all the leftovers you had from the meeting you put on.”
Sissie was one person she had met today she probably wouldn’t ever be able to forget. Not only did she have a laugh that made you join in even if you didn’t want to, but apparently she also ran the local bar. That made her very popular, which Casey was sure included the ranch hands.
“There is enough food here to feed an army. Please, come on in and I’ll fix you something to eat.”
She watched McLean look around as though looking for something or better yet, maybe someone. Eventually, he removed his hat and accepted her offer. He didn’t strike her as the type of man who would be intimidated by what the boss was going to say, but he did come across as uneasy for some reason. Could Derrick truly be as bad as everyone was making him out to be? No way. If he was, he would have left me in that ditch. Nor would he have been so gentle when tending to my knee. His touch had been electrifying despite the pain I’d been in.
There was no use standing there trying to figure any of it out. Her assignment was short-term, and before she knew it, she would be in a different part of the country altogether. That was what she loved about this job: she wasn’t stuck in one place very long, and she met some very interesting people along the way.
McLean followed her to the kitchen, and she told him to have a seat.
“Maybe I should be serving myself. You seem to be limping. Is it from the accident last night?”
Truth be told, her entire body ached, but her leg was the worst of it. At times, the pain was so bad it was like a knife jabbing her right knee. When everyone had been there, she’d been so busy concentrating on getting them information she hadn’t had a minute to think about herself. But right now the throbbing was almost as bad as it had been last night.
Casey wished she would have brought the horse ointment downstairs. Then she could at least come up with some excuse to leave the room and reapply it. There was no way she was going to be able to make it up the staircase without assistance. And admitting how bad it felt was also acknowledging how stupid she was for getting lost in the first place. This wasn’t Derrick, but he worked for him, so she already knew where his loyalty would be. Play it off, Casey. It’s only a week then you can get it checked out. “Only a small bump on the knee. It’s really not that bad.”
Her acting skills must be much better than she thought because he didn’t question her response.
“Ma’am, you’re lucky you didn’t drown in that ravine. We had a colt stuck down there once that couldn’t get himself out. I can’t figure how such a tiny thing like you managed all by yourself,” McLean said as he sat at the table.
“Lucky, I guess. So how long have you worked on the ranch?” Casey asked, trying to change the subject.
“A little over five years now.”
Casey pulled out a few containers from the refrigerator, and McLean’s eyes opened wide. “Would you like to pick what you want or just a bit of everything?”
He laughed. “One of my men cooks for us every night. Same damn boring shit every day. The only time we get to change it up is when we go into town. But the tornado took out the diner a few days ago, and with all these heavy rain storms after, we’ve all been stuck eating his food.”
“How many men work here?” Casey asked. She did say she had food for an army, which was an overstatement, but she was sure she could feed several hungry men easily.
“Four besides myself.”
“I can’t eat all this, and Derrick doesn’t seem to be around. Do you think the others would like to join us for some leftovers?”
McLean pulled a two-way radio from out of the pocket of his jean coat. “If you guys want some real food tonight, head to the main house. We eat in ten.”
Casey held back her laughter as she heard the hooting and hollering of the others on the radio. She turned back to the refrigerator and pulled out even more food. She might be hurting, but she was glad to have some company. Even before all the food was heated and ready, the others began to arrive. The house was soon filled with loud bellowing voices.
“You boys better be on your best behavior, or you’re out on your ass,” McLean warned. “And y’all would be wise to remember whose house you’re in.”
All four looked at each other then simmered down. Oh, Derrick. Even when you’re not here, you’re here. But it wasn’t necessarily respect she saw in their eyes. They’d seemed in good humor before his name was mentioned. Once referred to, they lost some of their openness and jesting. Does he treat them like he treats me? With contempt and lack of interest? Who would work for such a man?
She served heaping plates of food and watched them devour it. It reminded her of being home with her brothers. “Bottomless pits,” her mother called them. Casey liked being on the move most the time, but at times like this, she missed being home with family.
“Save room for dessert. One of the ladies brought strawberry rhubarb pie.”
“Always room for dessert, ma’am,” the one called Bubba said.
She had spent enough time in the south to know better, but she hated being called ma’am. Maybe it was because she was going to turn thirty in two days, but ma’am was making her feel old today. “There’s ice cream, too, if you guys agree to call me Casey.”
“Sure thing, ma’am, I mean, Miss Casey.” Bubba laughed.
Casey smiled. Miss Casey was at least better than being called ma’am.
After their pie, she made a fresh pot of coffee, and enjoyed time sitting around the table chatting. She knew nothing about horses but these men didn’t seem to mind. They told story after story about a new foal, or breaking the wild one. She smiled and humored them.
She’d only been on one horse, and that was yesterday. A day she’d never forget.
The actual accident was a blur. It had been so dark, and her v
ision had been poor due to the lashing rain against the windshield. When the lightning struck so close to her she felt as thought she’d been zapped with a small current of electricity. If it wasn’t for that jolt, she never would have swerved the way she had. It started the chain reaction of what now was the most terrifying ordeal she’d ever faced.
When her tires lost traction and she began slipping down the bank, she froze in fear, more terrified than she’d ever been. She wasn’t one for small spaces, and being trapped in her truck was her worst nightmare.
It seemed as though she had been trapped forever, unable to free herself from the seatbelt. When she’d first noticed Derrick, she had screamed. It had been so dark; the only time she could see his face was when the sky lit with another bolt of lightning. How he managed to pull her out and what happened next she couldn’t really recall. One moment she was trapped, the next she was on his horse. But she remembered his warmth. The solid beat of his heart against her back. She should’ve been paralyzed with fear, but she’d felt calm. She should have been a mess earlier when the sheriff had proclaimed her purse, clothes, and laptop all beyond help, but due to Derrick’s no-nonsense presence, despite his bitterness and anger, she again had felt calm. Incensed, but calm. How could I feel that way around him? A complete stranger.
“Are you okay, ma’am? You look—”
“I’m fine. It’s been a long day,” Casey answered Bubba. She could feel the flush of her cheeks.
A gruff husky voice came from the doorway. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have invited the entire town to my ranch.”
The four men jumped from their seats. Only McLean looked at Derrick then back to Casey. “Casey, we appreciate dinner and the company.” Then he got up and turned to his men. “Head ’em out, men.”
Southern Spice (Southern Desires Series Book 1) Page 5
