by Jenn Roseton
He chuckled humorlessly. “What I want is for you to go away.” He raked his hand through his short hair, making some of it stand up in sexy tufts.
“But … I can’t.” This was her big chance to show her boss and herself what she could really do. If only he’d give her a chance. She didn’t even want to imagine Janet’s face if she went home without completing the job and they had to reimburse Alex Trask. If word got around in the landscape design world that they couldn’t complete a design job for Alex Trask … She couldn’t think about that right now.
“Your brother’s already paid for it,” she pointed out again.
He cursed under his breath. “Why can’t they leave me alone?” He glowered at her. “I can’t even get away from them when I live in the middle of nowhere.”
Sophie bit her lip, not sure what to say, but willing him to agree to the design job.
After a tense pause, he sighed. “Fine. Do it. Because if you don’t, Alex will descend on me and interrupt my writing even more.”
“You’re a writer?” She couldn’t help the note of interest in her voice. She loved reading, especially chick lit and mysteries. Her e-reader had over two thousand books on it, plus more in the cloud. And she enjoyed borrowing physical books from the library as well.
“Yeah. And I was really in the zone when you knocked on the door.” He frowned. “Knew I shouldn’t have opened it.”
Sophie felt guilty for interrupting him, then straightened her shoulders. Writing might be his job, but she also had a job to do. And when she inspected the wilderness outside, she wouldn’t have to bother him at all.
“What do you write?” Maybe talking about his writing would put him in a better mood.
“Thrillers.” His tone didn’t invite any further questions about his writing. He sat down at the table opposite her. “How long will it take you to whip something up? A day?”
Whip something up? Clearly, Mitch Trask was clueless when it came to landscape design.
“Not exactly.” She drew in a deep breath. “I’ve been hired for three weeks.”
“Three weeks?” He stared at her in horror. “That’s how long it takes to design a garden?”
“Not all the time,” she allowed. “But the office is in San Diego--
“Why would Alex hire someone from San Diego?” he demanded.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, remembering she’d been surprised at the time that Alex had hired their firm boss to design a garden in Wyoming. She eventually put it down to a billionaire’s whims. She gathered her thoughts and continued, “Your brother thought it would be more expedient if I stayed nearby while I did the preliminary sketches, found out what you required, all that kind of thing. Then I have to hire a landscape contractor to do the actual gardening work.”
“You don’t do that stuff yourself?” His gaze seemed to rove over her body, making her feel suddenly hot.
“Sometimes if it’s a small job and we can’t get a contractor in time, or if they’re late or they’ve canceled at the last minute, we do” she replied, willing herself not to add a breathy tone to her voice. It was hard not to be breathless when he looked at her like that.
“But you’re not going to do the gardening here yourself? ” he persisted.
“I think it will be a big task. And if I do everything myself, it will probably take longer than three weeks. Umm …” she suddenly gulped, not wanting to give him more bad news.
“What is it?” His gaze lasered in on her face.
“I might be finished my design before the three weeks are up, but I also have to hire the contractors to carry out the job. So … I don’t think you’ll have a finished garden in three weeks’ time.”
“Who’s going to supervise these contractors?” He frowned.
“If I hire the right people, they shouldn’t need much supervision. And I can check their work with a video conference call.” Surely the brother of a billionaire would have Wi-Fi and a tablet at least?
“This gets better and better,” he muttered. “Got any brothers or sisters?”
“No.” She’d often wished for a sister, but she’d grown up an only child.
“Lucky you.” His mouth twisted in a parody of a smile. He heaved a sigh. “Okay, you better make a start.”
She glanced out the window at the pouring rain.
He followed her gaze. “Hell.” Thunder rumbled above. “Where are you staying tonight?”
“At Elk View Corner.” And she didn’t relish the idea about driving all the way back to the inn during the storm, either.
A flash of lightning caught her gaze through the big window in the study nook, startling her.
“You can’t drive ninety minutes in this.” He rubbed his face and looked at his watch. “I guess you’ll have to stay here tonight.”
“Here?” Although she hadn’t wanted to drive in the rain-soaked conditions, she hadn’t expected to wind up here tonight. She’d hoped the storm would pass relatively quickly and she’d get back to the inn and the comfortable, inviting bed in her room.
“There’s a guest cottage over there.” He gestured in the direction of the study nook. “It’s only a few feet away so you shouldn’t get too wet.”
“Thanks.” She nodded.
“Got anything with you?” His dark brown eyes looked at her speculatively.
“My purse. The laptop’s in the car.”
“The cottage has a bathroom and the bed’s made up.” At her inquiring look, he elaborated, “In case any of my nosy brothers turn up on the spur of the moment. It’s happened.”
She imagined if she was busy with a complex design task and her family descended on her out of the blue, she might be a tad grumpy, too.
“I’ll get out of your way then.” She stood, clutching her purse to her.
“I’ll show you where it is.” He rose, and once again she was conscious of his height and muscular body.
She followed him into the kitchen and through a wooden door to the back garden. Although the rain pelted down, she could make out what appeared to be an attempt at an herb garden and rough vegetable garden.
Raindrops spattered her face and clothes as she hurried to the guest cottage. He opened the door and ushered her in.
The “cottage” was basically a bedroom with a master bath. Pine walls, navy blue carpet, and a big double bed covered with a faded patchwork quilt and two pillows that looked invitingly soft, dominated the room. A pine nightstand with an old-fashioned alarm clock stood next to the bed.
“The bathroom’s through here.” He walked to the side of the room and opened a door. A shower, towel rail, toilet, and vanity were the only fixtures in the white tiled room.
“Thank you.” It looked neat and clean.
He shrugged. “It’s not much but you’ll have your own space.” Mitch headed back into the bedroom and pulled open the closet door. “There are towels and more sheets and blankets in here.” Gazing around the room, as if he tried to see it with her eyes, he added, “I can bring you something to sleep in.”
“That would be great.” She’d thought she’d be sleeping in her underwear, but now she could wash out her bra and panties and hoped they dried overnight.
“Want something to eat?”
She’d been ravenous by the time she’d checked in at Elk View Corner, and had a quick bite to eat in the café while she looked at the map. Although the rental car was equipped with a navigation system, she still liked to know exactly where she was going. And since she’d taken a wrong turn even with the “helpful” system, she was glad she’d had a paper map to refer to.
“Thanks, but I had something at the inn.” Her delicious Panini at the café’s inn now felt like a lead ball in her stomach. She guessed it was a combination of tiredness and nerves.
“I’ll bring you something to drink.” He turned on his heel and left before she could even part her lips in reply.
Two minutes later he returned with a pair of flannel pajamas, a jug of fruit juice,
and a glass.
“Thanks.” The gray pajamas felt soft to the touch. Would they fit her?
“I usually have breakfast at eight.” Mitch put down the pitcher and glass on the nightstand.
“Okay.” She nodded. Not sure what else to say, she just gazed at him. Raindrops speckled his hair, while his brown eyes seemed darker than ever. The rain continued to pound outside, making her glad of his offer of hospitality.
He stuck his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and rocked backwards, hesitating.
“See you in the morning.” He left abruptly.
Sophie hoped he wouldn’t get too wet going back to the house. She unfolded the pajamas and held them up. They looked as if they were his pajamas. Taking off her emerald green top and silky bra, she shrugged into the soft flannel nightshirt and fastened the buttons. Relief flickered through her at the comfortable fit. The buttons across the bust were not straining against her ample breasts.
Sophie unfastened her capris and shimmied into the flannel bottoms. She tugged on the drawstring to tighten the fabric around her waist. Although the pants were far too long for her legs, the overall fit wasn’t bad, albeit a little loose. But they fitted!
Tugging off the bottoms, she pushed down her panties and put the bottoms back on. She just couldn’t bear to wear dirty panties tomorrow morning. Sophie washed her underwear in the bathroom sink and hung them on the towel rail. Hopefully they’d dry by morning.
She padded to the bed and pulled back the quilt. Fresh cotton sheets greeted her gaze. Picking up her purse, she snuggled under the sheet. Grateful she had her e-reader in her purse and not in her suitcase, she turned it on and scrolled through the list of books she hadn’t read yet. She’d charged the device just before she’d left for Wyoming, so she could read for hours during her spare time.
Clicking on a cozy mystery with an interesting title, her thoughts drifted to Mitch instead. Why was he so opposed to having a landscaped garden paid for by his brother? Had she just interrupted him at a bad time or was he usually so gruff? She hoped she could find a way of working with him that would lead to giving him a wonderful garden.
Her eyes drooped and she loosened her grasp on the e-reader. Seconds later, she fell asleep.
CHAPTER 2
The shrill buzz of the alarm clock woke her. Sophie started, opening her eyes and wondering where the heck she was. The events of yesterday came to her in a snap, and she sat up, checking the time. Seven-thirty. Enough time to have a shower, dress and be ready for breakfast at eight.
Sunshine struggled through the bedroom window, showing her the rain had stopped.
Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since yesterday afternoon. Although she’d had a glass of juice last night before falling asleep, that had been it. Pouring herself another glass of the juice, she drank thirstily, then shrugged off the pajama top. Mitch’s pajamas.
It had been nice of him to lend them to her. And bring her the juice. Once again, she wondered about him. He seemed to live alone, and she hadn’t seen any houses nearby when she arrived yesterday. The last stores she’d noticed had been near the inn, ninety minutes away. How did he manage his grocery shopping? Was he able to get it delivered or did he drive to Elk View Corner?
Sophie took a quick shower, the water hot, and the pressure just right. She grimaced when she tugged on her clothes from yesterday, but at least her lingerie was practically dry.
Folding up the pajamas, she tucked them under her arm and grabbed the pitcher and glass, eyeing the time on the alarm clock. Two minutes to eight.
She put down the pitcher, closed the door to the cottage, picked it up again, and walked the few feet to the house. Just as she was about to place the jug on the ground again so she could knock on the back door, Mitch appeared in the doorway, wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a black T-shirt. His hair was tousled, as if he’d just raked his fingers through it, and his brown eyes were alert, as if he’d been up for hours.
“Hi.” She gestured shyly with her hands. “I brought these back.”
“Thanks.” He took the glassware from her. “Come in.”
She followed him into the kitchen, belatedly realizing she still held his pajamas under her arm.
“Here.” She held out the nightwear. “Thanks for letting me borrow them.”
“No problem,” he said gruffly, his hand brushing hers as he took them from her.
A tingle of electricity shot up her arm. Wow. She half-skipped backwards, noticing he also stepped back.
“Toast okay?” He dumped the pajamas on a kitchen chair.
“Sure.”
“I’ve got some bacon frying as well.”
She’d been too … worked up to notice the tantalizing aroma when she’d first entered the kitchen. Now her stomach rumbled again, reminding her of just how hungry she was.
“Thank you.” Hesitating as he turned back to the stove, she finally decided she might as well sit down at the kitchen table.
“Coffee?”
“Please.” She watched him grab two thick mugs and pour percolator coffee into them.
“Here.” He placed the two mugs on the table. “It’s black. I’ve run out of cream and I don’t have any coffee creamer.”
“I don’t mind,” she replied truthfully. Sophie enjoyed a cup of coffee in the morning, and usually stopped by her favorite café on the way to work. Right now, any kind of caffeine sounded inviting.
Sophie took her first sip, trying not to cough as she swallowed. She hadn’t expected that. Mitch’s brew was the thickest, sludgiest coffee she’d ever tasted.
“Umm … what sort of coffee is that”?
“Good old American percolator coffee,” he informed her, slapping bacon and toast on two plates. “Why?”
“It’s … just a little different to what I’m used to,” she confessed, trying not to sound ungrateful.
“Huh. I bet you’re used to fancy lattes at an over-priced café in San Diego.” He put a large plate in front of her.
“Sort of,” she admitted, a soft heat tingeing her cheeks as she thought of her favorite gingerbread latte.
“Nothing wrong with this stuff. It keeps me going, especially when I’ve got a deadline to meet.” He took a healthy swallow from his own mug, as if proving his point.
Sophie looked at her own cup and knew she couldn’t take another sip. Instead, she focused on the breakfast before her. Two slices of thick whole-wheat toast and two big rashers of bacon.
The first bite was heaven. After she’d eaten half of it, she murmured, “This is really good.”
“I’m out of eggs.” He gestured self-deprecatingly at their plates.
“Oh.” She stared at her half-full plate, suddenly feeling guilty he was giving her breakfast.
As if he guessed her thoughts, he said, “I’ve got enough groceries to last until the end of the week. Then I’ll have to go to the supermarket.” The tone of his voice indicated grocery shopping wasn’t his favorite thing to do.
“Can you get the groceries delivered?” she asked, after swallowing a mouthful of toast and bacon.
He shook his head. “I’m too far away. I have to get everything at Elk View. Usually go once a month.”
She guessed there were some drawbacks to living in a rural area. Sophie finished her breakfast, conscious of him sitting across from her. It could be a cozy domestic scene, if she wasn’t aware of him so … much. Everything about him intrigued her, including the way he spoke. She’d received the impression yesterday that he wasn’t used to company, and although he’d been hospitable this morning, considering she was an unwanted guest, the thought persisted.
As soon as they finished breakfast, Mitch dumped the dishes in the sink. “I’ll do them later.” He hesitated. “How long are you going to be here today?”
Sophie chewed her bottom lip. “I really need to see the garden properly.” When she saw him start to frown, she added, “or at least the part you want landscaped.”
&nbs
p; “Fine,” he said gruffly. “Then I need to start work.”
She nodded and followed him out the back door. They walked along a small path trodden into the scruffy grass leading to the front lawn.
“I guess you can do this bit.” He waved his hand at the green grass in front of the house.
“Is that all?” She couldn’t help her disappointed tone. Mitch seemed to have so much land, but he only wanted a small garden created?
“Yep.” He stuck his hands in his jeans pockets and quirked an eyebrow at her.
Silently shrugging, she acquiesced. “Okay.” After all, he was the client. His brother Alex had said to give Mitch whatever kind of garden he wanted, and if all he wanted was one the size of a quarter of an acre, then that’s what she’d give him.
“And you have to provide plenty of habitat for the birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and bees.”
Sophie looked around her. At first glance the area looked like a huge overgrown lawn. Then she noticed wildflowers growing here and there and a few shrubs dotted around the perimeter.
“Not a problem.” She smiled at him, determined to find a way to attract even more beneficial insects and birds than he had now. She would give Mitch Trask a spectacular garden, even if it would only be a tiny fraction of the land around them.
A horse whinnied in the distance.
“You have horses?” She’d read a million pony books as a child and had always wanted to learn to ride and have a horse of her own. Unfortunately, apart from a few trail rides as a special treat, that was the extent of her contact with horses.
“Yeah.” He paused, then added almost reluctantly, “I rescue them.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“It’s no big deal.” He shrugged, as if regretting he’d told her.
“How many do you have?”
“Fifteen.” He hesitated. “Want to see them?”
“I’d love to.” Her mouth curved up at the corners.
“Come on.” He nodded toward the pasture behind the house and she followed him, trying to keep up with his long-legged stride.
