Other than the click and scrape of pans and dishes being washed, and the occasional whirring of the cake mixer, Kit and Carter continued talking. Their conversation was companionable and comfortable.
She asked him if he had any ranch dogs and he told her that he had one at the time. He had two, but one passed away at age thirteen about three months ago. The other, Lucy, had been attacked by a bobcat and was recuperating with Carter’s sister, Leeann.
“I’m done with the dishes.” Carter’s voice caught her attention. “I’d help you finish up, but I’ve got to get a few things done before the boys and the staff come in for lunch.”
“I appreciate every bit you’ve helped with.” She gestured to the filled dish drainer. “You are a lifesaver.”
He picked up his western hat from where he’d left it on the hat tree by the back door. After he tugged it on, he touched the brim. “Let Belle know if you need anything.”
“I will.” She smiled at him and her throat caught as his gaze lingered with hers.
He gave a nod and let himself out through the back door.
Kit put her palm over her heart. No way in hell was she going to get the hots for the boss.
She grimaced. Okay, so she already had a thing for Carter just from the short amount of time she’d spent with him.
But she wasn’t about to let it go anywhere. No how. No way.
3
The cake was still slightly warm when Carter’s ranch hands and staff filed into the kitchen through the rear door. Kit hoped the dessert would cool off enough that she would be able to frost it without the icing melting off by the time everyone finished eating lunch. Knowing men, that wasn’t going to take long.
She had placed large pitchers of water, iced tea, and lemonade on both tables. Because she wasn’t sure where each person sat, she had decided to stack plates, napkins, silverware, and glasses at the end of each table.
She smiled and greeted each of the fourteen men and women as they walked in. The ranch hands set their hats on the hat trees before they took their seats.
Two of the female staff members were friendly and polite, but the third and fourth acted as if Kit was just one in a long line of cooks and they couldn’t be troubled getting to know her.
Maybe she was just one in many who had come to work at SSR before being booted. She wondered if that was what had happened to the prior cooks—assuming there had been more than one before her.
The ranch hands were all male, and the staff was all female, something that made Kit wonder—was it a gender thing, or did he just hire the right people for each job? They gathered around the two large tables and slid onto the bench seating. The ranch hands were at the longer table, the staff at the shorter one. The men joked, laughed, and cursed with whole-hearted, good-natured enthusiasm. The women spoke in low voices, leaning in to hear each other.
The last person through the door was a pretty, petite woman in snug jeans and a western top with a diamond cutout below the neckline and just above the swells of her breasts. She stopped and gripped Kit’s hand as tightly as any man might. “I’m Grace. Welcome to the Superstition Springs Ranch, Kit.”
“It’s great to meet you in person.” Kit returned the smile.
Grace swept her gaze over the countertops and appliances before looking back at Kit. “Good job with the kitchen. I saw it this morning and didn’t envy you one bit.”
Kit shrugged. “It wasn’t too bad. Carter stopped in and washed the dishes, which was a big help.”
Grace raised a brow. “Oh. Really.”
Her flat remark and expression showed clear disapproval. Even though she knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, Kit still felt like she had just screwed up.
She wasn’t entirely sure what to say. “I told him I could handle it, but he was very nice and insisted on washing them.”
“That was certainly a nice thing for the boss to do for a new employee.” Grace stressed the word employee. “I’m certain that won’t be necessary in the future.”
It wasn’t easy, but Kit still managed a smile. “Of course not.” She glanced at the table and at all of the hungry men and women sitting in front of the empty plates they had set in front of themselves. “I’d better serve lunch.”
Grace gave a nod and joined the four other women on the staff.
Kit raised her chin as she went for the seven large pie pans of quiche she had left on cooling racks beside the stove. One of the men offered to help and she smiled with appreciation.
“I’m Mark,” the brown-eyed cowboy said as he held his hand out. “It’s a pleasure, ma’am.”
She gripped his hand. “Please call me Kit.”
“Will do, ma’am.” Mark looked puzzled when he saw the pie pans, but said nothing. He was a big man and carried four of the seven to the large table while she carried the other three. Five were set in front of the nine ranch hands, and two on the staff table.
The men went silent as they stared at the quiche. The female staff members looked on, a couple of them with amused expressions. Kit was sure they were taking bets on whether or not the men would eat what she had made.
They would if they didn’t want to starve.
A man with a graying mustache and stubble pointed to one of the pans. “What’s this?”
“Bacon and egg quiche.” Kit’s impatience simmered on the edge as the men continued to stare at the pans. For Heaven’s sake. “The quiche is made with bacon, eggs, cheese, milk, pepper, salt, and onion on a pie crust.” Kit watched as one man reached for a pie plate. “I promise it won’t bite,” she added.
The men dug in, hesitated, then took bites of their quiche.
Gray Mustache Man looked at Kit and grinned. “Best damned bacon and eggs I’ve had.”
Kit relaxed as the rest of the ranch hands gave enthusiastic thumbs-up to the meal.
The ladies ate, but with less enthusiasm than the men. No doubt the couple of women who looked sour-faced had lost their bets, and their appetites.
“The quiche is very good.” Grace gave Kit a nod, as if to let her know that she might be able to redeem herself—eventually.
Kit served the large pans of potatoes to each table and the side was roundly approved of as well.
Thank God.
Kit hurried to frost the cake while the employees demolished the quiche and potatoes.
Just as she put the final touch to the icing, she heard the kitchen door open and close. Shouts of “Hi, boss,” and “You should try this stuff,” from the men were followed by, “Looks good and smells like heaven,” from the boss himself.
Damn. She’d forgotten Carter would be joining them for lunch.
The thump of her heart told Kit she was a little too happy to see her new boss again.
She turned and smiled. He nodded to her and the corners of his mouth tipped in response, making her stomach flip and giving her the desire to melt under his gaze. God, he seemed even more good looking than he had just a short time before.
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
“You bet.” He winked.
Her nipples went hard and she couldn’t have been more grateful for the apron than she was at that moment.
He surprised her by sliding next to an elderly office employee, and she would bet that he took turns sitting with the ranch hands or the staff each time he joined them for a meal. She wondered what it would take to get the men and women to mingle rather than grouping together the way they were now.
Carter ate a good helping of the quiche and the potatoes. The cowboys cleaned up all of the meal in the pans on their table, and most of the food was gone on the office staff’s table, too.
When Carter finished eating, Kit grasped the serving tray with the four-layer white cake that had a vanilla pudding filling and buttercream frosting. She felt like a cheat for using boxed pudding for filling, and butter and powdered sugar for frosting, but that was all she’d had and she’d needed the cake to go as far as possible, considering she was serving fifteen.
/>
She approached the table to cheers from the men, who began a rowdy rendition of their own version of “Happy Birthday, Boss.” It was led by a blond cowboy who had produced a guitar, and the song included references to rattlesnakes, horses, cacti, six-shooters, and show girls.
By the time the men finished, Kit was laughing and Carter was grinning and shaking his head.
“This is the best damned cake I ever had.” Mike shook his head. “Ain’t tasted nothin’ close to it.”
Gray Mustache Man grinned at Kit. “Might have to keep this one around.”
The compliments and enthusiastic nods, accompanied by groans of satisfaction, warmed her through.
Members of the office staff barely had a chance to put a piece on each of their plates before the cowboys wiped out the rest of the cake.
The men were even friendlier leaving than when they had come in. They snatched their western hats off of the hat tree, nodded to Kit and left out the back door. The women thanked Kit for lunch and were polite, but Kit knew she hadn’t won them over—yet. One way or another she’d figure out the way to each of their stomachs.
“I should give you the night off after the amazing lunch you cooked for the employees and the great job you did on the kitchen.” Carter studied Kit. “You deserve an evening to yourself.”
“Thank you.” Her heart beat faster than it should have. “But then who would fix dinner for tonight?”
Carter shrugged. “We can always order pizza.”
Kit put her hand to her chest as if wounded. “Takeout pizza over a dinner cooked by me?”
He chuckled. “I had a feeling you’d be stubborn about it. Is there anything I can get you?”
Kit thought about it for a moment. “Where’s the closest grocery store?”
He flashed a grin. “Pantry on the pathetic side?”
“You could say that.” Kit glanced at the fridge and mentally ran through the contents. When she looked back at Carter her stomach fluttered at the way he was watching her. He wore an intense, thoughtful expression. “Just tell me where you like to do your shopping and I’ll make a quick run there.”
“Usually Costco.” He smiled. “For an operation this big, we buy in bulk, but tonight we can go with Fry’s.” He nodded toward the back door. “I’ll take you.”
The thought of Carter going with her made her pulse quicken. “I’m sure you’ve got more important things to do. I can go myself.”
He grabbed his hat off the hat rack. “I’m supposed to have some fun today, according to my little sister.”
Kit raised a brow. “Grocery shopping is fun for me, but is it for you?”
“I cook for myself when it’s just me.” He pulled his hat on. “I like to play around in the kitchen a bit.” He gestured for her to go ahead of him. “After you.”
She unhooked her purse from the hat rack. He held the back door open for her and she walked through it and into the early afternoon sunshine.
When they reached the Ford truck, Carter held the passenger door open for her. A shiver ran through her as he touched her elbow while helping her into the vehicle.
She tried to calm the crazy sensations that bounced around in her body just from his touch and his nearness. This is crazy, she told herself. Slow down. You are not going to get the hots for the boss.
Too late.
She nearly groaned out loud.
He climbed into the truck and jammed the key in the ignition before throwing the vehicle into drive and heading away from the ranch.
“How far is it to the store?” She wondered what they’d talk about on a long drive.
“Five miles.” He shrugged. “We have a new Fry’s Marketplace not too far from the ranch.”
“That’s close.” She gripped her purse. “How has your birthday been so far?”
He laughed. “My youngest sister gave me a gift certificate for a massage and already had the appointment set for this morning. Never could say no to that kid. Turned out she was right—it was just what I needed.” He glanced at Kit. “Then a great lunch and a birthday cake with a hell of a country choir. I’d say it’s been a pretty good day.”
Kit smiled. “Is there anything you don’t like that I should avoid for dinner?”
“Hold the okra and toss out the beets. Never could stomach those, or squid. I doubt if I’d be crazy about snails, too.” He grinned as she laughed. “Other than that, I’m not what you’d call picky.”
She managed to rein in another laugh. “Chocolate crickets and roasted slugs okay?”
He winced. “Let’s throw those away, along with the snails and squid.”
“I’ll take that as a no.” She withdrew her phone from her purse. “What I plan to make won’t include those delicacies, I promise.” She pulled up her app that contained her favorite recipes.
They made it within a few minutes, and after he helped her out of the truck, they headed into the grocery store. Carter grabbed a shopping cart and they walked into the produce section.
She filled the cart with organic veggies and fruits, along with fresh herbs. In addition to what she would need for tonight, she piled in various ingredients she could use for breakfast and lunch tomorrow.
He watched her as she selected items. “What are you making for dinner?”
“It’s a surprise.”
He shook his head. “I know that you’re already aware that I don’t like surprises.” A teasing glint sparked in his eyes.
The more she was with Carter, the more she relaxed, so she didn’t have a problem teasing in return. “This is one time where you’re going to have to suck it up and wait to find out.”
“Feisty, aren’t you,” he stated and grinned when she shot him a look.
“Do you really want to know?”
He held up his hands. “Don’t shoot.”
She turned down the baking aisle and stopped in front of the spice racks. “I’ll think about that.”
Their banter and conversation made her feel somehow alive in a way she hadn’t felt for a long time. It was simple, natural. He made her feel comfortable while intriguing her with every moment that passed.
She had to force herself not to take her time…just so she could draw out these moments with Carter. She had work to do, and likely he did, too.
After he paid for everything, he pushed the cart to his truck and they loaded the groceries into the vehicle. He helped her into the truck before putting the cart away, climbing in on the driver’s side, and heading back to the ranch.
4
Kit dried her hands on her apron before she slipped it over her head. She tossed the apron into the expansive laundry room, which was just off of the kitchen.
She was pleased with how dinner turned out. It was thanks to the trip to the grocery marketplace that she was able to pull together something special for Carter’s birthday. At least she hoped he would enjoy it, and hoped his family would, as well. She’d find out soon enough.
“Smells wonderful.” A pretty young woman entered the kitchen, her blonde hair swinging at her waist in soft ringlets. She held out her hand to Kit. “Sorry I arrived late. I’m Haylee McLeod, Carter’s youngest sister.”
“You have the same eyes.” Kit gripped Haylee’s hand before releasing it. Carter’s sister’s eyes were more of a chocolate brown, but the shape was the same. “You’re much prettier though.”
“And you are much prettier than Lester.” Haylee laughed. “He was the last cook, and he never made anything that smelled even close to as good as this does.”
Kit smiled as she walked to the counter where everything for the main course sat, ready to be taken to the dining room after the appetizers were finished. “Thank you.”
“I came to help you take it all out to the table.” Haylee joined Kit where she stood in front of the serving dishes and pan of corn bread. “Everyone enjoyed the snap pea, radish, and basil side salad.” She brushed hair over her shoulder as she spoke. “Those sundried tomato and goat cheese skewers appetizers
were also a hit. The pistachios were a nice touch.”
“I’m glad you liked them.” So far so good. Kit couldn’t be completely relieved until the McLeod family ate the entire meal. She picked up the domed platter of pork chops. “Now for the main course.”
Haylee grasped one of two covered side dishes and they headed into a dining room that was nothing short of grand.
The moment Kit walked into the room, her gaze met Carter’s. A warm flush stole over her body as their eyes met and lingered just a moment too long. She tore her gaze away and leaned in to the table to set the platter down.
“Just the smell of everything is to die for.” Julie, Carter’s mom, adjusted the napkin on her lap. “When Carter told us we were eating in, all I could imagine was a cowboy meal of barbequed pork, pinto beans, and corn bread.”
As Kit set the domed platter on the table, Carter chuckled. “No doubt that would have been the menu if Kit hadn’t replaced Lester.”
“Thank God for big favors.” Joe, Carter’s dad, grinned at Kit. “Welcome to Arizona, young lady.”
“Thank you, Joe.” As others joined in, Kit nodded and smiled to each of Carter’s family members, all of whom she’d been introduced to when she brought in the appetizers. “Thank you all for the warm welcome.”
Bear, who at thirty was the youngest brother, stared at the large dome. “What’s for dinner?”
Kit removed the lid. “Grilled pork chops with balsamic caramelized pears.”
“Good lord.” Grandma Francis shook her head before looking at Carter. “You let this one go and you’re liable to have mutiny on your hands.”
“You haven’t tasted it yet.” Kit laughed as she took the large covered serving dish from Haylee, who left the room, probably to get the other side dish and cornbread. Kit removed the cover of the dish Haylee had just left. “Aïoli mashed potatoes with chives.”
“Yep.” Justin nodded. He had a smile almost as sexy as Carter’s. “We’re already spoiled as hell, and you just got here today.”
The McLeod family’s appreciation of Kit’s cooking was somehow more special than any compliment she had received in her career as a professional chef.
Country Heat (King Creek Cowboys Book 1) Page 3
