The Army Ranger's Surprise (the Men of At-Ease Ranch)

by Donna Michaels

  Besides, she didn’t have a lot of free time, between her long list of household repairs, part-time job at the salon, and helping her friend find a location to open a beauty shop. Yeah, she was too preoccupied to date.

  Still, there was something about this man that made her want to hug him and never let go. It was a new and peculiar feeling.

  The moment Leo had appeared from out of the blue in her yard and offered to help when she and her grandfather had been struggling to carry a couch into her grandfather’s side of the house, Kaydee was smitten. She knew right then that he was different. Between his generosity, good manners, gorgeous blue eyes, and panty-melting smile, she was never the same.

  “Want some help with the dishes?” he asked, bringing her mind back to the present.

  See? Most men would’ve made fun of her startled reaction, scarfed down their food, then handed her their dirty dish.

  Not Leo.

  “No. You eat.” She motioned toward his covered dish on the counter. “Thank God your food withstood my water attack.”

  For months now, she had enjoyed his company both here at his grandmother Ava’s and at the rec center. Each encounter left her wanting more and looking forward to the next one. This was way out of character for someone who never got attached to people outside of family. Except for her friend from work and Ava. But Ava was their neighbor, and since her grandfather was probably going to stay at his current address for the rest of his life, she reasoned it was okay to befriend the woman.

  Who was she kidding? Ava was a hoot. She was sassy and shot straight from the hip. Qualities Kaydee admired. As for the woman’s grandson, she admired his sense of family and how he helped people, whether it was support for other veterans or lending a hand and backbone to an old man and his granddaughter on moving day.

  And she really liked the bad-boy look he had going on.

  His hair was dark and wavy, and she knew it hadn’t been cut in a few years. The itch to style it was strong, but the look actually worked for Leo. Really well. As did the delicious five-o’clock shadow covering his strong jaw. She bet it would feel amazing against her skin. And his eyes…damn, they were a startling blue that could switch from a hardened I-don’t-give-a-damn expression to wicked amusement with a mere blink.

  Kind of like the way he regarded her now.

  He smiled. “Unlike our shirts.”

  What were they talking about again? She glanced at what was in his hands. Oh. Right. His food not being ruined. “Yeah.” She snorted. “I’m going to have to go home and change before I head to the rec center.”

  “Rec center?” He stuck his plate in the microwave. “Is there something going on tonight for seniors?”

  “No.” She finished rinsing the last dish. “I need to hang up some flyers.” A thrill rippled through her. “My idea got approved.”

  Last month, on behalf of herself and her coworker, Fiona, she’d petitioned the board of directors from the nonprofit corporation that ran the center to hold a “cutting clinic” once a month to offer free haircuts to senior citizens, veterans, and the disabled. But truthfully, she and Fiona wouldn’t turn anyone away. And the proceeds from any donations would go to a different charity each month.

  “That’s terrific. Congratulations!” He pulled her in for a quick hug, then released her just as quickly. “I knew they’d go for it. When do you start?”

  Her body was still tingling from contact with his solid muscles, and it took a moment to get her mind back on track. “Next month. We’ll hold the clinic the first Tuesday of every month, from six to eight p.m.”

  “This will be a great way for you to drum up some word-of-mouth business for Fiona’s future shop.”

  He was aware that she worked with Fiona, and that her friend wanted to strike out on her own. What he didn’t know—what no one knew—was that Fiona repeatedly asked Kaydee to partner in the venture, and she always declined. Owning a business was a root, and restless spirits didn’t have roots. Not that she ever planned her moves. They were always triggered by an overwhelming suffocating feeling that hit her like a bug and spurred her to move on. She’d just let people down if she tied herself to a business or person. Without attachments, it was much easier to pick up and leave when the urge hit…and the urge would hit.

  It always did.

  The microwave beeped. “Any luck finding a location?” he asked, retrieving his plate.

  For the past two months, she’d helped her friend work on a business plan, and they recently started to search for a place for Fiona to lease.

  “Not so far.” The spaces were either too run-down, in a bad part of town, or way out of Fiona’s financial reach. But neither of them were a quitter. They’d find something. Sooner or later opportunity would show itself; she was sure of it. Mostly.

  “Just remember what I told you about my friends. They own property in Joyful and would be willing to work out a good deal for Fiona to lease one of their shops.”

  Her heart warmed as it had last month when he first made the suggestion. “Thank you. And I promise, she’s keeping it in mind. It’s just that an hour is a little too far for some of her regulars to travel, and she’s counting on them to follow her to her shop.”

  “And the new customers she’s going to pick up from the rec center,” he said.

  She nodded. “True. I’m so grateful you encouraged me to submit that proposal to the board.”

  “That success was all yours, Kaydee.” He tugged the silverware drawer open and grabbed a fork. “I had nothing to do with it.”

  Every time she tried to pay the darn guy a compliment, he rebuffed it. Not this time. “There wouldn’t be any success if you hadn’t suggested writing the proposal in the first place.”

  She hadn’t had a clue where to start. Leo was the one who pointed her in the right direction.

  “Still—”

  “Stop right there.” She cut him off and gently shoved him toward the table. “Take the thanks and go eat your food.”

  He blinked at her for a second before amusement replaced his somber expression. “Yes, ma’am.” He saluted her with his free hand. “Geez, you take a step toward independence and you’re suddenly giving orders.”

  “That’s right. You got a problem with that?” Kaydee tried to hold a straight face, but amusement twitched her lips.

  “Not at all.” A slow, sexy grin spread across his face. “I’ve got no problem letting a woman in the driver’s seat.”

  Awareness zinged through Kaydee’s body, flooding her belly with a boatload of heat. If she hadn’t been sure before, she was sure now. Leo was flirting with her.

  Too bad she sucked at flirting. Still, she couldn’t let the opportunity pass without trying. With warmth filling her cheeks, she forced herself to hold his devilish gaze and said the first thing that came to her befuddled mind. “Good to know.”

  He must’ve approved, because he gave her a winking nod.

  Her pulse hiccuped. She had no idea how to respond to that, so she didn’t. Instead, Kaydee pointed to his plate, and water dripped on the floor from her still-wet hand. “You really should eat before it gets cold again.”

  As she grabbed a paper towel and bent to wipe the floor, a thought occurred.

  Was she the reason he hadn’t scarfed down his food and left yet?

  Nah. Couldn’t be.

  But when Kaydee straightened, she caught Leo checking out her butt. She drew in a breath. “Are you in here killing time on purpose?”

  The sound of laughter and giggles drifted in from the other room.

  Leo sat down at the table and winced. “Yeah, because of that.” He motioned toward the living room with his fork. “How long has that been going on?”

  Disappointment squeezed Kaydee’s chest. She should’ve known there was a purpose behind his open attention, and it had nothing to do with her. He was spending extra time with her to avoid the couple in the other room.

  And that was the other reason for the invisible weight pres
sing down on her. For months, Ava and her grandfather had been flirting. It was about time they stopped circling each other. Kaydee thought it was cute how they held hands and carried on like teenagers. She also thought Leo would be happy for them. It really sucked to be wrong about that.

  “This week,” she finally replied. “Why? Don’t you want them to be happy?”

  “Yeah, of course. Trust me, I have no problem with them dating.” He met her gaze, and the amusement-tinged honesty in his blue eyes soothed some of her disquiet. “I just don’t want to walk in on them again when they’re…overjoying in each other.”

  So she hadn’t been wrong about him. But then the rest of the poor guy’s words sank in, and Kaydee’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God. You walked in on them…uh…making out?” She bit her lip, but it didn’t stop her grin.

  “Yes.” A grimace rippled across his face. “That image will haunt me the rest of my life.”

  She laughed. “Then maybe you need a new image to focus on.”

  Dammit. That slipped out without permission.

  Leo stilled for a full second before he turned toward her with a sexy, lopsided grin on his face. “Exactly what image do you have in mind, Kaydee?”

  A fluttering instantly commenced in her belly. She couldn’t tell if he was just toying with her or serious. Whatever it was, she was too befuddled to say something catchy. “It’s a surprise,” she said, unwilling to show fear. Or stupidity. She’d shown him enough of that tonight.

  But apparently, she said something wrong, because the light disappeared from his gaze.

  “I don’t like surprises,” he muttered, and turned his attention back to his food.

  Her giddiness dimmed. Why didn’t he like surprises? Did it have to do with his past?

  Leo wasn’t aware that she knew about what he’d gone through, and she wasn’t about to bring it up. The guy had worked hard to overcome his demons and move on. He deserved happiness. Deserved to smile. Deserved some carefree moments in his life. And carefree happened to be something Kaydee was good at.

  Now that was in her wheelhouse.

  So she vowed, then and there, to show Leo that surprises could also be fun.

  Chapter Two

  Monday morning, Leo was back at the ranch, helping Stone and Vince install a drip edge and an ice and water shield to Vince and Emma’s roof before they could lay down the roofing felt and shingles. He knew he needed to concentrate on the task at hand—the forecast called for rain later—but his mind kept drifting to Kaydee.

  After they’d changed out of their wet clothes Friday night, he drove her to the rec center and throughout the local area to hang flyers. Not that she wasn’t capable of handling the chore. He’d just been reluctant to part company with the upbeat woman, even after he’d gone and made everything uncomfortable with the “surprises” thing. Maybe even because of it, which was stupid on his part. Seeing her sunshine dim for even a second, being the cause of that flicker, made him want to kick his own ass.

  And yet he’d stuck around. Her attitude was contagious. Leo felt lighter, happier…alive around Kaydee. Hell, even the act of breathing was easier. The invisible weight that had always compressed his shoulders and chest mysteriously lifted in her presence. Hanging out with her was a positive, and God knew positives had been missing from his life for far too long.

  He just needed to try a hell of a lot harder to keep his shit contained. He never wanted to cast a shadow over her happiness like that again.

  His apparent inability to tear himself away from Kaydee aside, he really didn’t have anywhere else to go. He’d just left the ranch where he’d been a fifth wheel to a pair of amorous couples. He certainly hadn’t wanted to be that at his grandmother’s. In his darker days, he’d have gone to the bar, but that was a hell-fucking-no now. So it was either hole up in his room, intrude on Gram’s privacy in the living room, or help the pretty neighbor.

  No-brainer. Pretty neighbor would win every time.

  “What do you think put that smile on his face?”

  “Has to be his grandmother’s pie.”

  “Yeah. You’re right. I wonder what kind.”

  Stone and Vince’s banter brought Leo’s mind back to the present. He smirked. His grandmother actually had made him a pie yesterday. Of course, that wasn’t the reason behind his smile, but those idiots didn’t need to know.

  He finished applying the last of the ice and water shield around the chimney, then glanced at Stone. “Blueberry.”

  A strangled sound rumbled in his buddy’s throat. “Did you bring any back?”

  Leo’s lips twitched again. “No reason to. You don’t need her pies when you have Emma living here.”

  “True.” Stone nodded before sending Vince a stern look. “But it’s fruitless when her fiancé scarfs most of it down without sharing.”

  Vince placed a roll of roofing felt down, then frowned at Stone. “I saved you a piece the last time.”

  “You left me a sliver that couldn’t even fill a damn cavity,” Stone grumbled.

  Leo laughed. “You’re as bad as Dom.”

  When he’d visited Dom last summer to check on Vince, who’d been there to help his brother convalesce after he was injured on active duty, Leo witnessed the pie-whore in action. He also noticed a change in Vince. For the better. Although his buddy was always ready with a smile, this was different. It was as if a switch had been flipped. Vince was happy. Content. And it was all due to his brother’s neighbor, Emma.

  Maybe there was something to caring for family members and meeting their neighbors.

  “I wasn’t a pie-whore until Emma started baking them.”

  Vince sat next to the roll and smiled, adoration filling his gaze. “Yeah, she’s great. Isn’t it funny how I’m the ranch cook, and my fiancée is a brilliant baker? And Stone runs At-Ease and the construction company, and his wife happens to be a brilliant businesswoman?”

  Leo snorted. “And Cord is a stubborn Irishman, and Haley puts the T in tenacious.”

  Vince and Stone laughed as they rolled out the felt underlay.

  When they were active-duty Army Rangers, they hadn’t given Cord the nickname “Warlock” for nothing. The guy was a force to be reckoned with, able to see through even the thickest bullshit, but he’d met his match in his wife. They shared the same disposition and lack of patience, and it spilled into their relationship. Cord and Haley got engaged New Year’s Day, and since they both wanted a quick and quiet wedding, they were married two weeks later.

  “And my brother is…” Stone paused and narrowed his gaze. “What is Brick?”

  Leo raised a brow. “A pain in the ass?”

  “A giant?” Vince grinned.

  “A giant pain in the ass,” they said in unison before laughing again.

  The other Mitchum brother was an easygoing jokester, but he always had your back.

  Stone snickered as he continued to apply the roofing felt. “Brick is a bull with a strong backbone and a sense of humor that sometimes gets in his way.”

  “Beth can be tough, too,” Leo said. “And she has the patience of a saint.”

  Both good qualities for being Brick’s fiancée.

  “She needs it to deal with my brother.” Stone laughed. “And how could she not have an abundance of patience? Poor woman grew up with Cord for a brother.”

  “True.” Vince grinned at him. “Makes me wonder what your woman will do for a living, Leo.”

  His stomach knotted. With his past, she’d probably be a nurse. He pushed the dark thoughts aside and rolled out the next section. “I’m not in the market, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”

  But the clear image of Kaydee’s twinkling brown eyes and wide smile flashed through his head. He allowed his mind to consider her in the context of their discussion. She worked on people’s hair, and he worked on people’s houses. Not exactly a stellar connection like the others.

  “Too bad, because Jovy’s friend from Philly is flying in on Wednesday, and she’s
not only single, she’s a pretty, petite blonde.”

  “Not interested,” he said automatically. He preferred brunettes. Before he could stop it, that warm smile and those friendly brown eyes flashed through his mind again. “Besides, I’m checking on my grandmother after work on Wednesday.” Maybe even see Kaydee.

  A surge of warmth spread through his chest at the thought. Could he ask Kaydee out? Take a chance like his buddies? Each of them had, and now they were all living happy and content lives with women who cared about and supported them.

  Then his past mistakes flashed through his mind, and the guilt that followed quickly chilled the warmth from his body.

  Kaydee was too good for him. He had a history of letting people down. Even though he’d worked hard to rise above his past, he was still damaged goods, and she was kind and generous with a pure sweetness he wouldn’t dare dilute.

  Besides, if things went south—and they usually did for him—he’d ruin things between his grandmother and Kaydee. Put an unintentional strain on their friendship. And since his gram was dating Kaydee’s grandfather, it was all the more reason to keep things platonic.

  “Speaking of your grandmother, how’s she doing without your mom around?” Vince asked.

  Leo snorted, then went on to describe the scene he’d walked into last Friday.

  “Holy shit, she’s a character.” Stone chuckled. “I hope we’re that feisty when we reach her age.”

  “Hey, I’m like that now,” Vince said with a grin.

  Leo chuckled. “Tell me about it.

  “Yeah,” Stone said. “It’s a good thing you’re getting your own place soon.”

  Vince flipped their buddy off.

  Stone snickered. “I’m just saying the walls aren’t too thick in the main house.”

  “Or the floors.” Vince smirked. “Your room’s above ours.”

  A smile tugged Leo’s lips. He was never more thankful his room was nowhere near either of theirs.