The Chef, The Holidays & The Husband (Country Brides & Cowboy Boots)

by Erica Penrod

  * * *

  Lucas closed the door to his bedroom and dropped onto the bed. He let out a long, slow breath, trying to rid his mind of Lexi’s face. His preoccupation with his new chef was not only inappropriate, but downright embarrassing.

  A pretty face was a pretty face, and he’d seen plenty, but there was something about this girl he just couldn’t shake. Not since she fell into his arms and there was an unmistakable energy between them. He knew by the way her body froze and her eyes whispered secrets into his that she felt something too.

  He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He should be able to control his thoughts. He hadn’t been this affected by a woman since Vivien. She was the woman he thought he was in love with, who married his uncle over a year ago.

  His thoughts paused as his phone vibrated, demanding his attention. He tugged until the phone was freed from his pocket, and he saw Vivien’s face on the screen. What was she … psychic? Viv knew him better than anyone, but still …

  “Hey, Viv.” He lay there watching the ceiling fan spin, trying to keep the warm air circulating.

  “Am I calling too late?” she asked.

  “No, you’re good.”

  Her face flashed in his mind. The determination in her hazel eyes, the splash of freckles across her nose, and her sunset hair blowing in the wind as she galloped her horse along an open field. But her beauty no longer gripped his heart like a vice, and he was honestly happy for her and Boone.

  “Good. I just wanted to check in on you and see how the new cook’s working out.”

  “She’s … well … she only just got here a few hours ago. Actually, I had to rescue her.”

  “What?”

  “Her car quit on the way up and I found her on the side of the road.”

  “I bet she was freaked out,” she said. “Where did you say she was from again?”

  “The sunny state of California.”

  “Yikes. Utah’s quite the contradiction, depending on which part of Cali she’s from,” Viv said.

  Lucas heard water rushing the background. “She’s from Berkeley, and what’s that noise? What are you doing?”

  “Bllaaahhh …” Viv drew out the vowel sound. “It’s the washer. I’m doing laundry.”

  “At this time of night?” Lucas glanced at the moon peeking through the top of his window.

  “Yeah, tell me about it,” she said. “I don’t know why, but Boone thinks he needs clean jeans for tomorrow and I never seem to get to the laundry. I can always find better things to do with my time.”

  “Like ride my horse,” Lucas said with a chuckle. Vivien was Lucas’s cutting horse trainer. She worked out on their family’s ranch back in Lewiston. Her father had married his mother, which technically made them stepbrother and stepsister, but she’d always be his friend first. “Doesn’t Boone know how to run the washer?”

  “Yes, but we have an understanding,” she said. “He cleans the bathroom, because I’d rather wash dirty jeans than scrub the toilet.”

  Lucas smiled at the thought of Boone scrubbing the bathroom. “I see.”

  “Now back to your cook. Do you think she’ll be as good as Mrs. Dubois?”

  “Well, she’s no Mrs. Dubois.” Mrs. Dubois was well into her sixties, had short-cropped gray hair, and wore clothing that screamed “grandma” from a mile away. “So far all she’s done is reheat a pot of chili.”

  “Then how do you know she’s not as good as Mrs. Dubois?”

  Lucas closed his eyes and saw Lexi’s face. “I mean … I don’t know about her cooking … but she’s just different than Mrs. Dubois.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Younger.” He shot the word out too quickly. “I mean, she’s just a lot younger,” he said at a slower pace.

  “Didn’t you know how old she was when you hired her?”

  “I did, she’s twenty-four, but I didn’t know she looked like—”

  “What?” Viv didn’t miss a beat. “You didn’t know she looked like what?”

  “She’s just very attractive …” He heard Viv laugh. “I mean that as her employer, I … well, not as her employer, but—aahhhhh.” He couldn’t get the words out. “She’s a beautiful woman.”

  “And she’s already got you tripping over your tongue.”

  “No, she doesn’t, and it’s not me I’m concerned about.” He was hoping Viv couldn’t smell a lie though the phone. “I mean, I’ve got a houseful of adolescent boys and I can’t get them to focus as it is. I can’t imagine adding a pretty girl to the equation. Lexi might be a distraction.”

  “I think you’re right,” she said. “She’s definitely going to be a distraction.”

  “I know,” he said as he sat up. “I don’t know what to do … I guess I’ll see how the next few days go.”

  “It’s a good thing it’s winter, because it sounds like things are heating up around there,” Viv said.

  “You’re such a comedian.”

  * * *

  After Lucas hung up the phone with Viv, he drew in a breath, wishing he could laugh about the day’s events and release some nervous energy. But there was nothing funny about the way he couldn’t get Lexi’s engaging eyes or contagious smile out his head. No, there was nothing funny about that at all.

  * * *

  Lexi looked both ways before she padded out towards the kitchen in her silk pajamas and matching robe. The sun was nowhere to be seen, but the gnawing in her stomach was going to eat her from the inside out. She’d been too overwhelmed last night to empty her bowl, and now her body was retaliating.

  Fumbling for the light switch, she ran her hand along the wall until her fingers snagged on the plate. She flipped on the light and saw someone on the other side of the room.

  “Oh my gosh!” Lexi covered her mouth with her hands and swallowed until the shock melted and slid down her throat.

  “Sorry,” Bo said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  She wrapped her arms around her middle. “Don’t worry about it.” She offered him a smile. “I didn’t realize someone else was in here.”

  Bo was seated at the counter, spinning an empty glass in front of him. Part of his hair was pasted to his head while wired strands frayed around the other side. His blanched complexion was smooth and clear, lending to his childlike features, whereas many of the other boys sprouted facial hair and crops of acne indicating their budding puberty.

  “You’re up early.” She made her way to the fridge. “And how come you didn’t turn on a light?”

  “I don’t sleep much.” He watched her move from the fridge to the counter with the milk in her hand. “And I don’t mind the dark.”

  “That’s not good.” She met his gaze. “The not sleeping part.”

  His hollow eyes darted from the glass to her and then to the glass again. He was guarding something. Lexi turned to the cupboards, slow to remember which one held the glasses. She moved as though her arms were caught in molasses, needing the time to gather her thoughts before she turned to face Bo. His despondent countenance and haunting eyes left her wanting all the right words.

  “Next to the sink,” Bo said.

  “Thanks.” She glanced over at him before she opened the door. With a glass in hand, she stood in front of the island and poured herself some milk.

  Lexi chose to stand, afraid any sudden movement would chase the boy off. There was something about him that made her heart ache, and she wanted to help him. Her mind was spinning as she thought about the boy, the way it did when she was about to try a complicated recipe. One with difficult steps and precarious ingredients, requiring precise temperatures and preparation.

  “So, what are some of your favorite meals to eat?” she asked before she took a sip her milk.

  His shoulders shrugged like they bore 100-pound weights. Had she blinked, she would’ve missed the gesture.

  “I love anything with cheese,” she said. “Cover a piece of cardboard in a layer of mozzarella and I’d eat it.”
r />   Bo looked at her with the slightest tug on the corners of his mouth.

  “And let’s see,” she said. “I’m also a huge fan of cheeseburgers and French fries.” She paused as she scrunched up her nose and gave him a lopsided grin. “Again, not hard to imagine with cheese in the title.” She hoped he’d say something, but didn’t want to pressure him. “What about you? Did you think of anything?” she asked with as much nonchalance as she could muster.

  Bo just stared at her.

  “Well, think about it.” She filled in the gap of silence. “I’m hoping you guys can give me some suggestions for meals.”

  Lexi picked up the lid and twisted the blue cap back onto the gallon of milk. As she turned toward the fridge, she heard him.

  “I like spaghetti,” he muttered.

  “Really?” She opened the door and placed the jug in the fridge. “Do you like meatballs?” She turned towards him.

  He nodded.

  “I’ve got a great recipe for meatballs,” she said. “We had a guest chef come for some of our Italian cooking classes and he showed us how to make them.”

  “Make what?” a voice said from the hallway.

  Lexi felt her skin ripple as Lucas stepped into the kitchen. She remembered the way her hair looked like she’d whipped the mess up with a KitchenAid mixer. “Meatballs.” She smoothed her hair.

  “Oh.” He rubbed his fingers over his chin. His jaw was shadowed by stubble and his hair was tasseled in a sexy bedhead kind of way. He had a black T-shirt and hunter-green pajama bottoms with tan slippers. “I’ve never been a huge fan of meatballs.” He sat on the barstool next to Bo.

  Lexi touched her cheek as if she’d been slapped, and the next thing she knew Lucas was laughing at her. “What?” she asked as the rest of her face heated.

  “You look like I just insulted your mother.”

  Lexi put her hands across her chest. “My mother is strong and can defend herself, but my meatballs …” She raised an eyebrow and said with a serious tone, “That was a low blow.”

  Lucas squirmed in his seat and Lexi knew she had him. He didn’t know her well enough to know she wasn’t upset. “I … I … I didn’t mean your meatballs,” he stammered. “I just meant—”

  “Relax,” she said, and grinned at him. “I understand. But believe me, when I fix you my spaghetti, with homemade marinara sauce and—” She winked at Bo. “—meatballs … you will love it.”

  “I hope so,” Lucas said. “Right, Bo?”

  “Sure.” Bo stood up abruptly. “I’ve got to take a shower.” He was gone before the last word left his mouth.

  Lexi stared, bewildered by the boy’s sudden departure. Then she turned to Lucas, who mumbled something under his breath as he closed his eyes. She glanced over at the doorway again, feeling like an intruder on a private moment. She was about to step away, when Lucas looked at her.

  “What was that all about?” she asked, before she had time to stop herself.

  “I don’t know.” He put his hand on the empty seat. Emotion intensified the azure in his eyes. “But I wish I did.”

  Chapter 5

  Monday morning met Lucas earlier than usual; his mind refused to let him rest throughout the night. Yesterday’s thoughts spilled into today’s, and from the time he opened his eyes his head was filled to the brim with a list of things to do, a boy he longed to understand, and a girl he tried to think of as Mrs. Dubois Jr. He’d spent the better part of yesterday going over things with Lexi and planning a menu. Then he retreated to his office, where he pored over Bo’s file again, but he still felt like he’d only chiseled away at a small piece of the iceberg.

  A couple hours later, there was a knock on his office door. He looked up and saw Atiu filling the doorway. “Have you got the chore chart ready for the week?” he asked. “I’d like to get the kids started on them before it’s time for their schoolwork.”

  Lucas pulled a sheet of paper from the printer and handed the calendar to Atiu, one of the resident full-time counselors. “Here you go.” He leaned back in his chair. Lucas lifted his arms up and put his hands behind his head. “How did breakfast go this morning?”

  “It was delicious,” Atiu said. “Lexi made omelets and they were incredible.” He rubbed at his stomach. “The only problem is, I’m going to have to put in some more time on the treadmill if everything she cooks tastes like that.”

  “I’m glad I hired a chef who can cook.”

  “Why didn’t you come eat?” Atiu took a pen from a wooden box on top of the desk.

  “I got caught up in here.” He sat up and rifled through the stack of papers in front of him, hoping the gentle giant couldn’t read him as well as he did the boys. Lucas wouldn’t mention he didn’t want to see Lexi—or rather, he wanted to see Lexi, and that was the problem. After he’d spent so much time with her yesterday, he couldn’t quit thinking about her.

  Once Lucas did look up at Atiu, he was busy going through the chore list.

  “I think we’ll set aside an extra half hour for the staff meeting this week. We need to go over things and prepare for the holidays,” Lucas said. “I want to make sure everyone has some time off to spend with their families.”

  “You got it.” Atiu dropped the pen back into the holder. “I better get moving. I’ve got to prepare myself to give Derek the bad news.” His lips parted and puffed like a blowfish as he exhaled. “He’s on bathroom duty this week.”

  Once Lucas had the office to himself, the privacy drove his thoughts back to his overdressed chef. He was attracted to her, but as her employer, he needed to ignore his natural man so he could quit avoiding the kitchen and think of her as he did any other staff member. He knew he had to, because it was either that … or he would starve to death.

  * * *

  Lexi hung up the phone and rolled her eyes. The mechanic just socked her in ribs with the cost of the repairs on her car. Lucas had Earl, his other full-time employee, arrange for a tow truck to haul her icemobile to a garage and bring the rest of her belongings back to the house.

  “That doesn’t look like good news to me,” Earl said as he came into the kitchen. He wasn’t much taller than Lexi and probably weighed less. Denim overalls hung from his small frame, and a white T-shirt, rolled at the sleeves, showed off his tattoos. Insulated work boots acted as a GPS as he clomped around, pinpointing him to any location in the house. His face was tan and leathery like the strap he wore around his neck with a bear claw hanging in the middle. A silver-streaked goatee that grew down into a thin strand, almost touching his chest, matched the wiry locks poking out from beneath his red ball cap. The goatee seemed to have a life of its own whenever Earl spoke and Lexi had to keep herself from searching for eyes within the hairy beast.

  “No,” she said. “Something about a sensor that had to be ordered in. But they’ll have it finished in a day or two.” She tapped the screen to bring up her banking account. There was plenty of money in there to cover the bill, but she was a girl who liked to shop.

  “That’s good.” Earl scooped an apple from the bowl on the counter. He dusted the fruit on his jeans and then took a big bite. Lexi stifled a laugh as his goatee hopped up and down like a rabbit.

  “I need to go into town for some groceries before my car will be ready. Is there any chance you can take me?” she asked.

  “I will,” Lucas said as he entered the room, dressed in dark jeans and a navy-blue fleece pullover. He wore a black felt cowboy hat and black boots. “I’ve got to go anyway.”

  Earl nodded as he took another bite. Lexi wanted to shake her head in disagreement. The last thing she wanted to do was be in the car with her boss. She’d tried to sink any surfacing flashbacks of falling into his arms, but she knew the tight confinement of his truck cab was like putting a life jacket on the memory and setting it afloat.

  “I don’t want to trouble you,” she said, which sounded so ridiculous even to her. He’d witnessed her bothering Earl for a ride without any remorse, and Lucas just said h
e was going there anyway. Lexi pulled in her bottom lip, hoping to stop and think before anything else came out of her mouth.

  Lucas glanced over at the clock on the oven. “How about we leave in an hour?” he asked Lexi. “And Earl?” he said. “Would you supervise Adam, Owen, and Hayden as they chop some wood later this afternoon?”

  “Sure thing, Boss,” Earl said. He was down to the core of the apple.

  “Have them split some extra logs. I think we’ll have a bonfire tonight.”

  “Okay.” Earl walked around and tossed the core into the trash.

  “Atiu will keep track of the others as they finish meeting with Dawn.” He looked over at Lexi, who was busy trying to recall who Dawn was, and then she remembered she was one of the counselors who came up three times a week. “We should only be a couple hours or so,” he said, with a question in his eyes. “I may be able to help the boys with chopping the wood myself.”

  “I shouldn’t be long,” she said. “I’ve got a list ready.”

  “Good.” Lucas gave her a smile. His face was clean-shaven and she couldn’t help but look at his lips. The natural pinkish hue softened his rugged jawline and angular cheekbones, capturing her attention like a spot of red food coloring on her white apron.

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll see you then.”

  Lexi hustled down the hall and into her room. She closed the door, hoping no one noticed the way she looked at Lucas. There was nothing workplace-related in the way she thought of him like a hunk of prime rib she wanted to devour.

  “Hmmmphh,” she huffed as she stomped over and dropped onto the bed. She’d always considered her training at the Culinary Institute of America exemplary, giving her the necessary skills and preparation to be a successful chef, but no one taught her what to do if your boss looked like one of those hot cowboys on that reality TV show.