The Rancher Meets His Match

by Kate Pearce

  “Yeah. Why not? What do you have to lose?” Ben who was oblivious to sarcasm at the best of times thumped him again. “Look, I’ve got to go and find Silver and help with the shopping bags. We’ll see you tomorrow at six at our place, if not before at Dad’s.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Yes, I’m still planning on coming back next week, Melanie,” Julia said as she opened her closet and considered what on earth she should wear to have dinner at a famous movie star’s house.

  “That’s good because Blaine got the impression that you were settled back home with some kind of hick cowboy boyfriend.” Melanie laughed.

  “Did he now?” Julia set her jaw. “Mind you, as Blaine is doing so well, maybe he doesn’t need me back at all, and I’d just be in the way. Is it time for me to ask for a transfer into a new team for a fresh start?”

  Leaving the team she’d created to Blaine would kill her but she wasn’t prepared to go down without a fight.

  “I still think he needs you there as a stabilizing presence for a while yet, Julia. I know he did a great job at the last presentation but he’s still relatively new.” Melanie rushed to get the words out. “I certainly wouldn’t be comfortable moving you just yet.”

  Surprise, surprise, Julia thought. “Is there anything you’d like me to be working on while I’m here?”

  “Well, there is a land negotiation we’re keeping an eye on in Bridgeport, which is quite near you, right?”

  “Yes, it is. What do I need to know?”

  “Our client is considering acquiring some land adjacent to the existing town. I gather the land runs alongside a great fishing river.”

  “I can definitely help with that,” Julia said. “Do you want me to go out there and take a look?”

  “That would be great. You’re really good at assessing the potential of land acquisitions. I’ll send over the details as soon as I get off the phone.” Melanie paused. “I am looking forward to seeing you back at work, Julia. I do hope such . . . interruptions won’t become a feature of your continued employment at MZB.”

  “I’ll see you next week, Melanie,” Julia said evenly. “Have a great day.”

  She ended the call and stared into her open closet. Did Melanie really believe that caring for one’s family was an interruption? What was she supposed to have done? Ignored her father like Miguel did? The only reason her brother could get away with behaving like that was because he knew she would step up. After her mother had failed to return home, Julia had felt like it was up to her to take on everything so that her father and brother wouldn’t notice the loss.

  She shook off the call and grabbed the flowered shirt she’d bought at Maureen’s, paired it with her new tapered jeans and her favorite fleece, and called it a win. There was no way she could compete with Silver Meadows, and she wasn’t even going to try. Not that Silver would turn up in a custom designer gown or anything, she wasn’t like that, but she just had that glowing star thing going for her.

  Mike’s Dad, Brian, was coming to spend the evening with her father, so she knew he would be fine. Kaiden had offered to pick her up on his way back from town, but she’d declined. Getting into his truck seemed to banish her inhibitions, and she couldn’t go down that path again.

  She held the shirt up against her and looked in the mirror. But she wanted to touch him very badly. It didn’t seem to matter that her logical brain was telling her it was a bad idea, her hormones were screaming at her to jump his bones and get real close while the opportunity presented itself. He was just so . . . in tune with her sometimes it scared her.

  She grabbed her clothes and went into the Jack and Jill bathroom between what had been her and Miguel’s bedrooms. Her hormones needed to take a back seat and let her leave Morgantown without ruining Kaiden Miller’s life as well as her own. She snorted. Like she’d ruin his life. He’d be onto the next woman the second she left.

  She paused in the doorway. But Kaiden had told her he’d play by her rules. So did that give her more opportunities than she thought? Her hormones perked up. Sometimes, her refusal to give up on finding a solution to every problem was a curse. Julia gave herself a firm stare in the mirror.

  “Stop it, ladies, or I’ll have the coldest shower possible.”

  * * *

  By the time Kaiden pulled his truck up outside the fancy house his brother and sister-in-law had built on the Gomez Ranch everyone else had already arrived. He’d stayed late talking to May, the architect working with the Morgantown Historical Society on the movie theater. She’d shared her new plans for the space and he’d been so intrigued that time had escaped him. When he’d gotten back home, he’d popped in to see his dad, spoken to his mom and aunt, and taken a much-needed shower before he could get back out the door. Adam, who had also been invited, had gone into town to pick up Lizzie earlier bringing Roman back to stay with the Millers for the evening.

  Ben’s house was all lit up, probably because he and Silver never had to worry about how to pay the electricity bill. Kaiden grinned as he climbed the steps up to the covered porch. Even though he knew Silver had insisted on every energy saving available in the construction, he still liked to tease her. The house suited the land it occupied, blending seamlessly in with the lush pastureland surrounding it.

  He knocked on the door, which had a huge floral wreath Daisy had made on it. If he ever built himself a house, he’d probably go with something similar. Not that he’d ever actually do that. He was probably destined to live at home for the rest of his life.

  “Hey!”

  He composed his features into a smile as his hostess opened the door, and he offered her a large wrapped box.

  “Hey! Happy late wedding day present.”

  Silver eyed the box and held up her hands. “I’ll let you carry that in. I’d hate to drop whatever it is.”

  “Yeah, you wouldn’t want to drop a little baby puppy, would you?”

  She rolled her eyes as she set off back toward the kitchen. She wore leggings, a really long knitted sweater that reached her knees and looked suspiciously like one of Ben’s, and yet she still managed to look striking.

  “Like you think I’d mind that? Ben’s dogs are working dogs so I’d quite like my own.”

  “Then you’d better make sure I don’t drop this box.”

  He paused on the threshold of the family room to check out who was there, his gaze immediately sticking on Julia, who was sitting on the couch with Lizzie and Adam.

  “Hey.” Ben came over and punched him gently on the shoulder. “What’s up?”

  “Ouch.” Kaiden set the box on the large pine kitchen table he’d made for the kitchen and pretended to rub his arm as Silver rushed to get a pair of scissors to cut the twine. The main kitchen cabinets were stained pine so he’d constructed the table to match.

  “It’s your wedding present,” Kaiden said. “If I’d known you were eloping I would’ve had it ready sooner.”

  Ben grimaced. “Don’t you start. I’m still getting heat from Mom and Dad about that.”

  “Mom, too?” Kaiden watched as Silver peeled off the brown paper. “I thought her favorite son could do no wrong?”

  “Obviously not.” Ben leaned in as Silver removed the last piece of paper and gasped. “Wow, that’s so cool!”

  Aware that everyone had gotten up to take a look, Kaiden shrugged. “It’s just something I knocked together to keep your stuff in, okay? Nothing fancy.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Silver whispered as she used the small key to open up the marquetry doors he’d labored over to reveal interior drawers of various sizes. “It must have taken you ages.”

  She turned to Ben. “Look, he’s even carved our initials into this heart at the top.”

  Ben nodded as he reached out to run his finger over the tiny turned wooden knobs on the drawers. He pulled one drawer out and examined the corner joints. “It’s absolutely beautiful, Bro.”

  “Thanks.” Despite his father’s “nothing is ever good enough to
praise” ethic, Kaiden had taught himself to accept compliments on his carpentry work without any qualifiers. “I really enjoyed making it.”

  In fact, he loved making things for people he knew and always tried to put some of their personality into the work. Carved into the sides of the chest were intertwined images from both Ben’s and Silver’s lives that he hoped they’d eventually notice.

  “It’s beautiful, Kaiden.”

  Julia spoke in his ear making him jump. She was so close that he could smell her perfume and feel the press of her body against his side.

  “It came out good.” He took a step back so that he could see her properly, leaving everyone else still crowded around the table. “I’m just glad they seem to like it.”

  “How couldn’t they like it? It’s so personal, and unique, and . . .” She waved her hands in the air. “I’m running out of words here.”

  “That’s not very lawyerly of you,” Kaiden said. “By the way, you look beautiful tonight.”

  She blushed and looked right into his eyes. “Thanks.”

  “Not going to tell me to knock it off, or anything?”

  “No.” She smiled. “It’s a long time since anyone has said anything so nice to me so I’m taking it.”

  “What? Are they all blind in San Francisco?” Kaiden asked. “You have always been the most beautiful woman I have ever known.”

  She pointed over her shoulder at Silver, who was still examining the cabinet. “Yeah, right.”

  “Are you suggesting I covet my brother’s wife?”

  “You know what I mean. How can any mortal woman compete with that? And she’s so nice as well.”

  “She is, but I’d still much rather look at you,” Kaiden said.

  Her gaze softened, and she just stared back at him. “Kaiden . . .”

  He couldn’t do it. Despite what Ben said, he couldn’t ask her whether she’d try and have a relationship with him anyway, because with her logical lawyer’s brain she’d pick apart any proposal he made and leave him for dead on the ground.

  He turned back to the table. “Any chance I could get a drink around here?”

  * * *

  Julia could put her finger on the exact moment Kaiden Miller had shut her out, but she still wasn’t sure why. He was a great dinner companion, considerate of her needs, and willingly listened to her going on about the current state of the bathroom remodel, but something had changed. He even rested his hand along the back of the couch as they sat together after dinner, but he didn’t actually touch her.

  She reminded herself that he was doing what she’d asked—keeping his distance, allowing her the space to just be his friend. But she didn’t like it at all. Which just showed what a selfish, inconsiderate person she really was.

  At some point, Kaiden went off with Ben and Adam to look at a horse in the barn at the back of the house leaving Silver to entertain Julia and Lizzie. The three of them curled up together on the couches in the family room drinking hot chocolate and eating brownies.

  “Is everything okay, Lizzie?’ Silver set her mug down on the coffee table. “You looked a bit tense when you came in.”

  “Adam and I had another argument in the truck on the way here.” Lizzie sighed. “Well, not exactly an ‘argument’ because arguing with Adam is about as productive as getting annoyed with a rock, but we definitely had a disagreement. He just keeps on making these not-so-subtle comments about how if I lived up at the ranch he wouldn’t have to keep coming and fetching me.”

  “Did you tell him you were quite capable of driving yourself wherever you want to go?” Silver asked.

  “I did mention that, and then he started worrying about the state of my car, and how long it would last doing all these journeys, and what would happen if me and Roman got stuck.” Lizzie rolled her eyes. “I know he’s doing it out of love, but he just won’t stop.”

  Julia sat forward. “I hope this doesn’t sound rude, and obviously I don’t know the full story. But is there a reason why you are reluctant to move up to the ranch?”

  Lizzie smiled. “I don’t mind you asking at all. Sometimes, it’s good to get a fresh opinion on something you’ve been going round and round on for ages.” She paused as if to gather her words. “I guess it’s because I’m afraid that once I give up all those things I fought so hard to get, like my apartment, and my job, that I’ll be powerless again.”

  “Does Adam really expect you to give up your job?” Silver asked.

  “No, of course not, but I guess if I moved up to the ranch there would be plenty for me to do there.” Lizzie smiled. “I’d probably want to go all in and help him and then what happens to my job at the café? What about all the commuting to work and to take Roman to school?” She hesitated, and then blurted out, “And what happens if Adam and I break up, and I’ve got nothing to go back to?”

  “I can’t see you and Adam breaking up,” Silver said thoughtfully. “He absolutely adores you.”

  Julia nodded in agreement even as her mind played out various scenarios. “Have you thought about a trial period with strict conditions about what both your roles are?”

  “Like a contract?” Lizzie looked interested.

  “Exactly. For example, even if you move up here you agree to keep the lease on your apartment for six months. You keep your work hours exactly the same at Yvonne’s, and just see how it goes.”

  “But what about Roman?” Lizzie asked. “If things don’t work out, I’ll have moved him up here, made him think he’s got a family, and then ruined it for him.”

  Silver glanced at Julia before she replied. “I understand why you’re being so careful, Lizzie, but if you do as Julia suggests and work out an agreement with Adam and things don’t work out then you’ll have a backup plan and a life to return to. You can explain it to Roman like that too. He’s a smart boy. He’ll get it, but I really don’t think it will come to that.” She sat forward, her arms clasped around her knees. “Sometimes, when you love someone, you’ve got to take that leap of faith, you know?”

  “Like you did with Ben?” Lizzie asked.

  “Exactly.” Silver laughed. “Although, man, did he make it hard because he worried so much about everything.”

  “He sounds like me.” Julia didn’t mean to speak, but the words just fell out of her mouth. “I have a lawyer’s brain. I always think of at least two thousand possible things that can go wrong before I commit to anything.”

  “Does Kaiden know that?” Silver grinned.

  Julia sat up straight. “I wasn’t actually talking about my personal life.”

  “Oh God, I’m so sorry!” Silver held up her hands. “That was really rude and intrusive of me. Please forget I opened my mouth.” She turned back to Lizzie. “I meant to say that I think Julia’s idea is a really good one. Why don’t you write some thoughts out when you get home, and take it from there?”

  * * *

  After the brothers returned, Adam and Lizzie went almost immediately because they wanted to get back to Roman. Before they left, Lizzie took a quiet moment to thank Julia for her idea and to ask if she could get back to her if she managed to get something concrete down on paper. Julia was quick to agree, and glad that Lizzie at least was still okay with her.

  She had a sense she’d hurt Silver’s feelings by clamming up on her when things had gotten too personal, and she didn’t know quite how to fix it. When her hostess suggested she come with her to check out her new Korean skin care routine, Julia jumped at the chance. As soon as the door closed behind them she turned to Silver.

  “I’m sorry if I came across as rude earlier.”

  Silver shrugged. “The only person who was rude was me. Sometimes I forget that I haven’t lived here very long, and that I should keep my nose out of other people’s business. I come from a very involved family where everyone is in each other’s faces, sometimes way too much, so I should’ve known better.”

  “I’m . . . just not used to having the kind of friends I can confide personal stu
ff to,” Julia said awkwardly. “Most of the women I know in San Francisco are either my competitors who I would never share a weakness with, or they simply don’t have time to listen because their lives are already crammed full with stuff.”

  “I know the feeling,” Silver said wryly. “The only people I trust are my immediate family. I guess that seeing as Ben’s been keeping me up-to-date about how he thinks Kaiden feels about you, I got a bit ahead of myself. It really is none of my business, and I’m sorry I said anything.”

  “Kaiden knows I’m going back to San Francisco,” Julia said. “He agrees that we should just stay friends.”

  “Then that’s great.” Silver nodded. “As long as you are both on the same page, then you have nothing to worry about. I’ll tell Ben he’s totally on the wrong track about everything.” She switched on the lights of the huge en suite bathroom. “Now, come and take a look at this skin care stuff. It’s absolutely amazing.”

  She went to move past and Julia reached out her hand. “I really do appreciate you treating me like family. Even if I don’t deserve it.”

  “Everyone deserves a family,” Silver said warmly. “And, whether you like it or not, I already consider you part of mine. Now, before I forget and we get stuck into skin care, what were you saying earlier about a grant from the Morgan Valley Heritage Foundation?”

  * * *

  Kaiden followed Julia out the front door of Ben and Silver’s house and immediately did up his jacket. There was a cold wind blowing off the top of the snow-covered Sierra Nevadas that chilled his bones. Julia had her head down as she approached her dad’s truck. He wasn’t sure if it was because of the cold, or because she hadn’t enjoyed her evening.

  Despite trying to keep his distance and keep things light, he hadn’t quite succeeded in not checking up on her every thirty seconds. When he’d come back from the barn with his brothers she’d been tense, which made him wonder what Silver had been saying to her. It wasn’t like his brother’s sunny-natured wife to upset anyone, so he had no idea what had happened, or even how to ask.

  He called out to Julia as he approached the truck.