“Ms. Everett was about to explain the accommodations to us before you came in,” Brooklyn added.
All eyes fell on Aja, and she glared at Brooklyn, giving her a silent warning across the counter. “Ladies, because the two working staff cabins are all we have available, I will have to ask you to move in together. The men can use the other cabin.”
“What about the third man?” Seneca asked. “They’re two-bedroom cabins with a queen-sized bed in each bedroom. Is the third man sleeping on the couch?”
Aja closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as she whispered, “Dammit.” In all her planning, she hadn’t considered that. She was certain she could find a cot somewhere in one of their storage rooms but eliminated that as a reasonable solution. It was uncomfortable and more than a night on it would ruin anyone’s back.
“Jackson?” His deep-brown eyes were sharp as he focused all his attention on her at the call of his name. She cleared her throat, trying to decide if it was his penetrating scrutiny or merely the stress of this entire situation that had her so rattled. “Since you and I will need to stay in close contact to discuss ranch matters, it’s probably best if you took my guest room upstairs. This way, neither of us has to go far to have our morning meetings.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” he answered.
She turned back to the ladies, trying to keep her cool veneer in place. “Good. Seneca and Brooklyn, decide which of you is moving, then start packing so Colton and Storm can get settled.”
Jackson turned to his colleagues, pointing between them. “Colton and Storm, please help the ladies move their things over when they’re ready.”
The men gave a collective nod, and when Seneca and Brooklyn waved and stepped toward and through the back door, Storm and Colton followed behind them.
Quiet filled the room. The air crackled with electricity. Aja could feel it tickling the hairs on the back of her neck, making her rethink sleeping in the same house with Jackson. She wasn’t threatened by him. Everything from his wide stance to his strong shoulders and his determined glare made Jackson a poster boy for security. But she was beginning to notice being in his presence somehow made her uneasy. Enough so that for the briefest moment, she wondered if him sleeping on that old, rickety cot in the cabin was a safer bet for her.
If he were really her foreman, the sleeping arrangements would make sense. There’d be a ton of things they’d need to discuss every morning before the workday began. But standing here, feeling out of sorts and awkward in his presence, Aja wasn’t certain this was a good idea.
Deciding she needed to put on her big-girl pants and do a bit of adulting, she walked from the security of the counter and waved a hand at Jackson. With a steady voice, she said, “Follow me and I’ll show you to your bed.”
* * *
Aja took a sip of her second cup of coffee while she thought about the visiting cowboy upstairs. She glanced down at her trembling fingers and regretted her compulsion for more caffeine in her system. “Get it together, girl. He’s simply a cowboy doing what your uncle told him to do. No need to let his presence rattle you.”
The pep talk sounded good to her ears and her head. But somehow she didn’t feel the usual comfort her self-affirmations brought. She took another sip from her cup and savored the sweet, creamy taste.
“You ready to show me around your spread?”
She took another swallow of her coffee and kept the smart retort that threatened to slip through her lips. Her uncle had made certain neither of them had a choice in this, so reminding Jackson she hadn’t wanted him on her property in the first place wouldn’t help them get on with their day.
“Sure. It’s best if we go on horseback. You ride?”
“Is water wet?”
She gave him an okay sign and took one last swallow of her drink before pouring the rest in the sink and leading him to the back door. “The stable is within walking distance of the house.”
“I assume horseback riding will be one of the activities you offer to your guests.”
“Yeah. That along with good food, a spa, and rustic lodging will hopefully draw people into the resort.”
They walked through the back door and followed a path alongside a garden bed for a few moments. The structure they came upon looked very much like the barn that had burned down two days ago. A twinge of regret tightened around Aja’s chest, and she dragged a long, heavy breath in through her nose. Losing the structure wouldn’t delay her plans for the ranch, but the memories of carefree summers spent in that barn made the loss meaningful in ways dollars and cents would never express.
She turned around to usher Jackson inside and met the wide grin on his face. His lips were full, the corners curling as he looked around. “I take it you’ve spent some time in horse stables before?” she asked.
His wide shoulders moved with each easy chuckle that slipped from his lips.
“Yeah.” He took in a deep breath through his nose, and his grin spread wider, showing a full mouth of bright teeth. “Nothing like the familiar smell of hay mixed with animal musk. I mucked stalls before and after school at my next-door neighbor’s place in junior high and high school. It wasn’t easy work, but the pay was good, and I got to ride any horse I wanted as a work perk.”
Aja shook her head, biting her bottom lip to keep the smile she felt tugging at the corners of her mouth from blooming. She loved riding horses, always had. But she didn’t think she could ever look at mucking stalls with the same fondness Jackson seemed to display.
“Well, I hope you find mucking stalls as rewarding a job now as you did then.” She walked to the end of the row of stalls until she found the two she was looking for. “I’m sure the residents will appreciate your experience.” A chestnut-colored quarter horse pushed her muzzle into Aja’s waiting hand and neighed excitedly at Aja’s gentle touch. “Hey, Pride. I’ve brought a friend to visit.” Never taking her eyes off the beautiful creature in front of her, she called over her shoulder, “Jackson, this is Dru’s Pride. She’s a sweet girl who loves a good run. Introduce yourself, and we’ll take her and Shadow out for a little exercise.”
She walked over to the next stall to greet her personal horse. No one rode Shadow but her. Not because she didn’t allow it, but because the quarter horse had decided a long time ago that Aja was his human and wouldn’t permit anyone else on his back. She stood for a moment, marveling at the strong creature. A proud, long neck, strong legs, and a shiny black coat made Shadow a horse any owner would be proud to possess. But it was his loyalty to Aja that made him more than a pet. No, Shadow was a trusted friend. A valued member of her small family.
“Morning, Shadow. Miss me?” The horse bobbed his long neck up and down, giving the appearance of a nod.
