“Good. I’ll leave you to running the ranch, and you leave me to running the house.”
Before he could possibly summon a reply, the door opened again to allow a line of hungry men to enter. Hazel pulled her eyes from Wade to greet the men.
They each greeted her in return, and she watched with pride as they scooped up eggs and bacon and the biscuits she’d prepared last night. She felt Wade’s eye on her the entire time. He continued to watch her as she stepped in front of Mr. Kristiansen to fill a plate for him.
“Thank you, ma’am,” the foreman said politely.
“You’re very welcome, Mr. Kristiansen.”
“Lars,” he said, his face tinging slightly red as he took the plate from her. “That’s my given name, if you’re inclined to use it.”
“Very well, then,” Hazel said with a smile. “I suppose you might call me Hazel.”
“I don’t know if I can do that, ma’am.” He glanced at Wade.
Hazel followed his gaze, only to find that Wade was still looking at her, and not Lars. She turned back to the foreman. “Well, I insist you should. Now, go enjoy your breakfast.”
He gave her a quick nod, and she turned back to the food to fill a plate for Wade. She could feel his presence as he joined her, standing closer than necessary as she scooped up a spoonful of eggs.
It was impossible to tell what he was feeling as he watched her. He didn’t appear angry, but he wasn’t the fascinating, introspective man she’d caught a glimpse of earlier. No, this reminded her more of that moment in the barn—the one that had caused her breath to halt in its course of giving her air as he guided her hand.
She swallowed before turning to hand him his plate.
“Thank you,” he said in a somewhat gravelly voice.
She watched him as he exited the kitchen.
Her response to his direction to sweep the floor had done something to him. Something that seemed to both quiet him and make him stare at her as if he was seeing her anew.
As if he were seeing her as his wife.
Hazel wrapped her arms around herself and smiled.
Perhaps Wade Pierce could turn into a real husband after all.
Chapter Nine
