Calvin gestured to Allie’s truck. “Leave your truck here, we can get it in the morning. I can drive Rory to the cabin, before we head on home.”
“I’ll take Rory.” I stepped into the early morning air, fully aware there wouldn’t be much sleeping in. “It's not a long drive, and I have to pass there anyway.”
Rory frowned, eyes moving between the three of us. “Isn’t the cabin on the other side of the vines? I could walk there.”
“No.” Was she insane? “It’s dark, you’re tired, and probably hungry. I’ll drive you.”
She rolled her eyes, not trying to hide her irritation. “Yay, me.”
After a quick goodbye to Allie and Cal, I helped Rory into my truck. As exhausted as I was, I still couldn’t ignore her legs. Stained with dirt and sweat, they weren’t just sexy, they belonged.
The short drive to the cabin was filled with silence. I looked over to Rory to check if everything was okay. It was rare for the woman to be quiet and I worried something may be the matter. Instead, I found her head back, eyes closed, and mouth open. She looked peaceful. Like she belonged.
Fortunately, the drive was quick and it was one I could do in my sleep. I was not up for anything requiring heavy focus.
I pulled up to the cabin as the first signs of light appeared on the horizon.
“City, we’re here.” I tapped her shoulder, wondering if she was a light sleeper or not.
Slowly, her eyes opened. “That was quick.”
“Do you want me to carry you, or can you walk?” I knew the answer before I even asked the question. Still, it was fun to watch her get annoyed with me.
“Perfectly capable of walking.” Her words were little more than a whispered mumble, but no less adorable.
Once I helped her out of the truck and led her to her door, she was nearly ready to collapse once more.
“City, are you going to need me to tuck you in?”
She glared at me and let herself into the cabin. “Night Grouchy. Or morning, I suppose. I had a great time. Thanks for including me.”
Before I had a chance to answer, the door was closed.
“You’re very welcome, City.” When I didn’t hear the lock click into place, I remembered the first morning when her shout had me barging in. She didn’t lock the door. I banged twice. “Lock the door, City.” Only when the lock clicked in place, did I leave.
CHAPTER 6
Rory
The Contract
Okay,so maybe the color coding was a little much. But no one could deny Rafe’s office was infinitely more organized than when I had arrived. Most of his bills were up to date, though there were a few coming up soon that we needed to discuss. Specifically the property taxes.
Then there was the other pile I needed to talk to him about. The one I didn’t want to discuss. Speaking to him about The Argent Group would mean discussing my past and what I was running from. I didn’t for a moment believe Rafe would judge me. At least, I didn’t think he would. He knew I had some baggage, but I kept the details to a minimum. And the fact The Argent Group was after his land, put me closer to them, once more.
That, however, was a problem for another day. My current problems were a lot easier to fix. I had managed to talk most of the ranch’s suppliers into better deals, and contracts whichwould save the ranch money immediately and build sustainable relationships in the long run.
I only had one more email to send. Miller’s Feed and Seed would be the easy one. He was local and the account made the least sense of all of Rafe’s suppliers. The store had been charging Rafe a twenty-percent markup on the wholesale price. Going with the supplier in the city would save him enough money to make a serious dent in those taxes.
After giving the email one more read through, I hit send and carried on with my morning.
I tried really hard not to think about my boss and the small glimpses of himself he had revealed the night of the harvest. It had been more than a week since that night, and while he remained grumpy, he was a lot more pleasant to be around.
He had starred in one or two of my night time fantasies and I found myself looking forward to seeing him around the ranch, or when he came into the office for some reason or another.
It didn’t escape my notice he had found more and more reasons to come inside either. Even when the heat wave had passed and we were back to the cool fall air, he still had his lunch at the house rather than with his men, as he did before.
My favorite part of working in Rafe’s office was the quiet. I loved feeding the animals, and checking the ranch for handyman work that needed to be done, those goats and chickens made being outside better. But being out of the elements and surrounded by numbers and spreadsheets and files brought me peace.
