“But can we also agree not to take in anymore stray animals?” I picked up the plates and headed over to the sink. “Besides the fact that we’ll run out of room soon, that fucking rooster you found has no idea when sunrise actually is.”
Her eyes rolled so hard I was sure they would get stuck. “Please, you’re as much of a sucker for the animals as I am. Most of them were here before me.”
Technically, she was right. But none of them liked me, they all wanted to follow her around. Well the rooster didn’t, probably because he was plotting ways to annoy me.
My shoulders relaxed as I looked over at her. “Let’s figure this out. You keep your animals and I keep my ranch. There has to be a way that doesn’t involve you putting yourself in danger, City.”
An image of her dead body flashed into my mind. I thought of all the ways her brother could kill her and get away with it.
Her eyes met mine, our gazes locked. Dammit, she was an employee. She had danger following her. She didn’t need melusting after her. She certainly didn’t need me acting on the warm feeling spreading through my chest when it occurred to me that she was willing to risk her life for me. Well, not for me, but for my ranch.
“If you’re going to stay here, I need to show you the whole of the ranch.” I shoved my little crush aside and leaned in front of her. “Argent may have the land with the best views, but my land has some pretty awesome scenery too. Can I show you?”
Her smile brightened and the warmth intensified. “Can we take the horses?”
“Let’s saddle up and take Gunner and Juno for another ride.” I stood from the table and held my hand out for her. “I think we both need it after this conversation.”
CHAPTER 10
Rory
The Storm
It wasn’tthat Rafe was argumentative. Not really. But he had a strong resistance to change. Two days of being given more freedom to dig him out of the hole Argent had pushed him into, and he fought me on every change I suggested. Even using the stack of pink sticky notes instead of his usual yellow ones had him pulling his shoulders stiff. At least he let me change to the affordable accounting software instead of doing everything in spreadsheets.
By the time Tuesday evening came, I was ready for a steamy hot bath and an even steamier romance novel. Relaxing shoulders deep in getting lost in a world with some fictional couple’s troubles and happily ever after was exactly what I needed. I would need to avoid any workplace romance books, also ones with cowboys.
Unfortunately, my cabin was a shower only zone and turning on my kindle and using the account was out of the question. I would need to settle for a long hot shower, then snuggling underthe covers with one of Rafe’s sci-fi action books. Or maybe even one of the biographies he loved. I also didn’t have any candles, but that was hardly an issue worth complaining about.
The rain outside didn’t make the situation any better. While I looked forward to it pelting on the window and roof of my cabin as I burrowed into my bed a little later, I was not looking forward to driving in it.
Still, I needed to get going. I had worked a little later hoping the rain would calm. Rafe invited me to stay for spaghetti and meatballs and I got the impression he was hoping for the same thing. Well, that never happened. The rain didn’t make things impossible, but I had not driven in it yet. The thought sent a shiver through me.
I stood to clear the table while Rafe poured the leftover spaghetti sauce into a plastic container. As he closed the fridge, he looked over at me. “Let me grab the keys and I’ll take you back to the cabin.”
Part of me wanted to be grateful for the offer. I had never driven in the rain before. Still, I knew if I had any intention of sticking around, I needed to learn to drive in the rain.
“Grouchy. I’ll be fine. If I want to stick around, I need to learn to handle the elements. If I want to live on the high road, I need to drive on the high road.” I repeated his words from the very first time he wanted me to drive. Was I nervous? Yes, but I would never tell him that. I waved my burner phone at him “I’ll have this with me. I can call if I need to.”
God, I hoped I didn’t need to call him. The last thing I wanted was for him to rescue me once more. The man was already hiding me from my disgusting brother, and he refused to put my life at risk to save his ranch. The least I could do was get myself home. Easy peasy.
He stared at me for a little while. “It’s not safe out there, City.”
“From what you said, it's likely to be unsafe for a good while. It's rainy season.” I hoped my face conveyed my plea. “Please, I need to learn to do this.”
I was tempted to bat my eyes but I thought it would be laying things on a little thick.
Instead, Rafe shook his head and let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. But if you have any trouble, call me immediately. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” I gave him a mock salute.
Something flashed in his eyes but it was gone before I could get a handle on it. It wasn’t concern. I knew what Rafe’s concern looked like. It was his second favorite emotion after annoyance. No, the look was something else entirely. Something I should ignore if I knew what was good for me.
I pulled my wax jacket on and Rafe zipped it all the way up. He pulled a hat off the hook and placed it on my head. “Cute. Let’s get you in the truck.”
Instead of grabbing the keys to his blue bronco, he took the set for the bigger black truck.
“Why are you taking those keys? That’s the one the men use in the morning if they need to.”
