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  “Thank you,” I said softly. I didn’t want to get into this, because I knew my emotions would overcome me. I might have moved off the ranch, but I stayed close, always checking up on him, helping when I could. His death had been sudden and hard, but I knew my dad would have wanted me to be strong. He’d want me try to think positively and move forward.

  And that’s what I was trying to do.

  For the next ten minutes, he looked over the resume, asking me about other experience I had, and then he set the piece of paper down and leaned back in the chair.

  “I’ll be honest,” he said, and I felt my heart drop to my belly. “I only had two applicants. You and some college kid.”

  I didn’t know if this would end up being good or bad, but I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. “I may not have outside of the home experience in what you’re looking for, but I know how to keep ranchers and working staff fed well.” I gave him a smile and held my breath. I needed this job.

  Really damn badly.

  “And you’re good with cleaning up after a bunch of pigs? ‘Cause that’s what me and the ranch hands are,” he said and chuckled, shaking his head and looking away. “I’m ashamed to admit that, but you worked on a farm, so you know how it is.”

  I nodded. “I know how it is, and it doesn’t bother me.”

  He was silent for a moment as he watched me. I had my hands on my lap under the table, picking at a thread on my shirt, trying to outwardly appear like I wasn’t nervous.

  “Have you given any thought about pay? I could swing two hundred a week, but that’s on top of room and board. Is this something doable, or we can negotiate?”

  I cleared my throat and shifted on the chair a little bit, feeling uncomfortable discussing money but knowing it needed to be done. Two hundred a week sounded incredible, plus room and board? Yeah, this would solve a hell of a lot of my problems right now.

  “How do you feel about that? Is room and board a good addition to eight hundred a month?”

  I didn’t want to seem overly anxious, but it sounded like he was offering me the job. I also wanted to be honest about my situation, so he knew I was in this for the long-haul and wouldn’t flake out on him. “To be honest, having room and board is a major plus right now.” I didn’t want to tell him about all my financial troubles, but I did want to be straightforward. “Because losing the ranch, and the debt my father had, pretty much left me with… nothing.” The sympathetic look on his face was genuine. But I didn’t want to be a sob story, didn’t want handouts. “I’m a hard worker. You won’t be disappointed.” I kept twisting my hands together, because I was so damn nervous.

  But he didn’t make me wait long. He smiled and smacked his hand on the table, hard enough that I jumped a little. “Well, Macey, if you want the job, it’s yours. He leaned forward and braced his forearms on the table. “And I’m hoping like hell you want the job, because I think you’d be a perfect fit here.”

  I didn’t even bother hiding my excitement as I nodded. “Yeah, I’d love to work here, to work on the ranch.” He gave me this straight, white, and blinding grin. My heart did a little flip in my chest, and I didn’t know what that meant. Hell, I didn’t even know if I liked it.

  The last thing I needed was to have some infatuation with my new employer.

  So I pushed all that emotion away, didn’t focus on the fact that he was drop-dead gorgeous or that he made my pulse race just by looking at me, and concentrated on the task at hand.

  I had a job, a place to stay, and food to eat, and I could start really looking forward to the future.

  That’s what my dad would have wanted.

  Chapter Four

  Dalton

  Several days later

  I was always up before the sun, and as I lay there in bed and stared at the ceiling, the first thing on my mind was Macey.

  As soon as I saw her standing on the porch, the screen from the door giving her this shadowed appearance, this almost frightened look on her face, something in me tightened uncomfortably… pleasurably. The very feminine part of her had called to the very masculine part of me.

  I wanted to hire her on the spot before she even said anything, but I went through the process, not wanting to seem overly anxious, not making it sound like I was desperate for her.

  But I was.

  It had nothing to do with the fact that she knew all about ranch life, or that she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I could tell she was smart and witty, that she’d be a hard worker. She knew what it took to run, to keep a farm afloat. So when she agreed to work for me, I tried my hardest not to seem really fucking happy. But I smacked my hands on the damn table like a schoolboy who just aced his spelling test.

  When she told me where she was staying—the rundown, shitty motel in town—I wasn’t ashamed at how I demanded she move in right away. She laughed nervously, and I reined back the possessiveness in me. I’d been really fucking disappointed she said she could wait, that she had to get some things in order but would move in within the next couple days.

  And today was the day Macey would start working for me. To say I was anxious was an understatement. I’d given her keys to the house and a spare set for all the buildings on the ranch. It was better to give her access to everything since, even if she didn’t know it, she’d be part of the lifeline of this property.

  I got up and went into the bathroom, used the facility, washed my hands and face, and brushed my teeth. I stared at myself in the mirror, running a hand over my cheeks and jaw, the days’-worth of scruff starting to really fill in.

  I thought about what it all meant, why I had this instant attraction and connection toward Macey. Never in my life had I experienced something so strong before. Ignoring it would probably be the best route, given the fact that she was working for me, but even as I told myself I should keep my distance, the truth was, I knew I probably couldn’t.

  I knew I wouldn’t.

  Once I was dressed to work for the day, I opened my bedroom door and instantly smelled the scent of bacon coming from downstairs. My stomach grumbled. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a hot breakfast.

  But who the hell was already here? It sure as hell wasn’t the brothers. No way they’d cook my ass breakfast.

  Once at the bottom of the stairs, I rounded the corner and headed into the kitchen. And then I saw her standing by the stove, her long, dark hair piled high on her head, her back to me. She wore a pair of cutoff denim shirts, her thighs toned and a creamy color, her ass plump like a fucking ripe peach.

  Don’t get hard. Don’t get hard.

  She started transferring the bacon to a plate on the counter and turned around, a gasp leaving her when she saw I was standing there watching her. Her free hand went to her chest and she exhaled.

  “You scared me,” she said softly then smiled, gesturing to the table. “I made breakfast for everyone, although I didn’t notice any ranch hands out yet.”

  I looked at the dining room table and just now noticed the stack of pancakes, carafe of orange juice, jug of milk, scrambled eggs, a bowl of fresh strawberries, and even some home fries. I knew my expression was probably shocked as hell when I looked back at her.

  “I hope it’s okay that I’m here early and made breakfast?” She brought the bacon over to the table and set it down, smiling at me.

  “Where the hell did you find all this?” I hadn’t meant to say it like that, and I was about to apologize for the gruff tone, but her chuckle had me feeling a little bit lighter, clearly showing me she wasn’t easily offended.

  I walked over and sat down, looking at the spread. Jax and Charlie were going to fall to their knees and worship her for feeding them.

  “On the way here, I saw a little farmer’s market being set up. I was surprised it was open this early, but they had fresh eggs and oranges, even the potatoes. That’s all I planned on making, but I ended up stopping at Randall’s Quick-N-Go. And you know how early they open. Got some pancake mix, a gallon of milk
, and then of course the bacon.”

  I’d given her a week’s-worth allowance for food and cleaning supplies if she needed it. I hadn’t expected her to use it this soon, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t damn impressed and excited she had.

  “I’ll do a proper grocery haul and cleaning supply run later this week, but I figured a nice full breakfast would be a nice good to the week.”

  I looked up and saw her smiling. Damn, she looked good with a smile. “Hell, I think I’ve just fallen in love with you.” I hadn’t meant to say that out loud, and as I watched her cheeks turn pink, I realized I probably embarrassed the fuck out of her. I mumbled my apologies and pointed to the chair across from me. “Please, sit down and join me. Because once Jax and Charlie come in, there won’t be any food left.” That was the damn truth. Those boys had a bigger appetite than I did.

  She nodded slowly and sat down, looking at the food. I could see the pride on her face. Hell, could she see how happy I was in this moment?

  “I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in… hell, I don’t even know.” I started digging in, throwing food on my plate like I hadn’t seen a meal in too fucking long. I was about to put a piece of bacon in my mouth but stopped mid-bite and looked at her, realizing I should’ve been a gentleman and let her start eating first. She was watching me with this little smirk on her face. “Sorry,” I mumbled.

  She shook her head and held up her hands. “Oh don’t be sorry. I’m glad you’re excited about breakfast. And I actually really enjoyed making it. I haven’t cooked like this since…” She cleared her throat and shifted on the chair, and I could see whatever she thought about hit a little too close to home. “I haven’t cooked like this since I lived at the ranch with my dad. It’s really nice to be able to prepare meals for people again.”

  That tugged at my heart, and I cleared my throat, a part of me wanting to go to her and pull her off the chair, to pull her in for an embrace. I didn’t know why that feeling overcame me like it did, but I didn’t do it, because I didn’t want to look like a fucking creep.

  But the truth was, not going to her seemed so fucking wrong.

  It felt abhorrent.

  I set the bacon down and waited for her to get some food. I watched as she reached for a strawberry, brought that big, red berry to her mouth, and took a bite of the plump flesh. I was transfixed as her straight, white teeth sunk into the fruit, her pretty pink lips forming around the roundness of it, and all I could think about was running my tongue over that little drop of juice that started to slip along her bottom lip. She pulled the strawberry away and ran her tongue over her lip, getting that little bead of sweetness. I had to hold in my fucking groan of pleasure at the sight. She was starting out the dining room window, and thank fuck for that, because I had no doubt I looked positively feral right now as I stared at her.

  Fuck, man. Keep your shit together.

  It was only when she continued eating her breakfast that I did the same. I focused on the food and not the images of her eating that damn strawberry. Because as it was, I was already starting to get a fucking hard-on.

  I couldn’t hold back the moan of pleasure at how good everything tasted. The bacon was so damn crispy. And despite the fact I hated eggs, the way she made them, so fluffy and cheesy had instantly won me over.

  I finished the food in record time, feeling full and content. Hell, I didn’t even want to go to work but knew that wasn’t an option. “That was fucking delicious.” I realized what I said and clenched my jaw, but her chuckle had me smirking.

  “Don’t ever worry about censoring around me. I’m used to hearing that stuff. Not only from my dad and the ranch hands, but on the best of days, I cuss like a sailor.”

  I felt my pulse race a little, hearing her say that. We stared at each other for long seconds, and I felt something in me shift. I felt the air leave me, felt heat fill me. I wanted her.

  I wanted Macey, and the very thought of not having her had this tightening going on in my belly.

  Instead of saying something that I’d regret or would make things fucking weird the first day, I gave her a wink and stood, taking my dirty dishes to the sink and heading out to start my long day of work.

  Chapter Five

  Dalton

  It had been days since Macey started working for me, and to say I wasn’t walking with a constant hard-on would be a damn fucking lie.

  I wiped the sweat from my forehead, trying to focus on the task at hand as the sun beat down on me. It was sweltering today, this June heat seeming hotter this year than any other time before. Or hell, maybe it was because I was in this constant state of arousal for a woman I shouldn’t want, since she was my employee.

  I was close to the house, working on building another chicken coop with Jax and Charlie. The two were bickering about something or other. I wasn’t paying attention, because my mind was constantly on Macey.

  I heard the screen door open and slam shut and lifted my head to see Macey come out with the broom. She didn’t look in our direction as she swept off the porch. Today, she wore a white-and-yellow sundress, the breeze ruffling the bottom of it along her knees. God, she looked fucking fantastic with her dark hair piled high on her head, wisps moving along her face, so she’d intermittently brush them away with the tips of her fingers.

  I found myself just watching her, transfixed by the little movements of her body, wondering what she thought about, if she hummed. I caught her on a few occasions singing softly to herself, her voice so feminine and melodic it was almost mesmerizing.

  I was obsessed with her. There was no other way to describe what I felt for that woman.

  Macey was so damn smart, so fucking gorgeous. She knew all about hard work, about ranch work. She didn’t care about the dirt and grime that covered me when I came in from a long day. She just gave me the warmest smile, took my filthy boots from me, and told me to sit down for a hot meal. And God was she an incredible cook.

  She looked up then, her hand blocking her brow as the sun shone on her. I noticed when she spotted me staring at her. She lifted her hand and waved, and I felt my heart jump in my throat. I reached up and tipped my cowboy hat in her direction.

  “Give it a rest, man.”

  The sound of Jax had me looking in his direction. Him and Charlie watched me with identical smirks on their faces.

  “What?” I knew what they were referring to, but playing stupid would have them shutting up. At least I hoped it did. I should have known better though.

  “Why don’t you just go talk to her, end your suffering,” Charlie said, and the look I gave him had his smile fading and him going right back to working on the coop.

  “Why don’t you boys just get back to work and not worry about what I should or shouldn’t do?” I lifted a brow but couldn’t help the smirk on my face. It wasn’t like I was trying to hide my infatuation for Macey. Hell, I stared at her every chance I got.

  Maybe I did need a little shove in the direction to just have the balls to talk to her.

  “The way you stare at her is starting to creep me out, so I can’t imagine what she’s thinking about it,” Jax said, and the brothers started laughing.

  I snorted and shook my head, turning my back to Macey, because that was the only way I wasn’t going to keep looking at her.

  They were right though. She probably thought I was one hell of a creep to just keep staring at her. I tried to do it when she wasn’t looking, but I didn’t even care if she saw. Hell, I wanted her to notice, so I could see her reaction, so I could see if maybe she felt the same way. So I could read her body language.

  “Just go over there, talk to her, and tap that shit, dude,” Charlie said, and I growled low.

  “Don’t talk about her like that, Charlie.”

  He held her hands up. “Sorry, man. No disrespect intended.”

  “Just get back to work,” Jax muttered under his breath, and the brothers did just that.

  It was best that way, because I found any disrespect tow
ard Macey had me extremely territorial and possessive. I wanted to protect her, even from words.

  I ran a hand over my mouth and looked over my shoulder to see Macey turning around to head back in the house.

  Just then, the wind picked up, and the bottom of her dress moved around her legs almost violently. And then the fucking material flew up to her waist for a second before she righted it. But I’d seen those little white panties she wore, the way the material barely covered her luscious ass. I groaned, not even caring if the brothers heard me. Her ass had been so fucking plump, perfect and round. I wanted to sink my teeth into the flesh. I wanted to part it and run my tongue up the center.

  I bet she tasted even sweeter than she looked.

  God, she was fucking perfect.

  My cock hardened, and I reached down to adjust myself. I glanced at Jax and Charlie, saw they were focused on the coop, but I also noticed their smirks. They’d heard my groan but were smart enough not to say anything.

  I came to the resolution, just right then and there, that I would try my hardest to stay away from Macey and keep things professional, but a little voice in the back of my head laughed its ass off and whispered, We’ll see.

  Chapter Six

  Macey

  Two weeks later

  The last two weeks had flown by. I really only saw Dalton for meals and when he finally came in for the night to clean up and go to bed. He worked so hard, and he reminded me of my father in that sense. Covered in dirt and sweat, skin golden from working outside all day in the sun, hands calloused from the manual labor. I appreciated and respected what he did, and I found myself growing more attracted to him each day.

  I found myself falling for him in more than just a physical sense.