Page 4 of Caught By A Cowboy

“Ask about what?” I already know I can’t show this girl any weakness, something tells me that if I did, she could walk all over me.

“The fact I’m wearing a wedding dress and taking a job from a complete stranger.” The cute little huff she makes has me gripping the wheel a little tighter.

“Figure it ain’t my business.” I shrug, getting confused when it looks as if my answer has irritated her even more.

She remains silent for the rest of the journey, and I wonder if she senses the same tension I can as we get closer to home.

“Here we are.” I notice her expression change from nervous to shocked as I drive through the ranch gates.

“This is it?” She leans closer to the windshield.

“This is it. Home sweet home,” I confirm, driving past the corrals, and pulling up outside the main house.

“It’s…it’s beautiful.” She sounds completely thrown off and her mouth is still gaped open when I get out of the driver's seat and open the door for her.

“I was expecting a cabin and some stables, this place is…it’s huge.” She slides out the truck and continues to stare at the house in awe.

The boys in the yard stop working, slowly starting to gather and close in on us. They look her up and down as if they’ve never seen a female before, but she pays them no mind, she’s far too fascinated as she steps up onto the porch and glides her fingers across its oak frame.

“Pick your eyeballs up off the floor,” I growl at Carter under my breath before following behind her and opening the front door.

“You can get back to work now!” I call out at them all and shake my head at Lincoln in warning as Maddison moves inside. I know exactly what's going through his mind, and I don’t like it.

“Jace, I really wasn’t expecting this.” Maddison spins around as she takes in the interior of the place. Oddly, I find myself feeling relieved by her response. I like that my home impresses her and that, coming from a man who’s never really cared much about the opinions of others, feels very fuckin’ foreign.

“The kitchen’s just through here.” I lead her through the open-plan living space into the kitchen. “It was updated about a year ago, just before…” I stop myself and quickly move on. “This is the laundry room. We got an industrial washer and dryer. Things can get pretty dusty out there.” I clear my throat when I realize she’s standing in the door frame, and all I have is a very tight space to squeeze through.

“Don’t worry about your car, I’ll send one of the boys out to tow it. They can grab your stuff and bring it back here for you.” I try not to look her in the eyes as I slide back into the kitchen, they’re painfully beautiful, and having her here in my space is suddenly making me feel very territorial toward her.

“I don’t have any stuff. What you see, is what you get.” She raises her eyebrows and smiles sadly.

“Then I’ll have Kyle and Tyler speak to their little sister, Taylor, I’d say you were about her size.” I nod my head, trying to stop myself from imagining how she’d look without her pretty, white dress on. I’ve barely known this girl half an hour and already I want to find the man who deemed himself good enough to marry her so I can kick his fuckin’ ass.

“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.” I lead her back through the house and up the staircase. Hearing the way her dress rustles as she takes the steps behind me, makes me want to rip it off her body.

“I hope this’ll do.” I open one of the guest room doors, fully aware of the fact that I’ve chosen the room closest to mine. There’s a whole attic space I could offer her, but it feels too far away.

“Who else lives here?” She looks down the hall, then across the open landing at all the other doors.

“Just me, now you,” I tell her, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. Jesus, what is this woman doing to me? My palms are fuckin’ sweating.

“It’s a big house for one person,” she points out.

“Yeah, well, it ain’t always been that way.” I leave her to get herself settled and head for my room, opening up my chest of drawers and taking out a creased-up shirt and some sweatpants. Then I march back onto the landing and knock on her door.

“Come in.” She’s looking out at the view from her window when I step inside, and for a second I allow myself to imagine that she’s wearing that dress she’s lookin’ so pretty in, for me.

“I thought you might make use of these until the boys get a chance to speak to Taylor.” I place my clothes on her bed and take a long step back.

“You can start work tomorrow. I already put an order in with Jean at the diner this morning, so the boys are gettin’ fed tonight.”

“I appreciate that.” She steps forward and lifts the clothes. “These too.” I don’t know what’s come over her since she’s been here, but instead of the sassy girl at the bar, she’s acting all subdued…almost sweet.

“No problem” I nod politely and start backing out the door.

“Wait.” She sounds a little desperate as she calls out for me to stop.

“I need some help with the dress.” Her lashes bat and her cheeks flush pink.

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