Page 28 of Wounded Cowboy
Spring’s jaw clenched.“Fine. We’ll have the spaghetti tonight, since you’re already in the middle of making it. But in the future, I expect you to follow the plan, okay?”
“Of course,” Kelsey replied.
Spring sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as if fighting back a headache.“Look, I appreciate your intentions in making dinner. But I put that fish on today’s menu for a reason. I caught it myself yesterday, and it’s best when it’s fresh. If I freeze it and defrost it later, it won’t taste as good.”
Kelsey’s heart sank. She’d been so convinced that her new client was acting a little crazy that she hadn’t considered that he might have valid reasons for specifying fish for dinner. She’d been thoughtless.
Even so, she felt Spring was overreacting to a minor mistake.
“I’m really sorry about that,” she said sincerely.“I didn’t mean to undermine you. I just wanted to help.”
A heavy silence hung in the air as Spring regarded her for a long moment. Finally, he nodded slowly, his expression softening just a fraction.
“Thank you for apologizing,” he said gruffly.“I know you were trying to do something nice. Just remember that there’s usually a method to my madness.”
“Understood,” Kelsey replied.“I promise I’ll make those fish and chips tomorrow. And if there are any leftovers, I’ll eat them for my dinner. That way, we won’t waste anything.”
Spring’s eyes flickered over her face as if searching for sincerity. Finally, he sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair.
“Sounds like a plan. And if there are any leftovers, you can leave them for me. I like fish and chips, too.”
“Okay,” Kelsey agreed.“And I promise I’ll stick to your meal plans from now on.”
“Good,” Spring muttered, turning to leave the kitchen.“I’m gonna go wash up and change out of these wet clothes. I need a shower.”
She had a vivid, momentary flash of Spring naked under a spray of hot water, the air fogged with steam, and drops rolling down his chest and…
Stop that!Kelsey ordered herself.Besides, that guy probably takes cold showers. Wouldn’t want to actually enjoy life, now, would he?
She turned back to the counter and quickly finished chopping the onion. It went into the pan with the meat. She peeled a couple of garlic cloves and smashed them with the side of her knife before tossing them in with the onions.
Then she turned her attention to chopping the tomatoes. The girls enjoyed the step of squeezing the chopped tomatoes into a pulp that would shorten the cooking time.
A half hour later, the sauce was ready. Kelsey glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall and sighed. It was getting late, but the rain showed no signs of slackening. She didn’t care. She wanted to go home and relax with a cooking show before going to bed.
As soon as Spring returned to the kitchen, she’d throw the spaghetti in the pot of boiling water and make her exit.
As if summoned by her thought, Spring sauntered into the kitchen, looking shockingly sexy in a t-shirt and sweatpants. His feet were bare.
“Smells good in here,” he said, peering into the skillet of chunky Bolognese sauce loaded with fresh herbs.
Oh my God, Kelsey thought.Was that an actual compliment?
“I hope you like it,” she said, smiling.“Garlic bread is in the oven and the spaghetti needs to cook for about ten minutes, then you and the kids can eat.”
She turned to April and Abby.“Girls, thanks for all your help with the tomato sauce and the garlic bread. I hope you had fun today.”
“We did!” they chorused.
“I’m glad. Now, I really should go,” Kelsey said.“I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You’re not staying for dinner, Ms. Kelsey?” Abby asked, looking stricken.
“But youhaveto stay! We can’t eat all this spaghetti by ourselves,” April protested.
“Your dad’s been working hard all day, and I don’t want to impose,” Kelsey said gently, though she was touched by their request.
She was glad the girls had taken a shine to her, even if their dad clearly had doubts about her.
