Page 9 of Stirring Up Trouble
“Clearly, I need to go see my doctor since I’m hearing things and making stuff up,” Ms. Connie interjected. “Either way, no matter who is with whom, it’s nice to meet y’all. I’ve got some food ready for you. Have a seat at the table, and I’ll bring it over.”
The four of us did the song and dance of figuring out where everyone should sit. Leslie tired of it all quickly, her arms going in the air as she huffed.
“Elton and Bobby, sit there.” She pointed across the table. “I’ll sit beside Robin and next to Ms. Connie. That leaves the head seat for the boss.”
“He better get his butt down here or he’s gonna miss his meal,” Connie shouted, as if she wanted him to hear her.
“I’m coming! You’d have been more pissed if I tried to sit at your table smelling like that,” a deep voice called back from down the hall.
As we all sat down, I fought back a shiver. The man’s tone was rougher than I expected. Not in thatsmokes a pack a dayway though. More likegrowly alpha male.
And yeah, I knew all about what that sounded like. I’d dated a woman or two who was obsessed with romance audiobooks. One had even gotten me hooked on them. Though mine weren’t as sexy as some she’d played me, I had heard my fair share of favorite narrators.
This guy would be perfect for the role. I wondered if he had any clue women all over the world would fawn over him. A good number of men too.
Not me, of course.
I was just observing him. Or rather, listening to him. I hadn’t caught sight of him yet.
That’s when the universe decided to smack me over the head. Because as Ms. Connie delivered the first round of plates and turned to get more, a man came strutting down the hall and my brain shutdown.
Like literally dark mode, closing up shop, zero thoughts left kind of shutdown.
“Smells delicious in here, Connie,” he said. The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“As usual,” Leslie added the words with emphasis. “Ms. Connie never misses.”
“That’s right. I know the way to keep these men in line. A good meal can heal anything.” She returned with the last of the plates, then she walked around the table to have a seat.
It was then I realized the man was going to sit beside me. All at once, it felt like the room was closing in on me. My chest hurt, and I couldn’t get enough oxygen in.
Distantly I heard voices calling my name, but there wasn’t anything I could do to respond. The thing that I latched onto most was the concerned look on the handsome man’s face.
Wait… handsome?
Oh.
Oh fuck.
Four
Blaze
Ms. Conniereally outdid herself for these visitors. I could tell the minute I stepped into the house after a long, brutal day of work that this meal was going to heal something in me.
But first, I had to shower. I might be the boss to everyone else, but Ms. Connie ran the show inside. If I came to her table smelling like the shit I had to deal with all day, she’d be all over my ass about it. I didn’t need that kind of animosity when all I wanted was a good meal and some sleep.
While I hadn’t forgotten about our company arriving, I could admit I hadn’t given it much thought for the rest of the day after talking with Leslie. Between her and Ms. Connie, things were handled. The load wasn’t on me anymore, which meant I could focus on other business.
Reality swept back in the moment I settled down at the table. There were three unfamiliar faces staring back at me. Since I’d be spending the next two weeks with them, I figured it best to at least start on a good note.
“Welcome to Anders Ranch. I’m Blaze Anders.” I addressed them as a group.
The man to my left nodded. “Nice to meet you, Blaze. I’m Bobby Allen. This is my partner, Elton.”
Elton waved at me. “Hi!”
A genuine smile came over my face at his exuberance. I could tell he was shy, yet he was brave enough to meet me like this. It definitely had something to do with the supportive hand Bobby Allen had on his back.
