Page 14

H e followed her into the kitchen and looked around. The white cabinets' granite counter, farm sink, and appliances looked new.

“What have you done in here?”

She set the pan she pulled from the fridge on the counter. “Everything but the floor. The kitchen was one of the things I did first because it was in bad shape, but I brought in the construction company for that, too.”

“Are you going to do the floor yourself?”

She nodded. “There’s the original oak floor under the vinyl and carpet in the other rooms. I’m going to take it up and refinish it. Or at least try.”

“I can’t believe you have the energy for it.”

“It helps me settle. When I’m upset, I usually clean. It helps me think.”

“I usually clean out stalls, yell, or drink.”

She laughed.

He sat on one of the chairs at the small table she’d fit in the room, and his gaze followed her around the kitchen and watched her put two servings on plates.

She put the big one in the microwave. They stood looking at each other for the minute it took to heat his meal.

He could feel and see the tension grow in strength and the nerves she tried to hide.

The ding of the microwave had them both jerking before she took his plate to him.

“Here you go. Go ahead and start. I’ll get us something to drink while I’m waiting for mine to heat. What would you like?”

“Water is fine,” he said.

“Mmmm,” he hummed after he took his first bite. “Damn, woman, is there anything you can’t do? This is delicious.”

She laughed. “Yes. Quite a bit, actually. For starters, I can’t sew, keep an indoor plant alive, and you already know one. I can’t dance.”

He grinned. “Oh, I thought you did just fine.”

She snorted. “Because we barely moved. I tried line dancing at the bar the other night. I don’t know how many times I tripped or bumped into someone.”

He reached over the table and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad. If you were perfect, I would have disappointed you so much with all my flaws.”

“Why? What are you bad at?” she asked and took a bite.

“Oh, hell. Let’s start with communication.”

He grinned when she started to choke and was about to spew her food across the table.

She glared at him as she wiped her mouth. “I can agree with that.”

He laughed when she frowned at him.

“What else?” she asked.

“I’m not good at lovey-dovey stuff.”

“No PDA?”

His brows snapped together. “What the hell is that?”

“Public display of affection.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that. I hope that’s okay?”

“I’ve no idea. I’ve never really had a boyfriend.”

His mouth dropped open. “Like ever?”

“No, there was either no time, or the boys around me were dorks. I’ve gone on dates, but they never amounted to much.”

He didn’t know what to think of that. On the one hand, she wouldn’t be expecting a lot because she’d never had a relationship. On the other hand, he’d be the one to teach her how a relationship worked. He could even make things up. Damn, he really was a dumbass.

“Is there anything else?” she asked.

“There are too many to count, but you’ll find out in time.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Hell, that sounds ominous?”

He laughed. “No, not at all. I know I don’t have any bad habits, and I’m not a disaster waiting to happen. You’re safe with me.”

They finished eating, and she washed the dishes before turning back to him and leaning against the counter.

“Do you want a cup of coffee?”

He nodded and pointed at her large silver coffee maker on the counter. He’d never seen a machine like it before. “That’s pretty fancy.”

“I have to admit I’m addicted. Coffee is what keeps me going sometimes, and I got hooked on one of the stronger coffees that no one sells here, so I splurged and bought this.”

“Sure, I’ll try one.”

He watched her as she moved around the small kitchen. The fact that she was so graceful and even delicate didn’t fit with the fact that she had to be incredibly tough to do her job. He found the contrast extraordinarily sexy, and it made him want her even more.

He actually hadn't found anything he didn’t like about her. Beautiful, hardworking, smart—fuck, yes, very smart—and sweet as could be.

“Here you go.”

She set a cup down. He almost laughed. It was one of those fancy drinks with frothy milk on top that high-priced coffee shops sold.

He almost choked when he took his first drink. “Jesus, this is strong.”

She grinned. “Yeah. It’s espresso with milk to tame down the bitterness, but it still has the punch. It got me through some long nights that I had to study or work.”

He took a few more sips. “Won’t this keep you up?”

“I won’t drink a lot right now, but I definitely stop around three or four in the afternoon, or I know I’ll be up.”

Jenny studied his expression. “Don’t you have work to do?”

He smirked. Trying to get rid of him, was she?

Good luck with that, Sweetheart . “I’ve got everything under control.

I’ve hardly set foot off the ranch in years.

Besides, the guys like me being gone because they don’t have me breathing down their necks or barking at them, and they say I usually come back in a better mood. Not a great one, but better.”

She chuckled. She stared down at her cup as the tension in the room grew.

“Come here, Honey. Let’s go sit on the sofa.”

****

S he exhaled, nodded , and then followed him into the living room. It wasn’t a huge room, so she’d only been able to fit a chair and a small sofa in the space. She did have a television, but she rarely got to watch it.

She almost snorted when he sat next to her and took up the rest of the sofa. She bit her lip to keep from smiling. He had to be uncomfortable, but he just leaned back, turned her way, and set his arm on the back of the sofa.

“Do you like the town?”

“Yes. Very much. And besides Carly, I’ve liked everyone here. They’re so down to earth, and they don't treat me like I’m different. Tell me if this isn’t any of my business, but how did you and Carly meet?”

“We both grew up here. I’ve known her most of my life. After my father died, all I did was work to help with the pain, and then I missed having someone to talk to at night and...”

“And?”

“I wanted someone in my bed every night.”

Her eyes widened, and she blinked. “Oh, I ... um...” She could feel the heat of a blush cover her face.

He chuckled. “You and I are going to be in bed eventually.”

“I...”

He ran his fingers through her hair that had come loose from the ponytail. Without asking, he pulled the rubber band off.

A shiver coursed through her as she reached up. “What are you doing?”

“I’ve never seen your hair down. I like it.”

She finger-combed her hair. It had to look pretty messy. When she glanced up at him, her nipples tightened, and her womb pulsed at the possessive, territorial look in his eyes.

“Do you have any other family besides your parents?”

She shook her head. “No. Do you?”

“No. I’m the last McKenzie. Do you want to have children?”

“I want children more than anything. I’ve dreamed about having a big family.”

“Me, too.”

She fidgeted when he sat there and stared at her, making her anxiety rise. “Wh-what are you thinking?”

He lifted her easily and set her on his lap. “I’m thinking you’re about as perfect as I’ve ever seen.”

The feeling of his erection under her bottom made her thoughts scatter.

She sat very still while he ran his fingers over her face as if to memorize it before he cupped the back of her head and then took her lips, covering hers with a hunger that took her breath.

A ball of pleasure quickly grew to make her already sensitive breasts ache, and her nipples tightened painfully.

The heat from his body surrounded her, causing her pulse to beat erratically.

When he forced her mouth open by twisting his mouth on hers and his ravaging tongue tangled with hers, jolts of electricity coursed through her veins, making her moan.

She had no idea how long they sat there holding each other and kissing before the sound of her beeper penetrated. She pulled away from him.

“My beeper is going off. I have to get it.”

A feral growl slid from his throat, but he did release her.

She checked the message. “I’m sorry, Kaden. I’ve got to go.”

He stood and walked to her. “I know, Honey. The next weekend you have off, plan on being at my house.”

Her eyes widened. “The whole weekend?”

“Yes.” He pressed a hard kiss on her lips, turned, and left.

She hurriedly locked the house and jumped into her vehicle. She had plenty of time to think about what Kaden just said. At that moment, she needed to stop being a woman and let the vet side of her take over.