Heart Of A Texan

“My goodness, Jared. You want us to move into your house? I mean, that’s generous and all, but I can’t—”

“Don’t say you can’t. Think about it. You’ll have a job where you won’t have to leave Sienna at all. She’ll be right here while you’re working. She’ll have a yard to play in and wide-open spaces to run at her heart’s content. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful that you saved my life, but I really do need some more help here. My solution is a good one, for all of us.”

He had a good heart but her pride was getting in the way of her good sense.

“I don’t know...”

“Give it a try, Bella.” His voice cut into her senses. So deep, so sincere. He really wanted to help her and she appreciated that. “If it doesn’t work out, there’ll be no hard feelings. It’ll be up to you.”

He was offering her something better than she could ever hope for: employment, a home and a way to stay close to Sienna. Taking the job would buy her time to sort out her life and make some long-range plans. “Let me talk it over with my best friend. I, uh, just need a little bit of time.”

“It’s a deal,” he said and then glanced at her daughter. “Would you like a cookie, Sienna? You can have as many as your mommy says you can have.”

Sienna faced him and smiled, her sweet dimples lighting up her cheeks.

“One,” Bella said in her mommy tone.

“Like I said,” he began, “you can have one cookie. And I bet your momma would spring for some lemonade, too.”

Sienna giggled, nodding at the man who could barely move on the chair opposite her.

He was in bad shape right now and seemed genuine in his job offer.

Could she take a leap of faith and accept the job? Could she go through with it, concealing her true identity from Jared Stone in order to keep Sienna safe?

Or maybe the real question was, could she afford not to take the job?

* * *

Later that night Amy plunked down on the sofa next to Bella and handed her a glass of pinot grigio. “Here, take this and sip at will. There’s plenty more where that came from.”

Bella stared at the wine bottle sitting on the cocktail table in front of her. She probably would need to empty it before she could come to a decision.

Amy crossed her legs under her, sinking into a conversational posture on the sofa and sipping wine. “Not that I’m trying to get rid of you but, honestly, Bella, this man is offering you a golden opportunity. Why not jump at it?”

Sienna had fallen asleep an hour ago. And this was supposed to be Bella’s Zen time. Where she could find some peace in the quiet surroundings and shut her mind down a little bit. But Jared Stone’s offer kept interrupting her serenity. Amy was on board with the idea, but there was still a nagging notion that wouldn’t go away. “Because I know why he’s offering me a job. Or making up a job. He sees me as the poor widow, a single mom raising a baby all by myself. It’s charity.”

“For one, you are all those things and more.”

Bella stared at her friend.

“What I mean is, he sees you as a widow raising a child alone, but also as the courageous person who saved his life. It’s so not charity. If he was going to hire someone—and you said it yourself, his housekeeper really seemed like she could use the help—why can’t he hire you? I’d bet he’d much rather hire someone he trusts, someone who really needs the work, than a total stranger.”

“I am a stranger. He didn’t even want to see my résumé.”

“Lucky for you, he didn’t. What would you put on there? Former heiress of Forte Foods.”

“I did go to culinary school, you know. Even though I didn’t finish, I learned a lot and what I didn’t learn I taught myself. I have been around the food industry and chefs all my life.”

Amy smiled. “There, you see, you just made a great argument for yourself. You are qualified for the job. My goodness, he’s one man. You could cook for him with your eyes closed.”

“I’d have to move to his ranch. And I’d be deceiving him the entire time. Could I really do that?”

“For Sienna’s sake, you have to. It’s a darn good reason.”

“I don’t know.”

“What don’t you know? It’s perfect. What do I have here for you and Sienna? Concrete and glass. My balcony is too dangerous for Sienna, so the poor kid can’t even get some sunshine or breathe fresh air. Sienna would love being in a place where she could run wild. She’d be around cattle and horses. Maybe a dog or cat or two. And how long do you think it would take your father to find me, if he really wanted to? He knows we’re friends. If he came looking for you, you’d be out of luck. But this way...”

“I’d be on a ranch in the middle of nowhere.” Amy’s arguments made sense.

“Take the leap,” her friend said. “I’ll be right here if it doesn’t work out. You have nothing to lose.”

Bella finished her pinot in one large gulp. “Okay, I’m gonna do it. I’ll take the leap and call Jared Stone tomorrow.”

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