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.”

Three

On Saturday morning, three days after meeting with Jared Stone, Bella followed a good-natured Marie up to her new rooms at Stone Ridge. The woman seemed genuinely glad to have her there. “I’ll be staying today to help you get settled in,” she said with a smile. “If you need anything, or have any questions, be sure to ask. Mr. Stone is down in his study. He’s anxious to get back to work. If you ask me, it’s too soon, but that boy is determined. He said as soon as you feel up to it, he’d like to see you.”

Jared Stone had arranged for her things to be moved into the house this morning. All she’d had when she’d walked out of her father’s house in Pacific Heights was a few pieces of luggage and three boxes of baby gear. She’d traveled light...well, as light as she could with a toddler in tow. Sienna had toys and special blankets and dolls that she couldn’t live without. Really, Bella could have boxed it all up and placed it in her car, but her new employer had insisted on sending someone to help move her.

“Thank you, Marie. I should be down soon. As you can see, I don’t have too much to unpack.”

Marie’s kind eyes warmed as she took in the meager boxes and suitcases on the floor.

Oh, goodness, she didn’t want to give the woman the wrong impression. She didn’t mean she was so destitute that these were all the things she owned in the world. Too late. Marie turned her attention to Sienna. “How’s the little princess today?”

“Sienna, say hello to Marie.”

Sienna wiggled her fingers in a shy wave. She didn’t want to cross the cookie lady.

“She’s going to have a bit of fun here on the ranch. You be sure to take her around and explore. There’s a lot to see through a toddler’s eyes.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“I’ll be off now,” Marie said. “Remember to ask if you have any questions. I’m just tickled as can be you’re here. You two will bring some life into these four walls.”

“You may get more life than either of you bargained for.”

“Nonsense. Children only bring the world joy,” Marie said as she made her way out of the room.

With Sienna latched onto her hip, Bella looked around the second floor of the house. Two adjoining bedrooms, both with queen-size beds, and a good-sized bathroom would be her new home. The rooms were lovely and in shades of light blues and lavenders with bleached white-oak contemporary furniture. She was pretty certain no one had ever stepped foot inside these immaculate guest quarters. Sienna would give the place a lived-in look within a matter of hours. Poor Jared Stone didn’t know what he was in for, inviting a toddler almost two years old into his home. And poor her, trying to keep Sienna’s antics down to a minimum. Jared didn’t know it yet, but his quiet existence would soon be replaced with chaos and noise.

Bella walked over to the window and peered directly down into a backyard full of thick green grass and a flowery garden. There was a pool with a rock slide and trickling waterfall. All of the pool chairs and tables were protected and covered, but she could just imagine how inviting the pool would be on a scorching-hot Texas day. Her gaze traveled farther out to a pasture. Those tiny specks across the vista had to be a herd of cattle.

She glanced around the room again and sighed. “Well, Sienna, time to unpack our stuff.”

Fifteen minutes later she’d organized the bathroom, complete with an Elmo toothbrush set, child-safe shampoo and body wash and Princess Jasmine towels. Sienna would sleep with her, until she got acclimated, and one way to do that was to put all of her toys in the second bedroom. All of their clothes combined didn’t take up one-tenth of the generous walk-in closet space.

It was weird coming to live here with a total stranger, though Amy had done a thorough Google search of Jared Stone and eagerly shared that he was a successful rancher, an astute businessman and a budding entrepreneur. Recently he and his brother Cooper had funded the building of a playground for the local community. And his charitable donations didn’t stop there.

He’s hardly an ax murderer.

Amy’s words sunk into her skull and she immediately felt better about coming to live here. “Okay, baby girl,” she said. “It’s time to say hello to the boss.”

Taking hold of Sienna, she climbed down the stairs and went in search of the study. The house wasn’t hard to figure out; it was as sprawling as a two-story ranch home could be, and after stepping into the beautiful gourmet kitchen, excitement stirred as she ogled her new “office.” Sienna babbled loudly in her own sweet language as she made her way past the kitchen to the hallway leading to the study. Sienna squirmed and fussed to be let down. She had yet to have her nap. “Here you go,” Bella said, setting the baby on her feet, “but please don’t touch anything.” She knocked on the partially shut door.

“Come in.” The pitch of Jared’s voice was deep and welcoming.

She opened the door and found Jared sitting behind his desk, closing down his laptop computer. Color had returned to his cheeks, his bandages were off and the scrapes on his face appeared to be healing. He wore a black snap-down shirt and jeans, looking much better than he had just three days ago.

He was handsome, there was no denying that. He now had a healthier glow about him; his eyes, less shadowed by pain, were deeper, bluer, mesmerizing.

Her heart raced. She would be living with him now, in this house, and all the awkwardness she’d felt the other day came back in full force. This would be her new normal.

He began to rise and she gestured for him not to. He did it anyway. He had to be six foot two if he was an inch. “Welcome to Stone Ridge.”

“Please sit down, Mr. Stone. If you get up every time I walk into a room, you’ll make yourself dizzy.”

He chuckled and then his face hardened and his hand automatically went to his broken ribs. Of all his injuries, that one must be the most painful. “I will, if you call me Jared from now on.”

“Okay...Jared.”

“Please, take a seat.”

She did, sitting opposite him. Sienna stood next to her chair, looking all around, taking in the big room with windows facing the groomed yard and books stacked on a wall of shelves. But her eyes found and stayed on two packages decorated with pastel balloon wrapping paper on the floor beside the desk.

“Hello, Sienna,” he said. “I hope you’ll like it here.”

Sienna took one look at Jared, forgot about the packages and climbed up on Bella’s lap, hanging on to her neck with a death grip. Bella pried her off her neck as gently as possible and her baby settled into a fetal position in her arms. “She’ll warm up. This is all so new for her.”

“I figured,” he said.

“You’re feeling better?” she asked.

He nodded. “Every day gets a bit easier. I should be one hundred percent in a few weeks or so.” He paused as if speaking of his injuries made him uncomfortable. “I hope you like your accommodations. If there’s anything you want changed, anything you need, just let me know.”

“Thank you. That’s very generous of you. The rooms are lovely and we’re going to manage just fine.”

“Good to hear. Marie will be here today to show you around the kitchen and the rest of the property. Feel free to use anything on the ranch, including the horses, if you like to ride. And if you need something—”

“I’ll be sure to ask,” she said.

Jared smiled, a much easier smile than the one he’d attempted a few days ago. He wrote something down on a piece of paper and slid it over to her. “Here’s your starting salary. I think it’s in line with the going rate.”

She glanced at the number and was relieved to see he wasn’t overpaying her. “Yes, it’s perfect.” It was a fair sum considering she was also getting room and board. If that number was even slightly higher, she’d feel less legitimate. The salary he offered allowed her a measure of pride. And Jared Stone seemed to be sensitive to that. “Thank you.”

“I don’t expect you to work every day. You’ll have Sundays and Mondays off, if that’s okay with you.”

“That’s fine. I, um, have a few questions for you, though, if you don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind at all,” he said.

She sat a little straighter in the chair; Sienna was happy as a clam to continue to cling to her. “Well, since I’m cooking for you, I’d like to know how you see yourself food-wise.”

“How do I see myself?”

“Yes. What’s your culinary landscape?”

“In English, please?”

She held back a grin. “Okay. Are your food tastes conservative, traditional, adventurous, exotic, selective...”

“I’m definitely adventurous. There’s nothing I won’t try. Except liver. No liver, please.” He made a little-boy face, scrunching up his mouth, and she laughed.

“No liver, check. Spicy?”

“Yes, but not necessarily all the time.”

“Do you drink alcohol?”

“Does the sun shine?” he shot back.

She laughed. “Okay, got it.”

He was basically a cook’s dream. He liked to try new things and he ate everything, pretty much. She’d put that to the test very soon.

The healthy cast on his face when she’d walked in was beginning to fade. How long had he been at his desk working? She knew the look of fatigue. Being a single mom, she’d had many a sleepless night. And even when she did catch some winks, it wasn’t for very long. Not all of that had to do with Sienna. She had a classic case of insomnia, an inherited trait. Thank you, Marco.

Too late, she averted her eyes. She’d been staring at Jared. And he’d been quietly staring back.

“If there’s nothing more—”

“Actually, there is,” he said.

Gingerly, he rose from his seat to full height. When standing, he was a solid presence in the room, a man who commanded attention. She’d noticed that about Cooper, too. “I have something for you both. It’s a little welcome gift.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” Goodness, she meant it. How awkward was this? What could he have possibly gotten the two of them?

“Would you like to open Sienna’s first. It’s in the big box.”

He moved over to the two boxes by his desk. “Sienna, this is a present for you. Do you want to help your mother open it?”

Her daughter’s eyes went adorably wide and she eased off her lap, took her hand and pulled her over to the wrapped box.

“Christmas isn’t for a few weeks,” she told Jared.

Jared only smiled.

Sienna grabbed at the paper and Bella helped her the rest of the way until all the wrapping was off. When the box was open, Jared explained. “Some assembly required.”

Sienna took one look at her gift and started flapping her arms like a little bird. “Bike! Bike!”

“I can see that,” Bella said.

The balance tricycle was hot pink with streamers on the handlebars and a chrome bell. It was already assembled except for the long rod that attached to the back step, so that it could be pushed and guided from behind. The training bike of tricycles.

Sienna found the bell and that was that. The ringing lasted at least thirty seconds before Bella took her hand away. “Sienna, do you like the tricycle?”

She began nodding. “Me yike it, Mommy.”

“Can you say ‘thank you’?”

“Tank you,” she said without hesitation. Her eyes were transfixed on her new trike.

Jared grinned. “You’re welcome. Now you can ride around the ranch in style.”

“It’s very generous of you,” Bella said.

“There’s a helmet for her, too. Lauren, my sister-in-law, said she couldn’t ride outside the house without one.”

“Yes, that’s true. Again, very thoughtful.”

Bella took the trike out of the box and set it on the floor. Immediately, Sienna, thrilled beyond belief, lifted her leg and tried to climb up. Bella gave her a little push and then she was all set, her butt settled on the padded seat.

“Your feet touch the pedals. Oh, my baby is getting to be such a big girl.”

“I’ll attach this thing,” Jared said, a screwdriver suddenly appearing in his hand. He lifted the rod out and bent on his haunches. His body creaked and his face went white, but his jaw was tight, determined. Bella bent, too, and suddenly she was inches from Jared, breathing in a light musk scent, seeing the tiny lines of pain around his eyes. And for a second, the briefest of moments, she saw not the victim whose life she’d saved, but a beautiful, bone-melting, blue-eyed man.

Amy would say he was a hunk to the hundredth degree.

“Can you hold this?” he asked.

“Oh, uh, yes.” She secured the rod while he screwed it to the back step of the trike.

“There,” he said, his breathing labored. He was taxing himself, but there was a gleam of accomplishment in his eyes that shouldn’t be shot down. “That should work.”

“Yes, it’s nice and tight.”

“And now for your gift.” He began to rise and wobbled a little. She was there immediately to catch him, putting her arm around his waist. He used his other hand to brace himself on the desk and then gazed at her. “I’ve got it,” he said quietly, the sexiness in his voice playing tricks on her.

“Yes, you do. Sorry.”

“For trying to rescue me again?”

“For—” She shrugged. “I don’t know why.” The words tumbled out of her mouth and, too late, she took her arm off his waist. Jared Stone definitely made her nervous.

He smiled. A killer this time, showing white teeth, handsome lines around his mouth and a twinkle in his eyes.

Sienna was patiently examining her new trike. Once again the temptation to ring the bell was too much for her and clanging filled the room. “A set of drums might’ve been less noisy,” Bella remarked.

A chuckle rumbled from his chest, one that caught him off guard. He winced, but it was brief and soon replaced with a smile. “I’ll remember that next time. This one is for you,” he said, pointing to the other wrapped gift. “I’m told every chef should have a good set of these.”

She stared at him for a moment and then carefully unwrapped her gift. It was an attaché case and inside she found a twenty-four-piece set of executive chef knives. They were beautiful, of the finest caliber, the handles made of rosewood.

“Oh...” A lump formed in her throat. She’d grown up with privilege and had had the finest of things, but this gift was special. It was the first time she’d been recognized as a legitimate chef. Other than by Paul. Her husband had believed in her and was awed by her talent, but her father and his wife had never taken her seriously. “It’s too much. I love it but—”

“No buts. Marie told me our kitchen was sorely lacking in equipment, and you should have all the tools you need at your disposal.”

“You mean for those burgers and fries I’m going to toss your way.”

Jared laughed.

“Thank you. It’s a beautiful set.”

Sienna went for the bell again and the ringing echoed off the study walls. “Well, we’d better get out of your hair now. Do you have more work to do?”

“Actually,” he said, running a hand down his face, “I’m getting hungry for lunch. I’m up early most days, so I’m usually hungry about this time.”

It was a little after eleven in the morning. She made a mental note of Jared’s timetable. “It’s good to know. I can make up a simple lunch, if you’d like.”

“No. That’s not necessary. Marie’s got it covered today. You can join me, or you can let the little one play on her trike.”

“In the house?”

“Sure...it’s fine. She can’t hurt anything.”

“Obviously you haven’t been around a two-year-old before.”

“Can’t say that I have,” he said good-naturedly. “But between Sienna and Cooper’s kid, I’m gonna get a real fast education.”

That much was very true.

She opted to let Sienna ride up and down the hallway, guiding her with the rod and praying she wouldn’t take out anything super expensive in her wake.

* * *

Dawn popped its way into Jared’s window much too soon to his liking. He usually wasn’t a bad sleeper, but the afternoon naps he’d been taking since the accident had a way of messing up his schedule. Dr. Corona had told him to rest as much as possible, and by the middle of the day, he was too wiped out to disobey. Who knew broken ribs could cause so much grief to his body?

Feeling helpless wasn’t his style. He was mentally ready to get back behind the wheel. He had a garage full of vehicles, two motorcycles and several cars, as well as a speedboat docked at the nearby lake. He wasn’t about to let what happened scare him away. But he had to heal first, and all the tossing and turning during the night did nothing to help his busted-up body repair itself. Today, even if he had to pry his eyes open with miniature pitchforks, he was going to fight the nap, tooth and nail.

Slowly he hinged himself up from the bed and drew a lungful of air into a diaphragm that was tight and sore. Those first few moves after being bedridden during the night were the hardest. He managed to stand without the help of a cane. Call it ego, but he’d have to be on his last breath before he’d submit to using that thing.

He managed to get his jeans on, grunting with each tug burning straight through his rib cage. The sting lingered like an unruly drunken uncle on Christmas day.

He’d never take getting dressed for granted again. “Marie,” he called out. He hoped like hell she was there. He hoped she’d heard him.

He heard the sound of footsteps approaching, down the hallway and just as he was zipping up his fly, help arrived. It was Bella. She took two steps into his room, and budding sunlight cast a circular light around her head like a halo... His angel.

He blinked.

And was struck by her absolute beauty. She wore white jeans and a silky jade blouse that made her soft green eyes really come alive. With all that blue-black hair cascading down her back in a braid and her face shining and free of anything unnatural, Bella made his breath hitch. His rib cage hurt like hell, but as he slowly released pent-up breaths his focus never wavered. He was totally aware of her now and a spark of excitement strummed inside him, obliterating the pain.

Why now? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t noticed how pretty she was before. Of course he’d noticed, but he’d never let his mind go there. She was an employee, a widow and a mother of a small child. Three very solid reasons why the thought hadn’t entered his mind. But right now, in an unguarded moment, when he wasn’t expecting to see her, suddenly he’d become very aware of her appeal.

Her eyes seemed stationed on his bare chest and her face colored as red as an apple, a tough feat for a woman with olive skin. He’d shocked her, no doubt, but he also witnessed a glint of admiration in her eyes.

“Jared?”

“Mornin’.”

“Good morning. Do you, uh, need something? I heard you call out for Marie. She’s at your brother’s today. But if you need her, she told me to be sure to call her.”

“No. Not necessary. Guess I forgot it was her day with Coop.”

Bella looked straight into his eyes, as if she’d be set on fire if he caught her staring any longer at his chest. He could almost smile at that.