“That bread is mine,” said a cowboy who was built like a fireplug. Short and stout. But he had the nicest smile and his blond hair was just a little long, like Ryan’s.
Kaylie looked over at Ryan.
He sat back, arms crossed over his chest and a grin on his face as he watched his men.
This is the kind of household she’d always dreamed of. Large and boisterous but loving, too. She could tell that these men cared about each other. She guessed they had to because when they were out on the range, you had to be able to count on the other men you were with.
“You all can take your plates to the sink, please and then we’ll have dessert.”
“Woohoo! Did you see that chocolate cake?” asked Boyd.
She remembered him because she’d worked with a young man by the same name for a while in New York.
“Maudie never made dessert and Ryan sure as heck didn’t,” laughed another.
“She sure didn’t,” said Rex.
He was the oldest of the cowboys. He was definitely a silver fox. Kaylie could see herself falling for him but she wasn’t about tofallfor anyone, not with her lack of a certain future.
She stood, went to the counter and grabbed the dessert plates she’d placed there. Forks were already on the table. Then she went back to the counter, got the cake and brought it to the table where she cut it into a dozen equal, or as equal as she could make them, slices. She placed one on a plate and the men passed it around until everyone had a piece.
After dessert was served, quiet reined as everyone was content to simply eat.
Afterward, the men all thanked her, took their plates to the sink and left.
“That was amazing.” Kaylie sagged in her chair. “They’re all so nice.”
Ryan nodded. “They’re a good group and work well together. They watch out for each other but don’t take any…well, you know what…from each other.”
Kaylie chuckled. “Yes, I know. I used to work with a lot of men.” She rolled her eyes. “I shouldn’t say that, should I?”
“You have to be able to talk in generalities about your past. Everyone has one. As long as you don’t say anything specific, you should be fine.”
“Thanks. I needed to hear that. I wouldn’t wish for anyone to be in my shoes. It’s a lot harder than it sounds like it will be.”
“I know.”
She furrowed her brows. “How would you know? Have you ever had to pretend to be someone else? And why would you have to do that?”
“Yes, I have and I can’t tell you why.”
“Oh. The only reason I can think of that you couldn’t tell me about is because you were a spy. Were you?”
Ryan just smiled.
* * *
That nightafter she finished cleaning the kitchen, Kaylie walked out to the living room intent on selecting a book to read. She would have played games on her phone if Marshal Morel hadn’t confiscated it with all her identification and credit cards. Then she decided she’d take a look at the stars. She couldn’t see any in Brooklyn…too much light pollution. But out here, the sky should be spectacular.
She’d been told the weather that day was unseasonably warm for Montana, and she’d only needed a sweater earlier in the day. She decided to sit outside and take a look at the stars, then get a book. But apparently when the sun stopped shining, the temperature plummeted. She turned to go back inside and get a coat when Ryan’s voice came out of the shadows.
“Come sit with me.” He leaned forward from the porch swing to turn on a lantern at his feet.
His voice was deep and made her tremble inside. She swallowed hard and looked inside before turning back toward him. “I’d probably be better off going in and planning meals, but…sure for a bit.”
Kaylie walked in front of him and sat as close to the far armrest as she could. “This is actually nice, even with the fallen temperature.”
He nodded. “I like coming out here in the evenings and just breathing. It doesn’t matter if it’s summer or winter…unless there’s a blizzard. I’m not completely crazy.”