“Are you okay?” The sound of concern in Stan’s voice touched Jared.
“Just a headache and a little air-bag rash. I’ll be fine.”
There was a long pause. “How long will you be there? We have a tight deadline on the Black Knight Casino.”
“A few weeks. I’ll call a friend of mine—Nate Peterson. We’ve worked together before. He’s a good guy and a top-notch carpenter. He can be there late tomorrow and help out until I get out of there.”
“Sounds good.”
“Thanks, Stan. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.”
“All I want is my best carpenter back.”
Jared laughed. He’d been working for Burke Construction for the past three years. He liked Stan a lot. His friend was getting older and wanted to retire soon. Stan had offered to sell him the business. And Jared wanted to buy the profitable company. He’d have the money, but not until he’d receive his inheritance from his mother when he turned thirty-five or married. He doubted he’d ever marry, so that meant two more years of waiting.
“It’s nice to know I’m missed.”
“Always,” Stan said. “Besides, you’re going to help me reach those golden years of retirement.” There was laughter, then a long pause. “Is everything okay with you, Jared?”
No, everything wasn’t okay, but Jared had never been one to share his problems. “Yeah, just some family business. I need to be in Texas for a while.”
“Well, take the all time you need. Family is important.”
Too bad Jared didn’t know who his family was. He gave Stan the phone number of the ranch. Next, Jared dialed Nate. Luckily the carpenter was in between jobs, and was excited about spending time in Vegas.
After a quick goodbye, Jared hung up and turned to find Dana standing in the doorway. She had on the same print skirt and white top as earlier. Her hair was down, curls brushed against her shoulders. She looked wholesome and sexy at the same time.
“Sorry to disturb you. I just came out to make up your bed.” She walked inside, set sheets and blankets on the chair next to the single bunk, then began to make up the bed.
“You don’t have to do that,” he said. “I’m capable of making my bed.”
When she didn’t stop the task, Jared joined in. Accidentally their hands collided and Dana jerked back. Jared, too, felt the jolt, but continued to fit the pristine-white sheets and blanket over the lumpy mattress.
When finished, Dana glanced around the long room with five other empty bunks. “I think that’s everything. I put towels in the bathroom down the hall.” Her gaze shifted to his. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but overhear. Did you just turn down a job? I thought you came here for a job.”
Jared froze. He could end this now if he told her the truth. Tell her the truth, then you can leave. “I couldn’t make it to Nevada in time. Had a family emergency.” He shrugged. “So I decided to stay in Texas for a few weeks. It’s okay. I can catch another job when I get there. There’s plenty of work in Las Vegas, especially in the construction business.”
Dana seemed relieved. “It’s not like that here. The small ranchers have been struggling for a while. I’m not going to lie to you. Most ranch hands want to work for the larger operations. They pay better.”
“You trying to get rid of me?”
“No. I need an extra hand now. I just wanted you to know that I can’t pay the kind of money you’re used to.”
“Let’s not worry about that. I don’t need much right now.” He raised an eyebrow, wondering how she could manage with only Bert. “How large is the Lazy S?”
“Ten sections now. Landwise I can handle more cattle, but we’re in a drought and it costs a lot for feed. And I had to sell off quite a few head last year….”
“Sounds like it’s been rough on you and Evan.”
“That’s what it’s like for most ranchers. Feast or famine.”
“Why stay in?”
Dana smiled and his heart tripped in his chest. “Ranching is all I know, and the Lazy S is the only home I’ve ever known. I don’t know if I could handle city life.” Those green eyes rose to meet his. “What about you?”
He hesitated. He hadn’t been ready for her question. “I’ve lived a lot a places over the last dozen years. Mostly large cities. Working in construction, I haven’t spent much time in the country.”
“We move at a pretty slow pace here,” she said. “After Las Vegas, think you can handle it?”
At the moment Jared couldn’t think of anywhere else he wanted to be. “Yeah, I can handle it,” he assured her. “And I’m used to getting an early start. Like in Nevada. It’s wise to start work before the sun gets too hot.”
Dana checked her watch. “We both should be getting to bed….” Color flamed in her cheeks. “Well…I should leave and let you get some sleep.”
He nodded, trying to distract himself from the picture she had alluded to. No, he couldn’t think about her that way—about wanting her. “You’re right. I’ll see you in the morning. Good night.”
“Good night.” Dana turned around and Jared couldn’t ignore the soft sway of her rounded hips. Desire shot through him. He knew the last thing he could do was get involved with Dana. She was off-limits, in more ways than one.
Jared sat on the bed, unlaced his work boots and pulled them off. Stretching out on the mattress, he stared up at the wooden slats in the ceiling. What had possessed him to take the job? He had no business being here. Well, what business he had wouldn’t take more than an hour. He needed to forget what Marsh told him about their mother and just get the hell out of Dodge.
Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out the crumpled letter from Jack Randell. Hell, why couldn’t he just let it go? The last thing he wanted to do was find out he didn’t fit in somewhere else. He doubted the three Randell brothers wanted a bastard brother showing up.
But, damn, he had to know where he belonged.
Dana walked through the back door of the house. She couldn’t believe she had flirted with Jared Trager. And worse, she knew better. There was danger written all over the man, from his slow, easy saunter to his sexy grin. Besides, he had a home in Las Vegas. And probably a woman waiting for him.
As her father used to say, drifters come and go as fast as the seasons. If only she’d heeded those words when she’d met Marshall Hastings.
At twenty-three, Dana had had yet to experience love…until she’d met Marsh. A good-looking stranger who had come to the ranch, asking for directions. He gave her the attention she craved, but in the end he took off. Marsh hadn’t cared that he’d taken her innocence. But he’d left her a gift. Evan. Because of her son she would never regret what had happened between them.
Now, at twenty-eight, Dana had given up on finding what her parents had. Although their time together had been short, Kathryn and Drew Shayne had truly loved each other. But their daughter would never risk her heart again. Dana never wanted to feel that kind of pain for the second time.
If she ever got married, she was definitely going to play it safe. Look for a nice, safe guy…like Hal Parks. The local deputy sheriff was nice enough, not bad-looking, either. She’d known him all her life. He still came around to the ranch and it was easy to see that, with some encouragement, the shy deputy might ask her out. Was that what she wanted?
Maybe. She had Evan to think about. He was getting older, and he needed a father figure. Hal liked kids, even coached