Besides, Ryan had said they would see little of each other, and she was counting on that. First she had to get the job with her one chance tonight.
She sighed with anticipation and relief that was short-lived. When following him out of the office and into the hall, she noticed his broad shoulders and thick black hair neatly cut above the collar of his blue denim shirt. He fell into step beside her, making her aware of his height and even more conscious she might regret this job. When close to him, this breathless, tingly feeling was not welcome. She needed an obscure, remote place to settle and heal, but this ranch might not be the place at all. Fear nagged that she was making a big mistake.
“You have a beautiful home.”
“Thanks. I love the ranch. This is my getaway. I can relax here. Have you ever been to Texas?”
“Not until now.”
“Here’s the kitchen,” he said, leading her into a large room filled with what looked like the newest appliances. The kitchen was an instant draw as she looked at the practical arrangement, the excellent equipment and an adjoining comfortable living area. A tall woman with a thick brown braid turned from the sink and smiled at her. Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans with a yellow apron tied around her middle, she smiled. “Jessica, this is Gwen Grayson, who works for me. She’s in charge of cleaning. There are two more on my cleaning staff, but Gwen is here the most. Gwen, meet Jessica, who is applying for the cooking job.”
Gwen’s eyes widened as she looked at Jessica. “Welcome to the ranch,” she said, staring.
“Thank you,” Jessica replied. “I’m glad to meet you. This is a wonderful kitchen.”
“Oh, yes,” Gwen said. “Everything you can possibly need.”
“I’m showing Jessica around and then she’s volunteered to fix lunch and dinner, so you can go on with whatever else you want to do,” Ryan said to Gwen.
“I’ll be happy to do lunch,” she said.
“I appreciate that, but I want to do this,” Jessica said, smiling at Gwen, who smiled in return and shrugged.
“Ask me if you want some help.”
Jessica nodded. “Thank you. I will.”
“I’ll show Jessica where she’ll stay and she’ll be back,” Ryan said, taking her arm lightly and turning her. His touch ignited a sizzle. He released her. As she turned with him, she glanced at the bar with high stools dividing it from a connected room that held a fireplace, a pool table, and a big-screen television.
To one side of the kitchen a door stood open on a walk-in pantry that was neatly filled with supplies. At the end of the pantry was another freezer.
“This kitchen is wonderful but big enough you could cook for a U.S. Army base,” she said.
“You’ll only have to cook for me and any company I have. Also my house staff, which is Gwen, Paolina and Chiara, who clean, and Enrique and Dusty, who are maintenance. I doubt if you will see any of them except Gwen. Paolina and Chiara are off this month. Enrique and Dusty are maintenance for all the buildings. When they’re working here, they eat here. Gwen’s been filling in until I hire a cook, but she has a full-time job cleaning. I told you, I’m not here much of the time and when I am, I’m usually alone. Mainly, you’ll just cook for me.”
The idea made Jessica’s insides flutter and she wondered how much just the two of them would be together.
“If you need help finding things, let me know. Especially this first day,” he added.
“I’ll find everything I need, I’m sure,” she said, glancing up to catch him studying her with a look that made her warm and tingly.
“One more thing—my cook does the grocery shopping. I have an account and you just charge it to the account. It’s in Bywater, a nearby small town. Are you certain you would want to get out to do that task?”
“Sure.”
“It’s Bywater, Texas, and it’s a very small town. And no, it’s not by any water. I don’t know why they named it that.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
“That settles the grocery buying.” He glanced around. “I usually let my cook stay in one of the houses on the ranch, but since you’re single, I think you’ll have more peace and quiet staying here,” he said. “This way to your suite,” he said, going a short distance down the back hall to enter a suite. “Look around. See if this will do. You can stay here. You’ll be close to the kitchen, as well as downstairs by yourself.”
She stood in the living area and could see the adjoining bedroom with French Provincial fruitwood furniture, polished hardwood floors, another large-screen television, a desk with a computer.
“This is lovely. It’ll be fine,” she said, turning to look into dark brown eyes that captured and held her attention again, stealing away all thoughts or conversation. The moment stretched between them.
He turned abruptly and the moment was gone, leaving her breathless and with a racing heart. Declining the job to go elsewhere was the sensible thing to do. But right now she was too busy trying to get her breath and regain her composure.
“Give me the key to your car and I’ll bring in your things,” Ryan said in a deeper, huskier voice. Was he having a reaction as much as she was? Warning signals were flying like sparks from an exploding firecracker, yet she didn’t want to turn down the chance for the job.
She motioned toward the door. “I’ll go, too. I can carry something.”
“While you’re here, you can keep your car in the garage.”
“Thank you.”
When they reached her car, he removed two bags and shouldered a carry-on.
Gathering her laptop, a shoulder bag and another small bag, she followed him back to the house, where he set things down in her new suite.
“Have some more things in the trunk?”
“No.”
“You’re traveling light for someone moving away from home.”
She shrugged. “Starting over. I don’t need a lot and my folks will take care of my things. I have a small condo I leased for a year. I’ve already paid the rent for the year.”
One corner of his mouth lifted slightly, making slight creases bracket his mouth. Once again she thought he was an incredibly handsome man, which would not make this job easy.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I suspect what you paid for that year’s lease will be more than your salary here. You went to college. You have an accounting degree and you’re qualified for a job that would give you a career and a good salary. Are you sure this is the choice you want to make?”
“At this time in my life, it is. My heart wouldn’t be in any accounting job. I’m changing and trying to decide what I want to do the rest of my life. I want to work at something I like to do. My marriage is definitely over. I made a mistake in judgment about my ex that has shaken me.”
“Well, you’re following your heart, something not many of us get to do,” he said, sounding slightly wistful, and she recalled what he’d said about wanting to spend more time at the ranch. “Give me your key and I’ll put your car away for you,” he said, holding out his hand.
She placed a key ring into his hand. “I’ll wait on the porch and see where you go.” As they walked through the house, she glanced at her surroundings. “Did you grow up on this ranch?”
“No. I had this house built five years ago to suit myself. Now, there’s another Delaney ranch with a house that goes back generations. We lived there part of the time, but because of school and Dad’s business,