it. “He works all day and most nights he’s tinkering in the shop he’s got out in one of the barns. Have you ever seen the stuff he builds?”
She shook her head.
“He can do anything mechanical. Fix anything.” It was the first time Jake could ever remember bragging about his younger brother, but it was true; Ned was a whiz with gadgets and gears. He kept all the equipment on the ranch running. Jake didn’t know what they’d do without him—it would cost a fortune to hire a mechanic every time something broke down. “What kind of rent are you paying at Ethan’s place?”
“Five hundred dollars a month.”
Jake made a sympathetic face. “Heck, Ned would take three hundred.”
“The five hundred includes food, too.”
“Ned will provide the food. And sometimes you can eat with Hannah and me. It’ll be fun. In fact, why don’t you come by tonight for dinner? I’ll make sure Ned’s there, too. Afterward, he can take you to his place so you can look it over and make up your mind. Six o’clock okay?”
“Okay.” Mia nodded, beginning to smile. “Yeah. That sounds great!”
‡
Chapter Eight
H annah admitted defeat at lunchtime. She’d combed through the ranches in southern Montana once before and this time she had no better luck finding a place to board Gladys. Bison ranches had gained in popularity but there were none close by, and the rest of the ranches weren’t interested in introducing a whole new kind of critter to their herds. A few places far to the west might take her, but the cost of the proposition was outlandish. Keeping her at the Double-Bar-K was her best bet. Hannah closed the browser on her computer and glanced at the calendar on the wall. She could take thirteen days of Holt’s abuse, she decided, and the thirteen nights of Jake’s company would be… bearable. As long as he didn’t discuss marriage and his outdated ideas about wives.
She had to stay on top of her emotions, though. Jake was the best lover she’d ever had, but she didn’t know if the torn condom was a fluke or if he’d done something on purpose. She couldn’t be with a man who would try to force her hand like that. And even if it was an accident—which she suspected it was—it pointed out all the reasons she shouldn’t get caught up with Jake. She didn’t intend to stay with him. Not when they were at such different places in their lives.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming message. A text from Jake.
Speak of the devil , she thought, reading it. “Plan on two extras for dinner.” A jolt of anger spiked through her at the reminder that Holt was forcing her to cook dinner for him and Lisa, and that Jake probably thought it was a fine idea. Two extras— duh . She rolled her eyes, but figured it was a good thing Holt had let Jake know he and Lisa were coming to eat with them tonight. Now he’d get home on time and maybe he could help her with the last-minute details.
And afterward they’d have a serious talk. About the condom, about the next two weeks, and about how they’d handle a pregnancy if there was one.
Hannah fought the urge to cry. How had she gotten into this mess? Twenty-four hours ago the prospect of living with Jake had sounded fun. Now she was so confused she didn’t know where to turn.
It was all Holt’s fault.
And now she was supposed to clean up Jake’s cabin and cook for the man?
Plus the man’s wife. Hannah wondered if Lisa knew about any of Holt’s schemes. She had always wondered why such a smart, lovely woman would marry such a pain-in-the-ass. What would Lisa say tonight at dinner? Would anyone tell her what was really going on?
Hannah decided she’d make the upcoming ordeal palatable to herself by pretending she had voluntarily invited Lisa to dinner. Forget Jake and forget Holt. Lisa had always been sweet when they’d met up. She had no problem cooking a meal for a woman like that. The rest of the Mathesons could go hang themselves, though.
Bella ushered a
She shook her head.
“He can do anything mechanical. Fix anything.” It was the first time Jake could ever remember bragging about his younger brother, but it was true; Ned was a whiz with gadgets and gears. He kept all the equipment on the ranch running. Jake didn’t know what they’d do without him—it would cost a fortune to hire a mechanic every time something broke down. “What kind of rent are you paying at Ethan’s place?”
“Five hundred dollars a month.”
Jake made a sympathetic face. “Heck, Ned would take three hundred.”
“The five hundred includes food, too.”
“Ned will provide the food. And sometimes you can eat with Hannah and me. It’ll be fun. In fact, why don’t you come by tonight for dinner? I’ll make sure Ned’s there, too. Afterward, he can take you to his place so you can look it over and make up your mind. Six o’clock okay?”
“Okay.” Mia nodded, beginning to smile. “Yeah. That sounds great!”
‡
Chapter Eight
H annah admitted defeat at lunchtime. She’d combed through the ranches in southern Montana once before and this time she had no better luck finding a place to board Gladys. Bison ranches had gained in popularity but there were none close by, and the rest of the ranches weren’t interested in introducing a whole new kind of critter to their herds. A few places far to the west might take her, but the cost of the proposition was outlandish. Keeping her at the Double-Bar-K was her best bet. Hannah closed the browser on her computer and glanced at the calendar on the wall. She could take thirteen days of Holt’s abuse, she decided, and the thirteen nights of Jake’s company would be… bearable. As long as he didn’t discuss marriage and his outdated ideas about wives.
She had to stay on top of her emotions, though. Jake was the best lover she’d ever had, but she didn’t know if the torn condom was a fluke or if he’d done something on purpose. She couldn’t be with a man who would try to force her hand like that. And even if it was an accident—which she suspected it was—it pointed out all the reasons she shouldn’t get caught up with Jake. She didn’t intend to stay with him. Not when they were at such different places in their lives.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming message. A text from Jake.
Speak of the devil , she thought, reading it. “Plan on two extras for dinner.” A jolt of anger spiked through her at the reminder that Holt was forcing her to cook dinner for him and Lisa, and that Jake probably thought it was a fine idea. Two extras— duh . She rolled her eyes, but figured it was a good thing Holt had let Jake know he and Lisa were coming to eat with them tonight. Now he’d get home on time and maybe he could help her with the last-minute details.
And afterward they’d have a serious talk. About the condom, about the next two weeks, and about how they’d handle a pregnancy if there was one.
Hannah fought the urge to cry. How had she gotten into this mess? Twenty-four hours ago the prospect of living with Jake had sounded fun. Now she was so confused she didn’t know where to turn.
It was all Holt’s fault.
And now she was supposed to clean up Jake’s cabin and cook for the man?
Plus the man’s wife. Hannah wondered if Lisa knew about any of Holt’s schemes. She had always wondered why such a smart, lovely woman would marry such a pain-in-the-ass. What would Lisa say tonight at dinner? Would anyone tell her what was really going on?
Hannah decided she’d make the upcoming ordeal palatable to herself by pretending she had voluntarily invited Lisa to dinner. Forget Jake and forget Holt. Lisa had always been sweet when they’d met up. She had no problem cooking a meal for a woman like that. The rest of the Mathesons could go hang themselves, though.
Bella ushered a
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