Finally he brought up the second subject.
“I love to cook.” She leaned in with interest and he got a hint of her subtle, flowered scent. “I’ve even taken gourmet classes. After long hours of student rotations and studying, nothing relaxes me more than cooking food with names I don’t know how to pronounce.” She laughed then, a light, airy sound that didn’t have any substance, like she was forcing it out. Ainsley’s amusement had been genuine, not this detached disposition.
He was thinking way too much about that woman. “It’s nice that you have something that you enjoy so much.”
“Great for you, too,” she said, displaying her perfect smile. “I can cook you a meal that will knock your boots off.”
The door handle turned and Seth entered the room, and Riley's attention zeroed in on his brother. Sweat matted his hair and a thin film of dirt covered his chin and right cheek. What had he been doing?
“I can’t believe I have to leave already.” Jewel lightly squeezed Riley’s arm. “I hope you’ll be able to talk to me again later.”
“I will,” Riley said. Seth moved to follow Jewel out of the room but Riley stopped him with a hand on his arm. He waited until the door closed. “Where have you been?”
Seth shrugged him off. “Out.”
“Out where? Molly was worried about you.”
“Molly worries if my hair isn’t combed. It’s no big deal, Ry. I was out.” He stalked out the door. Riley didn’t stop him.
Moving back home had required adjustments, but Riley hadn’t counted on playing the part of the father or having to lecture his brother on his lack of respect for his family. His stomach twisted. Seth was nearly seventeen and wouldn’t get the paternal wisdom and friendship that had guided and helped Riley through adulthood. He could only hope to do half as well as their dad had.
“Riley, this is Leigh,” Jeanne announced.
Geez, he wasn’t done yet? He stole a glance at the list, his thoughts still on his brother. After this woman, Riley would be free to find him. “Good evening.”
“This is so different from home.” Leigh’s spiciness wafted to him as she passed him on her way to the sofa. “My family owns a vineyard, so the work ethic is the same, but raising sheep sure is different from raising grapes. There are several things I’m curious about.”
“Like what?” He settled himself down for ranch talk and crossed a booted foot over his other knee, thrilled that he had another opportunity to discuss something other than cooking and equestrian skills.
“I find it interesting that everyone does everything on your ranch. You could get much more work done if you assigned a person to a particular ranch location and had them responsible only for that part.” She took a small spiral notebook and a pen out of her purse.
She took notes in the one day she was at the Crescent Ridge? No wonder Molly the meticulous one chose her. Leigh’s eyes seemed almost purple, and he wasn’t sure if mother nature or her optometrist was responsible. She wore her blue suit with such sophistication she seemed like she was about to attend a business meeting, but he was sure she’d be real pretty if she let herself loosen up.
“I don’t want the hands to get bored with the same job every day,” he explained.
“Your workers would be more cost-effective focusing only on one job. That’s the way we handle things at the vineyard.” Leigh frowned at his apparent lack of understanding.
“A vineyard isn’t the same as a ranch,” Riley countered.
She frowned and chewed her lower lip for a moment. “I suppose there are some differences,” she allowed. She flipped to the next page. “I’m also curious as to why you go around on horses. I would think Jeeps would be much more efficient.”
“I suppose that’s how you go around at the vineyard?” He gripped the vinyl upholstery to keep himself planted in the chair. Her passion for her land was understandable, but he hadn’t
“I love to cook.” She leaned in with interest and he got a hint of her subtle, flowered scent. “I’ve even taken gourmet classes. After long hours of student rotations and studying, nothing relaxes me more than cooking food with names I don’t know how to pronounce.” She laughed then, a light, airy sound that didn’t have any substance, like she was forcing it out. Ainsley’s amusement had been genuine, not this detached disposition.
He was thinking way too much about that woman. “It’s nice that you have something that you enjoy so much.”
“Great for you, too,” she said, displaying her perfect smile. “I can cook you a meal that will knock your boots off.”
The door handle turned and Seth entered the room, and Riley's attention zeroed in on his brother. Sweat matted his hair and a thin film of dirt covered his chin and right cheek. What had he been doing?
“I can’t believe I have to leave already.” Jewel lightly squeezed Riley’s arm. “I hope you’ll be able to talk to me again later.”
“I will,” Riley said. Seth moved to follow Jewel out of the room but Riley stopped him with a hand on his arm. He waited until the door closed. “Where have you been?”
Seth shrugged him off. “Out.”
“Out where? Molly was worried about you.”
“Molly worries if my hair isn’t combed. It’s no big deal, Ry. I was out.” He stalked out the door. Riley didn’t stop him.
Moving back home had required adjustments, but Riley hadn’t counted on playing the part of the father or having to lecture his brother on his lack of respect for his family. His stomach twisted. Seth was nearly seventeen and wouldn’t get the paternal wisdom and friendship that had guided and helped Riley through adulthood. He could only hope to do half as well as their dad had.
“Riley, this is Leigh,” Jeanne announced.
Geez, he wasn’t done yet? He stole a glance at the list, his thoughts still on his brother. After this woman, Riley would be free to find him. “Good evening.”
“This is so different from home.” Leigh’s spiciness wafted to him as she passed him on her way to the sofa. “My family owns a vineyard, so the work ethic is the same, but raising sheep sure is different from raising grapes. There are several things I’m curious about.”
“Like what?” He settled himself down for ranch talk and crossed a booted foot over his other knee, thrilled that he had another opportunity to discuss something other than cooking and equestrian skills.
“I find it interesting that everyone does everything on your ranch. You could get much more work done if you assigned a person to a particular ranch location and had them responsible only for that part.” She took a small spiral notebook and a pen out of her purse.
She took notes in the one day she was at the Crescent Ridge? No wonder Molly the meticulous one chose her. Leigh’s eyes seemed almost purple, and he wasn’t sure if mother nature or her optometrist was responsible. She wore her blue suit with such sophistication she seemed like she was about to attend a business meeting, but he was sure she’d be real pretty if she let herself loosen up.
“I don’t want the hands to get bored with the same job every day,” he explained.
“Your workers would be more cost-effective focusing only on one job. That’s the way we handle things at the vineyard.” Leigh frowned at his apparent lack of understanding.
“A vineyard isn’t the same as a ranch,” Riley countered.
She frowned and chewed her lower lip for a moment. “I suppose there are some differences,” she allowed. She flipped to the next page. “I’m also curious as to why you go around on horses. I would think Jeeps would be much more efficient.”
“I suppose that’s how you go around at the vineyard?” He gripped the vinyl upholstery to keep himself planted in the chair. Her passion for her land was understandable, but he hadn’t
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