Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Business class was the only way to travel. Kat wouldn’t have it any other way. But the second they touched down in Billings, Kat immediately regretted not fighting her father on this ridiculous idea.
At first, she’d had several reasons it wasn’t necessary for her to come to the country and oversee the project.
Video chat had been invented, had it not?
Phone calls were easy to make from anywhere.
Heck, coming down for a weekend here and there would have been better than spending the next four to six months on a ranch where she didn’t belong.
She stared out the window at the red and gold trees in the distance and what would be her new home before closing her eyes. They were taxiing on the tarmac toward the airport and soon she’d be greeted by the person sent to pick her up.
Dear old dad had said this would be a good experience not only from a business standpoint, but also as a way to ground her.
He hadn’t grown up with wealth. Not like she had.
Sure, there had been money in the family.
They hadn’t wanted for anything, not really.
But the extent of her upbringing was so starkly different from her father’s.
And her father had been forced to spend time away from the luxuries their wealth offered.
Kat sighed. If she’d only agreed to do that backpacking trip through Europe with her roommates, maybe she could have argued that she knew how to manage on her own. Then this wouldn’t have even come up.
Her dad was probably right about one thing. It would be good to see how things operated first-hand. And she might have even been excited about it if it weren’t for one thing.
Or rather, one person.
Leo.
She grimaced at the thought of seeing him. Then she reminded herself that this ranch seemed bigger than most. The way Noah described it, Sagebrush was similar in ways to that western television show that was really popular right now.
Kat stood when the plane stopped and grabbed her things.
They’d have to gather her suitcases from baggage claim as well.
Then she’d be off to her temporary home.
The crew had broken ground yesterday. Everything was on schedule, but that didn’t mean anything, seeing as it was only day two of this adventure.
With the ranch being bigger, maybe her interactions with Leo could be minimized. He was only a liaison after all. Perhaps she’d be able to call in meetings once a week to get his input and other than that, she’d observe from a distance.
That thought brought her hope until she slipped past the security area and saw the one person she’d prayed to avoid—at least for today.
Speak of the devil.
Kat scowled as her eyes darted to the white sign Leo held. Across it he’d scrawled ‘Kathleen’. Below her name in smaller lettering he’d written, ‘the devil herself’. And below that? ‘No autographs please’.
She stomped over to him immediately and tore the sign from his hands.
He laughed. Of course he would laugh. Everyone surrounding him had seen the sign already and there were several people eyeing her with curiosity.
If this had been Rocky Ridge, she was certain everyone would know her by now.
Thankfully, this was Billings. But that happy thought only lasted seconds because the cold, hard reality of her situation settled into her very soul. They had a couple hour drive to town.
Kat wished the sign and the impending drive were the worst of her increasingly bad day.
Nope, it only got worse.
“What do you mean, my bags were left in New York?”
“I’m sorry, Miss,” the airline attendant spluttered, “There was a mix-up and some of the luggage was left behind. I’ve reached out to the appropriate channels and they’ll have it on the next flight.”
Leo scoffed at her side. “When’s that?”
The attendant looked down at her screen. “It appears your bags will get here in about eight hours.”
“Eight hours?” Kat snapped. “That’s two in the morning.”
At least the agent looked apologetic. “There are hotels—”
“Not gonna happen,” Leo growled. “We’re not staying the night here. We’ll come back and get them in a few days.”
Kat spun to face him. “A few days? What do you mean a few days? Everything I own is in those bags.”
He eyed the carryon bag at her feet. “What’s in there?”
She flushed. Kat had been on more than one trip where something like this had happened and it was habit to put a change of clothes in her carryon for situations like the one she was in now.
The look he gave her made it clear he already knew. She hadn’t had to breathe a word about it.
Leo turned back to the agent. “Will they notify her when they have it?”
“Of course,” she said sweetly.
“And how long will they hold it?”
“Oh, if you’re unable to get it for a few days, that should be fine. There will be a ticket number related to the luggage and that’s all you’ll need to have them get it for you.”
“Great,” Leo muttered. He leaned down and scooped up her carryon bag. “Come on, Kathleen. Let’s go.”
Her wide stare bounced from the agent to Leo and back. Then she stalked after him and reached for her bag, but he wouldn’t release it. “I can carry my things, thank you.”
“What sort of gentleman would I be if I didn’t help out a damsel in distress?”
She tugged at the handle again. “Gentleman? Ha. And I’m not some damsel in distress.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
She growled out an exasperated sound. “Will you unhand my bag?”
This time he chuckled.
“I don’t mind staying in a hotel. Then I can get a taxi to Rocky Ridge tomorrow when I have the rest of my things.”
He scoffed. “Noah and Jane would tear me up if I showed up without you.” He looked at her with an arched brow. The way he stared at her was unnerving at best. Back in New York, they were on her turf. Here? She was at his mercy.
Kat pressed her lips together firmly. He was right to assume she had backup clothes in her bag and he knew it. She should dart away from him, get a taxi, and show him just how little control he had over her.
But something told her that he’d probably enjoy the chase. Not only that, he’d probably throw her over his shoulder in some caveman show of superiority.
Leo faced her fully, his hand still wrapped tightly around the handle of her suitcase. Her focus dipped to where they remained connected. If she ran, he’d have her only spare clothes. There was no feasible way she’d get what she wanted tonight.
For heaven’s sake. Why was he being so stubborn? One call to Jane and Kat was sure she’d understand. Unfortunately, Kat had put her cell phone into the front pocket of her carryon.
She sighed. Without uttering a word, she pushed past Leo to head for the sliding glass doors. Leo followed her. She didn’t have to look over her shoulder to verify that he was. She could feel him, sense his annoying amusement at winning this battle.
Leo would learn soon enough that it wasn’t the battles that were worth winning, though. It was the war. Kat wasn’t one to back down from a fight and one of these days, Leo was going to find himself on the other end of the barrel, wishing he hadn’t underestimated her.
Once outside, Leo led the way. Her heels clipped against the cement as she followed him into an adjacent parking lot.
Neither one of them spoke which was perfectly fine with her.
Leo tossed her bag into the back of a pickup and Kat immediately went for her door.
One yank confirmed he hadn’t unlocked it yet.
She scowled at him as he approached her side and pressed the fob to unlock the door before gesturing for her to enter.
“Here you go, Princess.”
She bristled, opened her mouth, then thought better of retorting. Reacting to him would only egg him on. Kat climbed into the truck and pulled her seatbelt across her chest. “How far is it until Rocky Ridge?” she asked when he got into his seat.
“A little over an hour.”
Inwardly, she groaned. The flight hadn’t been terrible, but she wasn’t looking forward to spending any more time than necessary in Leo’s presence. She turned toward her window as he started the truck. Country music filled the space and she focused on anything but the man seated beside her.
“This is where you’re going to stay,” Leo pulled the truck to a stop in front of a cute house. It was surrounded by three others in a sort of cul-de-sac layout. They’d passed a larger house when they’d entered the property beneath a sign that read ‘Sagebrush Ranch’.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the house. “It is?”
He paused with his hand on the handle. “Yeah. Is something wrong?” That one brow quirked upward, daring her to turn her nose up at the house they offered her.
“No, of course not. It’s just… isn’t it a little much for one person?”
Leo snorted. “You’re not staying here alone. This house belongs to my mom.”
She blinked. Then she blinked again. “Wait, I—”
“It’s okay, Princess. My mom doesn’t bite.”
Scowling, she folded her arms. “I am more than happy to pay for my own space.”
“At the place in town? Yeah right. With how long you’re going to be here, Jane and Noah insisted we needed to find you something close. Besides, this place is free.”
Kat shot another look at the house. It would be nicer than staying in a hotel. And she didn’t want it getting back to her father that she wasn’t being grateful for Jane’s hospitality. That wouldn’t go over well at all.
Rather than argue, she pushed open her door and climbed out. Leo already had her bag in hand as they walked up to the front of the house. Leo pushed the door open and hollered, “I’m back.”
The most delicious smells reached her and her stomach growled, reminding her that all she’d eaten today was coffee, a bagel, and airplane pretzels.
Leo smirked at her, obviously hearing the grumblings of her stomach.
The strangest temptation to stick her tongue out at him hit her, but she refrained. She could do this. She could be professional even if Leo wasn’t going to do the same.
They moved through a nice living room with a couple leather couches surrounding a coffee table.
Bookshelves lined the walls filled to the brim with books.
A television had been attached to a space above a fireplace.
It had a homey feel, and Kat could already envision herself in this space as the weather got colder.
She followed Leo to some stairs and he led her to the second story.
There was a door right off the landing and he pushed it open.
The space was masculine. The bedframe looked like it had been forged from reclaimed wood.
The bedding was all blues and browns. There was a mirror leaning against one wall, a dresser, and a desk.
A window showed rolling hills and she couldn’t wait to get a better look.
Leo placed her bag on the bed. “The bathroom is down the hall. My mom’s bedroom is downstairs. There’s a linen closet with towels and toiletries next to the bathroom and a laundry room on the other side. If you need anything, I’m next door.”
She whirled around at that. “You…”
One side of his mouth quirked upward in the most maddeningly way. “I… what?”
“You… live here?”
He folded his arms and leaned against the doorjamb with a smirk that under normal circumstances would have a swarm of wasps taking up shop in her stomach.
As it was, she could barely breathe. So much for hoping she’d avoid this man at all costs.
“Yes,” Leo drawled. “I live here. Sagebrush is a family ranch. My uncle wanted all our family taken care of.”
She cleared her throat. “But next door? Meaning, down the hall?”
“Yes, Princess. I’m down the hall.” He pushed away from the wall and stalked toward her. The lithe way he moved had her mesmerized. Someone so tall and muscular shouldn’t have the grace Leo had. It didn’t make sense.
Forgetting herself, Kat backed up until she bumped against the desk. Her hands gripped the edge and she lifted her chin even though on the inside she was trembling.
“Is that a problem, Princess?” he whispered huskily.
His gaze narrowed on her, sweeping over her face before he lifted his hand.
She flinched, then grew hot with embarrassment when all he did was tug a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
“Quite the skittish one, aren’t you?” His lips curled into a knowing grin.
“Doesn’t feel so great being plucked from your tower, Princess? ”
She glowered at him. “Stop calling me that!”
“Why?” He was close, hovering mere inches from her face. “It’s what you are, isn’t it? The heir to her father’s kingdom? The poor little princess who gets to take over in her father’s stead when he steps down? I think the name suits you.”
Her eyes narrowed even as her body betrayed her. She couldn’t help but notice the way his cheek dimpled beneath the scruff on his face when he grinned wickedly at her. She hated that she noticed how long his lashes were or the way his husky voice sent her heart into overdrive.
“Whether you like it or not, you’re on my turf now. Might want to get used to it.” With that, Leo straightened and sauntered away, leaving her clutching onto the desk for dear life.
“What a jerk,” she muttered under her breath.