17. Chapter Seventeen
The next morning, Becca zipped her suitcase with a sigh. She didn’t want to leave. This week had been so eye opening, especially yesterday. After they made love all night, Tyler had left her early this morning with a kiss and a whisper.
“Go live your dreams, sweetheart. You deserve them.”
Sweet, loving Tyler. Everything he’d done this week had helped her break free of her inhibitions but also helped her realize how empty her life had been. He was so unselfish, thinking of her pleasure and her needs and sometimes denying his own.
Her dream job awaited her, except right now, at this moment, she wasn’t the least bit excited about it. She pulled her suitcase off the bed and wheeled it out of the cabin toward the main gate where her car was parked.
With each step, her heart grew heavier. This wasn’t about the fantastic sex they’d had. It had to do with her feelings for Tyler. How could she leave the man she loved? Becca stopped in her tracks. She loved Tyler, crazy as it sounded. Pinpointing when she fell for him was impossible.
She had to talk to Tyler before she left. Tell him what this week had meant to her and how she felt. It would only be right. Stashing her suitcase in her car, she headed for the main house. Her courage grew as she walked.
Loud voices greeted her as she entered. Vic, the cook, was shouting, and Jared yelled back.
Interesting. She headed toward the kitchen where the voices came from.
“It’s impossible, Jared. They won’t deliver until Tuesday.”
“We need that food tonight.”
“What do you want me to do?” Vic asked.
“Excuse me. Do you have a problem?” She’d never seen Jared look so frustrated.
“Becca.” Jared’s eyes lit up. “I thought you’d left already.”
“I was about to. Is there something I can help with?” They’d mentioned a food delivery. She knew a lot of food vendors in northern California, since she’d worked with a lot of them.
“Not unless you have some pull with Wilson’s Produce Company,” Vic muttered.
“I just might. What’s the issue?” Her fingers tingled with the idea of solving the problem. For a week now, she’d concentrated on herself, and she missed the business.
“We need the produce this afternoon, but they’re insisting they can’t deliver until Tuesday.” Jared scrubbed his hand through his hair. “We have new guests arriving later today.”
Becca frowned. “That shouldn’t be a concern.” She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “Do you mind if I call them?”
“Be my guest.”
Becca pulled up her contacts and hit the connect button. “Hey, Rich, Becca here. I’m at the Quick Silver Ranch, and they need their delivery today.” She nodded while Rich talked to her about how busy they were and how they were short a driver. Her mind worked on how to fix the problem and came up with a possibility. “I see. Hold on for a second.”
She tapped the mute button and looked at Jared. “They say they’re shorthanded on drivers today, so they’re only making the large deliveries. If you double the order, I’m positive I can get them to deliver, unless you want to pick it up yourself?”
Jared looked at Vic, who shook his head. “I don’t have anyone to go pick it up. Double it. If you have to, triple it; we can use whatever you can get us,” Jared said.
“Rich,” Becca said. “Double the order and deliver today.” She listened to Rich stumble over his words, and she laughed. “Yes, I know. Thanks so much.” Becca hit the off button and looked at the men. “All done, it will be here in about three hours.”
“Now what about the other places?” Vic asked.
“Others?” She glanced at Jared’s wide grin.
“Want to try your hand at a couple of other places that are giving us issues?” Jared asked.
“I can do that.” This was her job, dealing with vendors.
“Come into my office.” Jared gestured to the kitchen doors. She exited the kitchen and then followed Jared down the hall to his office. “Please, sit here,” he held out his executive desk chair for her.
Becca sank into the luxury leather chair while Jared sat in the overstuffed chair in front of his desk. “There’s a list of our vendors. Those with check marks are done, and the other three insist they can’t bring us our full delivery today.”
Becca ran her finger down the list. She knew most of these vendors and wondered why there were suddenly problems. A puzzle she was going to solve. “What are my parameters?”
“Double or triple the order if needed, but we need supplies today.”
“Do you have the storage capacity?” That was a lot of stuff.
“We do. Normally, I don’t have more than a week to a week and a half of stuff delivered, but in this situation, we can make it work.”
“Got it. Give me an hour.”
Jared nodded and left. Becca grabbed a pen, put her cell on speaker, and dialed the first number. This was going to be fun.
***
“You’re fantastic,” Jared said an hour later when she called him back into his office. “I couldn’t get anyone to listen to me.”
Becca smiled. “You have to know how to handle them.” She’d had so much fun. A week away from what she loved doing and she was right back in the thick of it. “I only had to double one more order, but full orders will be here today. I couldn’t nail down exact times.”
Jared sat back. “You’re a lifesaver. Vic was ready to quit.”
“You need to let Vic work in the kitchen and find someone to handle the ordering and delivering of food.” It only made sense since the ranch provided meals, including ones delivered to the cabins.
“I need a head of catering.” Jared stared at her. “The job’s open if you want it.”
Becca blinked in shock. A job at the ranch? That meant she could stay. But did Tyler want her to stay? “I’m not sure.”
“Why not?” Jared leaned forward. “You enjoyed yourself here this week, and this would allow you to stay. I need someone I can trust, and I think that’s you.”
It made sense, but could she risk her heart and her livelihood? “Do you need to talk this over with Tyler first?”
“Not in this case. I handle the employees in the ranch house; he deals with the personnel who work with the animals.”
I guess it wouldn’t hurt to hear Jared out. “Let’s discuss what you want.”
***
Tyler groomed the horse after his long ride. He’d said his good-byes to Becca that morning and then took off on Thunder. He couldn’t watch her leave. His heart hurt too much.
Maybe he should have told her he loved her, but they’d agreed to the one week. Her dream job waited for her. She’d said that multiple times, so it had to be important to her. Plus, she’d come here after a breaking her engagement, though she seemed to be recovered from that.
Last night, after they made love, he’d been so close to asking her to stay. Then he had to spoil it by asking about her the job. Her eyes lit up as she talked about it, and he wouldn’t stop her from chasing her dreams. He wanted her to be happy.
Tyler blew out a breath and rubbed his abs. He’d survive, somehow. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was almost time for the new guests to arrive, and Jared liked him to be around for any questions. He needed to put on a smile and be the host Jared needed.
He walked slowly from the barn to the main house and up to his rooms. Already, the ranch seemed empty without Becca. She lit up his entire world with her smile. She trusted him when she didn’t have a reason to trust anyone. How could he let her go without telling her how much she meant to him? He should call her. He’d do that once he finished his duties with the new guests.
Maybe he could figure out something where he would be able spend weekends in San Francisco with her. Would she be willing to have a long-distance romance? God, he hoped so, because he couldn’t imagine his life without her. He was a complete goner.
The city wasn’t that far away. But was that fair to Jared? They’d gone into this as a partnership. If he was gone every weekend, that left a lot to Jared. Screw it. Jared would understand. After taking a quick shower and pulling on some clothes, he was no closer to an answer.
He’d talk to Jared after dinner with the new guests tonight. Tyler had learned a hard lesson about chasing a woman. That hadn’t ended well, yet here he was, ready to do it all over again.
He loved Becca. That had to mean something, and every ounce of his being told him he needed to take this chance. Confusion swirled inside him as he tried to figure a way he could be with Becca and not leave Jared in the lurch. Maybe he could get one of his workers to take over his duties with the horses on weekends, and stay at the ranch on weekdays. That way, he could spend time with Becca.
Could he be happy in the city? With Becca in his arms, yes. With a plan in mind, he descended the stairs. Jared would probably agree, but how did Becca feel? They’d never really confessed their feelings to each other.
He swore silently. He should have told her of his love this morning instead of letting her go. It wasn’t too late. Instead of calling her, he’d drive to the city after dinner. He loved her and he would see if she loved him too. It was a risk, but one he was willing to take.
At the bottom of the stairs, he heard the chatter of the new guests. Despite his heavy heart, he pasted on a smile and walked into the dining room. His heart stopped. Becca stood there, speaking with a guest, looking like she’d been part of the ranch staff for months. What was she doing here? She should have been gone hours ago.
“Great,” Jared said. “Everyone, this is Tyler, my business partner.”
“Becca?” Tyler ignored Jared.
“Hi there.” Her sweet voice teased his senses.
“Perfect,” Jared said. “I was just about to introduce everyone to our newest team member” Jared walked over to Becca and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Newest member?” Why was Jared touching his woman? Pull in the reins , the sane voice inside him chanted. Jared was his friend, and Becca’s gaze was still on Tyler.
“Yes.” Becca grinned. “Hi, everyone, I’m Becca, and I’m the head of catering, so if there is anything special you need foodwise, let me know.”
Everyone welcomed her and returned to chatting amongst themselves.
Tyler walked over to where Becca and Jared stood grinning. “If you’ll excuse us for a minute,” Tyler said to his friend.
“Of course.” Jared removed his hand and took his seat at the table.
“I thought you’d left,” Tyler said, staring down at her beautiful face and ignoring everyone else in the room.
“I was about to and came to ask Jared where you were. I—I needed to talk to you before I left.”
“And he offered you a job? What about your dream job?”
“Vic and Jared were having issues with some vendors, and I helped them out.” She lifted her hands to his face. “Tyler, something changed in me this week. Something big, and you made that happen. I realized I don’t need a dream job, not when I’ve found the man of my dreams. That is, if he’ll have me?”
Becca bit her lower lip. Tyler knew that meant she was unsure of herself. Her words filtered in, filling his heart and soul with overflowing joy. “Want you? I’m never letting you go.” He swept her into his arms.
“I love you, Tyler. I won’t hold it back anymore.”
“I love you too.” He hugged her, happiness surging through his veins. “I was going to drive to the city tonight to find you and tell you that. To see what we could work out. And here you are, my dream come true. I can’t live without you, Becca.”
She beamed. “The universe is looking out for us.”
“Yes.” He glanced around the room. “If you all will excuse us. I need want some private time with my woman.” He guided Becca from the room to rousing applause.
“Your woman?” she asked.
“Yes.” He led her out onto the front porch and slanted his mouth over hers.
“Mine,” he said. “Now, and forever.”
***
Thank you for reading Broken Rules. The companion story Tangled Temptation (Jared and Angie's book) will be released in June.