5. Piper
Piper
“ D o you want the job?” The tall alpha, who claimed to be Montana, asked.
It wasn’t surprising that I’d mistaken him for Dakota. They were identical in every way. The moment it had dawned on me that there were two of them, my brain had immediately vacated to the gutter.
Stupidly hot and rugged cowboy twins.
“I-I do.” I nodded.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You don’t sound too confident.”
“It’s been a hard twenty-four hours.” I shrugged.
“Are you sure you’re okay? The last thing I want to do is take advantage…”
“Where is your ranch?” I asked, struggling to keep eye contact with him.
His gaze was so intense, full of thought.
Even though I had only just met this twin, I got the impression he was the more serious of the two.
In my short meeting with Dakota, he had come across as a bit more playful and mischievous.
Both were incredible in their own ways.
“Is that your car?” He nodded out the large glass windows of the diner to Lance’s Mercedes.
“It’s a car that I drove here,” I muttered, doing my best to avoid the truth. Getting in trouble for grand theft was not the best way to impress a potential employer.
Montana cleared his throat. “Well, then, why don’t we just leave the keys with Evelyn and go pick up your things to bring to the ranch?”
“There’s not a chance in hell I’m going back to that place to pick up my stuff,” I blurted before I could think better of it.
That actually drew a small smile across Montana’s face.
“Fine by me, Miss Collins. We can head back to the ranch, get you settled in, and figure out the rest from there, if that’s okay with you?”
“Yes, Mister Flint, that is fine by me.”
“I know this is sudden, but we desperately need help, and you appear to be in a pickle, so we may as well help one another.”
The drive from Evelyn’s Diner to the ranch couldn’t have been more than ten minutes.
We passed a few local stores, then pulled down an unpaved road, Montana’s truck passing beneath a wood post and hammered iron sign that read Blackwood Ranch .
We drove up to a large field lined with wooden fences, the main ranch house and massive roof barn still a good ways away down the dirt road.
When Montana pulled his truck up to the large log home—with its chimneys and sheet metal roof as the stars were coming out, I felt like I was looking at a postcard for Sweetwater Springs. It practically screamed Visit Blackwood Ranch!
As soon as the truck came to a stop, two men exploded from the front screen door. Montana’s twin, Dakota, who I’d met in the store, and another man—an absolute monster with a mane of shaggy blond hair and muscular shoulders like the broad side of a barn.
Montana walked around the hood to my passenger door, opening it wide so that the boys might see me inside.
“Didn’t tell us you were picking up dinner and dessert.” The tall blond one grinned, actually licking his lips.
Dakota elbowed him in the ribs. “She’s got a name,” he protested under his breath.
“Behave,” Montana warned the giant man, taking the bag of food from my hands.
“I’m sorry, Miss.” The tall blond man stepped forward and extended one of his massive hands to me, his palms rough, presumably from life as a ranch worker. “My name is Zeke, and let me assure you—it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
I placed my hand in his, a blush spreading across my cheeks as his hand folded easily around mine, helping me down from the truck.
His eyes were so green, like the rolling hills of grass around us, that I nearly forgot I was supposed to be introducing myself. When I reached the ground, Zeke was a full foot taller than me and was totally ripped .
“Piper Collins, pleased to meet you—all of you,” I stammered. When I stepped back, his hand hesitated when letting mine go.
“Miss Piper Collins, you look even sweeter than a slice of apple pie.” Zeke beamed, playing off his joke from earlier.
“With a scoop of vanilla ice cream,” Dakota was quick to add, not wanting to be forgotten.
Before either of the other two could get ahead of themselves, Montana was quick to interject.
“Well, boys, say hello to the newest member of the payroll here at Blackwood Ranch.” Montana shouldered in front of Zeke, practically pushing him and his twin brother back from me as he announced my hire to the others.
“Miss Collins has graciously agreed to fill our position for live-in nanny for Maisie and to take up the reins on kitchen duty.”
Zeke and Dakota’s eyes widened, along with their grins.
“You’re staying here with us?” Dakota confirmed as his eyes bounced from me to his twin brother and back again.
“I am, indeed,” I answered confidently before adding more sheepishly, “though I may have to impose upon you for a trip out to get a few things tomorrow.” I ran a hand back through my hair nervously.
“Montana was kind enough to offer me the job when all I had was my wallet and the clothes on my back.”
All three of them eyed my sundress, then pointedly looked away.
“Don’t you worry, Miss Collins,” Zeke chimed in. “I can get you a quilt and some things to sleep in tonight, and one of us can take you to the store tomorrow. And if not one of us, then maybe Clay. You need things, and we don’t want you going without.”
“That would be great, thanks.” I stood somewhat awkwardly, trying to stuff down my embarrassment.
The twins exchanged a look that I couldn’t quite read but hurried into the house to tuck into the delicious food from Evelyn’s.