Chapter 11
Leah
My nerves were still frayed from the confrontation with Kade a few nights ago, but it was getting easier every day I didn’t see him, which was three at this point. Plus it was getting more comfortable here by the minute. It had been about a week and a half and it felt almost normal when I strolled into the bunkhouse.
Chuck was stirring something on the stove. He wasn’t just the ranch foreman, but something like the ranch father.
“Smells amazing,” I said, peeking into the huge pot.
“It’s my famous chili. Was one of the missus’s favorites,” he said, referring to his late wife, who’d died ten years ago. Spending every minute with these people was putting all our relationships on fast forward.
“Can’t wait to try it.” I dropped my bag on the floor, taking a count of how many wet heads I saw. Being last on the list meant a lukewarm shower at best. No one tried to hog the hot water, but a forty-gallon tank couldn’t work miracles. “Oh no, I’m last, aren’t I?” I said, looking at Benny and Elijah, who appeared squeaky clean and were now laughing.
“I think Adam’s in there now,” Benny said, angling his head toward the bathroom and the sound of running water.
Missy had been offering to share her bathroom, but taking her clothes was enough. I couldn’t accept anything else, even if I really wanted to. I’d been in her bathroom, with its little plants on the sill and candles on the cabinet. It was like an oasis, especially compared to the bunkhouse bathroom I was sharing with these guys.
I was about to settle onto the couch to wait my turn when Missy walked out of the bathroom.
“What were you doing in there?” I asked.
“My hot water heater blew,” she said, and then looked at Elijah. “I need you to get on that.”
He threw his hands up. “I told you I’d work on it tomorrow. I can’t do anything until the plumbing house opens.”
“And what about the broken lock?” she asked. “It’s bad enough I have to shower here without feeling like I have to barricade the door.”
I grabbed my bag, ignoring their bickering and heading for the shower. If Adam showed up, he’d try to jump the line. He had no scruples whatsoever. I was supposedly the felon, and yet he couldn’t respect the basic universal law of first come, first served. Bastard was probably one of those last-in-line people who ran to the new register even before the cashier yelled, “Next in line.”
I was stripping down a few minutes later when I heard Adam’s loud mouth carrying on about something. I’d only beaten him to the shower by minutes, which somehow made it all the sweeter. I was giggling to myself, and turning on the water, when the bathroom door swung open.
“Missy, use your own damned?—”
Adam’s voice drifted off as he stood there in front of wide-open door. I was completely naked. Not only was he there, but Benny and Elijah were standing across the room with a clear view.
I grabbed my towel from the bar as I yelled, “Shut the door, you animal.”
My words seemed to jar Adam out of the spell that had frozen him. To give him credit, he shut the door immediately.
I wasn’t exactly an exhibitionist, but I wasn’t so modest I’d be dwelling on this. Still, someone really needed to fix that lock. I wasn’t ready to give peep shows every day.
I came out of the bathroom after my shower, and settled at the table, where everyone was already eating. Chuck, who sometimes ate while he cooked, was probably off doing the last run around the ranch that he liked to do before leaving.
I was already digging into the chili when Adam said, “Sorry for the, eh…situation.”
The small smirk didn’t ring of an authentic apology.
“Not a problem, but if you don’t knock next time the door is closed, I’m going to kick you in the balls.” My tough words didn’t have the effect I’d hoped for, as he sat there still smirking to himself.
“Stop looking at her like you saw her naked,” Benny said, glaring at Adam.
“It’s hard because I have,” Adam said, smiling at Benny, who was significantly smaller.
“You’re so gross,” Missy said, glaring at him too.
“Hey, let’s not make this bigger than it is,” Elijah said. He looked across the table at me, his cheeks getting a touch red. “Sorry if I accidentally caught a glance, too. Wasn’t intended.”
“Not a problem.” At least his apology had a spark of truth.
“Why’s it not a problem to flash him?” Adam asked, staring at me.
“Because he didn’t stand there and drool, you loser,” Missy said, answering for me. It was a pretty accurate call on her part.
“Shut the fuck up, you charity case,” Adam said.
“Don’t talk to her like that. Who do you think you are?” I said, his words finally igniting my temper.
“You’re way out of line, Adam,” Elijah said at the same time.
Missy was got to her feet and leaned over the table, trying to poke Adam in the chest as she said, “You fucking bastard. You don’t know a horse from an ass. You want to talk charity? Your paycheck might as well be a donation check to the needy.”
Seeing as Missy clearly didn’t need me to defend her, I grabbed her and the chili bowls and said, “I think we should go eat over at my place.”
Elijah, who was physically blocking Missy with his body, nodded. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
Adam just stood there looking at her with a smile.
“Missy, come on,” I said, bumping her with my arm, since my hands were full.
She hesitated for a few more seconds, while Elijah jerked his head toward the door, before she finally relented, following me.
“I hate that fucker,” she said as she took her bowl from me and settled into my one chair.
I settled cross-legged on the bed. “He really is unpleasant.”
She glanced around, the haze of rage she’d been in seeming to lift. “Why didn’t we go back to my place?”
“Because I was trying to just get you out of there before you punched a guy who is twice your size and would probably punch you back.”
She tilted her head. “Sometimes I get a little mad and seem to lose perspective of what I can do.” She shrugged and then giggled.
“Yeah, I kind of noticed that,” I said, laughing too.
She looked about the place again. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but if you’re going to be here a year, we should really do something to cheer this place up. Even if we get you a plant or two, maybe? Like, I don’t want to be mean, but it’s kind of a dump and depressing as hell.”
“Yeah. I know. Strangely, it’s sort of growing on me.” Or maybe it was this whole place and the people, like her, and the guys, minus Adam. If I could just avoid Kade, I might even like being here for a year.
“Okay. Well, here’s to shed life, then?”
“To shed life.” I might be living in a shed, but I’d damn well make the most of it.