Chapter 12 #2
Yeah, that did absolutely nothing to assuage Ville’s ire at not being included. It made sense. Security was his purview, even though the ranch technically hadn’t hired him for that. He still took it seriously and I was pretty sure Carter was going to get an earful later.
We walked in to Carter finishing the introductions. Wilder was smiling, but not like he was used to it. It looked stiff on his face.
“Nice to meet you all. Not gonna lie, though. There’s a whole lot of you. I ain’t gonna retain all those names. I’ll get it eventually though.” He waved a hand like it was no big deal. “I’ll get started.”
He didn’t wait for anyone to acknowledge that, just headed for the kitchen. My gaze shot to Mom’s and she looked sort of ragey. I braced myself.
“As I told Carter, your services aren’t necessary.” That was her ice voice, the one she used when she was steaming mad and wouldn’t show it. She made a point never to yell, unless someone was in danger, but this tone was just as scary.
Wilder shrugged. “Too bad. I’m here. Think of it as a vacation.”
Mom blew out a breath and her next words were delivered through clenched teeth. “I don’t need a vacation.”
Wilder had been about to start opening cupboards like he owned the place, but he froze for just a second. Then he turned and leveled Mom with a look. She stared right back. Neither of them moved, barely breathed, just stared each other down.
Ville was tense under my touch, and Bodhi actually took a step closer to Mom.
Whether that was to protect her or keep her from hurting Wilder was anyone’s guess.
The tension in the room was so thick that you could cut it with a knife.
And really, until that second, I’d never truly understood what that expression meant.
Carter cleared his throat. “Mr. Wilder, perhaps—”
Wilder threw up a hand, effectively cutting Carter off, and never took his gaze off Mom. Another second or two passed, and Wilder crossed his arms over his chest.
“Well? You gonna come over here and give me the lay of the land and tell me how you like things, or what?”
Keegan made a “oooooh” sound that was barely more than a breath.
I was glad Dad wasn’t here because he would have given Wilder a verbal lashing for speaking to his wife that way.
But to everyone’s surprise, Mom stood up, practically stomped over to the kitchen area, then pulled out one of the barstools and sat down.
She pointed to the narrow door in the back corner of the kitchen. “Dry goods pantry there.”
We all released a collective breath. Mom and Wilder started bantering, even if there was still an edge to both their tones, and I turned to look at my siblings and Carter. My siblings understood that it was a tentative truce. Carter looked like someone had kicked his puppy.
“I thought she was okay with it,” Carter murmured, still looking stricken. He kept shooting glances over his shoulder at the pair in the kitchen.
“She is,” Kee said, setting the rocking chair in motion again.
I didn’t know how he’d been the one to get baby trapped by the twins, but they were both napping on him.
Emerson was laid out on his chest, little face tucked against Kee’s neck, and Phinn was sleeping with his tiny mouth hanging open, snuggled in the crook of Kee’s arm.
Kee didn’t seem upset by this turn in events though, just kept rocking.
“She’s gotta stand her ground though. That’s how she is.
If she wasn’t fine with it, if she didn’t accept it, no way Nick would have been allowed to stay. ”
“It’s true,” Bodhi agreed. “She would have had me toss him out on his ass. And only because she can’t do it herself right now.”
“I can hear you, you know,” Mom’s voice cut through, making us all jump. We all whipped around to be caught in her “mom stare.” She sucked her teeth. “Don’t you all have work to do?”
A chorus of “Yes, ma’ams” rang through the room and everyone but Kee, Ville, and I scattered. I’d taken a couple of days off to be there for Mom as she began her recovery, so I didn’t have any place to be at the moment.
The front door opened again and Judson came tromping through. I heard his boots hit the floor as he kicked them off, and a couple of seconds later, he emerged.
“Hey, who’s motor…cy…cle…”
His attention was instantly caught by the man peering into the fridge, and he froze as Wilder shut the door and looked over. Wilder sized him up, then turned to my mom without a word. Judson, on the other hand, seemed transfixed. As though he couldn’t take his eyes off the new cook.
I fought the smile. That was an interesting turn of events.
But not a worry or anything that needed my attention at the moment.
No, the man beside me needed that, especially after what he confessed earlier.
The blow job had helped to settle him, but I knew he was anxious about Mom.
The care he showed toward my family warmed my heart.
He didn’t have to. He was, technically, a friend of a friend.
And the two of us were….whatever we were.
But it wasn’t just concern for me that had him on edge. His emotions ran deeper than that.
“She’s good,” I murmured, tucking myself against his side. Ville immediately wrapped an arm around me. “And Wilder doesn’t seem phased by her cranky. You know her frustration is at the situation, not him, right?”
Ville absorbed that. “If you say so.”
“You can go sit with her, if you want,” I suggested gently.
“I don’t want to distract her,” he responded, never taking his gaze off her.
“You won’t. I promise. Go sit with her and talk to her while she’s ordering the new guy around.” I extracted myself from his hold and gave him a gentle nudge. She didn’t need protecting, but I knew it would make him feel better all around.
Ville barely moved at my prodding, but his brow crinkled as though he was thinking. After a moment or two, he gave a single nod, kissed me on the corner of my mouth, and crossed the room to sit beside Mom. She gave him her sweet smile, patted his hand, and kept talking.
“Nick, get Ville a lemonade.” It was a command and I heard Wilder snort but he did as Mom directed.
Satisfied they were all taken care of for the moment, I turned to Judson, who was still staring. He hadn’t even moved.
“The cook Carter hired. Nick Wilder,” I offered.
Judson’s mouth popped open and he nodded.
“How are your potatoes?” Keegan asked, which finally snapped Judson out of whatever trance he’d been in.
“Smashed,” Judson answered.
As usual, I had no idea what they were talking about, but it must have made sense to Kee because he nodded. “Come baby.”
Judson understood that vague directive too and moved, finally, dropping down onto the floor next to the rocking chair. The handover of Phinneas went smoothly, the baby barely even noticing. Judson cooed at Phinn for a second, then settled the baby across his knees and patted his diapered butt.
Well then. Seemed like everyone was taken care of and occupied for the moment. It was early afternoon, but dinner was handled, and I had nothing else to do. Deciding a nap was in order, especially after that orgasm, I headed upstairs to clean up and get some shut eye.