Chapter Seven
Nate entered the barn, then his office. He wanted to check if there were any emails inquiring about the job.
He strode around his desk, pulled the chair up behind him, and sat down. As he opened the computer, he saw he had a ton of emails to go through. He used to post his phone number, but he’d get so many calls that he had to keep stopping work to answer. It was easier this way. Reading some of the emails let him know if a person was fit for the job or not.
Later, in the afternoon, Nate entered the feed barn to see if they needed any more. They’d just had a delivery, but Beau purchased five more horses. Nate shook his head, Beau loved horses as much as he did.
After checking the bins, he decided it wouldn’t hurt to get more, so he returned to his office and called Ash Beckett. He could easily call the warehouse, but he knew Ash would get an order to him more quickly.
Once he hung up from Ash, he called Jobe.
“Yeah, boss?”
“Jobe, another shipment of feed will be here tomorrow. Get some men on it, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I posted a job opening at The Feed yesterday and already have a lot of inquiries. Let’s hope we get someone who knows what they’re doing.”
“I hope so.” Jobe hung up.
Nate stuck his phone in his back pocket and walked out of the office. It was warm today. So much for that little bit of snow. Nate hoped it would stay warm.
“Shit,” he muttered as he remembered he needed to call the restaurant.
A few minutes later, he called Grant Hunter, the owner.
“Nate. How are you?” Grant said when he answered.
“I’m good, thanks. You?”
“Great. What can I do for you?”
“Get me in for dinner Saturday night around six. Please.”
“Good thing you added that ‘please’ or I would have told you to fuck off.”
Nate laughed. “I have good manners.” He continued to grin as Grant laughed.
“Let me call you back.” Grant hung up.
“Nate.”
He turned to see Beau coming toward him.
“Hey, Beau. What’s up?”
“Just on my way back out. How’s it going?”
“Fine. I hate being down a man, but I’ll hire someone soon.”
“Did you post about the job?”
“Yeah. I posted yesterday and have about ten interviews lined up. We had a lot of resumes, but some didn’t sound like they knew the difference between a horse’s ass and its face.”
Beau chuckled. “We can’t have that, can we?”
“No. What are you doing home so early?”
“I finished up a case and decided to head home to my beautiful wife to have lunch with her, and she’s not even here.” Beau grinned.
Nate laughed. “I’m sure she’ll be home soon.”
“Yeah, she will be. She went into town to do some shopping. I’ll head back to the office for a while.”
“Does Brenna get bored during the summer with school being out?”
“Sometimes, but she spends a lot of time with my mother. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”
As Nate was about to answer, his phone buzzed from his pocket, and he removed it to see Grant’s number.
“Excuse me, I need to take this.”
“That’s fine.”
Nate answered the phone. “Hey, Grant.”
“Nate, I was able to get you in at six.”
“I appreciate it, Grant.”
“No problem.” Grant hung up.
“Had to call Grant to get into the restaurant, huh?” Beau grinned.
“I did. It’s a good thing I’m friends with him.”
“Yeah, been there. Hey, I’ll see you later.”
“Alright. Have a good evening.”
“Oh, I plan to.” Beau walked out of the barn.
Nate sent a text to Markie.
Six o’clock Saturday.
That sounds good. I’ll see you then.
Yes, you will. Nate hung up.
He headed toward the indoor corral when he heard the men shouting. He knew one of the colts needed to be broke. A chore he never liked doing, but he had many times. He stepped up to the corral, put his foot on the bottom rail, folded his arms on the top one. He chuckled when one of the ranch hands flew through the air when the horse bucked him off, but Nate groaned with the rest of them when he hit the sawdust covered ground.
“I’m glad I don’t have to do that anymore,” Jobe said from beside him.
“You and me both.”
“Every time he gets bucked off and hits the floor, my bones start hurting.”
“Hell, Jobe, you’re only thirty.” Nate chuckled.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t remember that pain. Any luck with filling Bart’s position?”
“I have quite a few interviews set up starting tomorrow. Some look promising.”
“That’s good. As long as they know what they’re doing.”
“I’ll make sure, and I’ll check references.” Nate slapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll be in my office.”
“Yes, sir.”
Nate walked back toward his office, entered and got back to work.
****
After work, Markie walked out the front door with Tess.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m going to The Feed Store, then I’ll get the kitten.”
“Have you named her yet? The people who dropped her off never told us her name.”
“Not yet. I’m sure something will come to me. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Alright.” Tess smiled then walked to her SUV.
Markie walked around to the alley, climbed into her vehicle, and then drove to The Feed Store.
She parked in the lot, stepped out, and entered the store, immediately taking in the smells of feed and leather. Old metal signs hung on the walls, and the worn hardwood floor showed years of wear. She loved it.
Taking a shopping cart, Markie looked around and saw signs hanging above the aisles, then headed to the pet section. She was hoping they sold the self-cleaning cat litter boxes. It’s not that it bothered her to change it, but she worked every day and going home to a dirty litter box just did not appeal to her in the least.
When she reached the section, she put a case of cat food in the cart, picked out a collar, a few toys, bowls and a crate, then looked for the litter and the boxes. She smiled when she saw the self-cleaning ones.
“Ma’am? Do you need some help?” a young man asked her.
“I want one of those self-cleaning cat litter boxes. I don’t think I can reach it without bringing everything else on the top shelf down.”
The man grinned at her. “I’ll get it for you. Which one?”
She pointed out the one she wanted, and he lifted it down for her.
“Thank you.”
“If you’re ready to check out, I’ll carry this to the front for you.”
“I am. I appreciate that.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He carried the box to the register and set it down for the cashier. “Do you need help carrying out?”
“No, but thank you for asking. I’ll just put it in the cart.”
“Yes, ma’am. You have a good evening.”
“Thanks, you too.”
He nodded and walked off to help someone else. Wonderful customer service and that mattered to her. She knew she’d come back again, if only for cat food and litter.
After paying for everything, she pushed the cart out to her SUV, unloaded it, then drove home. She couldn’t wait to get the kitten.
Once she got home and unloaded everything except the crate, she went into the hospital through the back door, turned off the alarm, and locked the door. She really didn’t like coming in here alone at night, but sometimes it couldn’t be helped. There were animals that needed to be checked on at times and since she lived upstairs, it was easier for her to do it rather than having Tess drive into town.
Flipping on the lights as she walked down the hallway, she checked on the dog and two cats that had surgery earlier. All looked fine, so she went to the room where the kitten was.
“Hi, baby,” she said, as she set the crate on the floor and smiled when the kitten meowed at her. “I’m taking you home with me. I think we’ll get along just fine.”
Markie unhooked the latch, pulled the kitten out and smiled when she heard it purring.
“I’m going to name you, Socks since it looks like you’re wearing them.” She laughed when the kitten looked at her and meowed.
After putting Socks in the crate, Markie made her way to the back door, turning out the lights as she did. She set the alarm, opened the back door, stepped out, then locked it behind her. She carried the crate up the steps, unlocked her door, and entered her apartment.
She left the cat in the crate while she put the litterbox together. Then she lifted her out, and showed her where the litterbox was located, and of course, Socks used it. At least she knew what to do in it. Maybe she’d been litter trained but to get rid of a cat because it meowed too much just boggled Markie’s mind.
“I’m going to get out of these clothes.” She walked to her bedroom. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw the kitten following her.
Once she changed, she made herself a sandwich, sat on the sofa, and watched TV. She picked up her phone and called Sydney.
“Hey, girl,” Sydney said when she answered.
“I’m not sure what to wear to dinner Saturday with Nate.”
“Anything you want. Some people dress up, others go in jeans. It’s whatever you want to wear, but if it were me, I’d dress up.”
“I’d like to. I have a white dress with red trim.”
“I hope you have a pair of stilettos.”
“I have a red pair.”
“Oooh, woman, you will knock his socks off.” Sydney laughed.
“I want to knock off more than his socks,” Markie said.
“I’m so glad you two got past all that stuff.”
“Me too. I can’t apologize to him enough. You were right, he is a great guy.”
“Maybe you’ll start listening to me.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Markie laughed when Sydney did.
“I am happy that you’re over your first impression of Nate, though.”
“Me too. I like him a lot. I forgot to tell you that he offered to go with me to my mother’s birthday party.”
“Oh, my God! That is great. Maybe that dickhead will leave you alone with Nate there.”
“I hope so, but I can guarantee that Jarrett will still try to get close to me.”
“Yeah, but I bet Nate will put him in his place.”
“I’d love to see that. Nate is so much better looking, and Jarrett will hate that. He’s also taller and built bigger than Jarrett.”
“I bet Jarrett lacks in more areas than that compared to Nate.” Sydney snorted out a laugh.
“Maybe that’s why Jarrett acts so cocky, because he has a little dick.”
Sydney laughed. “Does he drive a sports car?”
Markie giggled. “He does, but he also has a sedan.”
“I had a feeling he had a sports car, though. Some men think that compensates for having a little dick,” Sydney said, making Markie laugh.
“Oh, I brought a kitten home. The people surrendered her because she meowed too much.”
“Idiots. You’ll give it a good home though. You are such a sucker for animals.”
“I am, but I love them.”
“You should have Nate take you horseback riding.”
“I have never been on a horse in my life.”
“Nothing like it. It’s so calming.”
“I love horses, but they’re so big.”
“It is a long way to fall, and it sure doesn’t feel good hitting that ground.”
“I bet. Well, I’d better go. I just wanted to find out what to wear. I cannot wait to go to dinner with him.”
“Then take him to bed.”
Markie groaned. “It was so hot. What if it was just a fluke? You know, since it happened so fast?”
“Only one way to find out, girl. I’ll let you go. I have to get up early.”
“Okay. Talk soon. Love you.”
“Love you too.” Sydney hung up.
Markie turned the TV off, got up, and headed to the bathroom. She wanted a nice long soak, then she was heading to bed.
****
Saturday evening, Nate climbed the stairs to Markie’s apartment and knocked on the door. When it opened, he clenched his jaw to keep it from dropping. She wore a skintight white dress with a band of red around the neckline, sleeves and hemline. It stopped just above her knees. Holy hell! How was he supposed to get through dinner? Then he looked at her feet, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at her.
“Are you trying to kill me?” When a slow smile lifted her lips, he groaned. “You’re doing that on purpose.”
“Doing what?”
“Driving me crazy.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips, then handed her a yellow rose.
“Thank you. Come inside while I put this in water and get my purse.”
“Nope. I’m staying right here because if I come in there, we won’t make it to dinner.”
“If I wasn’t so hungry, I wouldn’t care.”
“Damn, Markie. Don’t say things like that.” He stepped closer and inhaled her light perfume. “I have not stop thinking about that sex. I want you, but I won’t pressure you.”
“Okay.” She walked to the fridge, put the rose inside, picked up her purse, then faced him. “I might pressure you though.”
“How am I supposed to get through dinner now?”
She cupped his cheek in her hand. “We’ll get through it together.”
Nate kissed her lips again, then looked past her.
“You have a cat,” he said with a grimace.
“I just got her this week. Someone turned her in, and I brought her home.”
“Well, I’m glad you gave her a home…”
“But?”
“Nothing. Just not a fan of cats. I like horses and dogs.”
“I like them too, but I’ve never been on a horse.”
“I could teach you to ride,” he said with a smirk.
Markie cocked her head. “Are we still talking about horses?”
“When did you become so evil?”
She laughed. “Since I met you, I’ve been having naughty thoughts.”
“Sweetheart, you can be naughty with me anytime. We’ll discuss this later. We’d better go, or we’ll miss our reservation.” He held his hand out to her, and she placed hers in it.
“I’m five foot six, wearing four-inch heels, and you’re still a lot taller.”
“I’m six five. Both my parents are tall. My dad’s the same as me, and my mom is five eleven.”
“I love tall men,” she said, then grinned when Nate smirked.
He waited as she locked the door, then held her hand as they made their way down the stairs. He led her around the passenger side, opened the door, and helped her get in, then he strode around the front, and climbed in behind the wheel. He glanced at her to see her smiling at him. Nate shook his head, chuckled, and drove out of the alleyway.
They rode in silence to the restaurant. He did his best to keep his eyes off her legs, but he’d always been a leg man and hers were tight and toned.
He pulled into a spot, shut the truck off, got out, and walked around to open the door for her. She turned on the seat to look at him.
“Your manners impress the hell out of me.”
Nate laughed. “My mother would thank you.”
“She’d be proud of you. So many younger men don’t have manners these days.”
“True. Come on, we’re running a little late.”
Markie stepped down from the truck, and he led her into the restaurant.
“I’ve never been here.”
“Fantastic food.”
“That’s what Sydney said. I called her to ask what I should wear.”
“So, I have her to thank for that dress you’re almost wearing.”
Markie laughed. “Yes.”
“I’ll be sure to do that.”
“She told me you two went on a date.”
“Yeah, a long time ago. We’re better off as friends.”
“That’s what she told me. God! The food smells amazing.”
“I promise you will have a tough time deciding on what to get.”
“What do you get?”
“Usually a ribeye.”
“I’ll look at the menu.”
“Okay.” He opened the door to the restaurant for her, then followed her inside.
At the podium, the hostess asked them if they had a reservation.
“Yes, ma’am. For Jefferson.”
“Oh, yes. Please follow me.” She picked up two menus then led them to a booth. After placing them on the table, she looked at Nate. “What would you like to drink?”
“Markie?”
“Chardonnay is fine.”
“Beer for me. Whatever is on tap is fine.”
“I’ll be right back with those.” She smiled at him again and walked off.
Markie slid onto the bench, picked up the menu and scanned it. Nate couldn’t take his eyes off her. She glanced up and did a doubletake.
“What?”
“You’re a beautiful woman, Markie.”
“Thank you. You’ve said that before.”
Nate grinned. “I know, but it bears repeating.”
Markie smiled. “You’re a very handsome man, Nate Jefferson.” She frowned. “Is Nate short for Nathaniel or Nathan?”
“Nathanial, with an ‘a’ instead of ‘e’. My mother wanted it spelled that way. I was born premature and wasn’t expected to make it. When they knew I would, they spelled my name with an ‘a’ because it means Gift of God. She was sure that’s why I survived.”
“I like it. Your blue eyes are just gorgeous. I think they were the first thing I noticed about you.”
“Thanks.” He shrugged. “They’re just blue.”
Markie laughed. “Oh, no, they are not just blue. They’re…” She waved her hand.
“Blue.”
“Beautiful blue. I have just plain old brown eyes.”
“Oh, no, they’re not just brown.” He grinned.
“Brown is brown.”
“Markie, are you fishing?”
“No, I am not fishing for a compliment. I’ve even thought of wearing contacts.”
“Don’t you dare. They’re pretty. Dark and exotic. Striking.”
“Thank you.”
Nate smiled when her cheeks turned pink. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“I don’t take compliments very well.”
“Why not? You’re beautiful and not only that, but you also have a great sense of humor.”
“Now, that I do know.” Markie chuckled.
The hostess returned with their drinks. “Your server will be right with you.”
“Thank you,” Markie said, then looked at the menu again. “I don’t know what to get.”
“The seafood platter is really good, if you like seafood, and you can’t go wrong on the blackened trout.”
“I do like seafood.” She set the menu down. “That’s what I’ll get.”
Their server arrived, took their order, then walked off. Nate watched as Markie glanced around the restaurant then back at him.
“This place packs them in, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s hard to get a reservation.”
“So, it is good to know the owner.”
“Yes, but even sometimes, he can’t do it.”
“Well, I’m glad he was able to this time. It’s a great place.”
“Yeah, Grant has a great restaurant here.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Years. We all hung out together growing up.” Nate grinned. “I bet you know him too.”
Markie shook her head and frowned. “How would I know him?”
“Well, maybe you don’t.”
“You’re not making sense.”
“Do you like country music?”
Markie stared at him. “Wow, that was some topic switch there, Nate.”
He laughed. “Not really.”
“Oh, my God. Either I’m confused or you are.”
“Well, I’m not. So, do you like country music?”
“Yes. I love it.”
“Then you know the owner of this restaurant.”
“Nate,” she growled.
“Grant Hunter owns it.”
“Grant Hunter? The country singer?” She shook her head. “You’re pulling my leg.”
“I’d love to pull your leg, but I’m not right now.”
Markie smirked and shook her head. “I don’t believe you. Did you know I liked him somehow and thought it would be fun to tease me?”
“How would I know if you liked him or not? I had to ask if you liked country music.”
“You could have seen my CD collection.”
“The first time I was in your apartment, the last thing I was thinking of was looking at your CD collection.”
“Yeah, okay.” She laughed again.
“You still don’t believe me,” Nate said, shaking his head.
“Why would Grant Hunter, a country singer, a megastar , have a restaurant in Hartland?”
“Because he was born and raised in Clifton.” Nate stared into her eyes, then she shook her head.
“Nope.”
“Ask Sydney.”
“I will.” Markie sat back in the booth, folded her arms across her chest and stared at him.
Nate chuckled. “You are one hardheaded woman.”
“I can be. Especially if someone is trying to pull one over on me.”
“I’m not.”
“Whatever, Jefferson.”
Their dinners arrived and once the server placed them on the table, she asked if they needed anything else.
“Yes, you can tell me who owns this restaurant,” Markie said as she looked at Nate.
The server looked at Nate and he shook his head, then she looked back at Markie, laughed and walked off, making Nate chuckle.
“Text Sydney,” Nate suggested.
“Oh, you think I won’t?” Markie removed her phone from her purse and entered a text.
Nate grinned, picked up his knife and fork, then cut into his steak.