Chapter Fourteen #3
“How many pancakes have you seen as large as the griddle?” Rebecca asked, laughing.
“She sometimes makes them in the oven on a cookie sheet. Of course, I assumed it came from the griddle and did as she told me. She told me not to report to the kitchen until she called me. She’s getting ready to have a baby and can only clean up after one of us.
How rude can she be?” Rachel said, cracking a grin.
“I’m rather poor at cooking, and I freely admit it.
Delaney sees it as a catastrophe. I rather think it falls to my favor.
Usually, Matthew offers to cook, or we go out for dinner.
” She tapped her finger to her head. “And Delaney says I have the brain of a bird. I rather think I’m sly like a fox. ”
Riley laughed out loud, the wine relaxing her. “You can’t make pancakes?”
“Honey, I’ve mastered three things in the kitchen, but Matthew prefers I master other things,” Rachel said cheekily.
Rebecca shook her head. Riley felt curious. “Like what?”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “You know. If you can’t keep him happy in the kitchen, then do it in the bedroom.”
Riley didn’t know. Between babysitting her father, raising Tara, and caring for the ranch, sex became the farthest thing from her mind. She didn’t want to do the deed with one of her hands on the ranch and she never left Tara alone. Loneliness filled her as she finished the rest of her wine.
Amy returned, carrying a tray of mini empanadas. “I’ll see if the girls want any,” she said, crossing over to the office.
Riley glanced down at her dress. “This must be the ugliest piece of clothing in the entire world. Even sadder, I think I own all of its relatives in my closet.”
Rachel slapped her knee. “I know, right? I apologize if I seem rude, but it’s hideous. I’ll be right back,” she said, jumping up and running upstairs.
Tara and her new friend, Kara, entered the living room with Amy. “Riley, Kara taught me about makeup. What do you think?”
She took in her little sister, noting the perfectly blended blush, the light application of mascara, and a bit of lip gloss.
These were things her mom might have taught her if she lived.
Riley didn’t think about teaching Tara. She seemed to grow up before her eyes.
“You’re beautiful and look like Mom.” Her eyes turned misty as she dabbed at them.
The doorbell rang, and Rebecca went to answer it.
“Hi, Garrett. Riley’s in the living room,” Rebecca informed him.
Riley straightened as he walked into the room.
“We’ll see you later, kiddo,” Garrett told Tara before glancing at Riley. When did his beard become so alluring? She imagined how it might feel brushing along her neck and thighs.
Garrett waved his hand in front of her face. “Riley. Do you feel all right? Do you want to go home?”
Brought back to reality, Riley gazed into Garrett’s deep brown eyes. His dark features and intense stare reminded her of a bear.
“You have pretty eyes,” she whispered.
“What?” he asked.
Riley shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Do you feel like going for a ride?” he asked. “Or do you want to return to the cabin?”
“No, I want to go with you,” she murmured, still mesmerized by his eyes.
“Let’s get you home,” he said, glancing at her empty glass. His eyebrow arched as he picked it up to take it into the kitchen.
“You shouldn’t be drinking while on pain meds,” he chastised her.
“Oh, don’t worry. She assured us she hasn’t taken them the last couple of days,” Rebecca volunteered.
Garrett’s eyes drifted to Riley, who pretended not to hear Rebecca’s proclamation. She picked up her crutches and stood. The floor suddenly tilted, and Garrett’s arm shot out, catching her.
He bent, picked her up, and let the crutches fall to the floor.
“What’s wrong with my sister?” Tara exclaimed, concerned for Riley.
“She’s perfectly fine,” Garrett assured her. “Riley needs something to eat and rest. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and we’ll see you later.”
Rachel handed Riley a bag and winked at her. Tara picked up the crutches and put them in the truck.
Riley lay her head on Garrett’s shoulder and closed her eyes. He smelled like leather, horses, and spice. He took her to the truck, and Matthew held the door for him.
He set her down, buckled her in, and slid into the driver’s seat. Driving to the cabin, he continued to glance at her as if debating on what to do with her.
“I’m sorry about the pills,” she said, trying to preempt the storm heading her way. “They make me groggy, and I can’t remember shit. In case you haven’t figured it out, I don’t like losing control.”
“You don’t say,” he said, swiping his jaw. “Didn’t we discuss your body’s needs?”
Oh, she had needs, alright, and suddenly, Garrett seemed like the only person to solve them.
“I’m trying, Garrett. I’ve worked on a ranch until the day I took Tara and ran away.
I miss everything about it. I hate working at fast food joints and bars.
We barely make ends meet. Mom always says, ‘Watch what you pray for.’ Every time I worked one of those shifts with guys who pinched my ass or tried to run their hand up my leg, I prayed to have time to do absolutely nothing.
I take it back. I’m bored out of my mind. ”
“How can you possibly be bored? You’re doing the chores at the cabin,” he exclaimed.
“It’s not the same. Here I’m staying on this big, beautiful ranch, and I can’t even smell the grass, ride a horse, or make butter. I’m stuck on a couch, and my ass has started protesting to all this sitting.”
Garrett chuckled. Instead of turning into the driveway, he passed it and kept going until they arrived at a barn.
“Why did you bring me here?” she asked, staring at the building before them.
“I’m thinking a different kind of ride might make you feel better,” he said. “I’m serious, Riley. No more shenanigans. We’ll make a deal. If you stay off your leg, I’ll let you go with me to a horse sale on Saturday.”
“Really?” she asked, astonished.
“Yes. We’ll bring a wheelchair in case you get tired, and to elevate your leg. If you’re extremely good over the next two days, we’ll stop by a BBQ place on the way home.”
“Ohhh, I love barbecue. Brisket is my favorite. What’s yours?” she asked as he opened her door and helped her out.
He picked her up and carried her toward the barn.
“Wait, you forgot my crutches,” she said, panicked.
“I didn’t forget. We don’t need you back at the hospital because you made a bad choice,” Garrett said as he went inside and set her on a bale of hay.
Riley breathed in the scent of the hay and the smell of the barn. “It’s the best smell ever. I love smoking brisket.”
“You’re my kind of woman,” Garrett said, smiling as he went into the stall. He brought out a grey and white horse and saddled it.
“Ohhh, he’s pretty. He’s not what I expected you to ride,” she said as he brought Gus closer. “What’s his name?”
“Meet Gus. He’s mine, but only because I saved him from getting picked on by two asshat cowboys,” Garret said as he walked toward her.
Riley swallowed as her gaze drifted from those chocolate-brown eyes, the dark beard, which made her shiver, and the almost-too-tight shirt outlining his abs.
Her eyes drifted lower to see the bulge in his jeans, making her belly flutter and warmth grow between her legs.
She didn’t understand what she felt, but knew Garrett Johnson was the cause.