Chapter 3
Katie
Istormed into my house, my anger bubbling like crazy. I had left my home because of one asshole, I sure as hell didn’t need another. I tried to be nice to that kid, but who the hell did he think he was, treating me like that.
Some damn counselor he was, being a prick to me in front of my own kid with nothing to really say about why he was that way.
If the ranch wasn’t so good, and the reviews and owners so great, I’d find some place for Tiffany to hang out this summer, but she had her heart set on it, and I wasn’t going to deny her that.
I grabbed my camera, hating myself for agreeing to take pictures for the owners. They really were awesome and I loved them from the start. And when they asked if I could help them by taking pictures and writing about the place, I didn’t have the heart to say no.
However, I hadn’t met Zeb, and now, I was wishing I could turn back time.
But none of his actions made sense to me. He didn’t even give me a chance to explain that we weren’t like city folks. That where we came from was a town not much bigger than the ranch itself.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand why I was letting him get to me. It’s not that I liked him or liked the way he looked in those jeans or the way his eyes danced under his cowboy hat.
“Stop it, Katie,” I muttered to myself, taking my laptop, my phone, my camera, and setting them all in the cab of my truck. “Ignore him, that simple,” I coached myself, taking some deep breaths as I made my way back over.
I parked in the main area and then made my way to the barn, smiling as Lucinda walked over to me, giving me a hug.
“I can’t thank you enough for doing this. Getting to more eyes is so important.”
“It’s my pleasure, Lucinda.”
“And everyone around here is so nice and friendly, they won’t have any problems talking to you, I’m sure.”
I snorted at that, the image of Zeb coming to mind and she frowned.
“What’s that for, honey?”
“Oh, I…,” I trailed off, not wanting to talk bad about someone on her staff. But she was looking at me honestly, and I didn’t want to lie. “I dropped Tiffany off with Zeb this morning and he was far from friendly. In fact, he was rude and cold.”
“Zeb? The young cowboy? That’s not like him at all.”
“I’m sorry, Lucinda. Maybe it was just me. But he was not happy with me or my daughter.”
“I’ve seen him with Tiffany, he’s all smiles with her. Come along, let’s go find him and settle this.”
“Oh no, no, I’m okay. Not everyone likes everyone.”
“They do on my ranch,” she said, her tug far stronger than I thought it would be.
I yelped as she dragged me along, my feet barely keeping up with her.
“Zeb,” she called, making the young man turn.
He smiled at her, but as his gaze drifted to me, that smile froze.
It was his eyes that told me his problem was with me.
“Yes ma’am?” he said, taking a few steps in her direction. It was nice to see that his ears were still listening to the kids, even if his back was to them.
“You know Katie? She dropped Tiffany off this morning.”
“We met,” was his curt response.
“It seems you weren’t that friendly. Why?”
“I’m sorry, Lucinda,” he said, taking his hat off and running his fingers through his hair. The image of this guy in a backwards ball cap, no shirt, and jeans low on his hips flashed through my mind and I nearly screamed.
What the hell was wrong with me?
He didn’t like me; nothing would change that.
So, was I a sucker for pain because my ex was a jerk too and I fell for him.
“Katie has had a rough go recently. Both she and her daughter are trying something new.”
“Tiffany was telling me,” he said, still looking at his boss.
“We need to be nice to them.”
“Yes ma’am,” he told her as he put his hat back on.
“Zeb,” a kid called and the look of relief on his face was hard to miss.
“Excuse me,” he muttered, tipping his hat to her and hardly sparing me a glance.
“There, all fixed. Why don’t you take some pictures of the kids and the barn, since you’re here.” She gave me a smile and then walked away, leaving me here.
Did I want to do that?
Nope.
Wanted to be on the furthest side of the ranch from this asshole. But a promise was a promise, and I could easily do what I needed to do without having to think of him.
With that, I put the camera up to my eye and snapped a few pictures of the kids working with the animals, their smiles pure.
“You don’t have permission to take photos with the kids in them,” Zeb growled in my ear, making me clench my teeth.
I snapped a few more before turning to look at him, my brow raised in a challenge.
“I do.”
It was simple, straightforward, and should have shut him up.
I also should have known better because it sure as hell didn’t. In fact, it enraged him even more.
“They are my responsibility while they’re here, and I say you can’t do that.”
“Glad to hear that, still can’t do it though.” I took another one, just to piss him off and flashed him the screen. “See. Can turn around and post it now if I wanted to.” Okay, that wasn’t the truth. I didn’t have access to their site, and I hadn’t set up anything for the ranch yet.
But I could do it.
I would do it, actually.
“Who the hell do you think you are that you can disobey me like that?”
“Zeb, you’re not my boss, my husband, my anything. Lucinda asked me to do it and share, and I believe she trumps you. Next time, learn some damn facts before you decide to be the biggest asshole around here.”