Chapter 4
Zeb
Itook off my hat to run my hand through my hair as I watched her march away.
I was seething. No two ways around that.
I didn’t like her even more after that stunt.
“She’s a photographer and a blogger.”
I turned to look at the little lady before me and smiled.
“Is she?”
“Yes. She was asked to do that, you know.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“She won’t like you even more now.”
“I can see this, Tiffany.”
The girl tilted her head to the side, assessing far more than a thirteen-year-old should.
“You don’t like her, but you like me?”
The logic of kids, no matter how old, still amazed me. She was right. If I didn’t like city folk, then I shouldn’t like Tiffany. But this young lady before me was cute, funny, and smart, and honestly, she reminded me of me a lot at that age.
“I don’t like city folk,” I said, being as honest as I could. I didn’t believe in lying, or at least, not to kids. They knew and understood far more, and I always said I wouldn’t treat them like they were dumb things.
“We’re not city folk.”
“Didn’t you come from a city?”
“A town, Zeb. We came from a small place in Oregon that became too much for mom, so we moved.”
“Why here?”
“Luck of the draw.”
My eyebrows snapped together in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“Because of my dad and the way he was treating my mom, mom grabbed a map, told me to pick ten different spots, and whatever I drew was where we were going to move. And this is where we ended up. Can I go watch the horses?”
“Yeah,” I absentmindedly answered. Of all the things I would hear today, that was not one of them.
But having worked with kids for many years already, and seeing how life can treat them, the way her mother handled this set me off even more. Talk about a dumb and immature way to move. Just show your kid that being reckless is smart.
I grunted as I yanked my hat off yet again and ran my fingers through my hair, my levels of annoyance with that woman escalating as the minutes ticked by.
Six hours later, I stalked to my truck, throwing open the door, and tossing my backpack in it.
All I wanted to do right now was go for a drive, park under the stars, and drink the day away.
Of course, the sweet spitfire boss of mine walking my way told me it was about to be a different plan than what I was hoping for.
“Zeb,” she called as she leaned against my truck, her arms crossed.
Lucinda was one of the biggest sweethearts I knew. She loved the kids and she loved her ranch, but she was also fiercely protective, which is something I knew firsthand.
“Yes?”
“Katie.”
I ran my hand over my face, knowing she was going to go there, even if I was silently wishing she didn’t.
“What about her?”
“I like her.”
“Of course you do, Lucinda. She’s like you.”
“Huh, didn’t think about that. But that’s beside the point. She’s had a hard last few years and this is her fresh start with her daughter. I want it to be good for her.”
“Did you hear about how they moved here?”
“I did,” the woman chuckled. “It’s brilliant. I never would have thought about that.”
“It’s reckless and immature.”
She laid her hand on my arm, and I glanced down at it before looking at her, seeing the shift in her face.
“You feel that way because your upbringing wasn’t the greatest, Zeb.
But Katie is smart, with a well-paying job.
Her ex is a douche of epic measures, and she really needs some good waves out here.
I plan on doing that for her. I know you like Tiffany, but I’d really like it if you gave Katie half a chance.
And if you won’t do it for me, then I’m going to make you do it when I cut your hours. ”
She grinned at me before she walked away and I sighed because I had no doubt that she would do just that too. Not that I wanted that. She didn’t say I had to befriend Katie; I just had to give her a chance.
Well, I guess I could do that. I know it wouldn’t do a lick of good on my end, but it would get my boss off my back for the time being.
With a groan, I climbed in my truck and headed to my little house, figuring star gazing wouldn’t soothe me tonight.
Two days later, I sat outside the main building while the few kids here today were having lunch.
“You look tired.”
I paused in my scanning of the area and looked at the woman who was right beside me, her head tilted slightly as she regarded me. I could see the tension in her face, and honestly, I couldn’t say I blamed her.
“Just thinkin’,” I muttered, making her nod. Mentally, I kicked myself because that wasn’t really giving her a chance, was it? “Just lots of work going on. Summer is really busy around here.”
“I can bet. Trying to keep kids busy and active is certainly a full-time job.”
“It is. Can I help you with somethin’, Katie?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
My eyes snapped to hers. That was the last thing I was expecting. In fact, it should probably be me saying that, but the words weren’t going to come out.
“For what?”
“Being rude. I understood the other day where you were coming from, even with the permission I had, I shouldn’t have poked you, no matter how fun it was. That’s very much outside my professionalism, and I’m sorry.”
“Does this mean you’ll listen to me?”
She twisted her lip, her brows coming together, and I almost laughed at the war she was showing.
“No, probably not. But I will be far better at giving you space in the future. How’s that?”
Something twisted inside of me over the thought of that, and I wasn’t sure why.
“I honestly don’t think you have it in you to do that, but sure, I’ll take it.”
Her eyes narrowed and I wish I could have smacked the words back in my mouth because, again, that wasn’t me giving her a chance.
“You have some vision in your head of me already, don’t you? And I will never be able to break it in your eyes.”
I stood up, grinning as I stood right before her.
She had to tilt her head back slightly and the thought of bending down to kiss her entered my head and confused me, because that really was the last thing I wanted to do.
Really, I just wanted to get a rise out of her, feeling like that would be a lot better. In fact, it would be.
I could take this confusion out on her, even if I was in the wrong about it.
“I do, Katie. And when I can sum up a person, no matter how pretty they are, I’m never wrong. Your bad news, and there is nothing you can say to change that.”
I tipped my hat, then walked away, the urge to kiss her once stronger than I thought.