Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
C hance had welcomed Zeke and Maria Benevides to Blackstone Ranch, along with their eight-year-old son, Matteo, and five-year-old daughter, Luna.
The couple expressed their gratitude to him for hiring them, and they were flabbergasted when he took them to the cabin which would become their new home.
Zeke told him they couldn’t accept something so grand, but Chance, along with Tammy, insisted this was where the family was to stay, hopefully for many years to come.
He had allowed Tammy to take over from there, and she had asked Chance if Joaquin, the children’s uncle, could watch them for the afternoon.
He readily agreed, and Joaquin set off with the kids, taking them to see the horses and cattle, as well as the chickens.
Tammy took Zeke and Maria to both the big house and the bunkhouse and walked them through everything which would need to be done at both places to keep them clean.
She also went over the times meals were to be provided and had drawn up menus for a month in order to smooth the transition.
Tammy also took the pair into Hawthorne, introducing them to where they would shop for groceries and cleaning supplies, and then to Hawthorne Elementary School, where they enrolled Luna and Matteo in kindergarten and third grade.
He knew Tammy wouldn’t be home for dinner this evening, remaining with Zeke as he cooked for the ranch hands and then having dinner with the Benevides family, so Chance had asked Summer if she wanted to have dinner with him.
He suggested they eat in town, but she was eager to try out the pork chop recipe Tammy had shared with her before Tammy left town.
Summer told him she would bring everything she needed to cook dinner for them at the ranch.
Chance told her to come at five. He’d returned to the house around one after being in the fields and showered before heading to his office to deal with the never-ending paperwork of running a cattle and horse ranch.
He finished up a few minutes before five, opening a bottle of red wine in order for it to breathe.
The doorbell rang, and he hurried to answer it, eager to see Summer.
It was crazy how fast he had become addicted to her.
Her smile. Her scent. Her rich laugh. Her warmth and wit.
Everything about her told him that she was the one for him.
When Summer had mentioned the possibility of getting a job a year from now, panic had flooded him.
He doubted she could be a book editor in Hawthorne.
The thought of her going back to New York and the fifteen hundred miles which would separate them was unthinkable.
That’s why he’d pushed a little, telling her in as few words as possible that he saw a future for them. Together.
Summer hadn’t mentioned it since then. Neither had he.
But it was in the back of his mind. The sooner he could slip a ring on her finger, the happier he would be.
In a way, it was funny. He’d always been a physical man.
Sex had been a healthy part of his life.
He’d had plenty of it, with all kinds of women.
Yet here he was, in love with a woman he’d only kissed.
Chance stopped in his tracks, only a few feet from the front door.
In love?
He admitted to himself that he was. That he’d been bitten by the love bug. He knew he loved Summer Sutherland.
Now, all he needed was for her feelings to catch up to his.
Opening the door, he smiled at her. “Let me take those,” he said, grabbing the handles to the shopping bags she held.
After he had them in hand, he leaned in for a kiss. Summer, her hands now free, framed his face with them and made the kiss a long, thorough one.
“Now, that’s the way to greet a man,” he said cheerfully, taking the bags to the kitchen.
She followed him, asking, “Are you sure Tammy doesn’t mind me invading her kitchen?”
“She’s happy you’re going to test the pork chops on me,” Chance told her.
“I told Autumn if they turned out right, I was going to see if we could get together this weekend with everyone and let me cook.”
“Not this weekend,” he said, setting the sacks on the oversized island and reaching in, pulling out items. “You and I have plans on Saturday.”
“We do?”
“You told me you’ve finished the two chapters for Celia. All you have left is the epilogue.”
“True.”
“Tomorrow’s Friday. Can you wrap it up by then?”
“I planned to,” she replied. “Then I’ll read through what I’ve written and tweak it before I send it off to Celia. She can copy and paste it to the end of what she’s written and read over it to see if she likes it.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “She’ll like it. You’re really helping her out in a big way, finishing up these last few chapters of her book for her.”
“I was happy to do it. In fact, it’s cemented the idea to me that creating an outline after I do my character sketches is the way to go.
I do better with an outline. I’ve got fifteen pages of plot outlined for this second book I’m starting in my series.
” She giggled. “I know pantsers would hate that idea.”
“Pantsers?”
“As in fly by the seat of your pants. Some writers only have a vague idea about their plot, but I know I would waste a lot of time if I didn’t do some pre-planning.
I always create character sketches and work out major plot points.
Then I divide up those big events and work in smaller events between them.
I section out the book that way, so I pretty much go into a chapter knowing what I need to write about in those pages.
I can’t imagine just sitting in front of a blank screen and starting to type, not even knowing who my characters are or where I want to take them. ”
“It’s interesting that others work differently than you do,” Chance said.
“I guess I’m a planner and a never pantser, as far as the ranch is concerned.
Even with all my planning, though, I’ve learned that I have to be flexible.
You never know when weather can be a factor and throw a monkey wrench into things.
Getting too much or too little rain. A tornado damaging a barn or tearing down a fence.
Part of the herd escaping through that hole.
Or even some type of sickness spreading through the herd.
I plan as best I can and move ahead—with caution. ”
Summer smiled. “Well, I have dinner all planned out. I’ll tell you up front that I’ve never been a cook.
I had my stack of takeout menus sitting on the kitchen counter in Brooklyn and used the same places frequently.
Or sometimes, I’d stop by a deli for a sandwich or salad or a pizzeria and grab a few slices of pizza on my way home from work.
So, this cooking stuff is new to me. Tammy walked me through the pork chop recipe, though, and last night, Autumn had me help her make mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.
I think the hardest thing will be to get down the timing so that everything turns out about the same time. ”
He snagged her waist, pulling her closer, and dropped a kiss on her lips. “You’ve got a great sous chef in me. I’m a talented breakfast maker and can make a mean sandwich, but I’ve always left dinner up to Tammy.”
She turned on both the ovens to preheat and removed the cellophane from a package of four plump pork chops. “I may have to see those breakfast skills sometime. Right now, you can peel these potatoes for us.”
Summer took out three large potatoes, and Chance got to work on them while she washed vegetables and found a baking pan for them.
She lined the pan with foil and patted the vegetables dry with a paper towel.
He continued watching her as she mixed olive oil and lemon juice, adding a good amount of salt and pepper.
“I’ll set that aside for now,” she said more to herself than him. “Need to get the pork chops seasoned before they go into the oven.”
He watched her moving efficiently. Even though Summer had never cooked before, he saw that she had a talent for it as she prepared the chops and placed them in the top oven, setting a timer. She put a large pot of water on to boil and had him cut the potatoes into chunks.
“Not too big and definitely not too small,” she warned. “Like this.”
She took the knife from him and cut into one of the potatoes.
“Got it,” he said.
They continued to putter around the kitchen. He poured them each a glass of pinot noir, and they sipped on it as she drizzled the seasoned oil over carrots and zucchini, which she spread out on a cookie sheet. He got the potatoes into the water and lowered the heat as she instructed.
“Okay, we can sit for a minute,” she told him, taking a seat at the kitchen table with her wineglass.
Chance followed, and he told her about his day, meeting Zeke and Maria and their kids.
“They were really excited about having the cabin to live in. Tammy took them around the ranch and let them know all what they’ll be responsible for. She’s made lists for them both to follow. Me, too. She’s always paid the bills and insurance on the house and cars and trucks.”
He chuckled. “I’ve got a Tammy to-do list of my own to follow.”
When it came time, she took the meat out to rest as he retrieved milk and butter and the masher for the potatoes. She seasoned them and watched the amount of milk and butter he added, getting him to add a touch more milk. Summer took the roasted vegetables from the lower oven.
“I think I’ll do it like Tammy and have us fix our plates without putting everything into serving dishes.”
They did so and enjoyed a leisurely meal in the kitchen. Chance thought about how they had worked as a team, preparing this meal, and how both that and their conversation was easy and comfortable. He could see similar nights in their future. Cooking together. Talking. Laughing.
Chance dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “That was a delicious meal. If that’s the only thing you learn how to cook, you’ve accomplished more than most people.”
“I’d love to make it for the group. Not this Saturday, since we have mysterious plans. Maybe the next, though. Could we have everyone over here? It’s just that after tonight, I’m familiar with where things are, plus you’ve got plenty of room at your dining table.”
“I’d be happy for us to host.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ve got a group text with everyone on it. Well, all but you. Let me fix that.”
He added her to the chain. “What time?”
“I think early. Maybe have everyone come at six? Eat at six-thirty?”
Chance typed a message and pushed send. “Let’s clean up.”
They wrapped the leftovers and then placed the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. He wiped down the counters while she cleaned the table.
“Looks as good as when you got here,” he told her. “Do you have time to sit a bit?” He looked at her hopefully. “To entice you, there might be kissing involved.”
“Then I’m definitely in,” she told him.
He took her hand and turned out the kitchen light, leading her into the den.
“Have a seat. I’m going to light a fire.”
“Oh, don’t go to any trouble.”
Laughing, he said, “It’s just a simple flip of a switch these days. Tammy got tired of the mess that burning real logs makes. She didn’t even ask Dad. She just had an electric fireplace put in. Of course, he fussed about it. Then he saw how easy it was. He never griped after that.”
They sat on the sofa opposite the fire. Chance slipped his arm around her shoulders, and Summer snuggled into him. Yes. This felt right as rain.
“What’s going on Saturday?” she asked. “I can’t help it. I’m curious.”
“We’re going to Dallas to see the Stars play the Nashville Predators.”
Her face lit up. “Are you serious? I’ve never seen them play in person.” She paused. “You asked me about sports I liked, and I mentioned hockey. You remembered that.”
Summer touched her palm to his cheek. “It’s nice to be seen. To be heard.”
He framed her face in his hands. “I know I never saw you before. I don’t think I was supposed to all those years ago.
I was pretty wild. I needed to get out of Hawthorne and do some living.
Now that I’m back here, though, and you’re here, too?
It seems as if the timing is perfect. Absolutely perfect. ”
Chance kissed her. “I hope you feel the same way.”
“I do,” she said softly, her turquoise eyes shining, flames from the fire reflected in them.
They engaged in what he would’ve called in high school a make-out session.
All they did was kiss, but each kiss was better than the previous one.
He kissed her long and slow. Hard. Deep.
Kissed her brow and her cheeks. Her eyelids.
Grazed his teeth against her ear and nibbled on it, moving to her throat.
He found her pulse point, throbbing wildly, and licked and kissed it.
He took tiny little nips along her neck, feeling her shivers as he soothed the love bite with a swipe of his tongue.
Then he worked his way back to her mouth. He teased it open, his tongue plunging inside, sweeping against hers. He needed her closer and lifted her to his lap, and she wrapped her arms about his neck. They kissed for a long time.
And he was happy doing just that. With any other woman, he would have stripped her bare and enjoyed having sex with her.
Summer was different. He was different with her.
He would wait as long as she wanted, and when they came together, Chance knew it wouldn’t be sex.
He would be making love to the woman he loved.
The one he wanted as his wife.
Summer broke the kiss, breathing heavily. “When is the game?”
“It’s actually an afternoon game. At two on Saturday.” He kissed her again. “I thought we could go to dinner after.”
“And after that?”
He brushed his thumb along her lower lip. “Then come home.” He grinned. “Make out some more.”
She ran her fingers through his hair, causing his scalp to tingle. “What if I want more?”
Chance swallowed. “How much more?”
Her fingers tightened in his hair. “I’d say you better have a few condoms on hand.”
Surprise rippled through him. “Are you sure?”
“Sure that I want you inside me—or sure that we’ll need at least a few?” she teased.
He growled, seizing her mouth again, kissing her until they were both out of breath.
When he finally broke the kiss, he said, “I’ll be sure to stop at the drugstore tomorrow.”
Summer burst out laughing. “Then I’ll tell Autumn not to expect me home on Saturday night.”
“You know Tammy is leaving Saturday morning. We’ll have the place all to ourselves.” He kissed her. “I’m going to enjoy making you scream my name, Sutherland.”