Chapter Four
Four
At breakfast, Bella watched Jared wipe his dish clean, soaking up the last of his soft-boiled eggs with a wedge of sourdough toast. It was gratifying to see him eat so hardily.
The crostata was nearly half gone. Granted, he’d made her sit at the kitchen table and have a bite with him, so she’d had a nibble, as well.
“I’ll be three hundred pounds if you keep feeding me this way,” he said, plopping the last of his toast into his mouth. “What’s in that crostata that makes it taste so good?”
“That’s a chef’s secret,” she said. “But if you promise not to tell...”
“I promise.”
“Butter...lots of butter. Everything tastes better with butter.”
“I thought that’s what they say about bacon.”
She smiled. “That, too.”
She got up and poured him another cup of coffee. He liked it black with one heaping spoonful of sugar. “You must not eat what you cook,” he said.
“I do.”
He glanced at the waistline of her white jeans and then lifted his gaze to her chest before meeting her eyes, shaking his head the entire time. “How do you do it?”
“It has something to do with chasing around a toddler. Plus I make it a habit to eat bites of food instead of the entire dish.”
“Ah,” he said, “that explains it.” He glanced at his completely empty dish. “Guess I failed at that. But it was delicious.”
“Thank you. But, Jared, just so you know, I like to balance the meals, so that you’re not eating heavy at every meal. Lunch will be light, I promise.”
“Because you don’t want a three-hundred-pound employer?”
“Because of the H-word. Some chefs don’t believe in it, but I do.”
His brows gathered and a question formed on his lips.
“Healthy eating. Emphasis on good health.”
“Does that mean I can’t have beef? You do know I co-own a cattle ranch.”
She smiled. “It means there are leaner cuts of meat and ways to prepare them that are healthier than others.”
“I do know that.”
“Until you’re back on your feet, it’d be best if I keep the food on the lighter side.”
“No more crostata?”
She shrugged, feeling a bit guilty. “I wanted to make a good first impression on you on my first day.”
“Darlin’, you don’t have to worry about my impression of you. I already think you’re a combination of Wonder Woman and Clara Barton.”
She nibbled on her lower lip and a flush of heat raced to her cheeks. She couldn’t look at him. He was too honest, too humble and too darn appealing. It made her hate herself a little bit to find him so attractive.
Images of Paul popped into her head and she quickly grabbed Jared’s plate and walked it to the sink. “I think I hear Sienna. She’s waking up,” she said with her back to him. She wiped her hands on a dish towel. “I’ll be back later to clean this up.”
She moved past him, feeling Jared’s striking blue eyes on her as she exited the kitchen.
Sienna was just waking up as she walked into the bedroom. The baby slept with her in the big bed, surrounded by lush pillows to protect her from falling. She was sitting up, rubbing her eyes. “Mommy.”
Bella sat next to her on the bed. “Mommy’s here.”
The baby lunged for her and Bella’s heart lurched.
This little child was her life. She was dependent on her.
And Bella vowed that she was going to make a good life for her.
Every penny of her earnings would go into one day opening up her own restaurant.
It had been a dream of hers since she was a child and it had stayed with her all this time.
She wasn’t the corporate type. She wasn’t cut out for business.
She wanted to create food, and maybe work on a cookbook one day, too.
All of her lofty aspirations were for Sienna’s future now.
An image of Jared in his bedroom, zipping up his pants, his chest ripped with muscles, popped into her head. He was one sexy man. A man she felt a bond to, because she’d saved his life, but a man who wasn’t going to upset her dreams. She couldn’t allow it.
She still loved Paul and as she hugged his child to her chest, she was immediately reminded of the love they’d shared. Sienna was a result of that love. Bella wouldn’t forget that.
“Sienna, it’s time for your bath. Let’s get the water ready in this nice big tub.
” The triangular tub was set at an angle in the corner of the room.
It was big enough for four children. As she filled the tub and poured in child-safe bubble bath liquid, Sienna began lifting her princess nightie over her head.
“Good girl, Sienna.” Bella removed her soaked diaper and then set her little naked baby into the tub.
Sienna giggled her head off, splashing her mommy immediately, just like always.
The power of a smiley-faced, lovable child made all things seem possible.
Bella found herself relaxing for the first time since coming to the ranch.
She told herself that this might work out after all, as long as her father didn’t hunt her down and ruin everything.
An hour later, after Bella had managed a quick cleanup in Jared’s kitchen and had planned the lunch menu for the three of them, she stood on the stone pathway that led around the entire house.
The gardens were on their last stages of pretty, the flowers fading, threatened by colder temperatures and harsher weather.
“Ready, Sienna?”
The baby sat on her new trike with a hot-pink helmet on her head, chin straps securing it in place. “Red-dee, Mommy.”
“Hold on tight.” Sienna gripped the white handles and Bella began pushing her down the wide pathway. Sienna giggled as they moved forward, ringing the bell over and over until Bella was sure the cows in the distant pasture were covering their ears.
As they were coming back around, Jared stepped out of the house and leaned against a pillar at the top of the steps. “Uh-oh,” Bella mumbled.
Jared kept his eyes focused on the two of them as Sienna tried to steer her trike. They were both getting the hang of it, but it was clear they needed more practice.
“Are we too loud?” Bella asked, coming to a standstill in his line of vision.
He shook his head. “Not at all. Just needed a breath of air.”
For a man who liked going fast and being active, it was clear Jared hated being cooped up in his gorgeous house. The outdoors looked good on him.
“Don’t let me stop you,” he said. “Sienna’s doing pretty good.”
Sienna recognized his praise and smiled, her chest puffing out.
“I think so, too. She’s never ridden one of these before.” Bella left Sienna’s trike and put herself in between Jared and her daughter, whispering, “Um, do you think I should make the bell disappear?”
His mouth quirked and his blue eyes brightened. “Are you a magician?”
She grinned. “I can be.”
“If you do, I have a feeling another bell would have to magically appear.”
She blinked. “You’re sure?”
He nodded. “Doesn’t bother me. What would bother me is if that smile was wiped clean off Sienna’s face.”
Thank you, she mouthed to him, a sudden sting burning behind her eyes. She was touched by his acceptance. The two of them clearly were a disruption in his life.
A car pulled up and all heads turned as a woman in a stylish, body-hugging, neon running outfit exited the vehicle.
She held a covered dish in her hands and as she approached, her eyes were all for Jared.
She gave him a big smile, her cinnamon-red hair cascading down her back as she hurried up the pathway.
Before Bella could scoot Sienna away and give them privacy, the woman was in front of them.
“Jared Stone, I am so glad to see you up and around. When I heard about the accident, I was worried silly about you.”
Jared smiled at her. “Hello, Johnna Lee. It’s good to see you.”
“Same here.” She walked up the steps and put one arm around his neck, giving him a gentle hug. “I made you some of my special mac and cheese. Just the way you like it, with extra breadcrumbs on top.”
“That’s awfully nice of you,” Jared said.
She held on to the casserole dish and traded looks with Bella, waiting for an introduction.
“Uh, Johnna Willis, this is Bella Reid. She’s new to Stone Ridge.” Jared turned to her. “Johnna is my neighbor. She lives just up the road.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Johnna said kindly. “And who’s this little cutie pie?”
“This is my daughter, Sienna.”
The woman bent a little and spoke directly to her daughter. “Hello, Sienna. I sure do like your tricycle.”
Sienna put her face down on her handlebars.
“Sorry, it takes her a while to warm up to new people,” Bella explained.
“I totally get it. I was a shy kid, too. If you can believe that.” She chuckled at the thought and Bella smiled. “She’s really adorable.”
“Thank you.”
“So what do you do here at Stone Ridge?” Johnna asked.
“I’m...” She glanced at Jared and he gave a nod. “I’m Jared’s personal chef. Uh, while he’s recuperating.”
“Oh, I didn’t know Marie finally retired.”
“She didn’t.” Jared intervened. “I think Marie’s going to outlast all of us Stones. But with my accident and all, Marie needed some help.”
Johnna blinked. “Well then, that’s a good thing.”
The conversation could’ve gotten awkward, being that she went to the trouble to cook her special mac and cheese dish for Jared, yet she chose to be gracious.
“I think so. Johnna, would you like to come inside?” Jared asked.
She didn’t hesitate. “I’d sure love to. I need to hear all about how you’re doing.”
“Excuse me, Jared,” Bella said. “Would you like me to fix you all a drink?”
“No thanks. Let Sienna play,” he answered.
“I think I can handle this.” After Johnna walked past him toward the door, he gave Bella a shrug, his gaze lingering on her a bit.
It was an intimate look and she figured it had more to do with him preferring to stay outdoors than having anything to do with her.
She sighed. So Jared had a woman caller. He’d probably had many. And good for him.
Yeah, good for him.
The second the door closed, Sienna’s face popped out of hiding. “Mommy, ride.”
“Okay, baby. Let’s go.”