12. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Colt
W alking into the main house, the scent of garlic, onion and Italian sausage hits my nose. That can only mean one thing: lasagna. I love pasta, in all forms. Carbs are my friend, and I am so hungry I could probably eat an entire pan by myself. Well, maybe not Momma Ann sized pans, but I would definitely try.
I walk into the kitchen and see everyone milling around, filling up their plates with lasagna, salad and French bread slathered in garlic. There are several types of salad dressing sitting on the counter beside the oversized salad bowl. I am still amazed at how large some of the platters, bowls and pans are around here sometimes.
I start in the buffet line and wait my turn to get my dinner. As I am getting the last piece of garlic bread, I feel her presence. I can feel when she walks into a room. It feels like an electric current racing through my body, sending shocks throughout. It is a weird feeling, especially since she can't stand me .
I don't think I have ever been able to feel a person the way I do Brynn. It has definitely got to stop. I can't be distracted, much less by my boss's sister.
I finish making my plate and go to sit with the rest of the ranch hands when Blake walks in the kitchen and tells me to sit at the kitchen table. I give him a nod and make my way to the kitchen table. I take a seat so I can see into the kitchen. I start to eat the delicious dinner in front of me but get distracted easily by watching Brynn. It is like she is floating around the kitchen. She is not wearing a scowl on her face; she looks content at this moment in time.
"You better advert your eyes quickly or you might get caught," Whitney says as she sits down beside me at the table.
My eyes instantly turn to Whitney. "What do you mean?"
"I have eyes Colt, don't play dumb with me," she scoffs. "You aren't as sly as you think," Whitney singsongs as she takes a bite of lasagna.
"I don't know what you mean." I shrug and shovel a bite of lasagna into my mouth quickly.
"Mmmhmmm. Keep telling yourself that," Whitney says around a mouthful of food.
I continue to eat, and within a few minutes Blake and Brynn are sitting down to eat with us.
"Where is Brooks?" Whitney asks .
"He had to deal with a heifer, not sure how much longer he will be," Blake says.
"What happened? Dad was determined to get out of bed when you got the call. But he met his match with me, and I refused to let him leave."
"Colt noticed the herd separating as they were moving the cattle and went to check and see what was going on. His instincts paid off because there was a heifer down in the middle of the herd. We think a bobcat got her," Blake explains.
"Oh man. There are bobcats around here now?" Brynn asks.
"Yeah, we have seen a few on the cameras recently."
"Be sure you take precautions."
"I carry while we are out. We will be protected," I say as I take a bite of garlic bread.
"But what about the rest of the ranch hands? They are just unprotected if you are not paying attention?"
"I am always paying attention. It is my job," I state as I stare her down. I won't wither under her questioning.
"What if you aren't? I think more ranch hands should take precautions. This could become an issue."
"Like I said, I am always paying attention. It is my job to oversee the operations, and that is exactly what I do," I say sternly .
"Brynn, Colt is amazing at his job. He does exactly what we pay him to do. No one is going to get hurt," Blake says as he continues to eat his lasagna.
"Nice to know you are worried about him," Whitney says with a devilish smirk on her lips.
"If you remember correctly, I was worried about the ranch hands, not the foreman," Brynn quips as she gets up from the table to put her plate in the dishwasher.
Whitney just laughs and leans closer to me as she whispers, "You definitely have your work cut out for you."
"I only do the work I am paid to do."
"Something tells me that will change," Whitney says with a wink, as she gets up from the table and joins Brynn in the kitchen.
"So, are you adjusting okay to being foreman?" Blake asks as he takes a large bite of garlic bread.
"Haven't had any issues so far."
"Most of the guys looked to you for direction anyway, so I think the change has been seamless for everyone involved. I'm not sure how long I will be under Brynn's thumb. Probably not long if I had to guess. She hates this town. I know she is itching to get back home."
"Why doesn't she like it here? I love Cedar Creek; it feels like home."
"Brynn doesn't feel that way. If she could've moved the ranch with her, she would've. She loved growing up on the ranch when we were younger. She was always dad's sidekick, doing anything and everything he would let her do. One day, it just changed. She didn't want to ride her horse, didn't want to hike, fish, or go four-wheelin', she just disassociated from it. Then, after graduation she left for college and never returned."
"But why?" I prod.
"No one knows. I guess it is because she wanted to spread her wings and get away from the small-town life," Blake shrugs and gets up from the table to dispose of his plate.
I sit and ponder what could possibly make Brynn stay away all this time. Her family might not know the true answer, but Whitney seems to. I watch from the table as Whitney and Brynn clean up the kitchen.
They turned on some pop music I have never heard and are singing and dancing around each other while cleaning. Brynn looks carefree, not so wound up.
I bet I could unwind her with my tongue. I bet she would be putty in my hands after I made her come on my tongue while screaming my name. Get ahold of yourself.
I need to stop thinking this way before I pop a semi at the kitchen table. I adjust myself before I get up and take my plate to the kitchen. When I walk by the sink, the two girls stop dancing .
"You better be planning on doing your own dishes," Brynn sasses.
I stay silent as I hold my plate over the sink, as if I am just going to put it in the sink and leave. I know the rules, if dinner is already cleaned up, you do your own dish.
"Don't even think about it, Cowboy, " Brynn says through clenched teeth. Whitney standing behind her with a smile on her face.
I lower the plate, my arm now down inside the walls of the deep farmhouse sink.
"Colt." Damn if I don't like the way she says my name. "Don't you fucking dare."
"What if I dare?"
"I'll have to teach you a lesson," Brynn snaps, unaware of the dirty way I take her statement.
"Do you promise to go easy on me during this lesson?" I ask, one eyebrow raised.
"Never." Her eyes narrow as she looks from my face to my hand holding the plate.
"Interesting," I say as I grab the dish soap and squirt some on my plate. I wash my plate with the rag that is hanging on the faucet. After rinsing, I place my plate in the rack to dry. I turn around and start to walk off.
"Good boy," Brynn says. Her voice sounding a little husky .
I see Whitney's mouth fall open as she looks between the two of us. Her head moving like it's on a swivel.
"Praise will get you everywhere," I say with a wink and walk out of the kitchen and straight out the front door. The snugness in my jeans is about to become obvious if I don't get away quickly.
New kink unlocked .