Page 24 of Love, Hate, Love

“So it’s going smoothly?” he asked, again sounding as if he knew something.

“Where is this sudden interest in my situation coming from?”

“I just find it interesting, is all.”

The only thing that had changed was Leah’s being here. “You’re referring to her presence?”

“Yeah, that.”

I shouldn’t ask. I should just hang up the phone now and not encourage this.

“Why?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. She seems interesting, spunky, kind of, and this whole ‘you don’t like her but you’re helping her’ situation has really caught my interest.” He sounded truly invested.

“Okay, well, there’s nothing interesting here to pay attention to.” Hopefully that would nix any further interest.

“No reason to get all up in arms about this. Just making conversation.”

John didn’tmakeconversation.

“Is your curiosity appeased?”

“Not really, but I guess it’ll have to be enough. Be in touch soon.”

Leah was starting to throw every aspect of my life into chaos.

Chapter11

Leah

My nerves were still frayedfrom the confrontation with Kade a few nights ago, but it was getting easier every day I didn’t see him, which was three at this point. Plus it was getting more comfortable here by the minute. It had been about a week and a half and it felt almost normal when I strolled into the bunkhouse.

Chuck was stirring something on the stove. He wasn’t just the ranch foreman, but something like the ranch father.

“Smells amazing,” I said, peeking into the huge pot.

“It’s my famous chili. Was one of the missus’s favorites,” he said, referring to his late wife, who’d died ten years ago. Spending every minute with these people was putting all our relationships on fast forward.

“Can’t wait to try it.” I dropped my bag on the floor, taking a count of how many wet heads I saw. Being last on the list meant a lukewarm shower at best. No one tried to hog the hot water, but a forty-gallon tank couldn’t work miracles. “Oh no, I’m last, aren’t I?” I said, looking at Benny and Elijah, who appeared squeaky clean and were now laughing.

“I think Adam’s in there now,” Benny said, angling his head toward the bathroom and the sound of running water.

Missy had been offering to share her bathroom, but taking her clothes was enough. I couldn’t accept anything else, even if I really wanted to. I’d been in her bathroom, with its little plants on the sill and candles on the cabinet. It was like an oasis, especially compared to the bunkhouse bathroom I was sharing with these guys.

I was about to settle onto the couch to wait my turn when Missy walked out of the bathroom.

“What were you doing in there?” I asked.

“My hot water heater blew,” she said, and then looked at Elijah. “I need you to get on that.”

He threw his hands up. “I told you I’d work on it tomorrow. I can’t do anything until the plumbing house opens.”

“And what about the broken lock?” she asked. “It’s bad enough I have to shower here without feeling like I have to barricade the door.”

I grabbed my bag, ignoring their bickering and heading for the shower. If Adam showed up, he’d try to jump the line. He had no scruples whatsoever. I was supposedly the felon, and yet he couldn’t respect the basic universal law of first come, first served. Bastard was probably one of those last-in-line people who ran to the new register even before the cashier yelled, “Next in line.”

I was stripping down a few minutes later when I heard Adam’s loud mouth carrying on about something. I’d only beaten him to the shower by minutes, which somehow made it all the sweeter. I was giggling to myself, and turning on the water, when the bathroom door swung open.

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