Page 8 of My Cowboy Boss
“He worked as a bodyguard but gave that up and came back home when the ranch needed him,” Flint says.
Leo gets wind of the conversation and adds, “And it turned out to be fate for me to come home because I found the person I was searching for all those years.” He smiles down at his wife.
Flint shakes his head when Amanda kisses Leo on the cheek and calls him her hero.
He gets Wilder’s attention. “We have to talk about tomorrow’s chore list. Someone needs to head out early to be in town when the supply store opens.”
“I’m not going to be the first one outside if River doesn’t put up that damn cock of his,” Jonas says.
I nearly choke on a bite and have to wash it down with a gulp of water. My face must be three shades of red.
“He likes to be free,” River says, completely unperturbed.
“It’s a rooster that River rescued,” Flint explains. “In case you’re thinking he likes to run around outside naked.”
“I wasn’t…wasn’t thinking about you naked,” I protest.At least not outside.
Flint frowns like he does so often around me. “I never said me.”
Aack!Leaning forward, I smile brightly at his mom. “These cinnamon rolls are the best I’ve ever tasted.”
“They should taste good. She didn’t make them.” Her husband nudges her. “We bought it from Dough Corner, Marigold’s bakery in town on the way home. You know the place. It’s over there by Bear’s Diner.”
I shake my head. “I don’t live in Lucky River. I live across the line in Clover County.”
“Oh dear.” Frances puts her hand to the bottom of her throat. “I hear that place is not safe at all now.”
“It’s okay.” It’s not, but my sister and I plan to get out of there as soon as we can afford it. And keeping this job will go a long way toward making that happen. If all ends well with this and she can take over, then my goal is to work two jobs to get us where we need to be.
Flint studies me in a way I can only classify as suspicious. He pushes back his plate and folds his arms over his chest. “You drive a decent clip to get here. There was nothing closer that you wanted to do?”
I shake my head.
“I can imagine she wants to be in Lucky River anyway,” Wilder says. “It’s a better town.”
“Filled with single cowboys too,” Frances says, studying me too with a smile.
I don’t know what to say to that, so I pass it off with a laugh and cram another piece of the cinnamon roll in my mouth.
“She’s here to work, not find a man.” Flint sounds like he’s suddenly mad as hell. I could have told him he doesn’t have to worry about me leaving the job behind to find a man. I’m clear about what my goal is.
“Down, Boss. You sound a little worked up,” Jonas and Wilder share a grin.
“I’m…eat your dessert,” Flint snaps.
Frances angles her body and narrows her eyes at her husband. “Wait a second. You said it should taste good because I didn’t make it?”
“Honey, you know what I mean.”
“What he means, Mom, is that you can’t cook, and you know it,” Jonas says.
“That’s true.” A couple of the brothers join the teasing.
Gavin puts his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “It’s just that you’re so good at everything else it wouldn’t be fair to the rest of us if you were good at cooking too.”
Frances winks at me. “That’s true.”
The family banters back and forth.
