Page 19 of A Rancher's Bride
The entire time they talked their heads off about the possibilities that could arise from attending the event. Plus, they talked about the inane, which was just as comfortable.
“I know no one asked my opinion, but I have to say Sweet Sugar Pie is a terrible name for a ranch,” Kelli criticized.
Luke shrugged. “Pet name for somebody?”
“Yeah. Her name for him, according to the news article.”
Luke grunted as he lifted the heavy metal back into place. “Bullshit.”
She made a rude noise. “What? Doesn’t it get you all hot and bothered to think about getting calledSugar Pie?”
“She’sthe one with a honeypot—” He slammed his lips together.
What the hell was he thinking? This wasKelli. He and his brothers were pretty damn careful toneverpush the line with rude talk when she was around.
Kelli kept working intently with the wiring system, staring down at it, her lips twisted in a smirk. Only her cheeks were pink, brighter than the mild winter temperatures called for.
He’d embarrassed her. “Sorry, Kelli. That was uncalled for.”
“Not untrue, though,” she pointed out, sending him rocking back on his heels in surprise. She kept talking and her words hit him like a slap upside the head. “Besides, if a guy is doing things right, I can’t imagineanywoman having enough mind left to toss out cutesy names. Orgasms should leave you mush-brained and boneless.”
He stared at her,hisbrain dribbling out his ears.
Kelli twisted the screwdriver and adjusted a few lines without saying anything more except about the job. “Put it in the track and shove it back and forth a few times to see if it needs lube.”
He knew she was blunt-spoken, butdamn. That sounded dirty.
Luke cleared his throat and blinked hard. It was his own fault for letting his mind start down this road.
“Luke? You need a written invitation?” she teased.
He stood and adjusted the heavy gate until she told him to stop. He lowered it into place, suddenly feeling a little more awkward than the usual comradery and competitive spirit between them created.
“I should get back to work,” he said.
“I’ll be a few more minutes finishing this up. Let me know when you hear about the gala, but I’m pretty sure you’re a shoe-in for this.” She glanced at him quickly then back at her work.
He took off a lot slower than he’d arrived, feeling something strange in the pit of his belly.
Ithadto be nerves over waiting to hear. That was it—that was causing everything to feel so out of joint. Discomfort with his brothers, strange sensations brewing while talking to Kelli.
This wasn’t him. This wasn’t the organized and easy-going person he was.
It was almost anticlimactic when midway through Monday the official email arrived. Dates and times for checking at the Grand Palisade in Kananaskis Country. An agenda for the event.
Link to payment options—he didn’t hesitate. Half an hour later, he was out the door and headed over to Caleb’s to let him know the good news.
Come Friday, he and Kelli would be waltzing through the doors of what could be the turning point for Silver Stone ranch. It was going to be perfect.
What could go wrong?
5
Kelli looked over the notes scrawled on the two-by-two-inch Post-it note in her palm “I should just kill him now, because chances are before the week is over, I’m going to commit accidental homicide.”
Lisa considered. “I don’t think that’s possible. The fact you mentioned the possibility to us means you’ve given it some forethought, so you’d either get a second-degree murder or voluntary-manslaughter charge. Unless you’re talking aboutjustifiablehomicide, which I totally understand.”
Kelli wasn’t the only one who fixed her gaze on Lisa. The entire room fell silent, seven women staring until Lisa realized what she’d done.
