Page 5 of A Rancher's Bride
He filled in his personal history without blinking. It was only when he got to the section that asked for the name of his spouse/significant other that Luke paused.
Bert’s message had been received. Luke was not going to this gig as a single male even though that’s how everything had been until recently at Silver Stone. Just because they hadn’t been a family with spouses didn’t mean that they weren’tfamily, but he wasn’t about to argue with already-set prejudices.
Caleb and Tamara were out. Caleb didn’t like the schmoozing, and Tamara was so sick due to her pregnancy that she’d spend the entire time in the bathroom. Walker and Ivy were out…
He could contact his ex and ask her to do him a favour, but that was risky. Part of the reason their engagement hadn’t worked was Penny was unpredictable, and he didn’t trust her. A family event meant they would have to at least pretend to like each other.
They didn’t hate each other. It’s just that they were kind of indifferent, which had always been the problem in their relationship. At least outside the bedroom.
Nope. There was a far simpler solution, especially when he started thinking about the whole concept offamily. Maybe it wasn’t what the organizers were thinking, but as far as he was concerned she was as good as family. He filled in the blank space without a qualm, tapping the computer keys happily.
Kelli James.
Luke hit send then got up to add another minute to the pizza in the microwave.
Hell, Kelli would love to come with him. The honest truth was she’d done a lot over the years to help create what Silver Stone had going, and it would be a great opportunity for her to get to know some key people.
Plus, it was a holiday. Who wouldn’t want to go hang out at a fancy hotel in the middle of the Rocky Mountains for a few days with no chores?
Energy surged through him. Getting a new lease on the future did that to a man, it seemed. After he got cleaned up, heck, he might have to head out dancing for the night.
Luke sent off a quick message to a friend, then settled in front of the TV, clicking through channels until he found something borderline interesting to watch while he ate his pizza.
Funny how fate could step in and change your entire world when you least expected it.
2
Kelli James kicked a clod of dirt down the path in front of her in frustration. It was totally unfair how her body had turned into one enormous compass.
Anytime Luke Stone was around she all but quivered in his direction.
She meandered back to the bunkhouse, stomping along the snowy trail to where the light outside her porch shone cheerfully. Her space at the end of a long row of identical motel-like rooms had been home for a long time. Other ranch hands had come and gone in the time she’d been working here, so it wasn’t being the only woman on staff that gave her rights to the best location.
Even Ashton Stewart said she was basically their senior hand, and the responsibilities that came with that title were something she was pretty proud of. She’d taken on a huge task, and found a place for herself where she was appreciated and useful.
Although there were moments she longed for more, having a place to lay her head and be a part of something important—it wasn’t a bad gig for a girl who’d been a runaway.
She grabbed her shower kit and slipped outside, off her porch to the back side of the building.
“Heads up,” she warned as she stepped into the steaming warmth of the outer change area.
“Nearly done.” The masculine reply echoed from around the corner. “You can wait inside where it’s warm if you want. Although, if you want to join me, I won’t complain.”
Kelli ignored the suggestion as she got her things ready, hanging up her towel and prepping her shampoo and soap. “Alex, you’re not only an optimist, but you’re an optimist who thinks thetophalf of the glass is full.”
A low chuckle escaped from the other ranch hand who’d been working at Silver Stone since the summer. “I’m using all the hot water. Just saying.”
“Bullshit on that,” Kelli retorted. “You’re taking cold showers and crying into your beer over me.”
The water turned off, and he laughed, deep and hearty. “I might have to head to Rough Cut tonight for that beer. You plan on going?”
“Yeah. I’m meeting my girls,” she told him.
“Nice.”
“It’s too snowy to do anything else,” she pointed out. “Rough Cut is a warm place to hang out on a cold evening.”
“I’m headed your way,” he warned. “In case you want to take pictures of my magnificence.”
