Page 22 of A Cowboy's Bride
Tansy muttered something soft and low, too quiet for Petra to catch, but Sydney heard because she snickered. “True.”
“Share with the whole class,” Petra warned.
Her friend’s grin widened before Tansy admitted, “I saidgood luck with that. I mean, did you see the heat waves coming off the two of you? The sexy pheromones were nearly overwhelming.”
Of course, she hadn't seen them, but Petra had felt them and knew exactly what Tansy was talking about. Still?—
Petra sat up straighter and bullshitted her way ahead. “What's your second question?”
Clearly an attempt to avoid the discussion, but thankfully Tansy went along with it. “I'll give some thought to suggestions of who they might hire for a housekeeper and cook. Can you tell Declan to get in touch with me? I need to know a few more specifics about salary and the rest of it.”
Another brilliant idea. “Of course, but I think it'll be Jake giving you a shout. He seems to be the one dealing with those details.”
Tansy shrugged. “That’s fine. Now, let's get some unpacking done so we can move on to the apple-pie-eating portion of the evening.”
It was just that simple.
Shortly after ten, Tansy’s red taillights disappeared in the distance as she turned onto the main highway and headed back into Heart Falls.
Sydney watched her leave before examining Petra one last time. “It seems you’ve got your heart set on this, but I hope you know we’ll be looking out for you.”
“I wouldn't want it any other way,” Petra told her friend earnestly.
She stood on the porch for a while once they were gone, staring at the mountains to the west. The sky was fully dark with stars sparkling here and there, poking through the clouds. Off in the distance, coyotes howled, and a few remaining crickets and frogs serenaded the night. She hadn't seen hide nor hair of any of the Skye brothers, but a scent of smoke carried on the air, which she suspected came from a fire pit.
She could go track them down but decided against it, turning back into the house and taking a slow stroll through the entire place.
She peeked into the nearly empty kitchen drawers and cupboards. The place was bare bones to the extreme, but it wouldn't take long to make it cozy, especially if another woman was around to help.
Petra peeked into the room they'd set up for the new ranch hand, standing for a moment and sending all the positive energy possible into the space. Hopefully the young woman would find peace and courage and even laughter during her time at High Water.
Walking a little farther, Petra cast a glance into the room where Aiden’s things were neatly organized. He didn't have a ton of stuff, but then, she only had what fit into her truck. Not a lot to show for over thirty years of life.
Yet far more than some of the ranch hands would show up with.
The thought put her world into a whole new perspective.
She pulled the door closed on her own room and set about unpacking, followed by a quick shower then crawling under the brand-new sheets on the queen-size bed.
It might have been minutes later, or hours, but she was warm and snug and mostly asleep when footsteps sounded in the hall and the door to Aiden’s room closed.
She fell asleep wondering if the sense of being in the right place was so crystal clear because it was real or because she wanted so badly for it to be true.
Aiden wokethe same way he’d fallen asleep—far too aware of the woman in the room next to his. Whatever Petra wore for cream or used as a shampoo was enough to make his whole damn body sit up and take notice.
He dressed quickly and headed to the kitchen. Maybe if he made the coffee, it would push the scent of her from his head.
Once the regular coffee pot was up and running, he checked the meal schedule on the fridge that Jake had made and started hauling ingredients onto the counter.
He had ham frying in the electric skillet and pancake batter ready to go when the first of the family showed up.
“Everything ready?” Jake asked as he sniffed appreciatively.
“I’ve got the pancakes under control. You can pour the orange juice. Did you see Declan yet this morning?”
“He gave me a wave and said he’d be in soon. Petra awake?”
Aiden checked the heat on the griddle then turned it down a little. “I didn’t hear anything yet. How ‘bout you text her and tell her breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes?”
