and was curious to see what it was like. It was much larger than hers with two stories and a wrap-around porch. She walked in to find a cozy, homey place with a lot of framed family photos as well as a lot of books lining the shelves. She was surprised to find that he had a wall of CD's and vinyl records, everything ranging from classical to rock to blues and only a little bit of country. She tried not to gawk as she and Ben brought in two big boxes of food.
"He's quite the music fan," Claire called to Alicia.
"Yeah, he sure is. He loves to read too."
I really don't even know this man at all, she thought, how can I even begin to think I'm falling for him?
Cole, meanwhile was in a private battle all his own. He was doing his best to forget any closeness that he had felt for Claire as he prepared himself for her inevitable departure from his life. He had messed up and knew it was only a matter of time before she would be gone too. The thought of it left him in a bad mood and the rowdy stag-party guests were getting on his last nerve. He was getting sick of hearing them talk about all the women they wanted to bang and was wishing they had gone to Vegas.
He was both relieved and tense when he caught first sight of the ranch on Friday afternoon. He would be glad to see their guests leave the next day, but was half expecting Claire to be gone by the time he got back. And if she was there, he wasn't entirely sure how to handle what he knew would be an awkward situation.
Chapter 11
Claire and Alicia had spent the afternoon in the kitchen, preparing for a big steak dinner for the returning group. They had beer in big tubs filled with ice on the patio of the restaurant as well as a table of appetizers waiting. Ben poked his head in the door around four in the afternoon to say that he could see them on the other side of the lake already.
When the men returned, the guests made their way up to the restaurant first, while Cole, Ben and the other ranch hands got the horses fed, watered and settled in for the night. The beer was flowing quickly and by the time Cole and the others arrived, the guests were well into their third round.
The groom, Peter, had tried hitting on Claire each time she came out with more food. She smiled politely and said little things like, "Oh you!" or "What would your fiancée say?" or even "That's flattering, but no thank you. My heart belongs elsewhere." She was trying not to offend him but at the same time make sure he knew this wasn't going anywhere.
When Cole arrived, he could see Peter trying to grab Claire around the waist as she cleared empty bottles off the table. She slipped away with great agility and a tense smile on her face. Cole's body coursed with rage as he watched. He decided to sit at Peter's table and keep an eye on him. Each time Claire came out, he would stare at Peter with a territorial look that was impossible to miss. Peter, already drunk, seemed to take it as a challenge.
Cole got up and went into the kitchen, "Why don't you stay in the kitchen, Claire, and let Ben and I finish serving dessert. I don't like the way that Peter is carrying on right now."
Claire, still angry with Cole, did not want him marking her as his territory, "Thanks but I can take care of myself. I'm a big girl and I have lots of experience dealing with drunken idiots. Pretty soon he'll go sleep it off and tomorrow he'll have a nice hangover on the plane home." Her words came out with more venom than she intended.
"Suit yourself," he said with a shrug as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Ben, keep an eye on our esteemed guests, will you? I need to go have a shower," Cole walked out to his cabin.
Cole returned a while later and decided to go get their bill ready in his office. Ben seemed to have everything under control. The party went on for another two hours. It was after dark when Claire finished up the dishes and started heading back to her cabin.
"He's quite the music fan," Claire called to Alicia.
"Yeah, he sure is. He loves to read too."
I really don't even know this man at all, she thought, how can I even begin to think I'm falling for him?
Cole, meanwhile was in a private battle all his own. He was doing his best to forget any closeness that he had felt for Claire as he prepared himself for her inevitable departure from his life. He had messed up and knew it was only a matter of time before she would be gone too. The thought of it left him in a bad mood and the rowdy stag-party guests were getting on his last nerve. He was getting sick of hearing them talk about all the women they wanted to bang and was wishing they had gone to Vegas.
He was both relieved and tense when he caught first sight of the ranch on Friday afternoon. He would be glad to see their guests leave the next day, but was half expecting Claire to be gone by the time he got back. And if she was there, he wasn't entirely sure how to handle what he knew would be an awkward situation.
Chapter 11
Claire and Alicia had spent the afternoon in the kitchen, preparing for a big steak dinner for the returning group. They had beer in big tubs filled with ice on the patio of the restaurant as well as a table of appetizers waiting. Ben poked his head in the door around four in the afternoon to say that he could see them on the other side of the lake already.
When the men returned, the guests made their way up to the restaurant first, while Cole, Ben and the other ranch hands got the horses fed, watered and settled in for the night. The beer was flowing quickly and by the time Cole and the others arrived, the guests were well into their third round.
The groom, Peter, had tried hitting on Claire each time she came out with more food. She smiled politely and said little things like, "Oh you!" or "What would your fiancée say?" or even "That's flattering, but no thank you. My heart belongs elsewhere." She was trying not to offend him but at the same time make sure he knew this wasn't going anywhere.
When Cole arrived, he could see Peter trying to grab Claire around the waist as she cleared empty bottles off the table. She slipped away with great agility and a tense smile on her face. Cole's body coursed with rage as he watched. He decided to sit at Peter's table and keep an eye on him. Each time Claire came out, he would stare at Peter with a territorial look that was impossible to miss. Peter, already drunk, seemed to take it as a challenge.
Cole got up and went into the kitchen, "Why don't you stay in the kitchen, Claire, and let Ben and I finish serving dessert. I don't like the way that Peter is carrying on right now."
Claire, still angry with Cole, did not want him marking her as his territory, "Thanks but I can take care of myself. I'm a big girl and I have lots of experience dealing with drunken idiots. Pretty soon he'll go sleep it off and tomorrow he'll have a nice hangover on the plane home." Her words came out with more venom than she intended.
"Suit yourself," he said with a shrug as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Ben, keep an eye on our esteemed guests, will you? I need to go have a shower," Cole walked out to his cabin.
Cole returned a while later and decided to go get their bill ready in his office. Ben seemed to have everything under control. The party went on for another two hours. It was after dark when Claire finished up the dishes and started heading back to her cabin.
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