invitation and I’m not handing Bridleton over to you just because you’ve taken up residence.”
His gaze narrowed and his expression went grim. “I suggest we drop the subject of sex and discuss how you plan to save the property.”
“Zack and I are putting all our available funds to work. It won’t put us in the black but it’ll pay taxes and the most pressing bills. Beyond that, the ranch will have to turn a profit.”
His tight expression eased a little. “That might be possible if we have enough help. Trace and I are already working sixteen-hour days. We have a few full-time employees and some part-timers but we need more.”
“Chey, Zack and I are going to help. It’s been a while but Granddad made sure we all had a working knowledge of the ranch.”
He looked skeptical but didn’t argue. Straightening, he turned to leave. “Whatever you say…boss.”
His emphasis on the word “boss” had her gritting her teeth. They couldn’t save Bridleton without him and he’d still be giving the orders but technically he did work for her whether he liked it or not.
“You are an incredibly annoying human being,” she said.
“Right back attcha, baby.”
Andrea’s pulse lurched. How many times had he thrown that phrase at her in the past? More than she could count. Over the years it had evolved from a kid’s taunt to a teenage challenge and then a lover’s vow. What now? What new phase would their relationship enter now?
“If you’re gonna help, I need someone to drive the tractor while I spread hay to the cattle in the east pasture. I’m gonna grab a bite to eat but I’ll be at the equipment shed in about an hour. You’d better change clothes.”
With that, he turned and left the room.
It took a few minutes for her to reclaim her composure. Noah always had that effect on her. Apparently in their revised relationship she became the boss who followed his orders. Just as well since she had no idea what needed to be done.
Zack and Nanette shared a quick lunch with her but Noah had already left the house and Chey didn’t make an appearance. Zack promised to rouse their youngest sister and get some necessary chores done before the contractors arrived to start painting. Andrea gave them a brief update on the business she’d handled earlier and then excused herself to help Noah.
Most of her old clothes were still stored in her dresser so she searched for a comfortable pair of jeans. What used to be skintight now fit loosely but her tee shirt, socks and boots fit fine.
Her hair hung halfway down her back. It had always been an asset to her modeling career but it wasn’t very practical on the ranch. She quickly braided it, slathered sunscreen over every inch of visible skin and slapped a hat on her head. It wouldn’t do to keep the ranch manager waiting so she hurried out of the house.
Once outdoors, she tilted her head back and soaked up some sunshine. The house stayed cool by design yet she welcomed the warmth as well as the familiar scents of the ranch. Texas was the only place she ever felt truly warm and it seemed like she’d been cold for a very long time.
As she walked the hundred yards from the house to the barnyard, she glanced back at the French Colonial-style home. Designed in the late 1800s by a New Orleans architect, it sat atop a small rise of land and sported a wraparound porch. Several bedrooms had balconies with all the railings a match to the ones on the lower story.
The house sat like a slightly defective jewel in a bed of overgrown velvet lawns with an abundance of untended flowers and shrubs. Gleaming white in the sun, the spots of peeling paint made it look bruised and battered but a new paint job would easily restore its elegant beauty. Zack’s decision to spend money for renovations would make a world of difference and bring back its showplace appearance. She desperately hoped they wouldn’t have to put it on the market.
Halfway across the yard, a wild chorus of
His gaze narrowed and his expression went grim. “I suggest we drop the subject of sex and discuss how you plan to save the property.”
“Zack and I are putting all our available funds to work. It won’t put us in the black but it’ll pay taxes and the most pressing bills. Beyond that, the ranch will have to turn a profit.”
His tight expression eased a little. “That might be possible if we have enough help. Trace and I are already working sixteen-hour days. We have a few full-time employees and some part-timers but we need more.”
“Chey, Zack and I are going to help. It’s been a while but Granddad made sure we all had a working knowledge of the ranch.”
He looked skeptical but didn’t argue. Straightening, he turned to leave. “Whatever you say…boss.”
His emphasis on the word “boss” had her gritting her teeth. They couldn’t save Bridleton without him and he’d still be giving the orders but technically he did work for her whether he liked it or not.
“You are an incredibly annoying human being,” she said.
“Right back attcha, baby.”
Andrea’s pulse lurched. How many times had he thrown that phrase at her in the past? More than she could count. Over the years it had evolved from a kid’s taunt to a teenage challenge and then a lover’s vow. What now? What new phase would their relationship enter now?
“If you’re gonna help, I need someone to drive the tractor while I spread hay to the cattle in the east pasture. I’m gonna grab a bite to eat but I’ll be at the equipment shed in about an hour. You’d better change clothes.”
With that, he turned and left the room.
It took a few minutes for her to reclaim her composure. Noah always had that effect on her. Apparently in their revised relationship she became the boss who followed his orders. Just as well since she had no idea what needed to be done.
Zack and Nanette shared a quick lunch with her but Noah had already left the house and Chey didn’t make an appearance. Zack promised to rouse their youngest sister and get some necessary chores done before the contractors arrived to start painting. Andrea gave them a brief update on the business she’d handled earlier and then excused herself to help Noah.
Most of her old clothes were still stored in her dresser so she searched for a comfortable pair of jeans. What used to be skintight now fit loosely but her tee shirt, socks and boots fit fine.
Her hair hung halfway down her back. It had always been an asset to her modeling career but it wasn’t very practical on the ranch. She quickly braided it, slathered sunscreen over every inch of visible skin and slapped a hat on her head. It wouldn’t do to keep the ranch manager waiting so she hurried out of the house.
Once outdoors, she tilted her head back and soaked up some sunshine. The house stayed cool by design yet she welcomed the warmth as well as the familiar scents of the ranch. Texas was the only place she ever felt truly warm and it seemed like she’d been cold for a very long time.
As she walked the hundred yards from the house to the barnyard, she glanced back at the French Colonial-style home. Designed in the late 1800s by a New Orleans architect, it sat atop a small rise of land and sported a wraparound porch. Several bedrooms had balconies with all the railings a match to the ones on the lower story.
The house sat like a slightly defective jewel in a bed of overgrown velvet lawns with an abundance of untended flowers and shrubs. Gleaming white in the sun, the spots of peeling paint made it look bruised and battered but a new paint job would easily restore its elegant beauty. Zack’s decision to spend money for renovations would make a world of difference and bring back its showplace appearance. She desperately hoped they wouldn’t have to put it on the market.
Halfway across the yard, a wild chorus of