she now calls home.”
“She’s not going to be here long enough to call this home,” Josh said, glaring at Molly.
The men stopped eating and stared at Josh, then Molly. Slowly, one by one, they looked at each other. Conversation lagged for several minutes, before picking up again.
Molly glared at him. There was no need for him to announce to the entire table that she wasn’t wanted.
She started to say something, thought better of it and snapped her mouth closed. If the reports from the agency were to be believed, Josh was going to have a long wait to find a replacement.
And while she didn’t plan to stay forever, she wanted to leave on her terms, not his.
She smiled at Lance. “Thanks for the offer. Maybe on my day off.”
Throwing Josh a challenging look, she dared him to deny she would have some free time. No matter how hard a boss he proved, everyone got time off.
“I’ll take you around on your day off, if you want to see the rest of the ranch,” Josh said, reaching for the coffeepot and refilling his cup.
Molly thought she’d enjoy seeing the ranch with Lance, but wasn’t so sure about going with Josh. Maybe she could get him to unbend a little before her day off so the day wouldn’t be awkward. Did he ever laugh and joke like the other men did? What did he do with his off time?
With lunch over, Molly returned to cleaning. She made inroads in the living room and wanted to finish before starting dinner. The room had been neglected for too long. She had dusted everything, cleaned the pictures, and vacuumed the rug, floor and furniture. She wanted to wash the windows so the room would sparkle. There was something very satisfying about bringing order out of chaos. She liked knowing she was making a difference in the room, in the house. To the men.
Josh had gone into his office to work after lunch and Molly heard his voice from time to time on the phone. Getting the window cleaner and a roll of paper towels, she began the final task in the room. As she worked, her gaze was drawn time and again to the rich green grass of the range that spread out before her. In the far distance the dark outline of the distant mountains rose from the high plains. They seemed to absorb the sunlight.
She saw the trees near the house sway in the wind. This would be a perfect setting for a romance novel. She could describe the lushness of the ranch. Maybe have her heroine and hero get lost in the vast range. She frowned. No, that wouldn’t work, the hero would know his way around and—
“Molly?”
She turned. Josh stood inches away. She hadn’t heard him come in.
“Yes.”
“What are you doing?”
“Washing windows.” What did it look like she was doing?
“You haven’t moved a muscle in minutes. I watched you.”
She shook her head and turned back to the window. The cleaner had run and dried. She'd been daydreaming again. Guiltily, she sprayed the cleaner on again and wiped hard to eradicate the streaks. “Was there something you wanted?”
“I realized after lunch that we hadn’t discussed your days off. I thought the usual ones of Saturday and Sunday.”
“What about meals for the men on those days?” she asked.
Embarrassed, she worked while she talked. She didn’t want him to fire her for daydreaming. Three times before was enough.
“We can get our own. Even when Rachel was here, she didn't cook every day.”
“I don’t mind cooking, if you want. If I can write the rest of the day. I don’t have any place else to go,” she said.
“Most of the men take off for town on Saturdays. You might make something ahead for Sunday dinner that we can heat up.”
She nodded, every inch of her body aware of Josh’s proximity. Diligently, she sprayed another pane, began to wipe it clean. Distracted with her reactions around him, she tried to cover her feelings. She'd die if he ever suspected her interest.
“What were you doing when I came in?” He refused to let it go.
“I guess I was thinking
“She’s not going to be here long enough to call this home,” Josh said, glaring at Molly.
The men stopped eating and stared at Josh, then Molly. Slowly, one by one, they looked at each other. Conversation lagged for several minutes, before picking up again.
Molly glared at him. There was no need for him to announce to the entire table that she wasn’t wanted.
She started to say something, thought better of it and snapped her mouth closed. If the reports from the agency were to be believed, Josh was going to have a long wait to find a replacement.
And while she didn’t plan to stay forever, she wanted to leave on her terms, not his.
She smiled at Lance. “Thanks for the offer. Maybe on my day off.”
Throwing Josh a challenging look, she dared him to deny she would have some free time. No matter how hard a boss he proved, everyone got time off.
“I’ll take you around on your day off, if you want to see the rest of the ranch,” Josh said, reaching for the coffeepot and refilling his cup.
Molly thought she’d enjoy seeing the ranch with Lance, but wasn’t so sure about going with Josh. Maybe she could get him to unbend a little before her day off so the day wouldn’t be awkward. Did he ever laugh and joke like the other men did? What did he do with his off time?
With lunch over, Molly returned to cleaning. She made inroads in the living room and wanted to finish before starting dinner. The room had been neglected for too long. She had dusted everything, cleaned the pictures, and vacuumed the rug, floor and furniture. She wanted to wash the windows so the room would sparkle. There was something very satisfying about bringing order out of chaos. She liked knowing she was making a difference in the room, in the house. To the men.
Josh had gone into his office to work after lunch and Molly heard his voice from time to time on the phone. Getting the window cleaner and a roll of paper towels, she began the final task in the room. As she worked, her gaze was drawn time and again to the rich green grass of the range that spread out before her. In the far distance the dark outline of the distant mountains rose from the high plains. They seemed to absorb the sunlight.
She saw the trees near the house sway in the wind. This would be a perfect setting for a romance novel. She could describe the lushness of the ranch. Maybe have her heroine and hero get lost in the vast range. She frowned. No, that wouldn’t work, the hero would know his way around and—
“Molly?”
She turned. Josh stood inches away. She hadn’t heard him come in.
“Yes.”
“What are you doing?”
“Washing windows.” What did it look like she was doing?
“You haven’t moved a muscle in minutes. I watched you.”
She shook her head and turned back to the window. The cleaner had run and dried. She'd been daydreaming again. Guiltily, she sprayed the cleaner on again and wiped hard to eradicate the streaks. “Was there something you wanted?”
“I realized after lunch that we hadn’t discussed your days off. I thought the usual ones of Saturday and Sunday.”
“What about meals for the men on those days?” she asked.
Embarrassed, she worked while she talked. She didn’t want him to fire her for daydreaming. Three times before was enough.
“We can get our own. Even when Rachel was here, she didn't cook every day.”
“I don’t mind cooking, if you want. If I can write the rest of the day. I don’t have any place else to go,” she said.
“Most of the men take off for town on Saturdays. You might make something ahead for Sunday dinner that we can heat up.”
She nodded, every inch of her body aware of Josh’s proximity. Diligently, she sprayed another pane, began to wipe it clean. Distracted with her reactions around him, she tried to cover her feelings. She'd die if he ever suspected her interest.
“What were you doing when I came in?” He refused to let it go.
“I guess I was thinking
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