about the ranch. It’s pretty here. You can see the mountains in the distance; between here and there all the range is green with grass. I can just see some cattle on that rise to the left.”
“The room looks nice,” he said almost grudgingly.
He had work to do. He didn’t have time to hang around his housekeeper while she washed windows. Glancing around, he noticed how tidy she’d made everything; even the pictures on the walls sparkled.
She was right, when she worked, she proved to be a hard worker. But he knew she’d been a million miles away when he’d walked into the room.
“The pictures are of your family?” Molly asked when she turned to see if he had left and found him staring at the photographs.
“My brother and sister. My folks died when we were young.”
“I’m sorry. Do your brother and sister live near here?”
“Brianna lives in Texarkana where she teaches at the local college. Jase and his wife have a spread in west Texas.”
“So he’s a rancher, like you?”
Josh turned to face her, his face impassive. “He’s always been a rancher. He kept us together with him after our folks died. He really raised Brianna and me. The Rafter C belongs to all of us, not just me.”
“But you run it.”
“Yeah, I run it.”
“Very successfully, I’d say,” Molly said with a smile.
Josh’s expression hardened. Tension filled the room. “Well enough,” he retorted.
Molly wondered what she’d said wrong. Most people liked being complimented on doing something well.
She had been about to congratulate herself on managing a conversation for several minutes without Josh getting angry. Obviously she’d said something to touch him off, but what?
“Let’s get one thing clear up front,” he said, glaring down at her. “This is a family ranch. I don’t own it all. And I have no intention of sharing it with anyone. Especially someone as flighty as you.”
Molly stared at him. Was he nuts?
“Excuse me, did I miss something in the conversation? I don’t want to share this ranch with you. I’m here to work. When I finish my book, I’m going to move back to town and get an apartment of my own and never have to answer to anyone again.”
“Right.”
She fumed at his sarcastic tone. Boldly she stepped closer and jutted her chin up at him. “Listen to me, Mr. Hot-Shot Rancher, I’m not making a play for you or any other man. I’m focused on my new job and my goal to write a novel. I’m certainly not making a play for a bossy, arrogant rancher who can’t even keep a housekeeper for longer than a month!”
“He either did a number on you or you’re trying to do one on me,” Josh drawled.
“I’m not trying to do anything on you. I’m here to keep house, nothing more.”
“And write your book,” he added slyly.
“That, too.”
“I’ve seen women use their wiles to try to get their way. I’m not susceptible this time around,” he warned.
Outraged, Molly slammed her fists on her hips and stepped even closer, until she could feel the radiant heat from Josh’s body, until she could smell Josh’s scent.
“Forget it, cowboy. I’ve had my fill of domineering, bossy, arrogant men. My father was one, my ex-fiancé was one. You would be my last choice, even if I considered getting involved.”
“Good, just so we understand each other.” He paused a heartbeat, then relaxed a fraction. “I was engaged once myself. To a woman who only wanted the ranch and the perks the money could buy.”
She blinked, her anger fleeing instantly. Behind the evenly spoken words, Molly recognized the hurt and disillusion he’d die if he knew he’d revealed. No wonder he suspected her. His experience with the opposite sex didn’t appear to be any better than hers.
“Well, don’t paint me with that brush. I don’t want your ranch, your money or you.”
Liar .
Her conscience whispered how much she would like to know him better. See where the sensual pull that played each time she drew
“The room looks nice,” he said almost grudgingly.
He had work to do. He didn’t have time to hang around his housekeeper while she washed windows. Glancing around, he noticed how tidy she’d made everything; even the pictures on the walls sparkled.
She was right, when she worked, she proved to be a hard worker. But he knew she’d been a million miles away when he’d walked into the room.
“The pictures are of your family?” Molly asked when she turned to see if he had left and found him staring at the photographs.
“My brother and sister. My folks died when we were young.”
“I’m sorry. Do your brother and sister live near here?”
“Brianna lives in Texarkana where she teaches at the local college. Jase and his wife have a spread in west Texas.”
“So he’s a rancher, like you?”
Josh turned to face her, his face impassive. “He’s always been a rancher. He kept us together with him after our folks died. He really raised Brianna and me. The Rafter C belongs to all of us, not just me.”
“But you run it.”
“Yeah, I run it.”
“Very successfully, I’d say,” Molly said with a smile.
Josh’s expression hardened. Tension filled the room. “Well enough,” he retorted.
Molly wondered what she’d said wrong. Most people liked being complimented on doing something well.
She had been about to congratulate herself on managing a conversation for several minutes without Josh getting angry. Obviously she’d said something to touch him off, but what?
“Let’s get one thing clear up front,” he said, glaring down at her. “This is a family ranch. I don’t own it all. And I have no intention of sharing it with anyone. Especially someone as flighty as you.”
Molly stared at him. Was he nuts?
“Excuse me, did I miss something in the conversation? I don’t want to share this ranch with you. I’m here to work. When I finish my book, I’m going to move back to town and get an apartment of my own and never have to answer to anyone again.”
“Right.”
She fumed at his sarcastic tone. Boldly she stepped closer and jutted her chin up at him. “Listen to me, Mr. Hot-Shot Rancher, I’m not making a play for you or any other man. I’m focused on my new job and my goal to write a novel. I’m certainly not making a play for a bossy, arrogant rancher who can’t even keep a housekeeper for longer than a month!”
“He either did a number on you or you’re trying to do one on me,” Josh drawled.
“I’m not trying to do anything on you. I’m here to keep house, nothing more.”
“And write your book,” he added slyly.
“That, too.”
“I’ve seen women use their wiles to try to get their way. I’m not susceptible this time around,” he warned.
Outraged, Molly slammed her fists on her hips and stepped even closer, until she could feel the radiant heat from Josh’s body, until she could smell Josh’s scent.
“Forget it, cowboy. I’ve had my fill of domineering, bossy, arrogant men. My father was one, my ex-fiancé was one. You would be my last choice, even if I considered getting involved.”
“Good, just so we understand each other.” He paused a heartbeat, then relaxed a fraction. “I was engaged once myself. To a woman who only wanted the ranch and the perks the money could buy.”
She blinked, her anger fleeing instantly. Behind the evenly spoken words, Molly recognized the hurt and disillusion he’d die if he knew he’d revealed. No wonder he suspected her. His experience with the opposite sex didn’t appear to be any better than hers.
“Well, don’t paint me with that brush. I don’t want your ranch, your money or you.”
Liar .
Her conscience whispered how much she would like to know him better. See where the sensual pull that played each time she drew
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