Southern Spice (Southern Desires Series Book 1) by Jeannette Winters Page B

fix you something to eat.”
    She watched McLean look around as though looking for something or better yet, maybe someone. Eventually, he removed his hat and accepted her offer. He didn’t strike her as the type of man who would be intimidated by what the boss was going to say, but he did come across as uneasy for some reason. Could Derrick truly be as bad as everyone was making him out to be? No way. If he was, he would have left me in that ditch. Nor would he have been so gentle when tending to my knee. His touch had been electrifying despite the pain I’d been in.
    There was no use standing there trying to figure any of it out. Her assignment was short-term, and before she knew it, she would be in a different part of the country altogether. That was what she loved about this job: she wasn’t stuck in one place very long, and she met some very interesting people along the way.
    McLean followed her to the kitchen, and she told him to have a seat.
    “Maybe I should be serving myself. You seem to be limping. Is it from the accident last night?”
    Truth be told, her entire body ached, but her leg was the worst of it. At times, the pain was so bad it was like a knife jabbing her right knee. When everyone had been there, she’d been so busy concentrating on getting them information she hadn’t had a minute to think about herself. But right now the throbbing was almost as bad as it had been last night.
    Casey wished she would have brought the horse ointment downstairs. Then she could at least come up with some excuse to leave the room and reapply it. There was no way she was going to be able to make it up the staircase without assistance. And admitting how bad it felt was also acknowledging how stupid she was for getting lost in the first place. This wasn’t Derrick, but he worked for him, so she already knew where his loyalty would be. Play it off, Casey. It’s only a week then you can get it checked out. “Only a small bump on the knee. It’s really not that bad.”
    Her acting skills must be much better than she thought because he didn’t question her response.
    “Ma’am, you’re lucky you didn’t drown in that ravine. We had a colt stuck down there once that couldn’t get himself out. I can’t figure how such a tiny thing like you managed all by yourself,” McLean said as he sat at the table.
    “Lucky, I guess. So how long have you worked on the ranch?” Casey asked, trying to change the subject.
    “A little over five years now.”
    Casey pulled out a few containers from the refrigerator, and McLean’s eyes opened wide. “Would you like to pick what you want or just a bit of everything?”
    He laughed. “One of my men cooks for us every night. Same damn boring shit every day. The only time we get to change it up is when we go into town. But the tornado took out the diner a few days ago, and with all these heavy rain storms after, we’ve all been stuck eating his food.”
    “How many men work here?” Casey asked. She did say she had food for an army, which was an overstatement, but she was sure she could feed several hungry men easily.
    “Four besides myself.”
    “I can’t eat all this, and Derrick doesn’t seem to be around. Do you think the others would like to join us for some leftovers?”
    McLean pulled a two-way radio from out of the pocket of his jean coat. “If you guys want some real food tonight, head to the main house. We eat in ten.”
    Casey held back her laughter as she heard the hooting and hollering of the others on the radio. She turned back to the refrigerator and pulled out even more food. She might be hurting, but she was glad to have some company. Even before all the food was heated and ready, the others began to arrive. The house was soon filled with loud bellowing voices.
    “You boys better be on your best behavior, or you’re out on your ass,” McLean warned. “And y’all would be wise to remember whose house you’re in.”
    All four looked at each other then