Alexander Ranch (14 page)

I’d insisted on going back to my home tonight though. When he walked me to my room to g
et my things, or rather the room I’d been occupying, he opened a drawer and began pulling out articles of clothing.

“This is your room?” I blurted out louder than I’d intended, the realization startling me.

“Yes,” he looked at me inquiringly.

“But, where have you been sleeping then? Why did you let me put you out of your room?”

“I slept in the guest room,” He shrugged and pulled more things out.

“I could have slept in the guest room,” I mumbled.

“It wasn’t a big deal,” he said closing another drawer and stuffing something in his duffle, “I carried you in here when you were attacked. I guess I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t see any reason to move you. No big deal.”

I didn’t say anything more. I just didn’t feel right about displacing him when they had a perfectly good guest room I could have been using. But, if i
t wasn’t a big deal to him then I wouldn’t make a big deal about it either. He picked up his bag and mine and we left. Grace and Logan met us at the door to say goodbye. They hugged me and fussed as if I wouldn’t be back Monday, which was only a day away. Then, Jordan and Daisy took me home.

It was great to be home. I had been spoiled at the Alexander ranch and I appreciated all they did for me, but there was nothing like being at home and sleeping in my own bed. Daisy had gotten into the habit of watching the shows I’d taped on the DVR with me. We’d missed several episodes of various shows while I recuperated with them. So, we spent the evening catching up. This time Jordan watched with us. He was fairly quiet, but he seemed much less intense or uneasy around me then he had been before my late night visitor and this crazy week.

Around 10 o’clock I was getting ready for bed when the phone rang. I grabbed the phone seeing it was Bryce on the caller ID. “Hey Big Bro!” I said, jumping up and hurrying in the kitchen so I wouldn’t interrupt Jordan and Daisy watching television.

“Hey, Baby Girl. Where have you been? I haven’t gotten more than an occasional text from you the last week.”

“I know. It’s been crazy. I have been working offsite on an assignment.”

“Really? Where?”

“At the Alexander Ranch. Have you heard of it?”

“Yes, I have. Wow, how’d you get that gig?”

“Well, apparently they lost their staff vet and needed someone to fill in for a while,” I said, giving him the same story that Logan had apparently given John.

“And John sent you?” Blake asked skeptically
. “I wouldn’t have thought he’d spare you. Why didn’t he send one of your staff vets?”

“I asked him the same thing,” I said, trying to sound just as mystified
. “He just said that if all went well they may decide they don’t need a staff vet, and we could provide the services they need. He said I was the only one that could sell our pet services to them.”

“Well, he’s right about that,” he agreed
. “Once they see how committed you are to the service and care of animals they just might give you guys their business.”

“John thinks so anyway.”

I wanted to change the subject.  “So, when am I going to see you?”

“Well, if you’d bothered to answer the phone once in a while you’d already know I’ll be home this weekend,” he said in mock irritation.

“Oh, great!” I exclaimed. Then my initial happiness was eclipsed by an equal amount of concern. I needed to keep my brother safe. I held my cheery countenance though. “What time are you coming in? What day?”

“I’ll be arriving on Friday and leaving early Sunday.”

“Wow, just two days this time?”

“Yes, unfortunately.”

I have to work on Friday, but I’ll see you when I get home.”

“No rush. I’m going to have lunch with some of the guys.”

We talked a few more moments and then said our goodnights. Then, I went to tell Daisy and Jordan the news.

“My brother will be home for the weekend. I don’t want him to know what is going on.”

“Agreed,” they said in unison.

“The fewer people who know the better,” Daisy said nodding
her agreement before heading toward the kitchen with an empty popcorn bowl.

“But, I don’t know how to keep him safe,” I said.

“Don’t worry. We have that covered,” Daisy said pausing at the kitchen doorway, “All you need do is go about your business. Stay alert, but otherwise, leave it to us to keep you and your brother safe.”

“We will not have another failure in security,” Jordan vowed, holding my eyes solemnly as he spoke the words.

“It wasn’t a failure,” I chided.

“Well. It won’t happen again,”
he said in a low uncompromising voice.

“He’s right. It won’t,” Daisy seconded, coming back into the room
. “So, off to bed with you.”

I hesitated, but Daisy made a shooing gesture so I went off to bed.

Chapter 19

I woke the next morning to the smell of coffee just before my alarm went off. I lay there not willing to get up one minute before I had to. Too soon the alarm clicked on and the radio music was playing. As soon as the music started there was a soft knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Jordan walked in with a cup of coffee, “I thought it would help get you moving.”

I smiled, grateful at not having to drag myself out of bed to get the eye opening brew. “Thank you. You have no idea how grateful I am.”

He grinned and I caught myself staring at that relaxed grin. I shook myself and then took the mug he was offering.

“Please, tell me you have heard from Ethan?”

His grin seemed to get stuck in place. “Yes, we have. He is fine.”

I sighed with relief and took a sip. “Why do I always have to ask? It’s like you want to keep me in suspense.”

His face took on a strange look that I didn’t understand. I almost feared that I had offended him. But, he sounded perfectly normal when he spoke
. “If Ethan were in any trouble, I promise to let you know immediately.”

“Ok
,” I said cautiously. I still felt like I was missing something but was too tired to try and figure it out. I sipped more coffee and then got out of bed feeling awkward. I seemed to keep finding myself with him in my pj’s.

“I’d better get dressed.”

“Lela?” He spoke my named in a quiet, resigned voice.

I looked up at him, “Yes?”

“I know hanging out with me isn’t, well, the same as being with Ethan. And, he’s scheduled to be back either tomorrow or the next day. So, you’ll only have to put up with me until then. I hope I can keep you entertained until then.”

I frowned in confusion, “You’re company is just as pleasant and welcome as Ethan’s, and Daisy’s too for that matter. Why would I prefer Ethan’s?”

He was the one who’d acted like he didn’t want to be near me until recently. Hadn’t I accepted this new attitude he had towards me? I was skeptical yes, but I wasn’t treating him as if I didn’t want to be near him.

“Well you ask about him every morning,”
he stated, sounding a little confused himself.

“I’m worried about him,” I said exasperatedly, “
just as I would be worried about any of you. Everyone else is safe. He’s not.”

“Oh, well,” he sounded distinctly uncomfortable and wasn’t quite able to meet my eyes. “That makes since. I just thought…, well, never mind.”

“You thought what?” I asked, completely flustered now. What was it with this man? Maybe I
should
spend more time trying to read his mind. He was so contradictory.

“Nothing. I’ll go so you can get dressed.”

“You thought what?” I said again, insistently. He looked uncomfortable, but he met my eyes.

“I thought you and he were,” he cleared his throat gently, “well, becoming involved.”

“Involved?” I frowned in confusion. Then my eyes opened wide with understanding, “Me and Ethan?”

I blurted out the latter and then, for some stupid reason mentally corrected myself,
Ethan and I.
He was watching me closely now, intently.

“Was I wrong?” he asked with a cool reserve.

“Well, yes,” I spluttered in astonishment. How had he come up with that conclusion? I mean, yes, Ethan was a flirt and I flirted back a little, but we weren’t seriously flirting. I wasn’t serious. Surely, Ethan wasn’t either. I would have known, right? He stepped very close to me now recapturing my attention. He was looking into my eyes so intently I couldn’t look away. It was as if he were trying to see something in them.

“So, you don’t have any feelings for Ethan? Romantic feelings I mean?”
he asked, scrutinizing my every word and facial expression.

“No,” I
answered, bewildered. His head began to lower as I spoke the last words, “We’re just friends.”

His lips were a breath away from mine. Was he going to kiss me? My mind was whirling in confusion. I had not seen this coming. He hesitated as if… what? Giving me a chance to turn away or push him away? When I did nothing but stand there frozen, he gently covered my lips with his.

I let out a pent up breath I hadn’t known I was holding. His mouth was feather light on mine and I responded automatically. This seemed to please him and he coaxed my mouth open, deepening the kiss. My mind seemed to be frozen but my lips apparently were not. They followed his lead with no permission from me. And, before long he had pressed me gently to the wall, or maybe I’d just started walking backwards and he followed. I wasn’t sure. But, I had handfuls of his shirt now and he was grasping both of my shoulders pulling me closer to him.

“Are you ready yet, it’s almost time to – oh!” came a gasp from the direction of the doorway. Apparently Daisy had come looking for us, or me. Jordan immediately released me and stepped away. I stood there looking dumbstruck and wide eyed at Daisy, who was looking rather wide – eyed back.

“I – I’m sorry. I was just,” she stuttered. “I mean it’s time to go, well almost. I’ll just wait out here.”

She
turned and quickly fled from the room.

“Shit,” Jordan hissed, running his hands through his hair and then down his face. He took in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. Then, he turned and looked at me. “Do I owe you an apology?”

“Uh, I don’t think so,” I sounded breathless, even to myself. He nodded uncomfortably and headed for the door.

“I’ll wait for you out here,” he said, then disappeared through the door.

I sat down on the bed. What had just happened? Since I’d met Jordan he seemed to barely be able to stand being around me. Then suddenly, lately, he seemed to get over his aversion to me. But, this? He had just kissed me! Why? What did that mean?

When he’d kissed me my senses had opened. I could feel his desire for me and was helpless to resist. I’d also felt a strong inner conflict I had been too preoccupied kissing and being kissed to analyze. It didn’t make any s
ense.

I heard the front door open and close and remembered I needed to get dressed. I’d taken a shower the night before as always. I jumped up and began pulling on my clothes. I ran in the bathroom and brushed my teeth and washed my face. When I came out of the bathroom Daisy was
sitting on the bed looking at me worriedly.

“I’m ready,” I said, pulling my hair into a hasty ponytail.

“Are you ok?” she asked softly.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, flushing with obvious mortification.

“You don’t look fine,” She continued speculatively.

“Just a little surprised and embarrassed.”

“And, confused?”

“That too.”

“Do you feel any weakness or pain?” she asked warily.

I stopped my hurried frenzy to find socks and shoes and asked, “Why would I feel weakness or pain?”

“Well, Jordan is a drainer. And, remember the pain you felt when you were attacked?” she said frankly but cautiously.

“Jordan didn’t attack me!” I practically yelled.

“I didn’t think he did,” she said calmly. “However…,well, I’ll just see for myself.”

She came over to me and put a hand on my arm. After a moment she removed her hand.

“He will be relieved to know he in no way harmed you.”

“Why would he think he had? Why would you?”

“I didn’t, but Jordan is afraid that he could harm you without intending to.”

“How?”

“You’ll have to have him explain it. I, however, was certain he would not. And, now I have my proof.”

I hadn’t really wanted to discuss this, but curiosity was quickly overriding this feeling. I remembered her assuring me that Jordan didn’t dislike me. I had a feeling she’d known more then, than I had given her credit for.

“I felt so much conflict in him,” I mumbled.

“Well, you felt him correctly. He’s very conflicted right now,” she paused and glanced at me speculatively, “over you.”