Learnin' The Ropes (14 page)

“Ty, about the other night, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t…” Lexi said, struggling to find the right words to express how much she regretted blurting out what was on her mind. Before she could continue, he cut her off.

“Don’t, Lexi. It’s fine. I shouldn’t have tickled you like that. We can pretend it never happened.”  He remembered every second of how Lexi felt in his arms and wanting, more than anything, to feel her there again. In an effort to ease her obvious discomfort, he changed the subject. “Have you seen Baby? She disappeared and there is a huge pile of her fur out here by the barn.”

 “I guess we forgot to tell you that Baby molts twice a year,” Lexi said with a laugh in her voice. She could just picture the look on Ty’s face when he came across the pile of Baby’s hair.

“Molts?” he asked, trying to understand what Lexi was saying. “You mean she sheds like that twice a year?”

“That’s right. She needs brushed every few days when she’s shedding. I brushed her this morning and forgot to throw the fur away. Sorry if it startled you,” Lexi said, realizing the pile of fur could be a little disturbing.

“I’m just glad she’s okay,” Ty said, relieved the dog was fine. He didn’t want to admit it, but he’d become quite attached to the behemoth canine. “Do you know where she is?”

“The last time I saw her, she was in the barn pouting. She gets a little upset when she sheds. I think it damages her pride.” Lexi understood the dog all too well. She’d been hiding from Ty herself and now it looked like the dog was, too. So much for the Rockin’ R females. Ty had them all shame-faced and sulking around.

“Okay. I’ll just head into town, then. Are you sure there isn’t anything you need?” Ty walked into the bunkhouse to change his shirt before heading to town.

“I’m fine, but thanks. Talk to you later.” Lexi disconnected the call. What she really wanted to do was go along with Ty. A few hours locked in a vehicle with him sounded both terrifying and wonderful.

Ty returned from Burns with the parts and worked right through dinner. Swede offered to bring him a plate, but Ty brushed him off, intent on finishing the project. The last streaks of sunlight were fading into the twilight when he slid out from beneath the truck he was working on to have his face washed in licks from Baby.

“Well, hello to you, too,” he said, sitting up on the mechanic’s creeper and rubbing the dog’s head. Baby grinned at him as he got to his feet and turned toward the bathroom. Ty was surprised to find Lexi watching him, holding a plate in her hand.

“Swede said you missed dinner. Figured you’d be hungry by now.” Lexi held the plate out in his direction. “Baby was ready to come out of hiding, so we came to see you together.”

“I’m glad you did.” Ty ducked into the bathroom to wash his face and hands. If only Lexi had greeted him half as eagerly as the dog. The image that stirred in his mind made him grin in the bathroom mirror. Hastily running his hands through his tousled hair, he was going to attempt to subdue it then decided maybe it was better left alone. After all, Lexi had called it sexy.

Lexi set the plate on a clean corner of the workbench and sat down on the stool next to Ty’s. He lifted the foil covering from the plate to find slices of baked chicken, rice pilaf, steamed mixed vegetables and two dinner rolls slathered with berry jam. His stomach grumbled in anticipation and he smiled at Lexi.

“I know this didn’t come from the bunkhouse,” he said, taking a bite of the moist, tender chicken.

“I had leftovers,” she said, not wanting to admit that when Swede mentioned Ty skipped dinner, she hurried into the house and made a special one. She needed to eat something anyway, so it wasn’t like she was making an extra meal. At least that was what she told herself as she seasoned the chicken, made the rice and cooked the vegetables. The rolls were out of the freezer, as was the jam. Although she had a dozen things she needed to be doing this evening, somehow making dinner for Ty seemed like the highest priority. When she found Baby hiding on the back porch, she cajoled the dog into joining her to visit Ty. 

She and Baby were both pathetic when it came to the handsome mechanic.

When he finished the excellent meal, Ty thanked Lexi for dinner and offered to walk her back to the house. Quickly turning off the lights and tools in the shop, Ty carried the plate and followed Lexi back to the house in the semi-darkness. Ambling down the walk, they discussed what was happening on the ranch and the fact that Lexi hadn’t discovered any more clues. She found her dad’s box of yearbooks, but the one from his senior year was missing.

When they reached the back door, Lexi wasn’t quite ready to say good night as she turned and imploringly looked at Ty.

“I should probably turn in and let you get your rest.” He handed her the plate and scratched Baby on the head, trying to ignore his longing to follow Lexi inside.

“That’s too bad,” Lexi said, stepping inside, but leaving the door wide open. “I’ve got an apple crisp in the oven and was hoping I could find someone to help me eat it.”

“I wouldn’t want you to be forced to eat alone.” Ty offered her a teasing grin as he followed her into the kitchen. Baby trailed him in and sat down by the door. The smell of apples and cinnamon filled the space, making Ty’s mouth water even after the big, delicious meal he’d just consumed.

Quickly washing her hands at the kitchen sink, Lexi took the crisp from the oven and set it on a hot pad to cool. After she took plates from the cupboard, she chatted with Ty about equipment repairs while the crisp cooled and she made coffee. She put large servings on two plates then scooped vanilla ice cream on top. A drizzle of caramel sauce completed the dessert and she slid a plate across to him.

He savored the first warm, heavenly bite and rolled his eyes in pleasure.

“Like it?” Lexi asked, grinning at him.

“Yes, ma’am, I do.” Ty took another big bite. It was quite possibly the best apple crisp he’d ever had. Hot from the oven with ice cream melting in a creamy pool with just a hint of caramel, it was sweet perfection. The hot coffee was good, too. Some of the boys in the bunkhouse were not skilled in the art of making coffee and Ty missed a good cup of morning java.

“I’m glad I could twist your arm into having some.” Lexi’s green eyes held a teasing light as she looked at him. She tumbled into the warm liquid orbs of blue that stared back at her. She watched a muscle work in Ty’s jaw as he studied her. The longing that radiated from him fed her heart and reflected what was in her own.

 If she wasn’t terrified of his reaction, of being rebuffed, she would bridge the chasm keeping them apart. Instead, she held his gaze, feeling caressed by Ty although he didn’t touch her.

Ty suddenly felt everything go into slow motion as he watched Lexi take a bite of her dessert, a tiny drip of caramel on her lip. When she ran the tip of her tongue out and licked it away, his pulse picked up tempo while his hands grew clammy. Her cheeks were a rosy shade of pink and her beautiful eyes, highlighted by her lush, black lashes, sparkled with golden flecks.

A sudden desire to lean forward and kiss her nearly overtook him. The part of his head telling him that was a very bad idea won out over the part telling him to sweep her into his arms and show her how he felt about her.

Eventually, he swallowed back a sigh and broke the intimate moment as he carried his dirty plate and cup to the sink. He had no business entertaining any thoughts about Lexi. She was his boss and a lady. He had absolutely nothing to offer her beyond himself and he didn’t think that was anywhere close to good enough.

She deserved much better than a homeless mechanic who could fit everything he owned in this world in the back of his pickup with room to spare.

He walked to the door without making eye contact. After pausing for several heartbeats, he settled his gaze on her face and saw the look of hurt and confusion in her eyes. In no hurry to leave, he leaned against the door, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and studied his boss. The powerful, magnetic tug between them wasn’t something he imagined. He could tell she felt it, too.

As a gentleman, it was his place to maintain the distance and a level of professionalism. There would be no more dinners together, no more time spent alone in her house. The temptation of his alluring boss was just too hard for him to ignore.

Lexi wondered if Ty had any idea how entirely unsettling that enticing pose was to females in general, and to her in particular. As he leaned there, muscles flexing, tousled hair begging to be touched, and devil-may-care attitude projecting from the set of his jaw, she wanted to take that scruffy face in her hands and kiss those full lips until she was breathless.

Instead, she twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, wishing Ty would show some interest in kissing her. All he had to do was meet her halfway.

“Thank you for the wonderful meal and that amazing crisp. It was really good,” Ty said, not making any move toward leaving.

 “You’re welcome. Thanks for coming in and keeping me company. The house gets too quiet sometimes.” Lexi hoped he believed her. It was true. The big house sometimes echoed with its emptiness and made her lonely.

Like now.

“I’m sure Baby can keep things lively around here.” Ty rubbed the dog’s head again.

“She does. I just don’t let her in very often.” Lexi took a step closer to both man and dog. “I can’t stand having her hair all over.”

“Baby does leave behind a well-marked trail.” He chuckled, recalling all the fur he’d seen earlier that morning.

“Thanks again, Ty,” Lexi whispered, watching Ty’s eyes grow dark and his jaw tighten.

“Anytime, Lexi.” Slowly, he reached out and took the lock of hair she’d been twirling into his hand. He ran his fingers along the silky strands as a sigh escaped Lexi’s rosy lips.

What could one kiss hurt? He’d kiss her and neither of them would feel anything then all the awful tension between them would disappear.

Ty pushed away from the door. He dropped her hair as his hands settled on her waist, drawing her closer to him. The heated look he gave her let her know exactly what he was intending if she wanted to put a stop to it.

Anticipating her resistance, he released the breath he’d held when she slid her hands up his arms, around his neck, and lowered her lashes. He was so close, he could almost feel the softness of her lips, taste the sweetness of them. Her wonderful, warm floral scent flooded his senses as he lowered his head. When just a breath of space was all that separated his lips from hers, Baby barked and shoved her way between them, effectively killing the moment.

“I guess that’s my signal to leave.” Ty laughed nervously. With a reproving glare at Baby, he opened the door and stepped outside. “Thanks again, Lexi. I appreciated the good food and company.

“You’re welcome,” she whispered as Ty went down the steps and out the back gate. She closed the door then turned to Baby, taking the dog’s face in her hands and frowning. “That was naughty, Baby. Very naughty.”

Obviously pleased with herself, Baby licked Lexi’s hand and wagged her tail. If Lexi didn’t know better, she’d think the dog wedged between them intentionally.

“Out you go.” Lexi opened the door and shooed the dog outside. If it wasn’t for that crazy dog, she would have finally felt the touch of Ty’s lips on her own. She could still smell his scent and her skin tingled at her waist where his hands had lingered.

How would she ever get any sleep when all she wanted was for Ty to come back and pick up where Baby interrupted?

Upstairs, she went into the guest room her dad claimed as his own after her mother died and he could no longer stand to be in the master suite. The scent of his after-shave lingered in the air and she ran her hand along the desk where he kept his personal things. Randomly opening drawers, she didn’t find anything that sparked her interest.

As she browsed through the books piled on the nightstand, she happened to discover his yearbook. A tiny scrap of paper marked a page with a photo of her dad in his football uniform.

The Power of a Horse

Lexi had no idea what that clue meant.

Too tired to make sense of it, she went to bed. Rather than falling into a peaceful slumber, Ty’s bright blue eyes and heartbreaker smile haunted her dreams.

The next morning, Ty tried to decide if he should be mad or grateful to the dog. While he mulled over the two options, he heard Swede and Lexi at the shop door, talking quietly. They seemed to be arguing about something.

Quickly pulling the door open, he caught them both by surprise as they turned to look at him with wide eyes.

“Hey,” he said, with a friendly smile. “What evil are you two plotting?”

“No evil,” Swede said, shifting his weight from one bowed leg to the other. “We’re jes discussin’ who was gonna break some news to ya that ya might not like to hear.”

Panic coursed through Ty as he wondered if his behavior last night was about to get him fired. He had to get his head on straight and treat his boss like a boss instead of the woman who had invaded his dreams at night and thoughts during the day.