Learnin' The Ropes (31 page)

“Kissing!” Beth laughed. “And why would you be kissing your boss?”

“Because I can’t seem to help myself,” Ty answered with sincere honesty. “I’ve got it bad, Beth.”

“How bad?”

“Really bad.” He sighed again. “I’ve never felt this way before about anyone. She’s all I can think about. And yes, I know it is crazy and about the dumbest thing I’ve done.”

“I don’t think it is crazy or dumb,” Beth said with a smile in her voice. “Does she kiss you back?”

“Of course,” Ty snorted, somewhat offended Beth would even ask.

“Hmm…” Beth said, thinking about Ty and Lexi — together. “That’s interesting.”

“You might as well just spit it out.” He folded the clothes he’d dumped on his bed. “You know I’m not good at deciphering your hidden messages.”

“I think it’s about time you fell in love, really fell in love, and Nate and I both think Lexi is wonderful. If she isn’t opposed to being close enough to kiss you, I think you should see where this goes,” Beth said. Smug and satisfied, she was happy Ty finally admitted what she already knew. She could tell he was infatuated with Lexi when they’d visited right after Jax was born.

“What if it goes to the unemployment line?” he asked, aware that was a very real possibility. “What if we end up breaking things off and she tells me to find a new job?”

“Worry about that when it happens. Don’t borrow trouble or obsess over the what-ifs. The opportunity to find real love is worth risking everything for, isn’t it?” Beth asked.

“Yeah, I think it is.” Ty decided he was truly crazy. He had absolutely nothing to offer Lexi except himself. Right now that didn’t seem like much. “I asked her on a date so we are officially going out Friday.”

“Make sure you take her somewhere nice for dinner and buy her flowers. And wear something besides one of your hooded sweatshirts,” Beth said with maternal authority.

“Yes, mother,” Ty teased. “Thanks, Bethie. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Be sure you do,” Beth said. For good measure she added, “And make sure you behave like a gentleman.”

“Right.” That was the very last thing he wanted to do.

Lesson Fifteen

Lighten Up

“The only person takin’ ya that seriously is the one

lookin’ back at ya when ya shaved this mornin’.”

“Boss, yer strung as tight as a fresh-tuned fiddle,” Swede commented early Friday afternoon as he rode next to Lexi. “What’s got ya as jumpy as the lone cat at a canine convention?”

“Nothing.” Lexi looked everywhere except at Swede.

“Nothin’?” A teasing glint twinkled in Swede’s eyes. “Thet must be the same nothin’ thet’s got dude’s rope in a twist today.”

Lexi glared at Swede and he offered her a knowing grin.

“What time are ya supposed to be ready for yer date?”

It didn’t surprise her that Swede somehow knew they were going out. “He’s picking me up at five.” She wanted so badly for the evening to go well, she was more nervous than she’d ever been before. The reasons behind her anxiety-ridden state were emotions she refused to delve into, regardless of how much she needed to examine them. “Do you think I’m making a mistake?”

Swede narrowed his gaze and studied her. “In goin’ out with Ty?”

She shrugged. “Yeah. Since he’s an employee and I… well, you know.”

“Little late to worry about thet now ain’t it?” The old cowboy cackled. “He took care of ya while ya was sick. He’s a hard worker and a good man. From what all the girls in town say, he’s more than a little handsome. Seems to me ya’d be makin’ a mistake if ya didn’t go out with him, especially when ya like him as much as ya do.”

Lexi gaped at Swede and watched as a grin spread across his face.

He waggled a bushy eyebrow at her. “If’n I were in yer boots, boss, I’d have me a fine time and not worry so much about what others might think. Yer daddy would have approved of Ty and I certainly do.”

“But what about the other hands? Won’t they give him a bad time? Think he’s getting special treatment?” Lexi asked, not wanting Ty to suffer on her account. “I don’t want them harassing him.”

“He can hold his own with that bunch.” Swede reached over and patted Lexi on the knee. “They ain’t gonna say a thing about the two of ya and if they do, it’ll be a mighty short conversation. Jes forget about the ranch and the crew and everythin’ but being a young woman with a hot date.”

Lexi laughed.  “If you insist.”

“I surely do.” Swede cackled again. “Now, how is Jan workin’ out?”

She smiled. “Oh, Swede, she’s the best. I’m so glad you talked her into coming to the ranch.” Her eyes shone with gratitude. “She can run circles around me. I don’t know when the house has been so clean and I can’t tell you how nice it is not to have to worry about cooking and housekeeping or what you guys are eating. She’s so sweet to leave me dinner up at the house so I can relax and you guys can talk about how awful the boss is without her in the room.”

“Now, Lex, ya know no one would say a thing about ya,” Swede scolded defensively, until he saw Lexi grin. “But it’s nice not havin’ to worry about cookin’. That sister of mine always was purty handy in the kitchen.”

Lexi and Swede continued chatting as they rode the fence line. They finished up a lengthy repair then Swede looked at his watch and whistled.

“Ya better hustle it up, boss, or yer gonna be late. Ty is one man ya don’t want to keep waitin’.” Swede showed her the time.

“Good grief! How’d it get so late?” Lexi swung onto Rowdy and took off toward the house. “Thanks, Swede,” she called over her shoulder as she nudged the horse into a full gallop.

After reining in at the barn, she stripped the saddle from Rowdy and asked Gus, who was working on some tack repairs, to cool down the horse before he put him away.

Before he had a chance to reply to her request, she ran to the house. She stopped inside the back door to remove her chaps, hat and boots, nearly sprawling across the floor when she tripped over her discarded boots. Lexi raced up the stairs to her room, stripping off her shirt and undoing her belt buckle as she went.  In record time, she took a shower, washed, dried and curled her hair, put on mascara and lip gloss, and stared uncertainly into her closet.

All Ty said was that he’d pick her up at five. He didn’t say where they were going. If it was into Burns, jeans would be fine to wear anywhere they might go. If it was to Bend, she wanted to dress a little nicer.

Finally deciding to dress up, she selected a figure-skimming slim black dress, highlighted by a swirl of moss green foliage and bright pink flowers, along with a pair of black heels.

A spritz of favorite perfume made her feel very feminine as she grabbed a sleek black handbag. Hastily tossing in the essentials she might need for the evening, she snapped on a watch and fastened a dainty black necklace around her throat. She picked up a black cardigan sweater, hurried downstairs, and reached the bottom step just as Ty knocked on the front door.

Lexi smiled as she opened it and welcomed him inside. For a moment, she thought he would refuse to come in as he stared at her.

Ty spent the better part of the day giving himself a mental pep talk about all the reasons he should find Lexi and tell her they couldn’t go out tonight. As her hired hand, he had no business dating  her. Overall, it was a terrible idea. But every time he started to call her cell phone, he thought about how perfectly she fit into his arms, how delicious her lips tasted, how much he wanted to kiss her again, and lost his resolve.

At half-past four, he hurried to the bunkhouse. He had to hustle to take a shower, shave and dress before five. The night before, he’d washed and polished his pickup, cleaning out the inside as well.

Swede must have issued a warning to the rest of the crew, because so far none of them had given him a bad time about his date with the boss. Then again, it wasn’t like it was general knowledge.

With a deep, fortifying breath, he strode up the steps to the house after driving the pickup to the end of the walk. The lecture he gave Baby about staying down sent her sulking around a corner of the house. The dog looked back at him with a displeased pout. It was hard not to hide his amusement in seeing a huge dog with her bottom lip stuck out and her big eyes sad.

All thoughts of laughing at the dog flew right out of his head when Lexi opened the door. Her dress hugged every curve and fit her to perfection. The green in the floral print accented the deep mossy shade of her gorgeous eyes. Her high heels showcased her long, long legs. The fragrance wafting around him smelled so tantalizing that Ty wondered how he’d keep from devouring her.

Rapidly gathering his composure, he smiled at her and stepped into the foyer.

“Lexi, you look incredible,” he said, kissing her cheek and inhaling deeply of her warm, floral scent. She always appeared beautiful to him, but he particularly enjoyed seeing her look so soft and feminine. His hands itched to bury themselves in the thick black curls cascading down her back so he shoved them in his pockets.

“Thanks.” Under his intense perusal, she blushed. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

In fact, Ty looked so good, Lexi was afraid some woman might try to steal him away from her at dinner. Dressed in his Wranglers with polished boots, he wore a light blue shirt that accented the color of his eyes, along with a dark gray sports coat. He could have passed for one of the successful ranch owners in the area, only more handsome and definitely more dangerous to her ability to think with any degree of clarity.

“Beth told me I couldn’t wear a sweatshirt.” Ty grinned as he opened the door and followed her outside.

“Well, I’m glad she did.” It would tax every bit of her self-restraint to keep Ty an arm’s length away all evening. “That jacket is really nice.”

“A leftover from a wedding I was in. You just never know what kind of costume you’ll need out here in the sticks,” he teased as he held Lexi’s door and helped her in his truck.

“You seem to have pulled your costume together quite well.” Her temperature spiked as Ty’s unique, manly scent filled the truck.  “Might I assume we aren’t going to Burns or Hines for dinner.”

“No, ma’am. I thought we’d drive to Bend. That gives you plenty time to decide if you’d rather have Italian, Mexican, Chinese, or barbecue.” The heated glance he turned on her nearly turned her to ash right there on the truck seat. “Although in that amazing outfit, I think we better take barbecue off the list.”

Pleased with his compliment and glance, Lexi leaned forward. “I know just the place.” She fiddled with his GPS system and found the restaurant she wanted then sat back. Adjusting her seat belt, she slipped on sunglasses and began to allow herself to enjoy the idea of spending the evening with Ty.

Alone.

On a date.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” he asked, as he turned onto the road leading to the highway.

“It will be a surprise,” she said with a saucy smile. “You like surprises, don’t you?”

“That depends on the type of surprise. Snakes burying their fangs in my chaps kind of surprises, not so much. Being with you kind of surprises, maybe.”

“Maybe,” Lexi huffed in feigned irritation. “You better turn this truck around and take me home, buckaroo.”

Ty captured her hand, pressed a hot kiss to her palm, and turned his hot liquid gaze to hers. “I can’t do that, Lexi Jo. I’ve been looking forward to spending the evening with you all week and it would be cruel and unusual punishment to deprive me of the experience now that I’ve seen you looking like that.” He rubbed lazy circles on her arm.

Despite the heat coming in the window from the sun, Lexi shivered.

“I wouldn’t want you to be deprived.” On slippery mental footing, she grasped for any topic to relieve the tension building between them. At this rate, she might implode before they ever reached Bend. “How are Beth, Nate, and Jax? I haven’t seen any baby photos for a while.”

Grateful for a safe topic, Ty talked about his family and she mentioned a phone call she’d had from Bertie inviting them to come for a weekend when they were caught up on work.

Lexi let Ty know she found the next clue in her dad’s ongoing treasure hunt for the lost money. This one was in an old wooden bucket he’d stashed in the barn loft. A small storage area held antique farm and ranch equipment that had been in their family for ages. Finally, she remembered her dad talking about the old wooden bucket his grandma used to carry produce in from the garden. Lex had taped a clue to the bottom of the bucket.

Don’t Hem Me In

With no time to go searching for that clue, Lexi did have a few ideas on where to look. As she and Ty discussed where it might be hidden, time flew and they were soon on the outskirts of Bend.

“Are you really not going to tell me where we’re going?” Ty asked, half amused by Lexi’s secrecy. “What if the GPS malfunctions?”

“Then I’ll tell you where to turn. Just follow the directions.” She stared out the window as they left the high desert country behind them and entered the city.

The directions took them to a section of the downtown area near the river. Ty parked the truck, ran around it, and gave Lexi a hand as she climbed out. When he offered her his arm, she pointed to a brick building down the block.

“I hope you’re hungry, buckaroo. The food here is always good.” She said as he held the door to the restaurant open for her.

The tempting smells of food mingled with a warm color scheme for a pleasing atmosphere as they stood in the entry.

“Do you have room on the deck?” Lexi asked as the hostess greeted them. The woman escorted them outside to a cozy little table for two overlooking the river. The homes on the other side of the water were massive and sprawling.

Ty tried not to gawk as he held Lexi’s chair while she took her seat. “This is awesome,” he said, looking out at the sparkling water. Surrounded by trees and a profusion of flowers, the deck of the restaurant provided a very romantic place to sit and spend a warm spring evening. “I’m glad you surprised me.”