More than a Maid (12 page)

Instantly, his face and neck turned red… his rage was back with a vengeance…

"Damn it!" Ramon kicked the branch, twisting it up in the air.

He took a few breaths, balled up his fists and held them still at his sides, then stalked off to a barn to be alone. Better to avoid the trailer lest he take out his aggression on the first
cabron
to make the mistake of talking about Marcy.

* * *

Marcy was in the living room on Friday night with everyone—except Ramon—as they watched movies and talked, as usual.

When Ramon came inside for the evening, he claimed he had work to do. Instead of joining the family for dinner, he took a shower and went straight to his office.

Marcy hadn't spoken to him since their argument that afternoon. Her heart was ripped in half between anger, and missing him. No one knew how she was feeling. She didn't tell Cara or Patty about the argument, fearing an "I told you so," from Cara, or Patty trying to intervene with Ramon on her behalf. When Patty asked what happened when Ramon escorted her out of the trailer, her simple reply was, "I don't wanna talk about it."

At eight-thirty that evening, Marcy's ears perked up at the sound of footsteps in the foyer, which she barely heard over voices mingling with the television. She turned in her chair to see Ramon's head peeking into the room, his eyes wide, waiting for her to see him.

Without thinking, Marcy rose to her feet. But wait… Maybe she should sit back down and let him suffer. Let him be all by himself tonight, in his confused little non-commital world.

But, she knew if she didn't speak with him tonight,
she
would be the one suffering. Lying awake without him. Staring at the ceiling. Wondering if he was on the other side of that wall, thinking about her just the same.

So, Marcy glanced around as she slunk out of the room, hopefully unnoticed.

She padded out to the foyer then around the corner where she saw Ramon at the foot of the stairs. He whispered a shy, "Hey," and her heart jumped.

"Hey," she whispered back.

They stared into each others' eyes. Then suddenly he pulled her into his arms and captured her lips in a kiss.

Marcy grabbed the back of his T-shirt with both hands, and felt his strong arms around her waist, lifting her in the air. Never breaking that kiss.

Her anger instantly melted away.

Ramon held her there for a little while then gently set her down and pulled away, leaving her breathless and wishing they were already in bed. Taking her hand, he started quietly up the stairs.

When they arrived in Marcy's room, Ramon locked the door. At once, he kissed her, and his hands went to her shorts, tugging them down.

She reached for his zipper.

Their clothes peeled off in a frenzy of passionate kisses until they were both naked and locked in each others' arms, drifting slowly to the bed.

Just as Marcy felt the backs of her legs touch the comforter and Ramon's erection pinning her from the front, he kissed her ear, then whispered, "I didn't plan to do this tonight but I want you
so
bad…"

She swallowed hard and flattened her palms against his bare chest, pushing him away enough to peer up at him. "Then why'd you bring me up here?"

Ramon licked his lips then turned his eyes up to the ceiling. He let out a heavy sigh, and Marcy noticed his desire softening…

Stunned, Marcy looked up at him, awaiting the worst. Her stomach clenched. This is the part where he tells her it's over. He has to keep his distance or risk leading her on. And maybe he'd be right. But she'd get over it quickly, wouldn't she? It had only been four days. It couldn't take her that long to—

In a weak voice, Ramon interrupted her avalanche of disappointment with, "You wanna maybe leave the house and have dinner with me tomorrow? It's my only day off."

Marcy inhaled a quick gasp. "What? You mean, like, a date?"

He pulsed his fingers against his temples, groaned, and sat on the bed. "Fuck, woman. What have you done to me?"

She sat beside him, hands folded in her lap. "Is it really that bad? We don't have to call it a date. We can just—"

"No." Ramon placed a firm hand on her knee. "It's a date. I can't take all this in-between bullshit anymore." He sighed and stared down at the floor. "Look, I'm not good at this stuff. I'm sorry."

Marcy nodded and put her hand on his. "It's okay. Neither of us expected this to happen. I think we're both a little gun shy."

Ramon sighed in relief, his eyes darting to hers. "You too, huh?"

"Yes. Very much so. I came here for a job. And to be with my friends. I didn't expect…" she paused, thinking of a way to say it that hopefully wouldn't scare him off, "whatever
this
is."

"Well, imagine how I feel." One side of Ramon's mouth quirked up in a half-smile. "Didn't know we were getting a maid. And suddenly, here you are. Keepin' me up at night. Makin' me think all kinds of crazy shit."

Her heart soared. But one thought sent it crashing back down to the ground. "Do you think it's because I'm convenient? If I moved out of your house, would you forget all about me?" Then she bit her lip, feeling stupid. "I guess that's a hard question to answer without being psychic, huh?"

Ramon chuckled. "You're
so
cute." He patted her leg and gazed into her eyes. "Look, baby doll. I don't claim to have all the answers. We only just met a few days ago. I don't know what we're doin' or where we're goin'. It's too soon for that. But I know we got…
something
." His gaze strengthened. "And whatever it is, it's enough to make me dread the idea of you moving outta here and going back home."

She nodded. "I feel the same way. You said it perfectly."

He smiled. "That's probably a first for me."

Marcy returned his smile. "So, tomorrow. Dinner?"

"Is that a 'yes'?"

"What? To dinner? Did I forget to say it? I meant to. Yes."

"Good." His hand tightened around her thigh. "What kinda food do you like?"

She shrugged. "It's
your
town. Take me to one of your favorite places. I'll get to know the real you."

"Hmm." He gave her a thoughtful look. "That might work. We can talk about it in the morning." He drew his hand to his mouth, covering a huge yawn. "I'm sorry. You're probably sick of seeing me yawn."

"No. I just wish you didn't work so much."

Nodding, he said, "Yeah. Me too. But at least I have tomorrow off."

"Really? You don't even take a full weekend? Have you thought any more about letting me help you?"

"A little. Maybe we can talk about it tomorrow." He yawned again. "Sorry. I gotta go to sleep. Damn woman in my bed, keepin' me awake all week." He winked.

Marcy smiled, hiding her disappointment. "Okay."

Ramon glanced down at her nakedness and let out a weary breath. "Shit. Can't believe I'm about to go to sleep with all this sexy right beside me." He kissed her temple. "Don't worry. I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

Marcy awoke on Saturday morning to bright sunlight streaming through the window and birds chirping outside her window in shrill harmony.

But Ramon was gone.

With a disheartened sigh, she peeled the covers off, threw on a robe, and headed to the bathroom to start her day with a shower.

Fifteen minutes later, she saw Ramon downstairs as he exited the kitchen en route to his office.

"Mornin'," he said, his face lighting up.

"Good morning." She made no effort to hide her enormous smile.

Ramon gave her a quick once-over from head to toe, grinning, then a hint of pain flickered across his face as he said, "Turns out I have to work today."

"What?" Marcy asked, disappointed. "Does that mean we're not having dinner?"

"No, it just means I'll be busy all day till then. But we're still on, for sure." He grinned.

"Good." Her disappointment was instantly replaced by a wave of relief.

"I was thinking maybe tonight I'd show you around the ranch, if you want." Ramon shrugged and casually added, "It's okay as long as I'm with you," with a wink.

She responded with a roll of her eyes and a light groan. "Sure."

He laughed. "Hey, my house, my rules."

"Yeah, yeah."

"So, do you have any shoes you don't mind gettin' dirty? Flat ones that cover your toes?"

"Uh…" In order to pack a light suitcase, she only brought four pairs of shoes with her, including the heels she wore on the plane. "I have a pair of loafers but otherwise, no."

He sighed. "That's what I figured. I took a peek at your closet this morning."

"Then why'd you ask?"

"Thought maybe you had 'em hidin' somewhere else." His head shook. "We'll get you some new shoes today. I don't need you gettin' mad at me because you stepped in somethin' out there, you know?"

"Do I need boots, like yours?"

"Nah. Just something a little more… outdoorsy."

"And hopefully stylish?"

Ramon huffed a grunt out of the side of his mouth. "Women. Anyway, plan on four o'clock. Hope you don't mind an early dinner."

She smiled. "Four o'clock's fine."

He stood still in the hallway, gazing at her with a grin, possibly ready to kiss her.

Then Isaac burst in from the living room, frantically jumping up and down as he yelled, "I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait!"

Ramon and Marcy looked at each other with the same stunned laughter. This sort of behavior was unusual for Isaac.

Victor followed him into the foyer. "Yes, you can."

Ramon turned to them. "What's goin' on,
hombrecito
?"

Isaac whimpered, almost crying. "My pawty! I can't wait a whole week!"

Victor sighed. "We've been talking about his party a week from today. He's a little too excited."

With his little hands over his eyes, Isaac wailed loudly, then shouted, "I want it wight now!"

Victor knelt down to Isaac's level and spoke calmly. "Buddy, you can't have it right now. It's next Saturday and you'll have to wait."

Isaac's face scrunched up and he lifted a hand to Ramon. "Wuh-moan!"

Sympathetic, Ramon tilted his head to the side and was about to say something to Isaac when Victor shot Ramon a look of warning and said, "I'll take care of this."

Instantly, Ramon turned away, rolling his eyes so that only Marcy could see. Then he skulked off down the hall to his office and shut the door as Victor continued to try to calm Isaac down.

Sensing Victor wanted to take care of Isaac on his own, Marcy went to the kitchen where Patty was bent over, sliding a breakfast casserole into the oven.

Patty glanced over her shoulder as she stood and closed the oven door. "Good morning, hon."

"Good morning."

Waggling her brows, Patty said, "I hear someone has a big day planned for you."

Marcy walked to the coffee pot and reached overhead for a mug, trying to appear calm. "It's nothing."

Patty scoffed. "Nothing? That's not how it sounded to me when he came in here a few minutes ago to ask if I had any shoes you could wear." She laughed.

Marcy's eyes narrowed in confusion as she poured her coffee. "Do you think he has a foot fetish?"

Shrugging, Patty said, "No, but so what if he did?" She waved a dismissive hand. "I think he's just excited to show you around the ranch. Wants to bring you into his world." She laughed, adding, "On his terms, when the other boys aren't around."

"Yeah, well, I can smell
his world
from the back door." Marcy wrinkled her nose. "I didn't wanna be rude but I'm not exactly looking forward to that tour."

"It's not usually that bad. It was windy yesterday." She gave Marcy's back a gentle pat. "I'm just glad you two love birds made up."

Marcy sighed. She hadn't told Patty or Cara about her and Ramon's argument, but apparently, it was obvious. "I don't think we fall into the 'love birds' category just yet, Patty. You're getting ahead of us. We only met this week. We may fizzle out—"

"No you won't." Patty shook her head, smugly. "I've got a sense about these things. And I've thought about you for Ramon since the day I met him."

"Why? Because we're both single?"

Patty smirked. "Give me a little more credit than that." She sighed. "No, it's because you're both cut from the same type of cloth. Entrepreneurial. Independent. Opinionated. Ramon needs a woman to stand up to him. Like you."

Rolling her eyes, and not necessarily in agreement with Patty about those similarities, Marcy said, "I don't know about all that. But even if you're right, aren't opposites supposed to attract?"

"Not always." Patty went to the sink to wash her hands. "It depends on the person." As she dried her hands with a towel, she glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. "Like Victor." Patty nudged Marcy gently with her elbow. "I knew he was the one for Cara long before she did. They're more opposite each other, but that's a good thing, for them. Now, when you were with Andrew," her face turned sour, "I knew that would never work out. He was a nice guy, but you were opposites, in a bad way. Not good for each other. I was
so
relieved when you broke up with him." Then Patty let out a dreamy sigh and scooted closer to Marcy, as though she had a secret. "I have to tell you something, but you have to promise not to mention it to Cara. She'll think it's ridiculous."

"I won't say anything. What is it?"

Tucking her head down, Patty quietly said, "I'm thinking of starting a business."

"Okay. A restaurant? Bakery?"

"No, even better. A matchmaking service." Then Patty gasped. "Oh! But you just gave me the best idea! If they get married I could bake the wedding cake as a free gift! Oh, I better write that down…"

In disbelief, Marcy watched her pull a small, spiral-bound notepad and pen from her apron pocket, then scribble her new idea. "Wow," Marcy said, hesitant. "Uh… a matchmaking service… I don't know what to say…"

As she finished writing, Patty said, "I thought about opening a bakery but that's so common. Anyone can follow a recipe." Patty turned to Marcy, beaming. "But not everyone has this rare gift of mine. I need to share it with the world."

Patty looked so hopeful, Marcy didn't have the heart to tell her she thought it was a bad idea. Instead, Marcy nodded and asked, "The gift of matchmaking?"

"It's more than that. I just get a sense about people. I always have." Patty glanced out to the foyer to make sure they were still alone, and in a quiet voice, said, "And the best part? If Cara and Victor decide to move here, it'll give me a way to write off all of my travel expenses between here and home. You see, I hope to start with some of those ranch hands."

"Oh geez." Marcy's chest went weak. "It wouldn't take much to get some of those guys matched up. Just post their pictures online, and
voila
."

Patty grimaced at her. "No, there's much more to it."

"Well, you're the expert, I guess."
Or, at least, you think you are
, Marcy thought.

Patty was about to elaborate, but closed her mouth and turned her attention to the oven when Cara entered the kitchen.

"Good morning," Marcy said. "Feeling better today?"

Cara took a seat at the kitchen island. "Haven't thrown up yet, so yeah."

"Good." Marcy cleared her throat, then plainly stated, "I have a date with Ramon today."

Nodding, Cara gave her a glum look. "All right. Whatever." Then she changed the subject. "So, what's for breakfast, Mom?"

* * *

At three-thirty that afternoon, Marcy sat on her bed, ready for her date with Ramon. Shoe shopping. Dinner. Then… he would give her a nighttime tour of his smelly ranch?

She put her hands over her eyes and fell back on the bed, laughing. What a ridiculous list of "date" events.

Maybe Ramon wasn't used to dating. Or maybe it wasn't really a "date," even though they agreed to call it that. But whatever sort of "event" it was, the thought of it made Marcy's palms sweat and her heart race like lightning.

Was there really a future for her here? On a ranch? With a guy like Ramon?

It was unspoken, but she and Ramon were both too logical to talk about the future. But the future was all she could think about. She had lived in Newark her entire life, and now she was considering moving to Texas for a rancher she'd known for a mere handful of days?

If it didn't work out, she could go back home and forget all about him, couldn't she? Aside from the occasional mentions of "Victor's youngest brother" from Cara or Patty, she would have no reason to think about him again.

To move… or
not
to move… either idea was terrifying.

She could just spend tonight and the next few weeks living in the moment. Just having fun. So what if she thought of him constantly? Or loved the way his arm wrapped around her in the middle of the night? Or if she lit up like a firecracker when she heard the roar of his truck in the driveway and knew he'd come home for the day?

Oh geez. That ridiculously huge truck. How would she get up into that thing? A trampoline? A catapult?

Marcy sat up straight and looked down at her three-inch wedges—the only shoes she packed that were casual enough to go with the shorts and T-shirt she wore.
That's what I get for trying to pack light
, she thought. But she couldn't stop smiling at the idea of Ramon taking her shopping.

At twenty minutes till four, Marcy heard someone rush up the stairs and close the bathroom door, then turn on the shower.

A shiver passed through her. She just knew it was Ramon, getting ready to take her out. Naked and soapy by now…

Her thoughts were interrupted by small feet running upstairs, then dashing in a straight path to Ramon's room where she heard Isaac yell, "
Wuh-moan
!"

Marcy stood and walked to the door to open it, then said, "Hey Isaac."

Isaac quickly ran to her, his eyes wide and scared. "Wheh's Wuh-moan?"

"I think he's in the shower, sweetie. What's wrong? Where's Mommy?"

Isaac used his whole body to exhale a labored breath, but he didn't answer.

Marcy stepped back and invited him into her room, leaving the door open in case someone was looking for him. "Come here. Let's talk about what's bothering you." She took a seat on her bed, grateful for the distraction.

Isaac climbed up the bed and sat beside her. "I'm afwaid about the bouncy house and…"

Marcy nodded along, listening as Isaac frantically told her about all the things he wanted at his party next week. Apparently, he had a lot of friends coming and they all had different requests. Some told him to get Batman to come to the party. Others wanted the Avengers or Sponge Bob. And Isaac was stressing out, trying to get Mommy and Victor to comply with these requests. Then they reminded him that Ramon was the one who promised to make the party, "goodest," as Isaac put it, by renting inflatable bounce houses for his friends to jump in.

When Isaac finally stopped, Marcy was about to reply when she was interrupted by the sound of footsteps, then a shirtless, dripping wet Ramon rushing into her room with a towel wrapped around his waist. Making her forget what she was about to say.

"Hey," Ramon said as he stopped in front of Isaac. "What's goin' on? You sound upset."

Isaac threw his hands up in the air and offered an annoyed sigh. "Okay…"

Ramon sat down next to Isaac and put his hand on his back, listening attentively. Isaac spoke so fast, Marcy was sure Ramon wouldn't understand most of it.

But when Isaac finished, Ramon calmly said, "Is it
your
birthday," he pointed at Isaac, "or your friends' birthday?"

Isaac drew a hand to his chest and said, "My buhthday."

Ramon nodded. "That's right. And what do
you
want at
your
party?"