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But I could hear the jealousy in Isaac’s tone. This is exactly what he dreaded—giving my attention to another man who wasn’t him. All I needed to do now was to step back and let his own insecurities be his downfall.
“Goodbye, Isaac,” I said. “And if you call this number again, I really will file a restraining order against you.”
As soon as the call was over, the knot of tension between my shoulders began to ease. I’d never mentioned any of this to my father. I didn’t want him to worry. Besides, Isaac was a pest, that’s all. If I was going to handle the ranch on my own one day, I would have to deal with men ten times more difficult than him.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I pasted on a bright smile and stepped into the kitchen. Bowen stood at the side entrance, with his hat in his hands. He looked stiff and uncomfortable, out of place in the boss’s house, as if a lowly cowboy like him didn’t deserve to cross the McCall threshold.
I was so relieved to see him that I could have flung my arms around his neck and kissed him if I thought I would get away with it. He would probably quit on the spot so he didn’t compromise my virtue.
“Were you calling for me?” I asked. “I thought I heard someone say my name.”
Bowen nodded and gestured toward the barn with his hat.
“Your father and I are getting ready for the auction next week. We’re pulling the herd in from the north pasture to look them over before selling. I suggested you might like to be there.”
“Yes, I would. Give me two minutes to get dressed. I’ll meet you at the barn.”
Eager to focus on work and put that damn phone call out of my mind, I threw on some clothes and tugged on my boots. When I emerged from the house, Bowen was on the porch.
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” I said. “Just because I went away to college doesn’t mean I don’t know my way around here anymore.”
Bowen gave a small, soft smile of amusement that crinkled the corners of his eyes. My stomach squeezed and my heart pitched like a ship tossed by a storm.
On more than one occasion, I caught myself dreaming about having kids with Bowen, aching to call him my husband. I wanted to burrow into his arms every morning before the sun was up, before the day began, enveloped by his heat, his strength, and the steady beat of his heart. I wanted to end each day stuffed with his cock, no matter how sore and tired I was from the ranch. I wanted his lips to worship every inch of my naked body for hours until I shattered and he looked at me like I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life.
Bowen’s solemn, whiskey-brown eyes settled on me.
“Is everything okay?”
He couldn’t possibly know about Isaac. I hadn’t told anyone anything.
“Sure,” I replied with a shrug, hoping I appeared nonchalant. “Why do you ask?”
“Birdie said you were on the phone with a friend from college.”
Not exactly the truth, since Isaac wasn’t a friend, but it was close enough, so I made it work.
“Yeah, we were just catching up.”
Bowen didn’t respond right away as he settled his hat on his head, tugging at the brim out of habit.
“Then why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”
Damn it. My breath caught in my throat. Of course Bowen would be the one to notice if something was off. That’s why he was the foreman—observant, studious, dedicated, and hard-working. If I lied my way out of this, he’d see right through it in a heartbeat, but that didn’t stop me from trying.
“Coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, I guess.”
I stepped off the porch, headed for the barn. But Bowen remained rooted to the spot, watching me go. When I realized he wasn’t following me, I turned around and cocked my head.
“Are you going to stand there all day when there’s work to be done?”
A muscle flexed in Bowen’s jaw. He cut a handsome figure standing there, dressed all in black, with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to reveal his forearms tanned brown after years spent in the sun.
Finally, Bowen approached with measured steps. He hooked a finger under my chin and gazed down at me.
“Those paper-thin lies might work on your father, Avery,” he said in a low, soft voice. “But I’m not him. If you need help sorting out whatever trouble you’ve managed to get yourself into, you know where to find me.”
Then he walked away without a backward glance, and I was left stunned that he could read me so easily.
