Heart of a Texan Read online

  He’d never take getting dressed for granted again. “Marie,” he called out. He hoped like hell she was there. He hoped she’d heard him.

  He heard the sound of footsteps approaching, down the hallway and just as he was zipping up his fly, help arrived. It was Bella. She took two steps into his room, and budding sunlight cast a circular light around her head like a halo... His angel.

  He blinked.

  And was struck by her absolute beauty. She wore white jeans and a silky jade blouse that made her soft green eyes really come alive. With all that blue-black hair cascading down her back in a braid and her face shining and free of anything unnatural, Bella made his breath hitch. His rib cage hurt like hell, but as he slowly released pent-up breaths his focus never wavered. He was totally aware of her now and a spark of excitement strummed inside him, obliterating the pain.

  Why now? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t noticed how pretty she was before. Of course he’d noticed, but he’d never let his mind go there. She was an employee, a widow and a mother of a small child. Three very solid reasons why the thought hadn’t entered his mind. But right now, in an unguarded moment, when he wasn’t expecting to see her, suddenly he’d become very aware of her appeal.

  Her eyes seemed stationed on his bare chest and her face colored as red as an apple, a tough feat for a woman with olive skin. He’d shocked her, no doubt, but he also witnessed a glint of admiration in her eyes.

  “Jared?”

  “Mornin’.”

  “Good morning. Do you, uh, need something? I heard you call out for Marie. She’s at your brother’s today. But if you need her, she told me to be sure to call her.”

  “No. Not necessary. Guess I forgot it was her day with Coop.”

  Bella looked straight into his eyes, as if she’d be set on fire if he caught her staring any longer at his chest. He could almost smile at that.

  “What did you need?”

  “Nothin’.”

  “You called for Marie for a reason.”

  “It’s not in your job description.”

  She glanced at the shirt on the chair. “You need help getting your shirt on?”

  There was no sense denying it. “Yes. But—”

  “Heavens, if you need help with it, I can do it.” She sounded slightly annoyed, as if she were scolding a child. She stepped farther into the room, picking up his shirt as she approached, keeping her eyes level with his. No more sneak peeks at his chest.

  “Here you go.” She held out one arm of the shirt. “We’ll take it slow.” Her angelic voice, soft and accommodating, came back. If only he could close his eyes and listen to her all day long.

  She smelled like cookies, a sugary vanilla scent teasing his nostrils. And then he gazed at her mouth, heart-shaped and rosy-lipped. She’d given him rescue breaths with that mouth. Oh, man.

  She guided his right arm into the sleeve first and scooted it up his arm as he ever so slowly pushed his arm through. “Now comes the hard part,” he said.

  She wound the shirt around his back and he had to stretch his left arm way out to push it through the sleeve. By the time they were through, beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

  “Maybe a T-shirt would be easier,” she said, tilting her head, analyzing the situation.

  “That would be a no. I tried that already.”

  “Are you okay?” Her green eyes held sympathy.

  “I’m fine. Thank you.” He sniffed the air. “Besides you, something smells wonderful out there.”

  “Besides me?”

  He grinned. “Sorry, thinking out loud. You smell like a cookie.”

  An angel with a tranquil voice who smelled like cookies...good thing he had his head on straight about Bella Reid. She was a no-go. He was gun-shy anyway. He’d had his heart ripped out by Helene and some wounds just refused to heal.

  “Thank you, I think,” she said, standing in front of him now, keeping her eyes on the snaps she was fastening on his shirt. She stood a few inches from him and as soon as she was through took a big step back. “The drawbacks of a being around food all the time. But smelling like vanilla is much better than smelling like garlic. Or, God forbid, liver.”

  He smiled. “So true.”

  He was glad she’d moved away. He was injured but he wasn’t dead. If anyone could bring a man back from the dark depths, it was Bella Reid. She’d done that literally for him once already. He wasn’t going to push his luck.

  “So what is that delicious smell?” he asked.

  “I made apple crostata this morning.”

  “Already?” He had no idea what an apple crostata was, but it sure sounded good.

  She nodded. “I’ve got it cooking in the oven for breakfast or a midmorning snack. I bake while Sienna is sleeping. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  “I didn’t hear a thing.”

  “Okay, great. So would you like eggs and bacon to go with the crostata? Marie already told me how you like your coffee. It’s brewing now.”

  “You’re efficient.”

  “It’s easy when you love what you do.”

  “And how long have you been doing this?”

  “Oh, all of my life. I learned to cook at an early age. Out of boredom maybe, but I found I had a great passion for it. I can’t imagine not doing it. Bacon and eggs?” she asked again.

  “Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

  “Give me twenty minutes.”

  “Will you and Sienna be eating at the same time?”

  It grated on him how much he enjoyed having a conversation with her. Her voice was permanently ingrained in his memory, and every time she spoke to him, something sweet and pleasant filled him up.

  “I don’t think so. Sienna sleeps until eight. It gives me time to get a few things done before my little tornado hits.”

  “That precious child?”

  “Just wait,” she said as she walked out of his room.

  He smiled, watching her go. He really didn’t want to eat breakfast alone.

  Again.

  Four

  At breakfast, Bella watched Jared wipe his dish clean, soaking up the last of his soft-boiled eggs with a wedge of sourdough toast. It was gratifying to see him eat so hardily. The crostata was nearly half gone. Granted, he’d made her sit at the kitchen table and have a bite with him, so she’d had a nibble, as well.

  “I’ll be three hundred pounds if you keep feeding me this way,” he said, plopping the last of his toast into his mouth. “What’s in that crostata that makes it taste so good?”

  “That’s a chef’s secret,” she said. “But if you promise not to tell...”

  “I promise.”

  “Butter...lots of butter. Everything tastes better with butter.”

  “I thought that’s what they say about bacon.”

  She smiled. “That, too.”

  She got up and poured him another cup of coffee. He liked it black with one heaping spoonful of sugar. “You must not eat what you cook,” he said.

  “I do.”

  He glanced at the waistline of her white jeans and then lifted his gaze to her chest before meeting her eyes, shaking his head the entire time. “How do you do it?”

  “It has something to do with chasing around a toddler. Plus I make it a habit to eat bites of food instead of the entire dish.”

  “Ah,” he said, “that explains it.” He glanced at his completely empty dish. “Guess I failed at that. But it was delicious.”

  “Thank you. But, Jared, just so you know, I like to balance the meals, so that you’re not eating heavy at every meal. Lunch will be light, I promise.”

  “Because you don’t want a three-hundred-pound employer?”

  “Because of the H-word. Some chefs don’t believe in it, but I do.”

  His brows gathered and a question formed on his lip
s.

  “Healthy eating. Emphasis on good health.”

  “Does that mean I can’t have beef? You do know I co-own a cattle ranch.”

  She smiled. “It means there are leaner cuts of meat and ways to prepare them that are healthier than others.”

  “I do know that.”

  “Until you’re back on your feet, it’d be best if I keep the food on the lighter side.”

  “No more crostata?”

  She shrugged, feeling a bit guilty. “I wanted to make a good first impression on you on my first day.”

  “Darlin’, you don’t have to worry about my impression of you. I already think you’re a combination of Wonder Woman and Clara Barton.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip and a flush of heat raced to her cheeks. She couldn’t look at him. He was too honest, too humble and too darn appealing. It made her hate herself a little bit to find him so attractive.

  Images of Paul popped into her head and she quickly grabbed Jared’s plate and walked it to the sink. “I think I hear Sienna. She’s waking up,” she said with her back to him. She wiped her hands on a dish towel. “I’ll be back later to clean this up.”

  She moved past him, feeling Jared’s striking blue eyes on her as she exited the kitchen.

  Sienna was just waking up as she walked into the bedroom. The baby slept with her in the big bed, surrounded by lush pillows to protect her from falling. She was sitting up, rubbing her eyes. “Mommy.”

  Bella sat next to her on the bed. “Mommy’s here.”

  The baby lunged for her and Bella’s heart lurched. This little child was her life. She was dependent on her. And Bella vowed that she was going to make a good life for her. Every penny of her earnings would go into one day opening up her own restaurant. It had been a dream of hers since she was a child and it had stayed with her all this time. She wasn’t the corporate type. She wasn’t cut out for business. She wanted to create food, and maybe work on a cookbook one day, too. All of her lofty aspirations were for Sienna’s future now.

  An image of Jared in his bedroom, zipping up his pants, his chest ripped with muscles, popped into her head. He was one sexy man. A man she felt a bond to, because she’d saved his life, but a man who wasn’t going to upset her dreams. She couldn’t allow it.

  She still loved Paul and as she hugged his child to her chest, she was immediately reminded of the love they’d shared. Sienna was a result of that love. Bella wouldn’t forget that.

  “Sienna, it’s time for your bath. Let’s get the water ready in this nice big tub.” The triangular tub was set at an angle in the corner of the room. It was big enough for four children. As she filled the tub and poured in child-safe bubble bath liquid, Sienna began lifting her princess nightie over her head. “Good girl, Sienna.” Bella removed her soaked diaper and then set her little naked baby into the tub.

  Sienna giggled her head off, splashing her mommy immediately, just like always. The power of a smiley-faced, lovable child made all things seem possible. Bella found herself relaxing for the first time since coming to the ranch. She told herself that this might work out after all, as long as her father didn’t hunt her down and ruin everything.

  * * *

  An hour later, after Bella had managed a quick cleanup in Jared’s kitchen and had planned the lunch menu for the three of them, she stood on the stone pathway that led around the entire house. The gardens were on their last stages of pretty, the flowers fading, threatened by colder temperatures and harsher weather.

  “Ready, Sienna?”

  The baby sat on her new trike with a hot-pink helmet on her head, chin straps securing it in place. “Red-dee, Mommy.”

  “Hold on tight.” Sienna gripped the white handles and Bella began pushing her down the wide pathway. Sienna giggled as they moved forward, ringing the bell over and over until Bella was sure the cows in the distant pasture were covering their ears.

  As they were coming back around, Jared stepped out of the house and leaned against a pillar at the top of the steps. “Uh-oh,” Bella mumbled.

  Jared kept his eyes focused on the two of them as Sienna tried to steer her trike. They were both getting the hang of it, but it was clear they needed more practice.

  “Are we too loud?” Bella asked, coming to a standstill in his line of vision.

  He shook his head. “Not at all. Just needed a breath of air.”

  For a man who liked going fast and being active, it was clear Jared hated being cooped up in his gorgeous house. The outdoors looked good on him.

  “Don’t let me stop you,” he said. “Sienna’s doing pretty good.”

  Sienna recognized his praise and smiled, her chest puffing out.

  “I think so, too. She’s never ridden one of these before.” Bella left Sienna’s trike and put herself in between Jared and her daughter, whispering, “Um, do you think I should make the bell disappear?”

  His mouth quirked and his blue eyes brightened. “Are you a magician?”

  She grinned. “I can be.”

  “If you do, I have a feeling another bell would have to magically appear.”

  She blinked. “You’re sure?”

  He nodded. “Doesn’t bother me. What would bother me is if that smile was wiped clean off Sienna’s face.”

  Thank you, she mouthed to him, a sudden sting burning behind her eyes. She was touched by his acceptance. The two of them clearly were a disruption in his life.

  A car pulled up and all heads turned as a woman in a stylish, body-hugging, neon running outfit exited the vehicle. She held a covered dish in her hands and as she approached, her eyes were all for Jared. She gave him a big smile, her cinnamon-red hair cascading down her back as she hurried up the pathway. Before Bella could scoot Sienna away and give them privacy, the woman was in front of them.

  “Jared Stone, I am so glad to see you up and around. When I heard about the accident, I was worried silly about you.”

  Jared smiled at her. “Hello, Johnna Lee. It’s good to see you.”

  “Same here.” She walked up the steps and put one arm around his neck, giving him a gentle hug. “I made you some of my special mac and cheese. Just the way you like it, with extra breadcrumbs on top.”

  “That’s awfully nice of you,” Jared said.

  She held on to the casserole dish and traded looks with Bella, waiting for an introduction.

  “Uh, Johnna Willis, this is Bella Reid. She’s new to Stone Ridge.” Jared turned to her. “Johnna is my neighbor. She lives just up the road.”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Johnna said kindly. “And who’s this little cutie pie?”

  “This is my daughter, Sienna.”

  The woman bent a little and spoke directly to her daughter. “Hello, Sienna. I sure do like your tricycle.”

  Sienna put her face down on her handlebars.

  “Sorry, it takes her a while to warm up to new people,” Bella explained.

  “I totally get it. I was a shy kid, too. If you can believe that.” She chuckled at the thought and Bella smiled. “She’s really adorable.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So what do you do here at Stone Ridge?” Johnna asked.

  “I’m...” She glanced at Jared and he gave a nod. “I’m Jared’s personal chef. Uh, while he’s recuperating.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know Marie finally retired.”

  “She didn’t.” Jared intervened. “I think Marie’s going to outlast all of us Stones. But with my accident and all, Marie needed some help.”

  Johnna blinked. “Well then, that’s a good thing.”

  The conversation could’ve gotten awkward, being that she went to the trouble to cook her special mac and cheese dish for Jared, yet she chose to be gracious.

  “I think so. Johnna, would you like to come inside?” Jared asked.

  She didn’t hesit
ate. “I’d sure love to. I need to hear all about how you’re doing.”

  “Excuse me, Jared,” Bella said. “Would you like me to fix you all a drink?”

  “No thanks. Let Sienna play,” he answered. “I think I can handle this.” After Johnna walked past him toward the door, he gave Bella a shrug, his gaze lingering on her a bit. It was an intimate look and she figured it had more to do with him preferring to stay outdoors than having anything to do with her.

  She sighed. So Jared had a woman caller. He’d probably had many. And good for him.

  Yeah, good for him.

  The second the door closed, Sienna’s face popped out of hiding. “Mommy, ride.”

  “Okay, baby. Let’s go.”

  She had an hour before she had to start on Jared’s lunch. Unless he wanted mac and cheese instead. With extra breadcrumbs.

  Just the way he liked it.

  Heavens, Bella. Don’t be a nitwit.

  * * *

  After a thirty-minute visit, Jared bid farewell to Johnna. She was a friend and neighbor, but at times she pushed a little too hard, and he always tried setting her straight without hurting her feelings. It had been sweet of her to cook him a meal and to offer to help with Christmas decorating. But ever since his breakup with his ex, he’d pretty much given up on the holidays. He related Christmas to Helene. It hadn’t been pretty the night he’d found out she’d betrayed him and taken him for a fool. They’d been planning a Christmas wedding before everything had blown up in his face.

  This year, Marie had insisted on decorations to boost everyone’s spirits. He’d had his crew get started on the exterior of the house, but he had yet to do anything inside.

  His phone rang and Jared lowered himself slowly into a chair to take the call. “Hey, Coop.”

  “Hey. How’s it going? What are you doing?”

  “It’s going okay. Actually, I just said goodbye to Johnna. She stopped by for a visit, brought me a dish of food.”

  “Nice of her. Did you tell her you have a new chef cooking in your kitchen?”

  “Actually, I didn’t have to. She met Bella and Sienna outside.”

  “How did she take it?”