Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
“Hudson. We met a couple of months ago.”
Moody glowered. “Do not waste time with pleasantries. No one has forgotten you or your hat.”
“My hat?”
He ignored me, whirling to Vicki. “And I’ll have you know that clogged nasal passages do not result in sudden difficulties with orthography, a.k.a., spelling. A small c-o-l-d is no hill for a climber like me. I’m fine, and I’m sure you’re busy at your own store, so I must politely yet profusely insist that you buzz off.”
“Isn’t he the best?” Vicki chuckled lightly, then wagged a finger at Moody. “I will not buzz off, mister. You’re sick, and you shouldn’t be here. Go home, darlin’. You have competent elves on duty. There’s nothing to worry about…except getting everyone else sick. Even you aren’t that mean.”
“I’m not?”
Vicki arched a brow. “No, you’re not. I’m going to make a soupy care package and send you home.”
Moody opened his mouth as if to protest and sneezed four times in rapid succession. His final hearty “ah-choo” left him winded with watery red eyes, shoulders slumped. “Fine. I concede defeat. Temporarily. I’m not—ah-choo—happy about—ah-choo—this.”
“I know, sugar. I know.” She patted his back and shot a pointed glance my way. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll leave you two to chat while I get that chicken noodle ready. Don’t you go anywhere, Moody.”
“I don’t want soup,” he mumbled under his breath as Vicki moved toward the front of the store, leaving me with a disgruntled, cranky, and obviously ill Moody.
“Sorry you’re not feeling well,” I hedged, cocking my head as I studied him.
“It’s not the end of the world. I’ll rest this afternoon and be good as new tomorrow.” He grunted and blew his nose. “You never did answer my query. Why are you here?”
“You’re looking at the newest investor and livestock manager at Oak Ridge Ranch.”
“Oh. You did it.”
“Yeah, I just moved into town a couple of days ago. I waited till after Thanksgiving for my mom’s sake, but I was ready for a change and a challenge, and this definitely qualifies. I’m easing into operations and getting acquainted with the animals—heck, and the ranch hands this month. I want to be up to speed so I can hit the ground running in the new year and—shoot, sorry. I’m babbling.” I gave a lopsided smile, narrowing my eyes at Moody’s glossy-eyed stare. “No offense, but you don’t look so hot. How about if I grab that soup for you and give you a ride home?”
“Oh, no, no, no.” He sniffed loudly.
“I insist. Where do you live?”
“I don’t need a ride. I can walk. And I don’t need you. You’re nice and very handsome, Mr. Babineaux, but there’s no reason to pretend that you and me—no. No point. Good luck at the ranch. Good tidings, felicitations, and all that hooey. Now, I bid you adieu.”
Exit speech complete, Moody stepped aside and tripped over an open box filled to the brim with holiday goodies: felt ornaments, coloring books, and Santa hats. I crouched to help him up, stifling the urge to laugh. Poor guy was a wreck and there was nothing funny about it.
But he was also a big ol’ pain in the ass. Barbed, bitchy, and ready to put his dukes up and punch someone’s lights out. Anyone would do.
I’d worked with a few rough characters with ornery dispositions. Some people were made to snarl through life. But the Moody I’d met a couple of months ago had been sweet, kind, thoughtful, and sexy as fuck. A ray of fucking sunshine. I knew that guy was in there somewhere hiding under the prickly façade.
I held up my right hand like a stop sign and pointed at the leather reading chair in the corner. “Sit.”
Moody growled. “I am not a dog.”
“No, you’re a snippy little dragon who could use a nice smack on the rear.” I steered him toward the chair while he sputtered indignantly. “Now stay here. I’ll be back.”
Grumble, grumble, grumble.
I pursed my lips in amusement and headed for Vicki’s Café and Cantina, and nearly plowed into her in the doorway between the two stores.
“Close call.” Vicki chuckled, shuffling a bag from one hand to the other.
“Sorry about that. I was going to grab the soup from you and take Moody home.”
“And what did Moody have to say about that?”
I rubbed my nape and flashed a lopsided grin. “In a roundabout way, he told me to fuck off.”
Vicki snorted. “Sounds like Moody. Well, he’s a grown adult and he knows his own mind, but it would be nice of you. All I can say is, you’ve been warned.”
“Understood.”
“Nice to see you again, Hudson.”
“Thanks.” I took the bag from her and added, “You’ll probably be seeing a bit more of me. I just moved to the area.”
“That’s right. Welcome! Tanner told me you’d signed on at the ranch. Congratulations. They’re a nice group of gentlemen, and they’re doing big business. Between Christmas Town and Oak Ridge Ranch, this area is on an upswing. This is obviously our high season, but they generate a lot of traffic year-round at the winery and the dude ranch, and their clients aren’t averse to a little holiday magic in July.”