Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
She turned in her seat, a serious expression on her face. “You know I have to leave soon. Is this even worth it? I want to spend time with you and Grim, but I have to be honest. I have to leave as soon as my car is fixed.”
“Okay, if you’re being honest, tell me why and where you have to go,” he replied.
“I told you. I have a job waiting for me.”
“A job that will wait for you while your car is being fixed but won’t, say, send a car to pick you up? Or make arrangements to accommodate you?” The way Josh saw it, this story of hers made no sense. If it was an important job with a big company and they wanted her there, they would make accommodations. If it was a regular job, they likely wouldn’t wait for a couple of weeks. They would fill the position and move on.
She turned, staring out the window. “It’s with a friend of mine. I’ll be working with her. I wasn’t scheduled to start until next month. I wanted to get down there early so I can find a place to live.”
She did not like him asking questions. He was pushing, and he could lose her. He needed to go about this a different way. He might have to figure out her problem on his own.
He gave her a breezy smile. “Well, I’ll take any time you can give me, darlin’. I know Grim feels the same way. If we don’t have a lot of time, we should make the most of it, shouldn’t we?”
She seemed to study him for a moment. “I guess so. I wouldn’t mind seeing the two of you while I’m here. When I’m not working, of course. I usually take extra shifts if someone wants to go home. It’s not like I have anything better to do, but I have all of today off. I don’t have to be in until lunch tomorrow.”
“I’ll make sure you get back in plenty of time. But maybe you can spend the night with us.”
She turned his way, a little grin on her face. “Is your place cleaner than the motel?”
That got him smiling because it had been bad. He’d taken a hot shower after lying on that floor. “You’ll find Grim and I are very orderly men.”
They also had a housekeeper who thoroughly cleaned twice a week, but he didn’t have to mention that. He just had to get her into their place and show her how nice it could be.
“How far do you live from your parents?”
“Not far at all.” Sometimes it was too close for comfort. His dates had often gotten a wave from his family as they started for home. His parents liked to have breakfast on the patio by the pool on those days. Nosy. “Did I mention my parents can be a lot?”
“I think they sound charming.” Nicole’s tone had gone soft. “And they’ve been married for a long time. I think it says something about them. They worked hard and stayed together. It’s nice you get to see them often.”
Every time he opened the door or looked out the window.
“Do you live in one of those dorm things?” Nicole asked. “I read about them in a book once. The workers on the ranch all lived in a big house together. The single ones. On a big ranch there can be multiple houses for the workers. I imagine your parents live in one of those.”
Did she think he was a hand? “Sweetheart, you do know my parents own the ranch, right? When I say they work on the ranch, they’re the owners. I work for my dad both in the field, and my sister and I handle a lot of the day-to-day operations of the business.”
A wary look had come over her face. “I thought most ranches were corporate owned these days.”
“Yes, my parents own the corporation. See. That’s our name right there.” He pointed out the big sign over the gates leading to the main house. Barnes-Fleetwood Ranch. It was done in a beautiful wrought iron and adorned with roses weaving in and out of the letters. The gates were open at this time of day but the security system would close them after dark, and then whoever wanted in would either need a code or to call through the intercom.
Nicole sat up straighter, her eyes widening in a way that did not seem like wonder. “Corporation?”
This was usually the time when a woman got super interested in what he did. He didn’t get that feeling from her. She seemed almost wary. “Yes. We are the largest independent organic ranching collective in the country. We have partner ranches all over the States, and we collectively bargain with vendors. It’s how we compete with the big guys.”