Summer's Desire (3 page)

“Sure, and his brother Caleb. Nice guys.”

Holden nodded without taking his gaze off her. “Met
him today, good man. I’m supposed to meet Stone McCoy and Jonas Barnes
tomorrow. They handle rescues too.”

“I went to school with Jonas. He’s a great guy.
Stone moved here a few years ago. I don’t know too much about him except he’s a
decent person and a good rancher. He asked me out on a date once.”

“I take it you didn’t go?”

“No, I’m leaving all the eligible bachelors for the
rest of the women in town. I’m fine on my own.”

His gaze grew piercing. “That explains it.”

Her hands became sweaty and a lump formed in her
throat. “Explains what?”

“I was wondering why you’re single. You are, aren’t
you?”

Summer frowned. She didn’t like personal questions
and she didn’t want him in the kitchen. “You do know that a woman doesn’t need
to get married don’t you? We can support ourselves. Now I have to finish
getting dinner ready.”

Holden nodded and started to walk to the door. He
stopped and stared at her. “Well?”

“Oh for heaven’s sake. I’m
single. No one would have me.” She instantly wished she could take her outburst
back. His eyes widened as he looked her up and down, and his assessing
embarrassed her. Of course she’d had boyfriends but she somehow always found
the jerks. It wasn’t as though she was a raving beauty who attracted tons of
guys.

Holden started to march back toward her.

“Get your brothers and tell them it’s time to eat.”
She didn’t want any false compliments.

He hesitated as though puzzled, but shrugged his
shoulders and headed out the door.

*
* * *

Holden tried not to laugh at his brothers. They’d
never acted so polite and well-mannered before. All through dinner they said
please and thank you and they complimented Summer’s cooking constantly. It was
damn good he had to admit.

He felt bad leaving to get the boys for dinner. Why
would she say something as ridiculous as no one would have her? She was pretty
enough and her figure was nice. If he was being honest it was better than nice.
She seemed sane enough too. His face grew warm as he realized he’d been staring
at her like some moon-eyed youngster. He glanced down at his plate instead. He
didn’t need anyone getting ideas of becoming involved with him.

“Right, Holden?” Luke kicked him under the table.

“
Ow
. What is wrong with
you?” He was immediately sorry for his outburst when he saw Luke’s frown. “Luke,
what did you want?”

Luke’s face turned red. He quickly glanced at Summer
and just as quickly looked away. “I was just
sayin
’
that she’d be hard put to find a place to sleep tonight.”

Holden leaned over and ruffled Luke’s hair. “You
giving up your bed, bud?”

An impish grin crossed Luke’s face. “Nah, I’m a boy,
remember? I need my sleep. Now you being an old man and all…” Luke chuckled.

Luke’s laugh was infectious and soon they were all
laughing. Holden locked eyes with Summer. Her blue eyes were filled with mirth
and it was nice to see her smile. “Guess I hadn’t thought this whole thing out.
Summer, you can have my bed.”

“No, no that’s okay,” she protested. “The couch is
fine.”

“No, the couch isn’t a good idea. I get calls all
night to help animals. I don’t want to worry about disturbing your sleep.”

“If you’re sure?”

Holden pushed back from the table and stood. “Guys,
help me get this couch cleared off. Been so long I’ve forgotten what color it
is.”

The boys each left the table and grabbed things off
the couch. Everything from socks to harnesses was cluttering it. Holden laughed
and held up a pocket watch. “I’ve been looking all over for this.”

Matt stopped and nudged him. “How about your room?
Is it decent for a lady?”

Summer stepped toward them. “If you have clean
sheets I can make the bed.”

“Anyone know where the sheets are?” Holden asked
hopefully. “Well, we’ll have to look in a couple boxes and find them.”

Mark laughed. “A couple boxes?” He nodded toward the
stacks of unpacked boxes, dark eyes full of humor.

They all looked through boxes. Matt and Holden
tackled the taller stacks while the others searched in the boxes they could
reach, until Luke yelled, “Found them!”

Holden took them and turned to hand them to Summer,
except she wasn’t there. “Where’d she go?”

“Your room?” Mark suggested.

John shook his head. “We’d have heard a scream if
she went in there. Holden is the biggest slob here.”

Holden’s jaw dropped open. “What’s that supposed to
mean?”

“It means that you need to get up here and help me,”
Summer called down.

Matt immediately headed for the stairs. Holden
caught up to him and put his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “My mess. I’ll take care
of it.”

Matt scowled at him and his gut clenched. He hoped
that Matt didn’t have another crush on a woman too old for him. Shaking his
head, he climbed the stairs vowing to keep an eye on that one.

“He’s right you know.” Summer stripped the sheets
off the bed.

“Who?”

“John. I almost did scream but I thought I’d save
that for my second day on the job.”

“I am not—” He stopped when he saw her grinning at
him. “All right I admit it. I’m not a neat freak.”

“A neat freak? No, Holden, not even close.” She
laughed and the sound lightened his heart a bit..

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t
plan
very well.”

“Holden, I’m surprised that you even have time for a
job. I can tell you love your brothers. That makes up for a lot.”

He glimpsed pain in her eyes and wondered about it.
He had his own personal problems that he didn’t want to divulge, so he wouldn’t
ask about hers. “I’ll help you make the bed.”

She hesitated and he got the feeling she’d rather do
it alone. “On second thought, why don’t I just carry the laundry downstairs?
I’ll need to get a few things out of here for tomorrow and for tonight. My
hours…well I sleep when I can.”

“It’s fine,” Summer walked to the corner of the room
furthest away from him, avoiding his gaze. In fact, she suddenly found the
sheets fascinating and kept staring at them.

Grabbing the laundry, he glanced at her. Nothing.
One minute she was laughing and the next, well, he didn’t know what was going
on.

He carried his laundry downstairs and found his
brothers all watching some murder mystery on TV. The quiet was welcome. He
walked back to his room for the rest and Summer stood in the same corner still
staring at the sheets.

“Is there something wrong with the sheets?”

Her head popped up. “No. I was just waiting for you
to get your things. I’m pretty tired.”

“You’re sure you don’t want me to help make the
bed?”

“No. I mean thank you but I can handle it.” Grabbing
the sheets, she finally began to make the bed.

“Summer?”

“Yes?”

He wanted to ask about her sudden change, but
thought better of it. “Good night.”

“Good night.” She nodded and looked up, but not at
him. She gazed just to the left of him.

Before he had any more time to try to puzzle her
out, his phone rang. A man in the next county had tried to load up two trailers
full of horses to be sold as horse meat. There were already two vets on the
scene but Colt asked if he could come too.

“Damn, I have to go.”

“You look worried.” Summer’s brow furrowed as she
studied him.

“I need to rescue some horses. Look I know this is
your first night and all and the boys—”

“We’ll be fine. You go, you’re needed and I’ll take
care of the boys. Don’t worry, I can handle it.” Her voice exuded confidence.

“Thanks.” Rushing around he grabbed clean clothes to
take downstairs. Before he left he gave her a long look, nodded and then flew
down the stairs.

The boys barely glanced up when he explained he had
an emergency to attend to. They were used to his schedule. They didn’t even say
goodbye as he left. Shrugging his shoulders he wondered if it was a good thing
that he wouldn’t be missed.

*
* * *

Summer sat up in Holden’s bed and stretched her arms
over her head. It had been a night of constant interrupted sleep. She’d heard
Holden leave and she fell asleep only to be woken later by a cry from one of
the boys. Rushing out of her room, she found John shouting out in his sleep.
She woke him and held him for a few minutes until he told her he was too old
for molly coddling. Returning to her room, she checked the couch, and still no
Holden. She went back to bed but sleep came hard. Finally, she heard Holden
come in around two o’clock. After that she drifted off.

Sometime around five in the morning, she pulled
herself out of bed. She went to the bathroom first thing and grimaced, quickly
noting that cleaning it would take priority today. Then she tip-toed down the
stairs after she got dressed. The boys were bound to be hungry and if the
amount they ate last night was any indication, she needed to cook a lot. But coffee
first. Nothing sat well with her before coffee. The sun was just rising in its
yellow, orange and red glory. The summer season was certainly here.

The house felt a bit warm but she didn’t dare turn
on the air conditioning. Who knew what the rules around here were? She made
coffee and pulled the last of the eggs out of the refrigerator. Someone would
have to go shopping. She really wasn’t up to going into town if she could help
it.

She should probably just tell Holden before someone
else did. Who knew what version he would get? She’d grown up in Carlston and had
never been in real trouble. Her folks were hard working and so was she. But somehow
her reputation was shredded all in one night. One awful night. A shiver went
through her as she thought about it.

“Cold?”

She needed to be more aware of her surroundings.
Somehow Holden had snuck behind her and startled her. She put on what she hoped
was her poker face and turned. Sexy was the first word that came to mind. His
hair was sticking up and he had a day’s growth of stubble. Definitely sexy.

“No. In fact I was thinking it was a bit warm in
here. It’s supposed to get pretty hot today. Do you open the windows, use fans,
air conditioning?”

“I’ll set the air before I get dressed. You’re up
early.”

“Not really. I lived on a ranch most of my life
before my parents died. I’m used to the hours.”

He tilted his head as though he was trying to figure
her out. “You ride?”

“Probably better than you.” She couldn’t help the
smile that graced her face. “When I wasn’t in school, I was in the saddle. In
fact I didn’t even know how to cook until Paul, the owner at my old job, taught
me.”

“Where are your folks now?”

“They both drowned two years ago.” She shrugged her
shoulders, but in truth her heart broke every time she told someone.

“I’m sorry, Summer.” His eyes reflected a kindness
that had been scarce in her life lately.

“You didn’t get much sleep. Why don’t you go back to
bed?”

Holden reached around her and poured himself a cup
of coffee. “It’s been eons since anyone cared about my sleep or lack thereof.
I’ll be fine. The boys and I need to work with the horses and I have a small
herd of cattle I need to check on this morning.”

They both leaned back against the counter, sipping
coffee. Surprisingly, the silence was comfortable. “I have a bathroom or two to
tackle today. I might as well get some laundry done too.”

After a bit, he set his coffee cup on the counter.
“I’ll be back in time for breakfast. I’ll be in the barn if you need me.” With
a quick nod, he left.

She wished she had taken the opportunity to tell
him. She had the feeling that calm moments were a fleeting thing here.

A half hour later, the sound of footsteps and good
natured banter soon confirmed her feeling as four boys came piling head long
into the kitchen. They saw her and each straightened. Matt finger-combed his
hair.

“Morning,” she sang out. “Just in time.”

John’s eyes grew wide as he eyed the table. “Oh boy,
a real breakfast!”

Summer smiled. “What do you usually eat?”

“Toast. Usually we have toast. If we don’t get up on
time, then you just get bread.” John told her solemnly.

Summer wanted to laugh at his dramatics. “That’s
just plain awful, the bread and water treatment. Just who is in charge around
here?”

“That would be me.” Holden closed the door behind
him and winked at her.

She flushed and got busy putting the bacon, eggs and
toast on the table.