Page 122 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

“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 hesitate. “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.