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Matt tried to hide a smirk, a bit of satisfaction curling in his chest at her obvious discomfort. What the heck, why not make her squirm a little bit more? “Yesma’am, that’s what he said. Foreman. Of this ranch.”
She seemed immobilized by shock as she looked between him and her father.
“Best damned foreman I’ve ever had, too!” Jesse chimed in, seeming not to even recognize her aggravation. “He could run this place without me.”
“Oh, well now, boss man, I wouldn’t go that far. This job wouldn’t be near as much fun without you.”
Anger burned red on her cheeks, and she turned to glare at Jesse. “Damn it, don’t you know—”
“Ally-cat, don’t you start on me. I run this ranch the way I see fit. I’ll always accept your business advice when it comes to the books, but it ends there.”
“But Daddy—”
“No. Don’t you ‘but Daddy’ me.Imake the decisions on this ranch. I may be old but I’m not dead—not yet, anyway.”
“Don’t talk like that. You won’t be going anywhere for a long time, yet.” Ally’s voice softened and her shoulders sagged.
“Glad you think so, Ally-cat.” Jesse patted a spot next to him on the couch. ”Come sit with me while Maribella whips up something for us to eat.”
“If you’ll excuse me,” Matt said, backing out of the room. “I’ll go clean up before dinner.”
He angled toward the hallway leading to his room, sensing her gaze following his movement, and assumed she would prefer if he cleaned up, ate, and slept in the bunkhouse with the other hands for the night. However, he wouldn’t be doing anything of the sort. Jesse had given him a bedroom upstairs in the sprawling home, conveniently overlooking the barns, bunkhouse, and outbuildings and he intended to use it same as always—especially if it pissed her off.
Matt really respected the old man. He hadn’t come to Rock Creek looking for handouts, only honest work for honest pay. Jesse had taken him in at one of the lowest points in his life, no questions asked. He’d never offered any background information, work experience, or a sob story, just said he needed a job and promised to work hard. Matt had kept his word, too. He worked from sunup to sundown right beside the ranch owner, learning everything possible along the way.
“Okay, hold on,” Ally piped in. “Where are you going now?”
“Up to my room, ma’am. To clean up for dinner. Is that okay?” He stopped right outside the family room, keeping himself partially in view of both people on the couch.
“Wait! You have a roominthe house?” She had asked Matt but looked suspiciously at her father before she turned back to await his answer.
“Yes, ma’am. So, if you’ll excuse me…” Matt ducked away from the room and up the stairs.
He heard Ally pelting her father with questions about why in the world the ranch foreman was sleepinginthe house.
He laughed to himself.
Quite the spitfire, that girl. No, she’s all woman.Definitely not a girl. Damn sexy, too. He grimaced, losing the smile he hardly ever wore anymore, and got himself in the shower.Shit, knock it off. Just what you don’t need, another woman to muck up your life.
* * *
Ally was so spittingmad she was sick to her stomach. She couldn’t even believe her daddy would have any ranch foreman—but especiallythatone—stayinginthe house.Unacceptable. No matter how good he looked with his dark hair plastered flat to his head from the cowboy hat he’d removed and held in front of his slender six foot frame.
“Listen here, Ally-cat. He’s a good man and an even harder worker. You know that’s what counts.”
“Please tell me he’s not some mass murderer or something. Do you know anything about him? God, I hope so. For christsakes, you have him livinginthe house. I can’t even believe it!”
He sat quietly looking at the ashes in the fireplace, avoiding her question.
“Daddy?” She sighed. “You don’t know anything about him, do you.”
“I know all I need to know about Matt. He’s been working here for two years, and I have no intention of kicking him out of his bed because you are uncomfortable with him living in this house. My house. Are we clear?”
It had been a long while since she had been disciplined by him—and she suddenly felt twelve again. He was a loving man but a hard one, and experience had taught her when not to cross him. Apparently that time had come.
“Yes, Daddy. I’m sorry. Please promise me you’ll be careful.”
“No need to be careful. Now, let’s go get some dinner. I’m starved.”
