AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shake my head at my stupid question. “I’m making beef stew for supper. Do you eat meat?”
“Love it,” she says, “But you don’t have to cook for me. I’m sure Kyle will be back soon and we can get out of your hair.”
I put the carrots in the sink to scrub them. “He might be a while on these roads.”
I get to work, listening to the tapping of her fingers on the keyboard. I could get used to that sound. There’s something hypnotic about it.
After a few minutes, she gets up and stands next to me at the counter. “A big, tough cowboy who cooks…”
I turn my head and look down at her, liking her description of me. “My momma taught me right.”
“Mine, too. How can I help?” she asks.
“You could chop up these carrots.” I hand her the orange veggies, letting my fingers brush against her soft skin.
She stares up at me for a second and it’s all I can do not to kiss her. Then I remember that I have a million reasons not to.
We work together well, laughing and chatting while we get everything into the big pot. Once it’s simmering away, she washes the cutting boards and pan that I used to brown the stew meat in, and I dry. There’s something about this simple task that feels right. I ask her about herself and find out she’s an only child. Her dad died when she was twelve and her mother never remarried, so it was always just the two of them. I tell her about my own childhood, which sounds like the complete opposite of hers—big family. Four boys, one sister, both my parents are still alive and happy together. I find myself wanting to share everything about me and have to remind myself that she’s just here for the next few hours. Then she’ll be gone.
Her cell phone rings. “It’s Kyle,” she tells me, then she turns her back and answers it.
“What do you mean shut down?”
I pang of guilt hits me. I should have told her.
“Well, when will they have them open again?” She pauses. “But, we’re supposed to be in Helena tomorrow afternoon.” Pause. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” Pause. “Okay, keep in touch over the evening so we can figure out our next move.”
When she hangs up, she looks up at me with a concerned expression.
“Let me guess? The road’s closed?”
She nods and fiddles with the sleeve of her dress. “I’m really sorry. I should have gone with him.”
“No need to apologize. I have plenty of room and lots of food.” And an empty spot in my bed for you.
“I’m sure the last thing you need this week is a strange houseguest.”
I give her a sideways grin. “You’re a little strange, but I like you anyway.”
Julia laughs, seeming to relax some.
“Since you’re here for the night, how about a glass of wine?”
“That’s probably a terrible idea, but I’ll take you up on it.”
“Why’s it a terrible idea?”
“I’m a cheap drunk.”
“Well, then you’re my favorite kind of girl.” I grab two glasses from the cupboard, then take a bottle of red out of the liquor cabinet.
I uncork the bottle and pour us each a glass while she stirs the stew. I like the sight of her there at my stove in that dress. I’d like to see her out of it, too, but the way it hugs her curves gives me some ideas I’ve got no business thinking.
I walk up behind her, standing so close I can smell her again. “How’s dinner coming?”
She turns a little, her voice thick with emotion. “It’s going to be a while before the potatoes are tender.”
“Still hard, then?” I ask, leaning in a bit more so my lips almost graze her cheek.
