I nodded. “Okay, but are you sure I can’t help?—”
“We’ve got it, storm chaser,” Pris chided.
“We do,” Billie agreed, stacking dishes on top of each other. The teens were doing the same.
Beau smiled and tilted his head toward the front door. “Come on, Sky.”
God, I was going to melt into the floor if he kept saying my name like that. A blush crept over my cheeks. I stole one last glance at the table, watching how easily everyone worked together, like a well oiled machine, then followed Beau out the door, his boots thumping on the creaky hardwood floor.
The air outside was still. Peaceful. My gaze swept to the distance where lightning danced in dark, swollen clouds—all headingawayfrom us.
With it being storm season, there’d be plenty more like it.
Beau leaned against the porch railing and raised a brow. “So. What can we do for you, Sky?”
Here goes nothing.“Well, I’d like a place to stay for the next three weeks. Just to make it through storm season, then I’ll be out of your hair. I’m happy to pay for lodging.”
“If you’re willing to work around the ranch instead, you don’t need to pay.”
What?That would be ideal. Saving money was never a bad idea. Growing up the way I did taught me to hold onto every penny earned . . . unless I was splurging on a new camera.
The thing was, I’d never worked a ranch. I was a hard worker, but had no idea what I could contribute to make it worth Beau’s time. “I love that idea, but I’ve never worked on a ranch before. And I’d need to be able to leave at a moment’s notice if there’s a storm nearby.”
“Have you ever done any gardening? Cooking? Anything like that?”
“Some gardening. I also take direction very well.”Thatcame out way different than I’d meant it to. Now, I was definitely blushing.
His cheeks were pink too. “I’m sure you do.”
Tension rumbled between us. He rubbed the back of his neck, his breath hitching.
“If you want, you could help Pris out when you have the time. Pris is part of the reason this ranch even makes money. She’s incredibly smart and runs everything to do with agriculture here. All of that food Beau makes? Rainbow Ranch is very farm-to-table, and we can thank her for that. She could use the help. I know we’re in storm season and that’s what you’re here for, but you could still go chasing whenever you need to. Is that safe to do alone?”
“Not exactly.” I winced. “I had a falling-out with my assistant and he left.” It was the bare-bones version of what happened, but I’d leave it at that.
“Oh, I see,” he said. “Well . . . I’d offer to help, but I’m usually needed around here.”
The thought of storm chasing with a handsome cowboy like Beau made my heart go pitter-patter.
“Maybe I can take you out at some point,” I said. “If you ever have a spare moment.”
Another easy, sweet smile. “Well, if I got a spare moment, it’ll be yours, Sky.”
A throat cleared, startling both of us. I spun to see Pris standing there, her expression unreadable.
Beau swallowed hard and straightened, his tone hardening. “Sky is gonna be staying for a few weeks, and will help you out when they’re not storm chasing. Can you show them to their room and around the ranch? I need to go . . . do things.”
Pris crossed her arms, but nodded. “You got it, boss.”
3
priscilla
Boss.
Beauwasthe boss. That was a well-known fact. And yet, every time I called him boss, all I could think about was what it would be like to see Mr. Bossy Pants on his knees. Begging.
I’d neverevertell him about that little dream in a thousand years, though. Or that I’d been pining for the masked cowboy for years.
