A female voice cuts across the distance, and all three of us turn to look back at the porch. A well-built blonde woman is on the top step, beckoning David back into the house to sign some paperwork.
“I guess Bo will show you around,” David says with a chuckle. “Have to come when the missus calls. Let me or Bo know if you’ve got any questions. Glad to have you, Ben.”
Huh. Maybe David can be something other than a jerk. Pa would probably be shocked.
He waves his goodbyes to Bo and me, but my attention is drawn back to the porch when the woman heads back inside. Leaning against the railing just behind where David’s wife was is a slim little blonde in nothing but skimpy pajamas and fluffy slippers.
I damn near do a double take in surprise, wondering how the hell I failed to notice her until now.
She’s all long, toned legs and unmarked skin and glossy lips. She looks so clean, sweet and untouched, and the first thought in my mind is how badly I want to get herfilthy. I shake my head to clear it of that idea, but before I manage it, we lock eyes.
I can’t quite make out the color from this far away, but something in her gaze reminds me of honey, syrupy and sweet enough to cling to your teeth. Oh, this isn’t going to go well. Those glossy lips that were set into a pout just moments ago tick up into a smile that’s far too inviting for my mental health, and she lifts one hand to wiggle her fingers flirtatiously at me justseconds after David walks past her into the house. I can only assume she’s his daughter, and the realization has both worry and want building in my gut.
We haven’t even met, and she’s already playing with fire. She looks like pure trouble wrapped up with a bow, and I want to rip all that pretty packaging off. She turns to follow her dad into the house, hips swaying beneath the skimpy little shorts, and I have to tear my eyes away from the sight before Bo realizes I’m checking out his sister.
It would be an awful idea to get kicked off the ranch for flirting with David’s daughter,especiallyif he finds out who I am. I’m here for work, and Pa will kill me if I get involved with anything butwork.
“You cool with setting up behind the barn?” Bo asks, yanking me away from my lascivious thoughts. “It’s out of the way and quiet, and there’s plenty of room.”
“Lead the way,” I say.
This job might be a little rockier than I was expecting it to be, if I have to keep my eyes—and my hands—off that little vixen. I can only hope she stays away from me because I know I’ll get myself in trouble if she doesn’t.
Chapter Three
MAGGIE
I raisea brow at a particularly loud noise from the kitchen, but I don’t turn around to see what it was.
Dad and I have been firmly ignoring each other since our argument about my trust fund a few days ago. The threat of not getting access until I’m twenty-five is enough to keep me from pestering him about it further, but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up. Not even God himself could stop me from scheming, especially when Dad seems to think he really got one over on me. No, I’m going to make him regret trying to control my future.
I won't waste half my life trying to fit in the mold he expects me to when I know what I want. I’m not scared to stand up to Dad, not like my siblings.
After all, there’s still that new guy roaming around the ranch. I haven’t pushed Dad’s rule about staying away from his employees, but the more he tries to fuck with me, the more appealing the thought becomes.
My train of thought is derailed entirely when a thick binder plops down into my lap.
I jolt in surprise, looking first up at my dad, who stands at the side of the couch with a raised brow and his arms crossed across his broad chest. He looks like he’s geared up for another argument. Perfect.
My attention turns next to the binder in my lap, and I snort out a disbelieving laugh before tossing it carelessly onto the couch cushion next to me and turn my attention back to the TV.
Employee Handbookis written in bold font on the front.
If he thinks I’m going to read the handbook for the ranch, much less actually doworkfor him, he’s out of his damn mind.
“You start tomorrow,” he says bluntly.
I roll my eyes, but don’t take my attention away from the TV.
“I already told you, I’m deciding between majors at MSU,” I say, injecting as much disdain as I can into the words. I haven’t even glanced at their website, and I have zero intention of actually going to school, but it should keep him off my back for a while. “You’rethe one who told me I could go to school and get an allowance, so that’s what I’m going to do. There’s not a damn thing you could say that’ll convince me to work on the ranch.”
Dad snorts in amusement, and my suspicion of his motives goes haywire. He’s being way too affable for the amount of attitude I’m giving him, which means he has something up his sleeve.
I have no doubt it’ll be something I like.
“It’s not for the ranch. I have no desire to hear you crying about getting your jeans dirty every five minutes.”
I scowl at the mockery in his voice. Maybe if he and Bo hadn’t made so much fun of me for wanting to keep my dresses clean when I was young, I’d be less antagonistic about it now. God forbid they not pile onto the bullying I was already getting in spades at school.
