“I came to talk to the person who does the hiring on the ranch, but I’m afraid I arrived at an in opportune time. Did someone just get married?”
At the thought of his recently reformed brother gone from this world, leaving Lucy and the whole family in despair, a fresh shaft of pain, sharp and swift, pierced his gut. He rocked back on his hand-tooled cowboy boots. “There was a funeral today.”
She bit her lower lip, drawing his attention to that succulent part of her mouth despite his darkest thoughts. What in hell was the matter with him? There’d been women since Jenny died, but none of them had stirred him the way this stranger did. It made no sense.
“Then I’m glad I didn’t intrude. Thank you for talking to me.” Summarily dismissing him, an experience he couldn’t remember ever happening before, she climbed back in her car. In a few seconds she’d be gone.
The sensible part of him wished he could allow her to drive away, but he wasn’t finished with her. She’d claimed she wanted to talk to the person in charge of personnel. He did the hiring himself. No one worked at the Bonnibelle-either in the house or on the spread-unless he okayed it.
Whatever the qualifications she might bring for a position she wanted, she’d be the last person he’d consider. Not even then…
She didn’t come off flirtatious, which was a surprise. Yet her unconscious sensuality would play havoc with the harmony he’d worked like the devil to maintain among the stockmen since their parents’ death in a light airplane crash three years back. Buck had fallen apart after that. It had taken Lucy’s sure, steady love for him to start putting himself back together.
Exhaling heavily, Cole took the few steps necessary to place his body next to the door she’d just closed. He braced his hands against the open window and lowered his head.
She turned a surprised gaze to him, giving him the full benefit of her dark fringed eyes, an unusual combination on a blond. A man could think he was falling through a cloud less western sky just looking into them.
“I’m in a position to know there are no job openings, Ms…?”
“Catherine Arnold,” she supplied evenly. “Then I should consider myself fortunate I already have a job I love,” came the evasive comment.
“I meant no offense.”
“None was taken.”
Her guile less response disarmed him. She had a lot of ready answers without asking the right questions. There was a reason she’d come to the ranch, but she didn’t intend to tell him any more than she had to. That was too bad, because he was determined to learn the truth one way or the other.
“The maid thought you had followed her into the house. When she couldn’t find you, she called Security.”
Though her expression didn’t change, he watched in fascination the way her slim fingers tightened around the steering wheel. She wore no rings, only a gold wristwatch. A clear polish covered her manicured nails. He could see the half-moons of her cuticles clearly.
Everything about her appealed to his senses. That was another thing that hadn’t happened to him in years.
A trace of a smile formed on her lips. “And here I was hoping someone would come outside to en lighten me, Mr…?”
“Farraday, but I answer to Cole.”
“Thanks for your help, Cole,” she said, without as much as a flicker of those long lashes.
Cole wasn’t a vain man, but it was a fact that their family’s name figured prominently in the settling of this part of Nevada. If she recognized it and was playing dumb, she was a superb actress, particularly since Buck’s death had been highly publicized in the media.
Angry at himself for letting her get to him, his chiseled features formed a grimace. “Why do you want to speak to the man who does the hiring?”
“That’s my business, surely. No offense,” she added in a pleasant tone.
“None taken,” came his superficially calm response. “Only I’ll have to ask you to step out of the car and accompany me to the owner’s office.” He’d give her one final chance to own up.
“Why?”
Cole sucked in his breath. Evidently she’d decided not to take it, which could mean she really didn’t know who he was. Then again…
“Let’s just say it’s my job. From here on out you’ll have to answer to him.” He opened the door, relishing the moment when he exposed her little game, whatever it was.
Her lissom body stiffened. “This is ridiculous. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
He elevated his dark brows. “Look at it from his point of view. He buried his youngest brother today and came back to the ranch house to be with his closest friends and family. In the process of trying to give comfort to his bereaved sister-in-law, a perfect stranger walks in from out of nowhere with an agenda she refuses to reveal.”
While he’d been talking, he didn’t think she could fake the growing concern on her face, most likely for the trouble she could be in.
She stirred restlessly. “Doesn’t the fact that I called out to you for information prove I have no evil intentions?” The straight for ward hint of pleading in her voice almost convinced him.
“On the contrary,” he rejoindered coolly, “your behavior is more suspect than ever. Shall we go quietly, or do I take you inside in a manner guaranteed to embarrass you in front anyone who might see you?”
Her face filled with color. “You wouldn’t-” she whispered.
Not today, no… He’d find another method. But she didn’t know that.
“Try me, Ms. Arnold.” He checked his watch. “I’ll give you thirty seconds to make up your mind.”
CHAPTER TWO
CATHERINE didn’t dare call his bluff, not with those cold pewter eyes bearing down on her features, pinning her to the seat.
Standing easily at six-three or four, this powerful-looking security guard, wearing an expensive looking formal suit of midnight-blue in deference to the funeral proceedings, had the hard- muscled physique of a male at home in the out-of-doors.
He was probably in his mid-thirties. She had to admit, albeit be grudgingly, that with his black hair and burnished skin he resembled a rugged facsimile of Adonis. To her ear the name Cole sounded too western for a man who exuded an almost international so phistication.
Having worked the front desk on the night shift at one of Reno’s top hotels while she’d finished college, she’d met attractive, wealthy men from all over the world. But if she had to pick just one who was the most memorable, he still wouldn’t measure up to the force standing next to her.
That was what this man was-a dynamic, living, breathing force. He radiated a potent male energy that set him apart from those less endowed. She had to concede she’d more than met her match here. If she could appeal to his honor-
Catherine sensed something that told her he was a highly principled
