He pinched the bridge of his nose. He could already see this was going to be a very long day. “I don’t think we’d gotten to that point yet.”
She nodded. “There was a Dallas newspaper at the truck stop. I saw the ad and called about the job. You hired me. I finished what I needed to do yesterday, then left very early this morning to get here.” Her brow knitted in worry. “Are you going to tell me I don’t have a job?”
For the first time since she’d gotten out of her car, he saw her confidence falter. That’s when he noticed the dark circles under her eyes. Just smudges, but they were there. Damn, he felt bad that he couldn’t hire her, but the woman was obviously delusional.
“We didn’t talk on the phone,” he gently told her, hoping she would understand.
“You’re not Cal?”
Of course. Cal. He should’ve guessed. His brother could have told him he’d hired her. He was going to kill him. Slowly and with great pleasure.
Business was business and Brian only hired the best. Tamping down the pity he felt, he looked at the young woman. “You can rest in the previous therapist’s room and I’ll have someone take a look at your car, but I think you’re too young for what I’m looking for. You can’t have that much experience.”
“There’s good experience and bad experience. Good massage therapists and bad. For the record, I’m twenty- eight. And you don’t have any idea what I can do until you try me.”
She was right about that. He still wasn’t sure. And she looked younger than twenty-eight. No more than… than…okay, maybe she did look twenty-eight. Why did he feel so much older when there was only three years’ difference?
“I’ll give you a massage. That should convince you.”
He thought of her hands kneading the taut muscles in his back, moving lower and lower.
Her giving him a massage wasn’t going to happen. It had been too damned long since he’d even been out with a woman. Cal was right. He’d been working too many long hours. He cleared his throat and shuffled through some papers on his desk. “I have work to do,” he said.
She nodded. “I can see you’ve already convinced yourself I won’t work out. Thank you so much for your time.”
When she stood, she weaved just a little and grabbed the back of the chair to steady herself. It was almost imperceptible, but he saw it.
“You can’t drive in your condition.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I assure you, I haven’t been drinking.”
“No, but you’re so tired you’ll probably fall asleep at the wheel and kill yourself or someone unfortunate enough to be on the road.” Damn, why did she have to be his responsibility? Didn’t he have enough as it was?
And he still didn’t have a massage therapist. He looked at her. She was right: he didn’t know if she was any good or not until she started working.
He made a quick, and hopefully not stupid, decision. “Okay, I’ll give you the job, but it’s on a trial basis only.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s your name?” He might need to know that since he’d officially hired her.
Her gray-green eyes sparkled. “Celeste Star.”
He had a feeling he was going to regret this.
Chapter 10
Cal looked up when he heard the soft pad of footsteps behind him. He had to blink so his vision cleared. For a moment, he wondered if he’d died and God had sent an angel down to get him, but then he thought about his life and didn’t figure he’d get an escort. At least not one who was this pretty, and he had a feeling it would be debatable which direction he’d be going.
“Good morning,” he said.
She studied him for a moment. “You’re Cal Braxton, the football player.”
“The one and only.”
He was surprised she knew who he was. She didn’t look the type who watched sports. His gaze swept over her. She didn’t look like a guest, either. Not like any who came to stay at the ranch, anyway. Not this young and pretty, anyway.
The outfit she wore was long and flowing, in a rainbow of colors. Hues ranging from deep purples to brilliant oranges ebbed and flowed when she moved. She reminded him of a little fairy-like Tinker Bell.
She smiled and the room lit up. “I’m just surprised I didn’t put two and two together when we spoke on the phone. You scored five touchdowns last year against KC. Not bad, not bad at all.”
People had been surprising him all year. Cynthia, when she’d announced to the world they were getting married, even though he hadn’t asked, and didn’t plan to ask. Nikki, he hadn’t expected a barracuda to look like her or feel quite as soft. Now this woman whose delicate beauty made her appear angelical, and yet she talked as though she was a fan of contact sports. Maybe the world had moved off course and screwed everything up.
“We spoke on the phone?” he asked. If they’d talked, he was almost certain he’d remember.
“I’m the new massage therapist you hired. A trial basis, that is. Mr. Braxton thinks I’m too young.” She smiled, then shrugged. “Age shouldn’t be measured in years but in the wisdom one accumulates along the way.”
She was an interesting creature. “Are you older than you look? I mean, in wisdom.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be resting?” Brian stood in the hallway, a sheaf of papers in his hand. “Where’s Shelley? I thought she was showing you where you’ll be staying? Did you get lost?”
“I’m right here,” Shelley chimed in as she came around the corner. “I had to take a bathroom break.”
Brian frowned. “Oh.”
“And you’re right, I’m very tired. As soon as I get to my room I plan to take a short nap.” Celeste nodded toward Cal. “It was nice talking to you again.”
He watched until the two were out of sight, then turned to his frowning brother. “Why are you looking so grumpy? You’ve replaced the massage therapist. This one is a lot cuter than your last one. I’d think you’d be overjoyed.”
Brian’s frown only darkened. Now what the hell had he said? His little brother really needed to lighten up.
“No, you hired her. Without telling me.”
“Did I forget to mention that? Sorry.”
“Yeah, remorse is written all over your face.”
“If you don’t like her, fire her.”
Brian waved the papers at him. “You saw her. She’s so tired she’s about to fall over. And there’s no telling how long it’s been since she’s had a decent meal. And I won’t even mention her car or the fact that the only thing holding it together is a prayer. So, no, I couldn’t tell her to go away and come back in a few years-like say, ten.”
“Maybe she’ll work out.” Cal studied his brother. “You really shouldn’t take things so seriously.”
“Like you?” He snorted. “Look at the mess you’ve gotten yourself into. And I’ve seen the tabloids, too. You change girls as often as you change underwear.”
He grinned. “Jealous?”
“I’m trying to make the ranch a profitable venture.”
“You have. Maybe it’s time you relaxed a little. Take a vacation. I’ll take care of everything while you’re gone.” He couldn’t believe he’d just said that. He didn’t want to be tied down.
Brian frowned again. “Stay away from her.”
“Huh?” Ah, crap, he’d met Nikki despite his attempt to keep the two of them apart.
“You heard me. Celeste is too young for you, and she seems to be a sweet kid.”
He let out a sigh of relief. Not Nikki. But it was awfully interesting the way Brian was warning him away from Celeste.
Cal downed his head. “You’re right. I’ll keep my distance.”
