“Okay, then I’ll leave it by your door.”
“You don’t need to—”
“Yes, ma’am, I do. I feel a strong urge to do something for you. Two months ago, that would have involved giving you multiple orgasms, but since that’s not an option, I’ll at least bring you dinner.”
Chapter Seven
After reluctantly leaving Isabel at her cabin, CJ texted Kate, the dining hall cook, to alert her he’d be picking up a dinner from the buffet for Isabel. He’d need a couple of to-go boxes.
She texted right back. Just one dinner?
Just one. I’ll be eating in the bunkhouse. And sleeping there, too.
Is there a problem?
He looked at the question and laughed. Don’t get me started.
Kate sent back a sad face emoji.
Yeah, that just about summed it up. He and Izzy had been on the same page two months ago and now they weren’t even reading the same book.
Normally he’d be on duty helping Garrett, the new hire, with making dinner for the wranglers, but he’d asked to be excused. He’d expected to be sharing a meal with Izzy.
He could show up and announce that he was available to help fix dinner, after all, but if he went to the barn instead, Rafe and Jake would be there feeding the horses. He could speak freely with them. Garrett was an okay guy, but he’d only been on board two months. He wasn’t a part of the Brotherhood, at least not yet.
CJ parked beside the old hip-roofed barn. He’d loved it on sight when Charley had brought him here ten years ago. Might be his favorite structure on the ranch property.
After helping replace the fuel pump, Charley had led him out to the ranch and introduced him to Henri. She hadn’t blinked an eye when Charley had announced they had a new wrangler. They’d had complete trust in each other’s decisions.
Maybe that had always been true and maybe the trust had developed over time. CJ had never asked. Until now, the dynamics of a good marriage hadn’t mattered to him.
After the meeting with Henri, Charley had brought him to the barn and tested him on his knowledge. Then he’d explained his belief in treating horses as equal partners. It was the first of many lessons, some hard, some easy.
Missing Charley was less painful after four years without the guy. CJ would give anything for a heart-to-heart now, but at least he had the Brotherhood. Climbing down from the truck, he walked through the open double doors.
Jake came toward him pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with hay flakes. He paused. “What’re you doing here?”
“Slight change of plans. Let me get some gloves and I’ll help you.” He ducked into the tack room and grabbed a pair.
“Did I see CJ come through the door?” Rafe called from the back of the barn.
“It’s either CJ or his doppelganger!” Jake hollered back.
“Hey, CJ, did you have a fight with Isabel?”
“No fight!” He put on the gloves as he walked out of the tack room.
Rafe abandoned his wheelbarrow and headed down the aisle. At six-six, he could walk it quicker than any of them. “I need the story on this deal, bro.”
“Izzy wants us to co-parent this baby as friends, not lovers. That way we can each find someone else more suited to us.”
Rafe frowned. “Did she? Is that what—”
“Not yet, but she thinks that’s the way this should go. Getting frisky during this trip would be contrary to the plan so she’s called a halt to those activities.”
“Well, damn.” Jake heaved a sigh. “Are you on board with this idea?”
“Doesn’t matter. She gets to make the call. But for the record, no, I’m not. The more I think about this baby, the more I want to be involved in my kid’s life.”
“And hers?” Rafe met his gaze.
“Yes, which means I may have to relocate.”
“To Seattle?” Jake’s horrified expression brought a snort of laughter from Rafe.
“You say that like he’s heading off to the dark side of the moon.”
“Might as well be. It’s a big city. Coastal. From what I hear, all the guest ranches are in Eastern Washington.”
Rafe nudged back his hat. “I think that’s true. When we went down to Eagles Nest for Seth and Zoe’s wedding in January, I talked with Kendra McGavin’s husband. I think he’s from Spokane. That’s where you find ranches.”
“So I’ll hire on at a riding stable. I’ll bet they have some of those.”
“I’ll guess a lot of ’em ride English.” Rafe peered at him. “You okay with that?”
“Riding is riding.”
“Not in my opinion,” Jake said. “Those tiny saddles don’t feel right. My boys don’t care for them at all. No good resting spot. No wonder the hunter-jumper dudes are posting all the damn time. But that’s not the worst of it. Didn’t Isabel say she lives in an apartment near her coffee shop?”
“She does. She can walk to the shop.”
“In downtown Seattle.” Jake eyed him. “You won’t sleep a wink with all that traffic.”
Rafe laughed. “I don’t think sleep is what he’s after, Jake, old man. Are you telling me the thrill has worn off now that you’re with Millie every night?”
“No. But after we have fun, the only thing we hear outside the cabin is an owl hooting or a coyote yipping. That’s all I care to hear. I’d go nuts with cars honking and sirens wailing and brakes screeching.”
“I’ll wear earplugs.”
“Hmm.” Jake studied him. “You seem to be semi-convinced this is the route to take, and yet you’re here and not with Isabel. Could it be she’s not excited about your proposed move to Seattle?”
“She says I’ll be miserable.”
“Smart lady.”
“I’ll be miserable either way, so I might as well be with her and my kid.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “I’m sure she can’t wait to get your grumpy self in residence. What a treat to have an unhappy guy hanging around all the time.”
“I wouldn’t be grumpy, damn it.”
“Oh, well, then.” Rafe glanced at Jake and grinned. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Hey. I’m better than I used to be.”
“I’ll give you
