I ate in silence as she finished kneading the dough, cut it into equal pieces and placed them into loaf pans.
“If this is breakfast every morning, I’m in big trouble.”
“Usually it’s eggs of some kind. Something that can sit in the warmer. The guys come in over a stretch of a few hours, so I like to have something ready. Lunch in the summer is sandwich fixings that I lay out for everyone to make their own. As you might have guessed, I love to cook. I’m starting up my own baking business, but I keep everyone around here pretty much fed. At least part time. It’s too nice out for me to be cooped in the kitchen all day.”
I glanced out the back windows, the view spectacular. It was going to be a warm one but not as hot as in Colorado. “I’d want to be outside, too.”
I washed down the sticky goodness with another sip of the dark brew.
“You work outside all day,” she countered.
“Here, pretty much. Back in Colorado, I’m all over the place.” My cell chimed again.
She glanced at me then back to her dough. “You’re a busy lady. I’d think it wouldn’t be all that hard to make horse babies.”
I arched a brow. “Horse babies?”
She grinned. “I guess horses don’t have as much fun as we do practicing, huh?”
I blushed. “You’re married to Colton, right? I haven’t met him yet.”
“Engaged. He and Rob are in Billings looking at metal fencing. Rob’s wife, Willow, went with them. Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s as boring as it sounds, and I feel for Willow. But it’s guy shopping. Or cowboy shopping. Whatever. Who have you met so far?” she asked, setting dish towels over the loaf pans.
“Clint, obviously. Boyd and Audrey. Johnny. Levi.”
She slid the pans across the counter and left them. I assumed they were to rise again although I didn’t know much more about bread than it came sliced at the store.
“Levi’s cute, don’t you think?” she asked as she washed her hands at the sink.
Her back was to me, and I couldn’t see her face.
“He’s… good-looking.” Good-looking enough to fantasize about him while I used a shower sprayer on my clit.
She spun back around, drying her hands.
“Every guy on Wolf Ranch is hot,” she shared. “Sure, I think Colton’s extra gorgeous because he’s mine and all, but Levi…” She fanned herself.
I wanted to fan myself too because my cheeks were flaming.
She stood on the far side of the counter, leaned down and rested her forearms on the granite. “He’s single, you know.”
“Levi?”
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Yes, Levi. He’s nice. I give him two thumbs up.”
“Does he know you’re telling people he’s nice?”
She pursed her lips. “Yeah, I doubt any cowboy would want to be called nice. He’s…” She paused, studied the ceiling as she considered. “Quiet. I’d say a brooder, but all cowboys are content being by themselves. You have to be to live on a ranch in Montana. Winters are brutal. Except maybe Boyd. He’s never met a stranger. Levi though, well, I’ve only been here since last summer, but I’d say he’s… misunderstood.”
I took the last sip of my coffee. “And you want me to figure him out?” I had no idea where she was going with this, so I stood to help myself to more java.
“I want you to put a smile on his face. However you think is best.”
I spun around. Sputtered out a laugh. “Me? What makes you think I can get him to smile?”
She looked me over. “If he doesn’t see how pretty and smart you are, then the man needs glasses. And his head checked. I like that belt, by the way.”
“Thanks,” I said, either for the compliment about my looks or the belt. I liked to always be put together, to look professional, even on a ranch in rural Montana. I put on clean jeans and a red top. I always wore the same gold hoop earrings and never left the house without at least a little makeup.
“You’re telling me where you got it later. We girls can do some shopping of our own. Online. We don’t even have to drive all the way to Billings.”
My cell chimed again. “Sorry, my email sends me notifications.”
She stood up and wiped down the counter. “No worries. Get back to your work. We girls get together once a week for ladies happy hour. It’s Sunday night. Me, Audrey, Willow, Becky. You’ll join us.”
Willow. The DEA agent. Was I insane? I didn’t have much choice but to say yes. It wasn’t like I had other plans. “Um, sure. Thanks.”
“Stop up for lunch with the guys later. Dinner’s fried chicken. Come with Levi.”
When I turned back to look at her from the doorway, she waggled her eyebrows. “Come lots of times with him.”