see.” And if her husband looked through the outdoor magazines that were probably displayed at the checkout counter, there was a good chance he’d seen her picture in an ad for camping and outdoor equipment.
“’Bye, Caroline. See you next week when the kids get here,” Cabot said, watching her walk down the dirt road to her car parked in front of his house.
When he looked back at her Kate asked, “So, what’s the verdict?”
He reached in his jeans pocket, pulled out a brass key that probably unlocked cabin number six and handed it over. “I’m willing to give you a chance.”
“Thanks.” Relief swept through her and took the last of her energy with it. Suddenly she was so tired she could hardly stand. Not even close proximity to this handsome hunk of cowboy could generate enough adrenaline to hold back a yawn. She shook it off and said, “Sorry. That’s not what I usually do at an interview.”
“The first part was bizarre enough, what with the dress. And now it’s technically over since you got the job.” Sympathy softened his dark eyes before he shook it off. “Caroline’s a good judge of character.”
“And you’re not?”
His mouth pulled tight for just a moment. “I wanted her opinion since she has to work with you. I just sign your paycheck.”
A dozen questions raced through her mind, but the one she really wanted to ask was Does that mean I’ll never see you? The deep disappointment generated by that thought was bewildering; she’d spent barely ten minutes in this man’s presence.
“I like her,” Kate said. “Caroline.”
“Me, too. A lot. So don’t make me regret giving you the job.” He turned and started walking away. Over his shoulder he said, “Get some sleep. You’re going to need it.”
A shiver skipped over her as she stared at his broad shoulders. They tapered to a trim waist and a backside that would earn ten out of ten points from any female judge. But she’d learned her lesson about looks being shallow and superficial. She didn’t know Cabot Dixon from a rock. It was entirely possible that he used women and threw them away. Just like the man she’d almost married.
Still, the attraction was just strong enough to make her hope that when the summer was over she didn’t regret taking this job.
Two days ago when Kate had arrived in Blackwater Lake after driving for nearly twenty-four hours, doing nothing had seemed like heaven. Now she was rested, restless and bored. She sat in her one-room cabin that was comprised of a small stall-shower bathroom, full bed and kitchenette that had a four-cup coffeemaker, frying pan and microwave. She was grateful to have four walls, a roof and the small cozy space they made, but the smallness was starting to close in on her along with the realization that she’d run away from everything and everyone in her life.
A walk before dinner seemed like a really good idea. After, she would head up to the big house and talk to Cabot about doing chores to earn her keep until camp started.
She left the cabin and, as a precaution, locked the door. The ranch was remote and quiet and she didn’t have much to steal, but you could never be too careful. The beauty of Blackwater Lake lured her down to its edge, where she drew in a deep breath of sweet, clean air. Blue water sparkled where rays of sunshine kissed it, and on the other side, tree-covered mountains stood guard over the serenity.
“So this is what peace looks like,” she whispered to herself. It felt as if a louder tone would violate Mother Nature’s sensibilities, and that seemed like a sin.
When she’d looked her fill, she went the other way, past her cabin and the ones that campers and seasoned counselors would occupy in a couple of days. She was looking forward to that, to being busy. With too much time on her hands it was difficult not to obsess about how stupid she’d been to accept Ted’s marriage proposal.
What a huge mistake she’d nearly made. And how anxious her parents had sounded when she’d called to let them know she was okay but refused to say where she was now. She needed time by herself, and God bless them, they understood. They had handled canceling the wedding and reception and were returning gifts. She had planned to take the summer off for a honeymoon and settling into married life. Now she had time off to figure out where her life went from here.
The sound of a deep voice followed by childish laughter carried to her. Then she heard a muffled slap. As she made it to the top of the hill, she saw that in front of the big log-cabin house Cabot was playing catch with Tyler, who had his back to her. When the boy missed his father’s underhanded toss, the baseball rolled downhill toward her. He turned to chase it and stopped short when he spotted her.
“Hi, Kate.” His smile was friendly and he seemed happy to see her.
“Hey, kid.” She stopped the rolling baseball with her foot, then bent to pick it up.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d played any sport involving a ball. Once she’d started going to the shooting range with her father and showed an aptitude for skeet, her life had changed. Practice and competitions dominated her life. Before that she’d gone to traditional school, where organized peer activities were possible, but she’d never participated. All the family moves because of her father’s military career had made her reluctant to join anything. Then she found her best event. The sport, and being good at something, had made her happy. Until finding skeet shooting, she’d never fit in anywhere.
“Are you going to stare at that ball all day or throw it back?” It wasn’t clear whether Cabot was irritated or amused.
“Sorry.” She drew her arm back and tossed the ball at Ty. At least that had been her intention. It went way to the right of the mark and rolled away from him. “Sorry,” she said again.
“It’s okay.” Ty ran after it.
“Athletic? Really?” One of Cabot’s dark eyebrows rose questioningly. “You throw like a girl.”
“At the risk of stating the obvious, I am a girl.”
“Yeah. I noticed.”
Nothing in his tone or expression gave away what he was thinking, but Kate remembered that Cabot had said she was pretty. It had been indirect, an answer to a question from someone else, but he’d agreed. That was something and she would take it. Her ego had recently taken a hit, even though it was stupid to care what Ted thought. If she’d been enough, he wouldn’t have been hitting on someone else on the day of their wedding.
Ty ran back with the ball clutched in his hand. “Wanna play catch with us, Kate?”
“I don’t have a glove.”
“You can use mine,” Cabot offered. “It’s probably a little big but should work okay.”
She could have said no, but that eager, friendly, freckled eight-year-old face wouldn’t let her. Ty was a sweet kid and his father had taken a chance on a stranger and given her a job. The world wouldn’t end if he fired her now for misrepresenting her skills, but she didn’t want to go back to Los Angeles and the glare of the spotlight waiting for her there. At some point she’d have to, but not yet.
“Okay,
