Honeymoon with the Rancher / Nanny Next Door: Honeymoon with the Rancher / Nanny Next Door. Michelle Celmer

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СКАЧАТЬ He wouldn’t even have made pastry out of one of those cans in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Heck, Sophia had never made bread from scratch in her life.

      The breakfast was completed with a bowl of fresh fruit and coffee waiting in the pot, hot and rich.

      She’d missed mealtime, and the thought stole the smile from her face. She’d have to eat quickly and then find Tomas. Showing up late was not the way to get off on the right foot. Hurriedly she buttered a roll and poured a half cup of coffee. When she was done she put her plate in the sink and the platter of fruit back in the fridge. She went outside, feeling the warmth of the morning soak into her skin as she searched for Tomas. She nearly ran into him turning a corner towards the outbuildings at the back.

      “Oh!” she gasped, stopping short and nearly staggering backwards. She would have if he hadn’t steadied her with a quick hand on her arm. His warm grip sent a shaft of pure pleasure down to her fingertips. He let her go as soon as she was stable and dropped his hand.

      “I see you’re up.”

      “Yes, I’m sorry I’m late. I slept so well …” She would sweeten him up. She would let him know his garrulousness didn’t get to her. “My bed is very comfortable.”

      “Apparently.”

      The pleasure went out of Sophia like air from a balloon. But she wouldn’t give up yet. She’d kill him with kindness if that’s what it took. “The rolls were still warm. Did you make them?”

      He stood back, looking at her as if he were measuring and finding her wanting. “Yes, I did. Maria showed me how long ago. When she returns you’ll have real cooking, not my second-rate impression of it.”

      “I wouldn’t call your cooking second-rate. The stew last night was delicious.”

      “I’m glad you liked it.”

      The politeness was a cold veneer, meaning little when she felt it wasn’t sincere.

      “So what did I miss?”

      “Today’s activity,” he remarked dryly, and swept out an arm.

      Behind them was a utility shed. Beside it were supplies for painting—a large bucket of paint, two smaller cans and brushes.

      “Painting?” This was a vacation. Shouldn’t there be guided tours? Even without the pool and other amenities, shed painting was hardly a unique Argentinian experience.

      He shrugged. “You did say you were prepared to surprise me. So here we are. It needs to be done.”

      He was trying to get the best of her. She was sure of it. He was planning on pushing her until she quit. But she would not be dismissed. She smiled, quite enjoying the liberating feeling of making up her own mind. If Tomas said paint, she’d paint.

      Just not in a sundress and heels.

      “I’ll need a change of clothes. I’m afraid I came unprepared for painting.”

      He shrugged again and headed towards the paint supplies.

      “Señor Mendoza!”

      To her credit, she did a brilliant job of rolling out the ñ in señor. He turned around, surprise flattening his face. She reveled in that expression for a fleeting second before continuing. “If you will please find me something to wear, it would be greatly appreciated.”

      “Do I look like a clothing store, Miss Hollingsworth?”

      He put the emphasis on the miss just as she had with señor and it had her eyebrows lifting in challenge.

      “There were brochures in my room.” Oh, if she’d only thought to look at them at home before packing! Seeing them last night had made her cheeks flush with embarrassment, but there was nothing to be done about it now. “I know you have a boutique on site. Perhaps I might find something there?”

      He scowled and she felt victory within her grasp.

      “If you have any trousers at all, put them on. And meet me back here in five minutes.” With a put-upon sigh, he disappeared.

      She had gotten the better of him, and while it was a small victory, it felt good. He had to know she was not a meek little sheep that needed caring for. She was discovering she had a daring, adventurous side she’d never known existed. Oh, perhaps painting a shed wasn’t very adventurous. But after being the girl who’d done as she was told, too afraid to do otherwise, all this felt absolutely liberating.

      She skipped to the house and came back moments later wearing the caramel trousers and a white linen blouse. It was as casual as she had in her cases, but she’d remedy that somehow. Tomas came back holding a navy bundle in his hands and she drew her eyebrows together, puzzled. It didn’t look like something from a boutique.

      “Put these over your clothes,” he said, handing her a pair of paint-splattered coveralls.

      “You’re kidding.”

      “You don’t want paint on those clothes, do you?”

      “No, but …”

      “Anything from the boutique is brand new—you don’t want paint on those things, either, do you?”

      Why did he have to be right?

      She put on the coveralls, hating the baggy fit but zipping them up anyway. The sleeves were too long and she rolled them up. And felt ridiculous standing there in her sandals.

      She caught a glimpse of a smile flirting with the corners of his mouth. “Sure, go ahead, laugh. I know I look silly.”

      “Put these on,” he said, handing her a pair of shoes.

      “What are these?”

       “Alpargatas.”

      She put on the canvas and rope shoes that looked like slipon sneakers. They were surprisingly comfortable.

      “I believe I am ready.”

      “I hope so. The morning is moving along.”

      Like she needed another reminder that she was late.

      She followed him to the shed, admiring the rear view despite herself. Today he was wearing faded brown cotton pants and a red T-shirt that showed off the golden hue of his skin, not to mention the breadth of his back and shoulders. He was unapologetically physical and she found herself responding as any woman would—with admiration. Seeing how capable he was made her want to succeed, too, even if it was just at the most menial task.

      “Don’t you have horses to feed or something?”

      He shook his head. “I did most of the chores while the bread was rising.”

      “You didn’t need to make bread on my account.” She pictured his hands kneading the dough and wet her lips. He really was a jack-of-all-trades. It wasn’t fair that he was so capable and, well, gorgeous. A total package. It made her feel very plain and not very accomplished at all.

      “I СКАЧАТЬ